POV-Ray : Newsgroups : povray.general : subtle change of semi-colon use in v3.8xx : subtle change of semi-colon use in v3.8xx Server Time
24 Apr 2024 15:56:53 EDT (-0400)
  subtle change of semi-colon use in v3.8xx  
From: Kenneth
Date: 28 Oct 2020 00:45:00
Message: <web.5f98f65480b20801d98418910@news.povray.org>
I recently came across a subtle problem with semi-colon placement, when used in
*particular* v3.8 development versions (in Windows). It took me some time to
track down, and to figure out a simple test to reproduce it:
---------------
#version 3.8;
global_settings{assumed_gamma 1.0}

#declare VEC = <.3,.5,.7>;

#macro MY_MACRO(FOO)
#local BAR = FOO;
<BAR.x,BAR.y,BAR.z>;
#end

#declare XYZ_POS = MY_MACRO(VEC);
---------------
In  versions 9811560+av591 and 9893777+av622, the above code works without a
problem. But in later versions 10013324+av645, 10064268+av691, and
10064738+av694 , the semi-colon after
          <BAR.x,BAR.y,BAR.z>;
causes a fatal error.

A macro is the only structure to be sensitive to this, that I have discovered so
far-- perhaps because it's one of the few code structures that, depending on
use, does not specifically need a semi-colon after its 'result'.

Maybe the later development versions 'tightened up' the rules of semi-colon use
in general?

In any case, there are two ways to fix this in the later versions:
1) Put a semi-colon after  <BAR.x,BAR.y,BAR.z> but NOT after
#declare XYZ_POS = MY_MACRO(VEC)
2) REVERSE that order

In the earlier versions, semi-colons can be used in both places at once-- or
like 1) or 2) as well. (I haven't yet tried any v3.7xx to see what happens
there.)

Just something to be aware of for the future.


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