Declaring multiple variables on one line with the same value?

[Roger Jönsson]

Dim Variable1, Variable2, Variable3 as Byte = 0
Is there a reason why this is not possible? Bad idea?

What does the error message mean?
Error: Multiple bits can only be set to a fixed value, not a variable

[Roger Jönsson]

The help says this:
Dim variable[, variable2 [, variable3]] [As type] [At location] [= initialvalue]
https://gcbasic.sourceforge.io/help/_dim.html
Is that not what I am trying to do?

[Anobium]

Build 1607 ( when I get to building it ) will support

// '==============================================================================
// ' TC04 - Multiple variables, shared initializer (core regression case)
// '==============================================================================
Dim RedChannel, GreenChannel, BlueChannel As word = 512
// ' Expected DataSource after strip: Dim RedChannel, GreenChannel, BlueChannel As Byte
// ' Expected generated lines:
// ' RedChannel = 512
// ' GreenChannel = 512
// ' BlueChannel = 512

So, the method to set multiple variables was not implemented by Angel. I have added in 1607.

[Roger Jönsson]

Good to have that working before and in the next general release!

[Anobium]

Here you go.

https://1drv.ms/u/c/2f87ffe77f3dbec7/IQCo0aCT9MXhSqUK9PDDG68_Ad9ZcIaLUbD5CuvX2C25HOs?e=MUCFEY

My final test program. This ensures you can multiple commands on the init line

#CHIP 18F27Q84, 64
#OPTION Explicit

// '==============================================================================
// ' TC01 - Single variable, no initializer
// '==============================================================================
// Dim TemperatureReading As Byte
// ' Expected: no synthetic assignment line generated (no "=" present)


// '==============================================================================
// ' TC02 - Single variable, with initializer
// '==============================================================================
Dim TemperatureReading As Byte = 72
// ' Expected DataSource after strip: Dim TemperatureReading As Byte
// ' Expected generated line:         TemperatureReading = 72


// '==============================================================================
// ' TC03 - Multiple variables, no initializer
// '==============================================================================
Dim RedChannel, GreenChannel, BlueChannel As Byte
// ' Expected: no synthetic assignment line generated (no "=" present)


// '==============================================================================
// ' TC04 - Multiple variables, shared initializer (core regression case)
// '==============================================================================
NOP: Dim RedChannel, GreenChannel, BlueChannel As word = 512: ASM NOP
// ' Expected DataSource after strip: Dim RedChannel, GreenChannel, BlueChannel As Byte
// ' Expected generated lines:
// '   RedChannel = 512
// '   GreenChannel = 512
// '   BlueChannel = 512


// '==============================================================================
// ' TC05 - Location only, no type, no initializer
// '==============================================================================
Dim WatchdogFlag1 At 0x500
// ' Expected: no synthetic assignment line generated (no "=" present)


// '==============================================================================
// ' TC06 - Type and location, no initializer
// '==============================================================================
Dim WatchdogFlag2 As Byte At 0x501
// ' Expected: no synthetic assignment line generated (no "=" present)


// '==============================================================================
// ' TC07 - Type, location, and initializer together
// '==============================================================================
Dim WatchdogFlag3 As Byte At 0x502 = 1
// ' Expected DataSource after strip: Dim WatchdogFlag As Byte At $100
// ' Expected generated line:         WatchdogFlag = 1




// '==============================================================================
// ' TC09 - Array declaration (GCBASIC does NOT support an inline array
// ' initializer -- arrays are declared, then loaded on a separate line)
// '==============================================================================
Dim PixelBuffer(10)
PixelBuffer = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
// ' Expected: the Dim line generates no synthetic assignment line.
// ' The "PixelBuffer = ..." line does not start with "Dim ", so it never
// ' enters the Dim parser at all -- it's handled by ordinary assignment
// ' parsing elsewhere in the preprocessor.


// '==============================================================================
// ' TC10 - Metadata marker present after the initializer
// ' (";?F...L...S...I...?" is preprocessor-internal line metadata, appended
// ' automatically -- shown here to confirm it's correctly separated from the
// ' initializer value rather than swallowed into it)
// '==============================================================================
Dim LoopCounter As Byte = 0 
// ' Expected DataSource after strip: Dim LoopCounter As Byte 
// ' Expected generated line:         LoopCounter = 0


// '==============================================================================
// ' TC11 - Initializer value itself contains "=" (string literal)
// '==============================================================================
// Dim StatusMessage As String = "Code=Ready"
// ' Expected DataSource after strip: Dim StatusMessage As String
// ' Expected generated line:         StatusMessage = "Code=Ready"


// '==============================================================================
// ' TC12 - Negative numeric initializer
// '==============================================================================
Dim TemperatureOffset As Integer = -5
// ' Expected DataSource after strip: Dim TemperatureOffset As Integer
// ' Expected generated line:         TemperatureOffset = -5


// '==============================================================================
// ' TC13 - Variable name containing "As"/"At" as a substring (not a keyword)
// '==============================================================================
Dim DataTableIndex As Byte = 0
// ' Expected DataSource after strip: Dim DataTableIndex As Byte
// ' Expected generated line:         DataTableIndex = 0

[Roger Jönsson]

Thanks! Declaring several variables on one line with the same value, is SO nice!

[Anobium]

Praise goes to Angel for initial implementation and to me for a tidy up.

I did try using AI for this change, but, AI went a tad crazy by increasing the scope of the change. So, I wrote 'by hand' the update to parse the new construct and handle the change.

[Roger Jönsson]

In todays test program, ten lines of DIM and values became one easy to read and manage line!
Thank you both!