A question about struct assignment!

[ehui928]

/* test.c */

struct S
{
int a;
int b;
};

/*
The following 3 statements will cause compile error
when compiled under MinGW gcc3.4.2,the error message is:
"error: syntax error before '.' token"
*/
struct S ss;
ss.a = 1;
ss.b = 2;


int main()
{
printf("%d, %d\n", ss.a, ss.b);
return 0;
}



However, when I move the two struct assignment statements
into main function, as follows:

int main()
{
ss.a = 1;
ss.b = 2;
printf("%d, %d\n", ss.a, ss.b);

return 0;
}

it will be successfully compiled!
I have been greatly puzzled!!!
Can anyone explain the reason to me?
Thanks!

 

[Keith Thompson]

/* test.c */

struct S
{
int a;
int b;
};

/*
The following 3 statements will cause compile error
when compiled under MinGW gcc3.4.2,the error message is:
"error: syntax error before '.' token"
*/
struct S ss;
ss.a = 1;
ss.b = 2;


int main()
{
printf("%d, %d\n", ss.a, ss.b);
return 0;
}



However, when I move the two struct assignment statements
into main function, as follows:

int main()
{
ss.a = 1;
ss.b = 2;
printf("%d, %d\n", ss.a, ss.b);

return 0;
}

it will be successfully compiled!

Statements are legal only inside function definitions.

 

[Richard Tobin]

/*
The following 3 statements will cause compile error
when compiled under MinGW gcc3.4.2,the error message is:
"error: syntax error before '.' token"
*/
struct S ss;
ss.a = 1;
ss.b = 2;

Try simplifying:

int a;
a = 1;

Does the problem go away?

-- Richard