[Newbie] MZ does not support multiple code labels?

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fasmnewbie

Joined: 01 Mar 2011
Posts: 555

fasmnewbie 01 Mar 2011, 20:31

Hi people. very newbie here.

I tried this code in org and it worked. But when I changed the format to MZ, it says something about 'undefined symbol main .data', that is, my data segment. This program is to print a string using a loop to int 10h, function 0eh.

Code:

format MZ
entry .code:main

segment .code
main:
mov ax, .data ;error here
mov ds, ax
mov si, msg
mov cx, msglen
mov ah, 0eh

myLoop:
mov al, [si]
int 10h
inc si
loop myLoop

mov ah, 10h
int 16h
ret

segment .data
msg db 'Assembly Programming', 0dh, 0ah
msglen = $-msg

If I comment out the erronous line, my program compiles fine but with undefined result of course. Similarly if I comment the entire myLoop chunks, it compiles fine (but garbage result).

Is it because I have two code labels there (main and myLoop) that altogether I have defined 3 segments? Or is it because of something else. Is having two code labels implying two different code segments?

This is my ORG version that works

Code:

org 100h

mov si, msg
mov cx, msglen
mov ah, 0eh

myLoop:
mov al, [si]
int 10h
inc si
loop myLoop

mov ah, 10h
int 16h
ret

msg db 'Assembly Programming', 0dh, 0ah
msglen = $-msg

Thanks for your kind replies.

01 Mar 2011, 20:31

revolution
When all else fails, read the source

Joined: 24 Aug 2004
Posts: 20430
Location: In your JS exploiting you and your system

revolution 02 Mar 2011, 00:14

fasm uses labels starting with a single dot as local labels and will automatically attach the name to the previous non-local label. Just rename your sections so that they don't start with a single dot:

Code:

format MZ
entry codeseg:main

segment codeseg
main:
    mov     ax,dataseg
  mov     ds,ax
       mov     si,msg
      mov     cx,msglen
   mov     ah,0eh

myLoop:
   mov     al,[si]
     int     10h
 inc     si
  loop    myLoop

  mov     ah,10h
      int     16h
 ret

segment dataseg
  msg     db      'Assembly Programming',0dh,0ah
    msglen  =       $-msg

02 Mar 2011, 00:14

fasmnewbie

Joined: 01 Mar 2011
Posts: 555

fasmnewbie 02 Mar 2011, 10:43

revolution wrote:

Code:

format MZ
entry codeseg:main

segment codeseg
main:
     mov     ax,dataseg
  mov     ds,ax
       mov     si,msg
      mov     cx,msglen
   mov     ah,0eh

myLoop:
   mov     al,[si]
     int     10h
 inc     si
  loop    myLoop

  mov     ah,10h
      int     16h
 ret

segment dataseg
  msg     db      'Assembly Programming',0dh,0ah
    msglen  =       $-msg

That's one perfect answer. My code now works.

I thought that was a syntax requirement. Still can't get rid of that HLL syntax 'mentality'. That is because I keep seeing the dotted segment's name in everywhere an MZ format code appears, even in the Sample.

Thanks revo.

02 Mar 2011, 10:43

revolution
When all else fails, read the source

Joined: 24 Aug 2004
Posts: 20430
Location: In your JS exploiting you and your system

revolution 02 Mar 2011, 10:48

The example that comes with fasm, MULTISEG.ASM, does not have dots in the names. I wonder which example you are referring to?

02 Mar 2011, 10:48

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