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HP OpenVMS Systems

C Programming Language
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HP C
User's Guide for OpenVMS Systems


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C.1.3.4 Accessing Character Strings

Character strings are implemented in HP C as null-terminated ASCII strings (ASCIZ strings). To examine and deposit data in an entire string, use the /ASCIZ qualifier (abbreviated /AZ) so that the debugger can interpret the end of the string properly. You can examine and deposit individual characters in the string using the C array subscripting operators ([ ]). When you examine and deposit individual characters, use the /ASCII qualifier.

Example C-3 shows the HP C program STRING.C used in the examples that follow.

Example C-3 Debugging Sample Program STRING.C

/*  STRING.C  This program establishes a string to             * 
 *            demonstrate the access of strings in HP C.      */ 
 
main() 
{ 
   static char *s = "vaxie"; 
   static char **t = &s; 
} 

The following examples are based on executing STRING.EXE and show the commands used to manipulate C strings.

The EXAMINE/AZ command displays the contents of the character string pointed to by *s and **t :


DBG> step
stepped to STRING\main\%LINE 8
    8: }
DBG> examine/az  *s
*STRING\main\s: "vaxie"
DBG> examine/az  **t
**STRING\main\t:        "vaxie"

The DEPOSIT/AZ command deposits a new ASCIZ string in the variable pointed to by *s . The EXAMINE/AZ command displays the new contents of the string:


DBG> deposit/az  *s = "HP C"
DBG> examine/az  *s,  **t
*STRING\main\s: "HP C"
**STRING\main\t:         "HP C"

You can use array subscripting to examine individual characters in the string and deposit new ASCII values at specific locations within the string. When accessing individual members of a string, use the /ASCII qualifier. A subsequent EXAMINE/AZ command shows the entire string containing the deposited value:


 examine/ascii s[2]
STRING\main\s[2]:    ' '
DBG> deposit/ascii s[2] = "-"
DBG> examine/az *s, **t
*STRING\main\s:    "HP-C"
**STRING\main\t:   "HP-C"

C.1.3.5 Accessing Structures and Unions

You can examine structures in their entirety or on a member-by-member basis, and deposit data into structures one member at a time.

To reference members of a structure or union, use the usual C syntax for such references. That is, if variable p is a pointer to a structure, you can reference member y of that structure with the expression p ->y . If variable x refers to the base of the storage allocated for a structure, you can refer to a member of that structure with the x.y expression.

The debugger uses the HP C type-checking rules that follow to reference members of a structure or union. For example, in the case of x.y , y need not be a member of x ; it is treated as an offset with a type. When such a reference is ambiguous---when there is more than one structure with a member y ---the debugger attempts to resolve the reference according to the rules that follow. The same rules for resolving the ambiguity of a reference to a member of a structure or union apply to both x.y and p ->y .

  • If only one of the members, y , belongs in the structure or union, x , that is the one that is referenced.
  • If only one of the members, y , is in the same scope as x , then that is the one that is referenced.

You can always give a path name with the reference to x to narrow the scope that is used and to resolve the ambiguity. The same path name is used to look up both x and y .

Example C-4 shows the HP C program STRUCT.C used in the examples that follow.

Example C-4 Debugging Sample Program STRUCT.C

/*  STRUCT.C  This program defines a structure and union       * 
 *            to demonstrate the access of structures and      * 
 *            unions in HP C.                                 */ 
 
main() 
{ 
   static struct 
      { 
         int im; 
         float fm; 
         char cm; 
         unsigned bf : 3; 
      }  sv,  *p; 
 
   union 
      { 
         int im; 
         float fm; 
         char cm; 
      }  uv; 
 
   sv.im = -24; 
   sv.fm = 3.0e10; 
   sv.cm = 'a'; 
   sv.bf = 7;          /* Binary: 111 */ 
 
   p = &sv; 
 
   uv.im = -24; 
   uv.fm = 3.0e10; 
   uv.cm = 'a'; 
 
} 

The following examples are based on executing STRUCT.EXE and show the commands used to access structures and unions.

The SHOW SYMBOL command shows the variables contained in the user-defined function main:


DBG> show symbol  *  in main
routine STRUCT\main
type STRUCT\main\char
data STRUCT\main\__func__
record component STRUCT\main\<generated_name_0002>.im
record component STRUCT\main\<generated_name_0002>.fm
record component STRUCT\main\<generated_name_0002>.cm
record component STRUCT\main\<generated_name_0002>.cm
data STRUCT\main\sv
data STRUCT\main\p
record component STRUCT\main\<generated_name_0001>.im
record component STRUCT\main\<generated_name_0001>.fm
record component STRUCT\main\<generated_name_0001>.cm
 
data STRUCT\main\uv

Set a breakpoint at line 29 and enter a GO command to initialize the variables declared in the structure sv :


DBG> set break  %line 29
DBG> go
break at STRUCT\main\%LINE 29
    29:    uv.im = -24;

Use the EXAMINE command with the name of the structure to display all structure members. Note that sv.cm has the char data type, which is interpreted by the debugger as a byte integer. The debugger also displays the value of bit fields in decimal:


DBG> examine sv
STRUCT\main\sv
    im: -24
    fm: .3000000E+11
    cm: 97
    bf: 7

To display the ASCII representation of a char data type, use the /ASCII qualifier on the EXAMINE command. To display bit fields in their binary representation, use the /BINARY qualifier:


DBG> examine/ascii sv.cm
STRUCT\main\sv.cm:     "a"
DBG> examine/binary sv.bf
STRUCT\main\sv.bf:     111

You deposit data into a structure one member at a time. To deposit data into a member of type char , use the /ASCII qualifier and enclose the character in either single or double quotation marks. To deposit a new binary value in a bit field, use the %BIN keyword:


DBG> deposit sv.im = 99
DBG> deposit sv.fm = 3.14
DBG> deposit/ascii sv.cm = 'z'
DBG> deposit sv.bf = %BIN 010
DBG> examine sv
STRUCT\main\sv
    im: 99
    fm: 3.140000
    cm: 122
    bf: 2

You can also access members of structures (and unions) by pointer, as shown in *p and p ->bf :


DBG> examine *p
*STRUCT\main\p
    im: 99
    fm: 3.140000
    cm: 122
    bf: 2
DBG> examine/binary p ->bf
STRUCT\main\p ->bf:     010

A union contains only one member at a time, so the value for uv.im is the only valid value returned by the EXAMINE command; the other values are meaningless:


DBG> step
stepped to STRUCT\main\%LINE 30
    30:    uv.fm = 3.0e10;
DBG> examine uv
STRUCT\main\uv
[Displaying union member number 1]
    im: -24
    fm: -1.5485505E+38
    cm: -24

This series of STEP and EXAMINE commands shows the content of the union as the different members are assigned values:


DBG> step
stepped to STRUCT\main\%LINE 31
    31:    uv.cm = 'a';
DBG> examine uv.fm
STRUCT\main\uv.fm:     .3000000E+11
DBG> step
stepped to STRUCT\main\%LINE 32
    33: }
DBG> examine/ascii uv.cm
STRUCT\main\uv.cm:     "a"

Example C-5 shows the HP C program ARSTRUCT.C used in the examples that follow.

Example C-5 Debugging Sample Program ARSTRUCT.C

/*  ARSTRUCT.C  This program contains a structure definition   * 
 *              and a for loop to demonstrate the debugger's   * 
 *              support for HP C operators.          */ 
 
main() 
{ 
   int   count,  i = 1; 
   char  c = 'A'; 
 
   struct 
      { 
         int digit; 
         char alpha; 
      }  tbl[27], *p; 
 
   for (count = 0; count <= 26; count++) 
      { 
         tbl[count].digit = i++; 
         tbl[count].alpha = c++; 
      } 
} 

The following examples are based on executing ARSTRUCT.EXE and show the use of C expressions on the debugger command line. (Note: Compile ARSTRUCT.C with the /NOOPT qualifier for the examples to work as described.)

Relational operators can be used in expressions (such as count == 2 ) in a WHEN clause to set a conditional breakpoint:


DBG> set  break  %line  20  when  (count == 2)
DBG> go
break at ARSTRUCT\main\%LINE 20
    20:       }

The first EVALUATE command that follows uses C syntax to refer to the address of a variable. It is equivalent to the second command, which uses the /ADDRESS qualifier to obtain the address of the variable. The addresses of these variables might not be the same every time you execute the program if you relink the program.


DBG> evaluate  &tbl
2146736881
DBG> evaluate/address  tbl
2146736881

Individual members of an aggregate can be evaluated; the debugger returns the value of the member:


DBG> evaluate tbl[2].digit
3

When you perform pointer arithmetic, the debugger displays a message indicating the scale factor that has been applied. It then returns the address resulting from the arithmetic operation. A subsequent EXAMINE command at that address returns the value of the variable:


DBG> evaluate tbl + 4
%DEBUG-I-SCALEADD, pointer addition: scale factor of 5 applied to 
right argument
2146736901
DBG> examine 2146736901
ARSTRUCT\main\tbl[4].digit:     5

The EVALUATE command can perform arithmetic operations on program variables:


DBG> evaluate tbl[4].digit * 2
10

The EVALUATE command can also perform arithmetic calculations that may or may not be related to your program. In effect, this command can be used as a calculator that uses C syntax for arithmetic expressions:


DBG> evaluate 7 % 3
1

The debugger enters a message when you use an unsupported operator:


DBG> evaluate count++
%DEBUG-W-SIDEFFECT, operators with side effects not supported (++, --)

C.1.3.6 Sample Debugging Session

Example C-6 shows the HP C program POWER.C to be used in the sample debugging session shown in Example C-7.

Example C-6 Debugging Sample Program POWER.C

/*  POWER.C  This program contains two functions: "main" and    * 
 *           "power."  The main function passes a number to     * 
 *           "power", which returns that number raised to the   * 
 *           second power.                                      */ 
 
 
main() 
{ 
    static int i, j; 
    int power(int); 
 
    i = 2; 
    j = power(i); 
} 
power(int j) 
 
{ 
    return (j * j); 
} 

Although this program contains no errors, Example C-7 shows some simple debugger commands that can be used to evaluate its execution. The callout numbers in this sample debugging session are keyed to the notes that follow.

Example C-7 A Sample Debugging Session

(1) $ CC/DEBUG/NOOPTIMIZE POWER
 $ LINK/DEBUG  POWER
 $ RUN  POWER
%DEBUG-I-NOGLOBALS, some or all global symbols not accessible
       OpenVMS I64 Debug64 Version E8.0
(2) %DEBUG-I-INITIAL, Language: C, Module: 'POWER'
%DEBUG-I-NOTATMAIN, Type GO to reach MAIN program
(3) DBG> set break  %LINE 13
(4) DBG> go
break at routine POWER\main
     12:     i = 2;
 DBG> go
(5) break at POWER\main\%LINE 13
(6)     13:    j = power(i);
(7) DBG> step/into
(8) stepped to routine POWER\power
     16: int j;
 DBG> step
 stepped to POWER\power\%LINE 18
     18:    return (j * j);
(9) DBG> examine J
(10) %DEBUG-W-NOSYMBOL, symbol 'J' is not in the symbol table
 DBG> examine j
(11) POWER\power\j:  2
 DBG> step
 stepped to POWER\main\%LINE 13+46
     13:    j = power(i);
 DBG> step
 stepped to POWER\main\%LINE 14
     14: }
 DBG> examine j
(12) POWER\main\j:  4
 DBG> go
(13) %DEBUG-I-EXITSTATUS, is '%SYSTEM-S-NORMAL, normal successful
                          completion'
(14) DBG> exit
 $ 

Key to Example C-7:

  1. To execute a program with the debugger, you must compile and link the program with the /DEBUG qualifier. The HP C compiler compiles the source file with the /DEBUG=TRACEBACK qualifier by default. However, unless you compile your program with the /DEBUG qualifier, you cannot access all of the program's variables. Use the /NOOPTIMIZE qualifier to turn off compiler optimization that might interfere with debugging.
  2. The OpenVMS Image Activator passes control to the debugger on execution of the image. The debugger displays the current programming language and the name of the object module that contains the main function, or the first function to be executed. Remember that the linker converts the names of object modules to uppercase letters.
  3. You enter debugger commands at the following prompt:


    DBG>
    

    The SET BREAK command defines a point in the program where the debugger must suspend execution. In this example, SET BREAK tells the debugger to stop execution before execution of line number 13. After the debugger processes the SET BREAK command, it responds with the debugger prompt.
  4. The GO command begins execution of the image.
  5. The debugger indicates that execution is suspended at line 13 of the main function. The debugger specifies sections of the program by displaying the object module it is working in, delimited by a backslash character (\), followed by the name of the C function. The linker converted the name of the object module to uppercase letters but the debugger specifies the name of the function exactly as it is found in the source text.
  6. The debugger displays the line of source text where it suspended execution. Refer to the source code listing in Example C-6 to follow the debugger as it steps through the lines of the program in this interactive debugging example.
  7. The STEP/INTO command executes the first executable line in a function. The STEP command tells the debugger to execute the next line of code, but if the next line of code is a function call, the debugger will not step through the function code unless you use the /INTO qualifier. Use STEP/INTO to step through a user-defined or HP C RTL function.
  8. When stepping through a function, the debugger specifies line numbers by displaying the object module, the C function, and %LINE followed by the line number in the source text, each delimited by a backslash. The code at that line number is then displayed.
  9. The EXAMINE command displays the contents of a variable.
  10. The debugger does not recognize the variable J as existing in the scope of the current module.
  11. Because the debugger supports the case sensitivity of C variables, variable j exists but variable J does not. Refer to Example C-6 to review the program variables.
    In response to the EXAMINE command, the debugger displays the value of the variable j (2).
  12. The value of variable j in function main is different from the local variable j in the power function. The power function executes properly, returning the value
    22 (4).
  13. When execution is completed, the debugger displays the execution status (successful, in this example).
  14. The EXIT command terminates the debugging session and returns to the DCL prompt.

C.2 OpenVMS Text Processing Utility

The OpenVMS Text Processing Utility (TPU) (provided with the OpenVMS operating system) is a high-performance, programmable utility. TPU provides a number of special features, such as multiple buffers and windows, definable keys and key sequences, a procedural language, and a callable interface.

TPU serves as a base on which to layer other text processing applications, for example, text editors. The Extensible VAX Editor (EVE) is the editor provided with TPU. To invoke EVE, enter the following command at the DCL prompt:


$ EDIT/TPU USER.C

To exit from EVE, press the Do key to get the Command: prompt. If you want to save modifications to your file, enter the EXIT command. If you do not want to save the file or any modification to the file, enter the QUIT command.

For information on TPU and EVE, see the Guide to VMS Text Processing.

C.3 Language-Sensitive Editor and the Source Code Analyzer

The HP Language-Sensitive Editor (LSE) and the HP Source Code Analyzer (SCA) must be purchased separately from the OpenVMS operating system. LSE is a text editor intended specifically for software development. SCA is an interactive tool for program analysis.

These products are closely integrated; generally, SCA is invoked through LSE. LSE provides additional editing features that make SCA program analysis more efficient. In addition, LSE and SCA, in conjunction with the HP C compiler, provide a set of new enhancements supporting source code design and review.

In addition to text editing features, LSE provides the following software development features:

  • Formatted language constructs, or templates, for most HP programming languages, including HP C. These templates include the keywords and punctuation used in source programs, and use placeholders to indicate locations in the source code where additional text is optional or required.
  • Commands to compile, review, and correct compilation errors from within the editor.
  • Integration with the DEC/Code Management System (CMS) for OpenVMS Systems. You can enter CMS commands from within the editor to make source file management more efficient.

SCA performs the following types of program analysis:

  • Cross-referencing, which supplies information about program symbols and source files.
  • Static analysis, which provides information on how subprograms, symbols, and files are related.

LSE and SCA together, in conjunction with HP language compilers, provide the following software design features:

  • Pseudocode support, which includes a new LSE placeholder for delimiting pseudocode. Pseudocode is text that describes algorithms or design decisions. This feature allows you to write source code in shorthand, returning later to fill in code details.
  • Placeholder processing, in which language compilers accept LSE placeholders and pseudocode as valid program elements during compilation. This feature allows you to test the validity of algorithms while programs are still in shorthand form.
  • Comment processing, which includes design comment information in the SCA library. SCA performs cross-referencing and static analysis on this information in response to user queries.
  • View support, which provides a reverse-design facility. LSE commands compress program code into overview line summaries. If you choose to edit these overview lines, the modifications you make are reflected in the program code.
  • A report tool, callable through LSE, that can print views, standard design reports, and customized reports.

The following sections provide entry, exit, and language-specific information on the combined use of LSE and SCA. For more information on LSE and SCA, see the Guide to Language-Sensitive Editor for OpenVMS Systems and the Guide to Source Code Analyzer for OpenVMS Systems. For more information on CMS, see the Guide to Code Management System for OpenVMS Systems.


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