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From: stevens@hsi.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.lang.c
Subject: type cast in initializer
Message-ID: <302@hsi.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 29-Jan-86 08:15:57 EST
Article-I.D.: hsi.302
Posted: Wed Jan 29 08:15:57 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 05:48:10 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Health Systems Int., New Haven, CT.
Lines: 26

I've found the two lines

	int	x = 0;
	char	*ptr = (char *) &x;

acceptable to every C compiler I've used, until running into the
Whitesmith's C compiler.  They refuse to accept the type coercion "(char *)"
on the second initialization.  As I read K&R this should be acceptable
through the rules

	initializer:
		= expression			(Sec. 8.6)

	expression:
		( type-name ) expression	(Sec. 7.2)

I talked to Whitesmiths about this and they are firm that their
interpretation of the "standard" is that a type coercion following the
equals sign is not allowed and they don't plan to change their compiler.

Am I missing something ??  What does the proposed ANSI standard have
to say about this ??

	Richard Stevens
	Health Systems International, New Haven, CT
           ihnp4 ! hsi ! stevens