How to use the 'echo' command in MASM

[megavlad]

I'm using MASM in MSVC 2022, Windows 10. I'm coding in 64bit mode, only.

I'm learning from an assembly book that uses MASM. In there, it mentions the 'echo' command can be used to output compile-time messages. I tried adding it to my sample code, but I don't see the message in the MSVC output window.

I don't get an error, just nothing gets printed.

Is there something that needs to be enabled to support it?

Thanks

[NoCforMe]

echo is used in batch files. You know, the command files that are run from the Windows (or DOS if you're going back that far) command window. It displays to the command window:

Code Select Expand

@echo off

ml /c /coff /Fl /Sn %1.asm
if errorlevel 1 goto errasm

link /SUBSYSTEM:WINDOWS %1
if errorlevel 1 goto errlink

dir %1.*
goto TheEnd

:errlink
echo _
echo Link error
goto TheEnd

:errasm
echo _
echo Assembly Error

:TheEnd
It has nothing to do with assembly-langauge code.

[megavlad]

It has nothing to do with assembly-langauge code.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/assembler/masm/echo?view=msvc-170

[NoCforMe]

Whoops, my bad. Forgot about that echo.

You say you're using Visual C, right? It must have something to do with how that IDE handles output from the assembler. You might have to set a switch or something.

Someone who knows more about this than I do should be along shortly to help you ...

[Quin]

Definitely a problem with msvc...
This works flawlessly with QEditor and the MASM32 SDK.

Code Select Expand

.386
.model flat, stdcall
option casemap: none

.code
start:
    echo This is a test
end start
I see

This is a test

right after the

Assembling: C:\Users\Quin\git\test.asm

line.

[megavlad]

.386
.model flat, stdcall

Thanks for checking the 32bit version. Are you able to check if the 64bit version also works?

[Quin]

Yup, works in 64-bit, too. :)

[megavlad]

Yup, works in 64-bit, too. :)

Cool. If you don't mind, can you please show the exact snipped that you used for testing?

ChatGPT says that it's not supported in 64bit, but ChatGPT often lies.
Since you got it to work, I would use your test as working base, and fiddle with the IDE settings.

Thanks

[zedd]

ChatGPT says that it's not supported in 64bit, but ChatGPT often lies.

The results from ChatGPT or any other AI must always be tested and/or verified. I have learned that very early on in my experimentation using AI for assembly code, as well as C code.

[zedd]

Yup, works in 64-bit, too. :)

Cool. If you don't mind, can you please show the exact snipped that you used for testing?

I was curious, so I tested it myself: Nevermind what ChatGPT says regarding this...


yurp, it werks!

The code I used...

Code Select Expand

include \masm64\include64\masm64rt.inc

.data

.code

start proc

    echo Testing 1, 2, 3...
    invoke ExitProcess, 0
   
start endp

end

Batch file to assemble and link:

Code Select Expand

@echo off
SET asm="test64"
if exist %asm%.exe del %asm%.exe

\masm64\bin64\ml64 /c /nologo %asm%.asm
if errorlevel 1 goto paws

\masm64\bin64\Link /subsystem:windows /entry:start /nologo %asm%.obj
if errorlevel 1 goto paws

del *.obj

pause

Since I do not use Visual Studio or other "Visual" IDE, I viewed the command prompt output...

[Quin]

You're faster than me Zedd :D
I step away to brew my coffee and you've answered a question someone had for me. Wizard! 

[zedd]

You're faster than me Zedd :D
I step away to brew my coffee and you've answered a question someone had for me. Wizard! 

Actually I hate writing in 64 bit. But I was also curious as well, so I tested it.

Yes there is an echo in here. 
I am hardly a wizard though. 

[megavlad]

Since I do not use Visual Studio or other "Visual" IDE, I viewed the command prompt output...

Thanks for verifying. I tried your example from the command line as well, and indeed it prints the message. Since that is a compile-time directive, the test can be reduced further to:

In assembly test file "test.asm":

Code Select Expand

echo Testing 1, 2, 3...
end


In command line:

Code Select Expand

ml64 /c test.asm


[zedd]

Since that is a compile-time directive, the test can be reduced further to:

Of course you are correct. I was using a ready-made template (as-is) for testing.

[NoCforMe]

Since I do not use Visual Studio or other "Visual" IDE, I viewed the command prompt output...

Thanks for verifying. I tried your example from the command line as well, and indeed it prints the message. Since that is a compile-time directive, the test can be reduced further to:

In assembly test file "test.asm":

Code Select Expand

echo Testing 1, 2, 3...
end

In command line:

Code Select Expand

ml64 /c test.asm


So were you able to solve your MSVC problem?
That would be useful info for others who use that IDE.