BUG: L1027 Error When Object File Name Includes a Parenthesis

An attempt to link an application fails and Microsoft LINK generates the following message:

One or more object modules contains a parenthesis in its filename. If the object module is in the current directory, the error occurs when either of the following conditions is true:

• If the object module has a left parenthesis as the first character of its name and a character other than a right parenthesis as the last character.
• If the object module has a right parenthesis as the last character of its name and a character other than a left parenthesis as the first character.

If the object module is not in the current directory, the error occurs only when the second condition above is true.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in each version of Microsoft LINK that supports overlays. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Normally, when the names of one or more object modules are surrounded by parentheses, LINK places those modules into an overlay. Therefore, if a left (or right) parenthesis appears immediately before (or after) the name of an object module, LINK expects a matching right (or left) parenthesis immediately after (or before) the name. If the parentheses does not match, LINK generates a fatal error L1027.

For example, the following LINK command line causes an "unmatched left parenthesis" error if the object module ABC.OBJ is in the current directory: However, if ABC.OBJ is not in the current directory, then the parenthesis is imbedded in the path and filename string. In this case, LINK does not generate an error, as shown below: Similarly, a file named ABC).OBJ does not generate an error if linked as follows: However, if the .OBJ extension is omitted, as follows, the L1027 error occurs: If a left or right parenthesis is embedded in the name of a file, no error occurs. The following three LINK command lines each function correctly: