parser error from insertion of one space

[jimswen]

Hi. I've been modifying SB programs from your code library a lot lately. I love SB v12.8win, but sometimes it seems to fight me with inappropriate error-stops. A defineable moment happened when inserting spaces into a long 'local' declaration in Lissajous_variation.bas, first code-block at http://smallbasic.sourceforge.net/?q=node/1671. At
"sub ThickLine(x1, y1, x2, y2, rThick)
local length, stepx, stepy, dx, dy, i ",
Adding one space between 'length' and subsequent comma "," caused an error, won't run. Removing the space repairs it. Such spaces are supposed to be irrelevant, right? Attaching zip bundle including ".bas" files and a screenshot of the error stop.
170323_bug_Lissajous1671.zip

[jimswen]

Played with the issue some more. It seems that anywhere in the program,
LOCAL (name)(space)(comma)
causes name to be expected to be a sub or func., not a var.
If there is no sub definition below, you get: "ERROR: undefined SUB/FUNC (name)".
This error points at the LOCAL statement.
This error is magically cured if one adds a SUB (name) END anywhere in the program.

Attached is my messy play file:
local-sub-errs_bas.zip

[chrisws]

The LOCAL keyword is for use in SUB or FUNCs to declare variables at local scope. This means that after the SUB or FUNC returns the variable no longer exists. If there is another global variable with the same name, its value is not affected by calling the SUB or FUNC.

The correct syntax is:
LOCAL (name1) [, (name2)]

Here's an example

a=2

sub blah
local a,b,c
a = 1
print a
end

blah
? a

The output is:
1
2

[chrisws]

Hi Jim,

This will be fixed in the next update.

Cheers,
Chris