[comp.lang.c] Usage of x

V125KJG8%UBVMS.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu (04/01/87)

>    )I'm rather new to this list and not terribly experienced in C, but
>I think '\x' should generate an error.  If '\xnn' (where nn is some number)
>means the character representation of the hexadecimal number nn, then it
>seems logical to me that '\x' would mean that the value has not been
>specified, and therefore an error should be the result...
>
>    But, perhaps (as it has been said) this should have some meaning (I
>advocate '\0') but be flagged by lint and/or the standard compiler...

Depends on your C compiler.  For example, MIX C running on MS-DOS and CP/M-80,
DOES allow the form being described above.  It is allowed, for example, to use
a line:
#define         ESC     '\x1b'

and it will work all right.  What about on other compilers?

Have fun and see yuh...
  --Curtis R. Anderson
  State University of New York at Buffalo