The FDSTART option of the ARG statement in a SASCBTBL argument definition table for calling DLLs from SAS allows grouping arguments as "structures" to a C language routine. However, when certain combinations of argument types are used this way, the argument list to be passed can be generated incorrectly, such as passing null pointers that can cause a program tp stop.

Click the Hot Fix tab in this note to access the hot fix for this issue.

After the hot fix is in place, you also must bracket the argument structures with a new FDEND token to delineate the structure's end. An example of a SASCBTBL so modified is shown below:

routine fe2test
  minarg=8
  maxarg=8
  returns=long;
  arg   1 update char  byaddr        format=$cstr32.;
  arg   2 input  char  byaddr        format=$cstr32.;
  arg   3 input  num   byvalue       format=ib4.;
  arg   4 update num   fdstart fdend format=ib4.;
  arg   5 update num   fdstart       format=ib4.;
  arg   6 update num                 format=ib4.;
  arg   7 update num                 format=ib4.;
  arg   8 update num   fdend         format=ib4.;

In this example, there are 2 aggregates, such that the called routine has 5 arguments: arguments 1 and 2 are "by address," argument 3 is passed "by value," argument 4 is an "aggregate" of one numeric, and, finally, argument 5 is an aggregate of 4 numerics.

Operating System and Release Information

A fix for this issue for Base SAS 9.21_M3 is available at:

A fix for this issue for Base SAS 9.3_M1 is available at: