## ALP Programming Guide and Reference

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### ALP4504: [Constant] is immediate in MASM mode

This message indicates that a single expression coded as a constant value in square brackets [ ] is treated as though the brackets were not specified (when the assembler is operating in MASM emulation mode, which is the default). This warning is issued because brackets are required for an indirect memory expression when registers are involved, and the connotation is that the presence of brackets is required to force a memory reference, when in fact they are ignored.

Recovery: Use a segment override (for example, DS:[1234h]) when an indirect memory reference to an absolute address is desired. As explained above, the presence of brackets shown in the example is not required, but they are preferred for readability.

Note: A future release may provide an alternate mode of operation such that bracketed constant values will be treated as memory references; this warning message thus points out constructs that are incompatible with any future releases operating in this mode. Since the presence of brackets are currently redundant in this context (and indicate a possible programming error), it is recommended that they be removed.