[fpc-pascal] open arrays as parameters (why packed not allowed)?

[Bruce Bauman]

I am translating some Pascal code from MetaWare Professional Pascal to
Free Pascal.

The MetaWare code uses conformant arrays, which are not supported within
Free Pascal. We are thus translating these to use Free Pascal open
arrays.

However, Free Pascal does not allow the "packed" qualifier on the array
parameter.

For example,

procedure PackStr         // Convert string to packed array
   (    InStr:      StdStrLong;
    var OutArr:     packed array of char);

is not allowed, while

procedure PackStr         // Convert string to packed array

   (    InStr:      StdStrLong;

    var OutArr:     array of char);


is accepted by the compiler.

Is there a reason why "packed" is not allowed in this context?

Thanks.

-- Bruce







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