Thread: Compiler Error a storage class can only be specified for objects and functions

I have some code that I've successfully compiled in a couple of compilers. I am now trying to use CodeBlocks with the GCC compiler. I have a header file that declares a number of structures that are used in a DLL. The declarations look like this:

Code:

extern struct structure1 {float var1, double var2, int var3};

The numbers of variables in the structures and their precisions vary. But each one of them is generating the error in the tag line:

a storage class can only be specified for objects and functions

Why? How do I correct it? What is different between this compiler and something like VisualStudio where it builds successfully?

Thank you, in advance, for your help and suggestions.

extern is used to inform the compiler that a particular object (variable) exists somewhere else. It can also be used on functions, although there is no syntactic point to do so.

You have neither an object/variable nor a function here, so extern is not allowed. As far as C is concerned, it has no meaning here. To fix it, remove the extern.

Why does Visual Studio accept it? Who knows.

Thank you. I removed the extern and, as you said, the error disappears. It is very interesting that Borland, VS and Pelles all pass by that issue.

is that really your code? or did you accidentally put commas instead of semicolons? in either case it doesn't compile in visual c 2010