ASN.1 compiler error token “SYNTAX” unexpected

Question

I\'m currently trying to compile a snippet of ASN.1 code. It looks as follows:

RFC1213-MIB DEFINITIONS ::= BEGIN
    IMPORTS 
        experimental FROM RFC1155-S         


        

Answer 1

This looks like an old version of that specification that uses ASN.1 MACRO notation instead of ASN.1 Information Object Classes. The MACRO notation was removed from ASN.1 in 1994. Please consider finding a newer version of your specification that used Information Object Classes instead of the obsolete MACRO notation.

It is possible that the tool you are using does not support ASN.1 MACRO notation (which was removed from ASN.1 in 1994). You could try using the free online compiler at http://asn1-playground.oss.com/ which I believe still supports MACRO notation. Note that the definition of OBJECT-TYPE must be seen by the compiler before "tester" (which uses the OBJECT-TYPE macro) is parsed.

I will repeat, that you will save yourself many headaches if you use a version of your ASN.1 specification that uses Information Object Classes rather than the obsolete ASN.1 MACRO notation.

Answer 2

It should be OBJECT-TYPE, not OBJECT TYPE. There is something wrong with the MIB document, and you should try to find a proper version of it.