Missing '[' at start of message send expression

Question

I am getting this error message and matched my brackets and couldn't find anything wrong. Can you find what's wrong? I really need help. Please. The error I am getting is this "Missing '[' at start of message send expression" I have commented where it occurs down near the end of my code. Please help me.

Thank you.

@interface HomeViewOne ()

@end

@implementation HomeViewOne

- (id)initWithNibName:(NSString *)nibNameOrNil bundle:(NSBundle *)nibBundleOrNil
{
    self = [super initWithNibName:nibNameOrNil bundle:nibBundleOrNil];
    if (self) {
        // Custom initialization
    }
    return self;
}

- (void)viewDidLoad
{
    [super viewDidLoad];
    // Do any additional setup after loading the view from its nib.
}

- (void)didReceiveMemoryWarning
{
    [super didReceiveMemoryWarning];
    // Dispose of any resources that can be recreated.
}

- (IBAction)switchScreenHome:(id)sender {

    //Code to switch screen from main menu to game
    ViewController *view [[ViewController alloc] initWithNibName:nil bundle:nil];  //My error is on this line, it says Missing '[' at start of message send expression
    [self presentModalViewController:view animated:YES];
}
@end

I moved the stack trace to the relevant follow-up question [here](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/22737897/thread-1-signal-sigabrt-can-someone-help-me) — Alfonso, Mar 29 '14 at 23:03

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 29 '14 at 22:23

1

That line should be:

ViewController *view = [[ViewController alloc] initWithNibName:nil bundle:nil];  //My error is on this line, it says Missing '[' at start of message send expression

you need to add a "=".

answered Mar 29 '14 at 22:23

Michael Dautermann

88,797
17
166
215

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:11

The code is missing something useful, like an =.

Thus the [..] is not parsed in a meaningful fashion (i.e. as an expression used in an assignment) and results in the given syntax error.

The code is actually parsed as an variable array declaration, consider

X* x[..];

where .. is

[ViewController alloc] initWithNibName:nil bundle:nil

which results in "Missing '[' at start of message send expression", just as if that code appeared in a statement by itself. Adding another pair of []'s would "fix" that, and actually declare a variable-length array. However, you definetly don't want a VLA here.. just add the assignment operator already.

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 29 '14 at 22:27

1

The line with the error should actually be:

ViewController *view = [[ViewController alloc] initWithNibName:nil bundle:nil];

Note the '=' character

answered Mar 29 '14 at 22:27

jancakes

456
4
10

This helped take the error away. THANKS. But now when I run it it goes to the AppDelegate.h and shows me an error saying Thread 1: signal SIGABRT – user3466875 Mar 29 '14 at 22:30
you mean you get a crash in main? or does running fail? – jancakes Mar 29 '14 at 22:32
I get a crash in main. – user3466875 Mar 29 '14 at 22:38
Can you please help me? – user3466875 Mar 29 '14 at 22:41
Do you get an exception? Does it say anything in your console beside sigabrt? Is this both on simulator and device? – jancakes Mar 29 '14 at 22:43
I do get one I will post it in my code because it is to long to post in comment. – user3466875 Mar 29 '14 at 22:51
Please see the follow-up question [here](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/22737897/thread-1-signal-sigabrt-can-someone-help-me) – Alfonso Mar 29 '14 at 23:03

Missing '[' at start of message send expression

3 Answers3

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