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Equals ('=') expected

Velox reports this error when a type alias or constant declaration has supplied its name but not the required = separator. In this context = introduces the declared type or constant value; it is not an assignment statement.

Required forms​

type
  Identifier = TypeDefinition;

const
  Identifier = ConstantExpression;

Example​

const
  MaximumRetries := 3; // Error: Equals ('=') expected

Use = in the declaration:

const
  MaximumRetries = 3;

Runtime storage still uses :=:

RetryCount := MaximumRetries;

How Velox detects it​

The modified PascalScript compiler emits the internal error enum ecIsExpected after reading a name in a type or const block when the next token is not =. Velox overrides the public message text to Equals ('=') expected and displays it as an Error.

The internal enum name is an implementation detail and does not mean the script should contain the word is. The required source token is exactly =.

Distinguishing the operators​

  • Name = Value in a const block defines a compile-time constant.
  • Name = TypeDefinition in a type block defines a type.
  • Target := Expression in executable code stores a runtime value.
  • Left = Right inside an expression compares two values and produces a Boolean.

The token has to be interpreted from its surrounding grammar, not from its English meaning.

Correction procedure​

  1. Find the owning type or const block.
  2. Confirm that the declaration has a valid identifier before the separator.
  3. Replace := or an omitted token with =.
  4. Ensure the right side is a valid type definition or compile-time constant expression, not an executable statement.
  5. Check the preceding declaration for a missing semicolon if the visible line already uses =.

Common causes​

  • Using assignment syntax in a constant declaration.
  • Writing a C-style type declaration.
  • Omitting the separator during an edit.
  • Missing the previous semicolon, causing the next identifier to be parsed in the wrong declaration.
  • Assuming the message requests an equality comparison in executable code.
  • Assignment (':=') expected — the executable storage operator.
  • Constants — values registered or declared for scripts.
  • Types — type aliases and exposed type definitions.

External references​