19. File Sections

File Section Headings start at current indent level and end after column 75:

Major:

                                                                  column 75
                                                                          |
                                                                          v
/**************************************************************************
 * Example Heading -- ALWAYS has at least 3 blank lines above it.
 * It isn't imperative that comment text be restricted to column 75, but it looks
 * nicer when it does.  The above line is an example which looks better when
 * wrapped before it extends beyond the space of the "block".  Sometimes this
 * is not practical though.
 ***************************************************************************/
                                                                          ^
                                                                          |
                                                                  column 75

Middle — used only when an additional heading “level” is needed:

/*=========================================================================
 * Example Heading -- ALWAYS has at least 2 blank lines above it.
 *=========================================================================*/

Minor — common:

/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Example Heading -- ALWAYS has at least 1 blank line above it.
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------*/

/* Common among lines of code.  This comment labels the code below it... */
<some source code here>
    /* Whereas this indented comment labels the code above it. */

/*------------------------- 28-Nov-2012 11:56 vw --------------------------
 * Timestamped Comment -- used for longer text that should stand out when
 * the modification time is pertinent, e.g. when long-standing source code
 * is undergoing a modification.
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------*/

/* 28-Nov-2012 11:56 vw
 * This is the format of a minor change were original source code should
 * be preserved.  This is used frequently in "delicate" source code and
 * is very useful when a team is working together on source code.
 *
 * Original code:
BTN_WaitForUserToReleaseLeftButton();
++luiCurrMenuItem;
 */
BTN_WaitForUserToReleaseRightButton();
luiCurrMenuItem += 2;


//{ 28-Nov-2012 12:02 vw
// If needed, a modification can look like this also.
// Original code:
// <commented out source code here>
<new source code here>
//}

Re the above, keep in mind, this is used rarely since we try to stick with ANSI-standard C code, and EOL comments aren’t allowed in ANSI C. :-(

Alternately, when compliance with ANSI C rules is important:

/*{ 28-Nov-2012 12:02 vw
 * If needed, a modification can look like this also.
 * Original code:
<commented out source code here>
 */
<new source code here>
/*}*/