When you assemble big-endian applications, the linker must be able to distinguish code from data. This is done using the assembly directives CODE and DATA. Any object read as data must be preceded by a DATA directive, and any lines that are to be executed must be preceded by a CODE directive.

There is no default mode for the assembler, and there will be no assembly error messages if these directives are omitted—but you will not be able to link successfully.

For more information, see Mode control directives.