Error - :near "(": syntax error, unexpected '(', expecting IDENTIFIER or '='

Question

I create my own macros file:

`ifndef MY_MACROS_SV
`define MY_MACROS_SV
 
// MACRO: 'my_fatal_err
// calls uvm_fatal in case the assertion is not correct
`define my_fatal(condition, msg)\
 assert (condition) else\
`uvm_fatal("FATAL ERROR", msg)
 
`define add_rand(mem_type, mem) \
 begin \
 case (mem_type) \
 "int": add_rand_int(mem); \
 "bit": add_rand_bit(mem); \
 default: `uvm_fatal("FATAL ERROR", "type is not supported") \
 endcase\
 end
 
`endif //MY_MACROS_SV

I got the following error:

# ** at ..\sv\tx_transaction.sv(21): near "(": syntax error, unexpected '(', 
expecting IDENTIFIER or '='.

Line 21 in tx_transaction.sv:

 add_rand_macro();

add_rand is a function which defined in the base_transaction (tx_transaction extends it):

class base_transaction extends uvm_sequence_item();
 int rand_int_list []; 
 bit rand_bit_list [];
 
 bit [31:0] data [$];
 //add to list functions
 function void add_rand_int(int mem);
 rand_int_list.push_back(mem); 
 endfunction: add_rand_int
 ......
endclass: base_transaction

The code for tx_transaction:

class tx_transaction extends base_transaction;
 bit [15:0] data_xi;
 bit [15:0] data_xq;
 int mem_int; //TODO- delete
 //uvm_object_utils\
 `uvm_object_utils(tx_transaction)
 //constructor
 function new(string name = "tx_transaction");
 super.new(name);
 endfunction: new
 function void add_rand_macro();
 `add_rand("int", mem_int)
 endfunction: add_rand_macro
 add_rand_macro();
 
 //TODO - DELETE
 function void foo();
 $display("rand mem int: %d", mem_int);
 endfunction: foo
endclass: tx_transaction

Answer 1

Since the macro expands to a case statement, it must be called from inside a function in your class:

function ...
 ...
 `add_rand("int", mem_int) 
 ...
endfunction

UPDATED: Make sure you use a semicolon to end the function statement:

function void add_rand_macro();
 `add_rand("int", mem_int)
endfunction

UPDATED: You cannot call the add_rand_macro function in the body of a class; it must be called inside another function.