I think I figured out the problem. Use of sizeof() can not be used with an external because the compiler at compile time do not know the size of an external array. Correct me if I'm wrong. Make sense. The solution to the problem is to make a function with sizeof() where the array is defined and then make the function an external. That should work.
Example that can be declared external.
signed char const caArray[] = "1234";
unsigned char arrsize(void)
{
return sizeof(caArray)-1;
}
Per Højfeldt