+static const char *
+get_at_spec(unsigned symbol_index)
+{
+  static char at_buf[20];
+  if (symbol_index == 0)
+    strcpy (at_buf, "$$");
+  else
+    snprintf (at_buf, sizeof at_buf, "$%u", symbol_index);
+  return at_buf;
+}
+
+static void
+show_sub_messages (const char* cp, bool explicit_bracketing,
+                   int midrule_rhs_index, char dollar_or_at,
+                   bool is_warning, unsigned indent)
+{
+  unsigned i;
+
+  for (i = 0; i < variant_count; ++i)
+    {
+      const variant *var = &variant_table[i];
+      const char *at_spec = get_at_spec (var->symbol_index);
+
+      if (var->err == 0)
+        {
+          if (is_warning)
+            warn_at_indent (var->loc, &indent, _("refers to: %c%s at %s"),
+                            dollar_or_at, var->id, at_spec);
+          else
+            complain_at_indent (var->loc, &indent, _("refers to: %c%s at %s"),
+                                dollar_or_at, var->id, at_spec);
+        }
+      else
+       {
+         static struct obstack msg_buf;
+         const char *tail = explicit_bracketing ? "" :
+           cp + strlen (var->id);
+         const char *id = var->hidden_by ? var->hidden_by->id :
+           var->id;
+         location id_loc = var->hidden_by ? var->hidden_by->loc :
+           var->loc;
+
+         /* Create the explanation message. */
+         obstack_init (&msg_buf);
+
+         obstack_fgrow1 (&msg_buf, _("possibly meant: %c"), dollar_or_at);
+         if (contains_dot_or_dash (id))
+           obstack_fgrow1 (&msg_buf, "[%s]", id);
+         else
+           obstack_sgrow (&msg_buf, id);
+         obstack_sgrow (&msg_buf, tail);
+
+         if (var->err & VARIANT_HIDDEN)
+           {
+             obstack_fgrow1 (&msg_buf, _(", hiding %c"), dollar_or_at);
+             if (contains_dot_or_dash (var->id))
+               obstack_fgrow1 (&msg_buf, "[%s]", var->id);
+             else
+               obstack_sgrow (&msg_buf, var->id);
+             obstack_sgrow (&msg_buf, tail);
+           }
+
+         obstack_fgrow1 (&msg_buf, _(" at %s"), at_spec);
+
+         if (var->err & VARIANT_NOT_VISIBLE_FROM_MIDRULE)
+            {
+              const char *format =
+                _(", cannot be accessed from mid-rule action at $%d");
+              obstack_fgrow1 (&msg_buf, format, midrule_rhs_index);
+            }
+
+         obstack_1grow (&msg_buf, '\0');
+          if (is_warning)
+            warn_at_indent (id_loc, &indent, "%s",
+                            (char *) obstack_finish (&msg_buf));
+          else
+            complain_at_indent (id_loc, &indent, "%s",
+                                (char *) obstack_finish (&msg_buf));
+         obstack_free (&msg_buf, 0);
+       }
+    }
+}
+
+/* Returned from "parse_ref" when the reference
+   is inappropriate. */