diff --git a/tools/widl/expr.c b/tools/widl/expr.c
index 58d7a5b60ca..783c40380cf 100644
--- a/tools/widl/expr.c
+++ b/tools/widl/expr.c
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ static struct expression_type resolve_expression(const struct expr_loc *expr_loc
         if (result.type && is_ptr(result.type))
             result.type = type_pointer_get_ref(result.type);
         else if(result.type && is_array(result.type)
-                            && !result.type->declarray)
+                            && type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(result.type))
             result.type = type_array_get_element(result.type);
         else
             error_loc_info(&expr_loc->v->loc_info, "dereference operator applied to non-pointer type in expression%s%s\n",
diff --git a/tools/widl/header.c b/tools/widl/header.c
index 4a8929faf86..e1c76a0536e 100644
--- a/tools/widl/header.c
+++ b/tools/widl/header.c
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ static void write_enums(FILE *h, var_list_t *enums)
 int needs_space_after(type_t *t)
 {
   return (type_is_alias(t) ||
-          (!is_ptr(t) && (!is_conformant_array(t) || t->declarray || (is_array(t) && t->name))));
+          (!is_ptr(t) && (!is_conformant_array(t) || !type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(t) || t->name)));
 }
 
 void write_type_left(FILE *h, type_t *t, int declonly)
@@ -191,11 +191,10 @@ void write_type_left(FILE *h, type_t *t, int declonly)
   if (!h) return;
 
   if (is_attr(t->attrs, ATTR_CONST) &&
-      (type_is_alias(t) || t->declarray || !is_ptr(t)))
+      (type_is_alias(t) || !is_ptr(t)))
     fprintf(h, "const ");
 
   if (type_is_alias(t)) fprintf(h, "%s", t->name);
-  else if (t->declarray) write_type_left(h, type_array_get_element(t), declonly);
   else {
     switch (type_get_type_detect_alias(t)) {
       case TYPE_ENUM:
@@ -244,12 +243,13 @@ void write_type_left(FILE *h, type_t *t, int declonly)
         if (is_attr(t->attrs, ATTR_CONST)) fprintf(h, "const ");
         break;
       case TYPE_ARRAY:
-        if (t->name)
+        if (t->name && type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(t))
           fprintf(h, "%s", t->name);
         else
         {
           write_type_left(h, type_array_get_element(t), declonly);
-          fprintf(h, "%s*", needs_space_after(type_array_get_element(t)) ? " " : "");
+          if (type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(t))
+            fprintf(h, "%s*", needs_space_after(type_array_get_element(t)) ? " " : "");
         }
         break;
       case TYPE_BASIC:
@@ -275,12 +275,14 @@ void write_type_right(FILE *h, type_t *t, int is_field)
 {
   if (!h) return;
 
-  if (t->declarray) {
+  if (type_get_type(t) == TYPE_ARRAY && !type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(t)) {
     if (is_conformant_array(t)) {
       fprintf(h, "[%s]", is_field ? "1" : "");
       t = type_array_get_element(t);
     }
-    for ( ; t->declarray; t = type_array_get_element(t))
+    for ( ;
+         type_get_type(t) == TYPE_ARRAY && !type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(t);
+         t = type_array_get_element(t))
       fprintf(h, "[%u]", type_array_get_dim(t));
   }
 }
diff --git a/tools/widl/parser.y b/tools/widl/parser.y
index fb7dcaaeb23..395b1b7f1e1 100644
--- a/tools/widl/parser.y
+++ b/tools/widl/parser.y
@@ -1294,7 +1294,6 @@ type_t *make_type(unsigned char type, type_t *ref)
   memset(&t->details, 0, sizeof(t->details));
   t->typestring_offset = 0;
   t->ptrdesc = 0;
-  t->declarray = FALSE;
   t->ignore = (parse_only != 0);
   t->sign = 0;
   t->defined = FALSE;
@@ -1506,7 +1505,7 @@ static void set_type(var_t *v, decl_spec_t *decl_spec, const declarator_t *decl,
     else
       sizeless = TRUE;
 
-    *ptype = type_new_array(NULL, *ptype, TRUE,
+    *ptype = type_new_array(NULL, *ptype, FALSE,
                             dim->is_const ? dim->cval : 0,
                             dim->is_const ? NULL : dim, NULL);
   }
@@ -1522,11 +1521,11 @@ static void set_type(var_t *v, decl_spec_t *decl_spec, const declarator_t *decl,
           error_loc("%s: cannot specify size_is for a fixed sized array\n", v->name);
         else
           *ptype = type_new_array((*ptype)->name,
-                                  type_array_get_element(*ptype), TRUE,
+                                  type_array_get_element(*ptype), FALSE,
                                   0, dim, NULL);
       }
       else if (is_ptr(*ptype))
-        *ptype = type_new_array((*ptype)->name, type_pointer_get_ref(*ptype), FALSE,
+        *ptype = type_new_array((*ptype)->name, type_pointer_get_ref(*ptype), TRUE,
                                 0, dim, NULL);
       else
         error_loc("%s: size_is attribute applied to illegal type\n", v->name);
@@ -1546,7 +1545,7 @@ static void set_type(var_t *v, decl_spec_t *decl_spec, const declarator_t *decl,
       {
         *ptype = type_new_array((*ptype)->name,
                                 type_array_get_element(*ptype),
-                                (*ptype)->declarray,
+                                type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(*ptype),
                                 type_array_get_dim(*ptype),
                                 type_array_get_conformance(*ptype),
                                 dim);
diff --git a/tools/widl/proxy.c b/tools/widl/proxy.c
index 2999b3f5c54..10ec9d3d917 100644
--- a/tools/widl/proxy.c
+++ b/tools/widl/proxy.c
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ static void gen_stub(type_t *iface, const var_t *func, const char *cas,
   if (type_get_function_args(func->type))
   {
       LIST_FOR_EACH_ENTRY( arg, type_get_function_args(func->type), const var_t, entry )
-          fprintf(proxy, ", %s__frame->%s", arg->type->declarray ? "*" : "", arg->name);
+          fprintf(proxy, ", %s__frame->%s", is_array(arg->type) && !type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(arg->type) ? "*" :"" , arg->name);
   }
   fprintf(proxy, ");\n");
   fprintf(proxy, "\n");
diff --git a/tools/widl/server.c b/tools/widl/server.c
index 6f79cdb0b17..bfec342cf70 100644
--- a/tools/widl/server.c
+++ b/tools/widl/server.c
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ static void write_function_stubs(type_t *iface, unsigned int *proc_offset)
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    print_server("%s__frame->%s", var->type->declarray ? "*" : "", var->name);
+                    print_server("%s__frame->%s", is_array(var->type) && !type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(var->type) ? "*" : "", var->name);
                 }
             }
             fprintf(server, ");\n");
diff --git a/tools/widl/typegen.c b/tools/widl/typegen.c
index dead790a3e0..ae46338c007 100644
--- a/tools/widl/typegen.c
+++ b/tools/widl/typegen.c
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ unsigned char get_struct_fc(const type_t *type)
 
     typegen_type = typegen_detect_type(t, field->attrs, TDT_IGNORE_STRINGS);
 
-    if (typegen_type == TGT_ARRAY && t->declarray)
+    if (typegen_type == TGT_ARRAY && !type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(t))
     {
         if (is_string_type(field->attrs, field->type))
         {
@@ -885,7 +885,7 @@ static unsigned int write_conf_or_var_desc(FILE *file, const type_t *structure,
         return 4;
     }
 
-    if (is_ptr(type) || (is_array(type) && !type->declarray))
+    if (is_ptr(type) || (is_array(type) && type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(type)))
     {
         conftype = RPC_FC_POINTER_CONFORMANCE;
         conftype_string = "field pointer, ";
@@ -1185,7 +1185,7 @@ unsigned int type_memsize(const type_t *t, unsigned int *align)
         if (size > *align) *align = size;
         break;
     case TYPE_ARRAY:
-        if (t->declarray)
+        if (!type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(t))
         {
             if (is_conformant_array(t))
             {
@@ -1478,7 +1478,8 @@ static int write_no_repeat_pointer_descriptions(
     int written = 0;
     unsigned int align;
 
-    if (is_ptr(type) || (!type->declarray && is_conformant_array(type)))
+    if (is_ptr(type) ||
+        (is_conformant_array(type) && type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(type)))
     {
         unsigned int memsize;
 
@@ -1864,7 +1865,8 @@ static void write_pointer_description(FILE *file, type_t *type,
 
     /* pass 3: search for pointers in conformant only arrays (but don't descend
      * into conformant varying or varying arrays) */
-    if ((!type->declarray || !current_structure) && is_conformant_array(type))
+    if (is_conformant_array(type) &&
+        (type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(type) || !current_structure))
         write_conformant_array_pointer_descriptions(
             file, NULL, type, 0, typestring_offset);
     else if (type_get_type(type) == TYPE_STRUCT &&
@@ -1888,7 +1890,7 @@ static void write_pointer_description(FILE *file, type_t *type,
 
 int is_declptr(const type_t *t)
 {
-  return is_ptr(t) || (is_conformant_array(t) && !t->declarray);
+  return is_ptr(t) || (type_get_type(t) == TYPE_ARRAY && type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(t));
 }
 
 static unsigned int write_string_tfs(FILE *file, const attr_list_t *attrs,
@@ -1938,7 +1940,7 @@ static unsigned int write_string_tfs(FILE *file, const attr_list_t *attrs,
         return start_offset;
     }
 
-    if (type->declarray && !is_conformant_array(type))
+    if (type_get_type(type) == TYPE_ARRAY && !type_array_has_conformance(type))
     {
         unsigned int dim = type_array_get_dim(type);
 
@@ -1972,7 +1974,7 @@ static unsigned int write_string_tfs(FILE *file, const attr_list_t *attrs,
 
         *typestring_offset += write_conf_or_var_desc(
             file, current_structure,
-            (type->declarray && current_structure
+            (!type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(type) && current_structure
              ? type_memsize(current_structure, &align)
              : 0),
             type, type_array_get_conformance(type));
@@ -2004,7 +2006,7 @@ static unsigned int write_array_tfs(FILE *file, const attr_list_t *attrs, type_t
     int has_pointer;
     int pointer_type = get_attrv(attrs, ATTR_POINTERTYPE);
     unsigned int baseoff
-        = type->declarray && current_structure
+        = !type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(type) && current_structure
         ? type_memsize(current_structure, &align)
         : 0;
 
@@ -2072,7 +2074,7 @@ static unsigned int write_array_tfs(FILE *file, const attr_list_t *attrs, type_t
                 += write_conf_or_var_desc(file, current_structure, baseoff,
                                           type, length_is);
 
-        if (has_pointer && (!type->declarray || !current_structure))
+        if (has_pointer && (type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(type) || !current_structure))
         {
             print_file(file, 2, "0x%x, /* FC_PP */\n", RPC_FC_PP);
             print_file(file, 2, "0x%x, /* FC_PAD */\n", RPC_FC_PAD);
@@ -2115,7 +2117,7 @@ static const var_t *find_array_or_string_in_struct(const type_t *type)
     last_field = LIST_ENTRY( list_tail(fields), const var_t, entry );
     ft = last_field->type;
 
-    if (ft->declarray && is_conformant_array(ft))
+    if (is_conformant_array(ft) && !type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(ft))
         return last_field;
 
     if (type_get_type(ft) == TYPE_STRUCT)
@@ -2137,7 +2139,7 @@ static void write_struct_members(FILE *file, const type_t *type,
     if (fields) LIST_FOR_EACH_ENTRY( field, fields, const var_t, entry )
     {
         type_t *ft = field->type;
-        if (!ft->declarray || !is_conformant_array(ft))
+        if (!is_conformant_array(ft) || type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(ft))
         {
             unsigned int align = 0;
             unsigned int size = type_memsize(ft, &align);
@@ -2282,7 +2284,7 @@ static unsigned int write_struct_tfs(FILE *file, type_t *type,
                 else
                     write_pointer_tfs(file, ft, tfsoff);
             }
-            else if (!ft->declarray && is_conformant_array(ft))
+            else if (type_get_type(ft) == TYPE_ARRAY && type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(ft))
             {
                 unsigned int absoff = ft->typestring_offset;
                 short reloff = absoff - (*tfsoff + 2);
@@ -2752,7 +2754,7 @@ static int write_embedded_types(FILE *file, const attr_list_t *attrs, type_t *ty
     }
     case TGT_ARRAY:
         /* conformant arrays and strings are handled specially */
-        if (!type->declarray || !is_conformant_array(type))
+        if (!is_conformant_array(type) || type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(type) )
         {
             write_array_tfs(file, attrs, type, name, tfsoff);
             if (is_conformant_array(type))
@@ -3695,7 +3697,8 @@ void declare_stub_args( FILE *file, int indent, const var_t *func )
                 type_t *type_to_print;
                 char name[16];
                 print_file(file, indent, "%s", "");
-                if (var->type->declarray)
+                if (type_get_type(var->type) == TYPE_ARRAY &&
+                    !type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(var->type))
                     type_to_print = var->type;
                 else
                     type_to_print = type_pointer_get_ref(var->type);
@@ -3707,7 +3710,8 @@ void declare_stub_args( FILE *file, int indent, const var_t *func )
             print_file(file, indent, "%s", "");
             write_type_decl_left(file, var->type);
             fprintf(file, " ");
-            if (var->type->declarray) {
+            if (type_get_type(var->type) == TYPE_ARRAY &&
+                !type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(var->type)) {
                 fprintf(file, "(*%s)", var->name);
             } else
                 fprintf(file, "%s", var->name);
diff --git a/tools/widl/typelib.c b/tools/widl/typelib.c
index d6a2e2eb4a1..a8516023a37 100644
--- a/tools/widl/typelib.c
+++ b/tools/widl/typelib.c
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ unsigned short get_type_vt(type_t *t)
     return VT_PTR;
 
   case TYPE_ARRAY:
-    if (t->declarray)
+    if (!type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(t))
       error("get_type_vt: array types not supported\n");
     return VT_PTR;
 
diff --git a/tools/widl/typetree.c b/tools/widl/typetree.c
index 3a306847112..d11c0a62247 100644
--- a/tools/widl/typetree.c
+++ b/tools/widl/typetree.c
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ type_t *type_new_alias(type_t *t, const char *name)
 
     a->name = xstrdup(name);
     a->attrs = NULL;
-    a->declarray = FALSE;
     a->orig = t;
     a->is_alias = TRUE;
     init_loc_info(&a->loc_info);
@@ -79,12 +78,12 @@ type_t *type_new_module(char *name)
     return type;
 }
 
-type_t *type_new_array(const char *name, type_t *element, int declarray,
+type_t *type_new_array(const char *name, type_t *element, int declptr,
                        unsigned int dim, expr_t *size_is, expr_t *length_is)
 {
     type_t *t = make_type(RPC_FC_LGFARRAY, element);
     if (name) t->name = xstrdup(name);
-    t->declarray = declarray;
+    t->details.array.declptr = declptr;
     t->details.array.length_is = length_is;
     if (size_is)
         t->details.array.size_is = size_is;
diff --git a/tools/widl/typetree.h b/tools/widl/typetree.h
index a6bc982e288..fe9ce5c3954 100644
--- a/tools/widl/typetree.h
+++ b/tools/widl/typetree.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ type_t *type_new_function(var_list_t *args);
 type_t *type_new_pointer(type_t *ref, attr_list_t *attrs);
 type_t *type_new_alias(type_t *t, const char *name);
 type_t *type_new_module(char *name);
-type_t *type_new_array(const char *name, type_t *element, int declarray,
+type_t *type_new_array(const char *name, type_t *element, int declptr,
                        unsigned int dim, expr_t *size_is, expr_t *length_is);
 void type_interface_define(type_t *iface, type_t *inherit, statement_list_t *stmts);
 void type_dispinterface_define(type_t *iface, var_list_t *props, func_list_t *methods);
@@ -221,6 +221,13 @@ static inline type_t *type_array_get_element(const type_t *type)
     return type->ref;
 }
 
+static inline int type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(const type_t *type)
+{
+    type = type_get_real_type(type);
+    assert(type_get_type(type) == TYPE_ARRAY);
+    return type->details.array.declptr;
+}
+
 static inline int type_is_alias(const type_t *type)
 {
     return type->is_alias;
diff --git a/tools/widl/widltypes.h b/tools/widl/widltypes.h
index 875be834926..8ef84636c2b 100644
--- a/tools/widl/widltypes.h
+++ b/tools/widl/widltypes.h
@@ -293,7 +293,9 @@ struct module_details
 struct array_details
 {
   unsigned int dim;
-  expr_t *size_is, *length_is;
+  expr_t *size_is;
+  expr_t *length_is;
+  unsigned int declptr; /* if declared as a pointer */
 };
 
 struct coclass_details
@@ -338,7 +340,6 @@ struct _type_t {
   unsigned int ptrdesc;           /* used for complex structs */
   int typelib_idx;
   loc_info_t loc_info;
-  unsigned int declarray : 1;     /* if declared as an array */
   unsigned int ignore : 1;
   unsigned int defined : 1;
   unsigned int written : 1;
diff --git a/tools/widl/write_msft.c b/tools/widl/write_msft.c
index a92325a6bda..3ce5f78b249 100644
--- a/tools/widl/write_msft.c
+++ b/tools/widl/write_msft.c
@@ -1068,13 +1068,15 @@ static int encode_var(
     chat("encode_var: var %p type %p type->name %s type->ref %p\n",
          var, type, type->name ? type->name : "NULL", type->ref);
 
-    if (type->declarray) {
+    if (is_array(type) && !type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(type)) {
         int num_dims, elements = 1, arrayoffset;
         type_t *atype;
         int *arraydata;
 
         num_dims = 0;
-        for (atype = type; atype->declarray; atype = type_array_get_element(atype))
+        for (atype = type;
+             is_array(atype) && !type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(atype);
+             atype = type_array_get_element(atype))
             ++num_dims;
 
         chat("array with %d dimensions\n", num_dims);
@@ -1087,7 +1089,9 @@ static int encode_var(
         arraydata[1] |= ((num_dims * 2 * sizeof(int)) << 16);
 
         arraydata += 2;
-        for (atype = type; atype->declarray; atype = type_array_get_element(atype))
+        for (atype = type;
+             is_array(atype) && !type_array_is_decl_as_ptr(atype);
+             atype = type_array_get_element(atype))
         {
             arraydata[0] = type_array_get_dim(atype);
             arraydata[1] = 0;