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Q40184: NMAKE Builds Only the First Target in Makefile

Article: Q40184
Product(s): Microsoft Programming Utilities
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 29-JAN-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft NMAKE Utility for MS-DOS 
- Microsoft NMAKE Utility for OS/2 
- Microsoft NMAKE Utility for Windows NT 
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SUMMARY
=======

By default, the NMAKE file maintenance utility builds only the first target in a
makefile, if the command line does not explicitly list a target to build. The
MAKE file maintenance utility defaults to building each target listed in the
makefile.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The following code example demonstrates this behavior. The MAKE utility compiles
PROG1.C and links PROG1.OBJ while the NMAKE utility only compiles PROG1.C. This
is an important consideration when you port a makefile from MAKE to NMAKE.

Sample Code
-----------

       # Build options required: None

     PROG1.OBJ : PROG1.C
         cl /Zi /c PROG1.C

     PROG1.EXE : PROG1.OBJ
         link /CO PROG1.OBJ

If all files are out-of-date with respect to PROG1.C and the NMAKE command line
is as follows

  NMAKE /f makefile

the NMAKE utility executes only the following command:

  cl /Zi /c prog1.c

NMAKE defaults to building only the first target in the makefile. To achieve the
desired results, specify the desired target, PROG1.EXE, on the NMAKE
command-line or modify the makefile to add the following line to the beginning
of the file:

  ALL : PROG1.EXE

NMAKE builds the pseudotarget "ALL" because it is the first target in the
makefile. Using a pseudotarget causes NMAKE to build all the dependencies
because the pseudotarget is always out-of-date.

REFERENCES
==========

For more information, see the NMAKE documentation provided with your compiler or
assembler.

Additional query words: kbinf 1.20 1.30 1.40 1.50

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbNMAKESearch
Version           : :

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