Q62332: Can’t Use Multiple Description Blocks with NMAKE Version 1.10

Article: Q62332
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 1.10
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | buglist1.10 fixlist1.11 b_basiccom | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 25-JUL-1990

Page 639 of "Microsoft BASIC 7.0: Programmer's Guide" explains how you
can use NMAKE to specify more than one description block for the same
target.

The example given on this page is the proper way to specify more than
one description block; however, this feature does not function
correctly in NMAKE version 1.10. It does function correctly in NMAKE
version 1.11.

NMAKE version 1.10 shipped with the Professional Development System
(PDS) BASIC version 7.00. NMAKE version 1.11 shipped with Microsoft C
Professional Development System (PDS) version 6.00.

The following example specifies more than one description block for
the same target by using two colons (::) as the separator instead of
one. The following example is taken from Page 639 of "Microsoft BASIC
7.0: Programmer's Guide":

      TARGET.LIB :: A.ASM B.ASM C.ASM
         MASM A.ASM B.ASM C.ASM;
         LIB TARGET -+A.OBJ -+B.OBJ -+C.OBJ;
      TARGET.LIB :: D.BAS E.BAS
         BC D.BAS;
         BC E.BAS;
         LINK D.OBJ E.OBJ;
         LIB TARGET -+D.OBJ -+E.OBJ;

Given the two description blocks above, NMAKE should update the
library named TARGET.LIB. In the first description block, if any of
the assembly language files have changed more recently than the
library, the assembly files will be assembled and the library will be
updated with the new .OBJs. In the second description block, the BASIC
files that have changed should be compiled and the library should also
be updated with the new OBJs.

When using NMAKE version 1.10, the commands in the first description
block are executed correctly; however, the commands in the second
description block are never executed.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in NMAKE version 1.10.
This problem was corrected in version 1.11.

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.