KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q63146: NMAKE Always Evaluates Expressions in Square Brackets "[]"

Article: Q63146
Product(s): Microsoft Programming Utilities
Version(s): MS-DOS:1.1,1.11,1.12,1.13,1.2,1.3,1.4; NT:1.4,1.5; OS/2:1.01,1.11,1.12,1.13,1.21
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 31-OCT-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft NMAKE Utility for MS-DOS, versions 1.1, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 
- Microsoft NMAKE Utility for OS/2, versions 1.01, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.21 
- Microsoft NMAKE Utility for Windows NT, versions 1.4, 1.5 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

In NMAKE, if you use the !IF directive with an expression in square brackets
"[]", NMAKE evaluates the expression when it first reads the makefile, before it
evaluates any dependency blocks or executes any commands.

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

NMAKE uses square brackets to run an application in an !IF expression.

NMAKE is designed to run all specified programs when it first starts, it does not
matter whether they are contained in a dependency block. NMAKE uses the values
returned by the programs to evaluate the !IF expression.

The following makefile displays this behavior:

  test.exe: test.c

  !IF ( [check /f] < 3 )
  cl test.c
  !ENDIF

In this example, NMAKE runs the CHECK program each time it evaluates the
makefile. It does not matter that TEST.EXE is up to date with TEST.C or not.

Additional query words: kbinf 1.10 1.20 1.30 1.40 1.50

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbNMAKESearch kbNMAKE110DOS kbNMAKE111DOS kbNMAKE112DOS kbNMAKE113DOS kbNMAKE120DOS kbNMAKE130DOS kbNMAKE140DOS kbNMAKE101OS2 kbNMAKE111OS2 kbNMAKE112OS2 kbNMAKE113OS2 kbNMAKE121OS2 kbNMAKE140NT kbNMAKE150NT
Version           : MS-DOS:1.1,1.11,1.12,1.13,1.2,1.3,1.4; NT:1.4,1.5; OS/2:1.01,1.11,1.12,1.13,1.21

=============================================================================

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.