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Q65084: PRB: Spaces in Inference Rules Corrupt NMAKE Macro Expansion

Article: Q65084
Product(s): Microsoft Programming Utilities
Version(s): MS-DOS:1.01,1.1,1.11,1.12,1.13,1.2,1.3,1.4; 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 1.01, 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 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

An attempt to use an NMAKE default macro fails and NMAKE generates a message
such as the following:

  warning u4006: special macro undefined : '$<'

CAUSE
=====

A space has been inserted between the name of the target and the dependent
extensions in an inference rule.

RESOLUTION
==========

In an inference rule, list the dependent file extension followed by the target
file extension without any intervening embedded spaces.

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

The following makefile examples demonstrate a few of the problems that can
result when spaces are embedded in an inference rule. In both cases below, note
that the embedded spaces cause NMAKE to run commands incorrectly. If you modify
the files to remove the spaces, NMAKE generates the desired commands.

Sample Makefile 1
-----------------

  # The command executed by NMAKE:
  #
  #    cl {.}

  {.}.c {c:\objs\}.obj:
     cl $*

  c:\objs\test.obj: .\test.c

Sample Makefile 2
-----------------

  # The command executed by NMAKE:
  #
  #    cl

  .c .obj:
    cl $<

  ALL: myfile.obj

  myfile.obj: myfile.c

Additional query words: 1.10 1.20 1.30 1.40 1.50

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbNMAKESearch kbNMAKE101DOS kbNMAKE110DOS kbNMAKE111DOS kbNMAKE112DOS kbNMAKE113DOS kbNMAKE120DOS kbNMAKE130DOS kbNMAKE140DOS kbNMAKE101OS2 kbNMAKE111OS2 kbNMAKE112OS2 kbNMAKE113OS2 kbNMAKE121OS2 kbNMAKE140NT kbNMAKE150NT
Version           : MS-DOS:1.01,1.1,1.11,1.12,1.13,1.2,1.3,1.4; NT:1.4,1.5; OS/2:1.01,1.11,1.12,1.13,1.21

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

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