KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q86813: FIX: Macros w/ Different Case Can’t Be Assigned to Each Other

Article: Q86813
Product(s): Microsoft Programming Utilities
Version(s): MS-DOS:1.11,1.12,1.13,1.2; OS/2:1.11,1.12,1.13
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kb16bitonly
Last Modified: 30-OCT-1999

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

- Microsoft NMAKE Utility for MS-DOS, versions 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.2 
- Microsoft NMAKE Utility for OS/2, versions 1.11, 1.12, 1.13 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

NMAKE version 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, or 1.2 macros that are the same but have a
different case cannot be assigned to one another. This kind of macro assignment
results in nothing being assigned. For example, the sample makefile below
displays

  upper and

when the output should be as follow:

  upper and lowercase

RESOLUTION
==========

Even though NMAKE macros are case sensitive, this type of assignment is not
successful. Two workarounds are:

- Use a temporary MACRO to perform the assignment. For example,

       target= file.exe;
       TEMP = $(target)
       TARGET = $(TEMP)

-or-

- Give each macro a unique name.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in NMAKE versions 1.11, 1.12, 1.13,
and 1.2 for MS-DOS and versions 1.11, 1.12, and 1.13 for OS/2. This problem was
corrected in NMAKE version 1.3.

Sample Makefile
---------------

  target = lowercase
  TARGET = upper and $(target)

  ALL:

     @echo $(TARGET)

Additional query words: 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.20 buglist1.11 buglist1.12 buglist1.13 buglist1.20 fixlist1.30

======================================================================
Keywords          : kb16bitonly 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbNMAKESearch kbNMAKE111DOS kbNMAKE112DOS kbNMAKE113DOS kbNMAKE120DOS kbNMAKE111OS2 kbNMAKE112OS2 kbNMAKE113OS2
Version           : MS-DOS:1.11,1.12,1.13,1.2; OS/2:1.11,1.12,1.13
Solution Type     : kbfix

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

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.