Q116420: BUG: Running a Program in NMAKE Fails During Preprocessing

Article: Q116420
Product(s): Microsoft Programming Utilities
Version(s): 1.2,1.3,1.4
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kb16bitonly
Last Modified: 24-DEC-1999

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

- Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility (NMAKE), versions 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When running NMAKE on a makefile that executes an external program during
preprocessing with the bracket ("[]") syntax, you get the following error
message:

  fatal error U1023: syntax error in expression
  Stop.

CAUSE
=====

The bracket syntax does not work in NMAKE if the expression being evaluated uses
either the subtraction operator ("-") or the bitwise XOR operator ("^").

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft Program Maintenance
Utility (NMAKE), versions 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4.

This syntax is no longer documented and it is not supported in Visual C++ for
Windows version 1.51 or Visual C++ 32-bit Edition.

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

The bracket syntax can be used to have NMAKE run a program during preprocessing
of a makefile. NMAKE replaces the program specification in the makefile with the
program's return code. For example, if "Test" is a program that has a return
code of 1, after preprocessing, the makefile NMAKE would change the expression

  !IF [Test] != 0

to the following:

  !IF 1 != 0

The sample code below can be used to duplicate the problem with the bracket
syntax and the subtraction and bitwise XOR operators. To reproduce the problem,
build the Test program (which simply returns the integer value it has been
passed on the command line) and then run NMAKE on the sample makefile.

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

  /* TEST.CPP
     Compile options needed: none
  */ 

     #include <stdio.h>
     #include <stdlib.h>

     int main( int argc, char ** argv )
     {
         return atoi( argv[1] );
     }

     # MAKEFILE
     #
     # Command line options needed: none
     #
     # The expression [Test 4] - 4 should be preprocessed to be
     # 4 - 4, which evaluates to 0 or false. However, NMAKE issues
     # the U1023 error instead.

     all:
     !IF [Test 4] - 4
         @echo Expression evaluated to true
     !ELSE
         @echo Expression evaluated to false
     !ENDIF

Additional query words: 1.20 1.30 1.40 exclusive

======================================================================
Keywords          : kb16bitonly 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbNMAKESearch kbNMAKE120 kbNMAKE130 kbNMAKE140
Version           : :1.2,1.3,1.4

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

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.