Microsoft KB Archive/154059

= PRB: Commands Fail in Makefile if Directory Over 66 Characters =

Article ID: 154059

Article Last Modified on 12/10/2003

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APPLIES TO

 Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.4, when used with:  Microsoft Visual C++ 1.0 Professional Edition

 Microsoft Visual C++ 1.5 Professional Edition

 Microsoft Visual C++ 1.52 Professional Edition

 Microsoft Visual C++ 1.0 Professional Edition</li></ul>

 Microsoft Visual C++ 2.0 Professional Edition</li></ul>

 Microsoft Visual C++ 2.1</li></ul>

 Microsoft Visual C++ 2.2</li></ul>

 Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 Standard Edition</li></ul>

 Microsoft Visual C++ 4.1 Subscription</li></ul>

 Microsoft Visual C++ 4.2 Enterprise Edition</li></ul>

 Microsoft Visual C++ 4.2 Professional Edition</li></ul>

 Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0 Enterprise Edition</li></ul>

<ul> <li>Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0 Professional Edition</li></ul>

<ul> <li>Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 Enterprise Edition</li></ul>

<ul> <li>Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 Professional Edition</li></ul>

<ul> <li>Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 Standard Edition</li></ul> </li></ul>

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<div class="notice_section">

This article was previously published under Q154059

<div class="symptoms_section">

SYMPTOMS
When running on Windows 95, commands in the makefile echo out to the screen but they do not execute. For example, the sample makefile shown below echoes the following commands: <pre class="fixed_text">  dir *.* md test but neither command is executed.

<div class="cause_section">

CAUSE
The directory in which you are running nmake is over 66 characters long. When running in MS-DOS mode on Windows 95, the MS-DOS limitation of 66 characters, including the drive and colon, still applies. Long filenames are counted as 8 characters when determining the total length of a directory.

<div class="resolution_section">

RESOLUTION
If you need to run NMAKE from the Command prompt, the fully qualified directory length cannot exceed 66 characters.

<div class="status_section">

STATUS
This behavior is by design.

<div class="moreinformation_section">

Sample Makefile
<pre class="fixed_text">ALL: dir *.* md test

Additional query words: 1.40 1.60.570 1.61.6038 Win95

Keywords: kbprb KB154059

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