Microsoft KB Archive/40184

= NMAKE Builds Only the First Target in Makefile =

Article ID: 40184

Article Last Modified on 11/17/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.4
 * Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.4
 * Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.4

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This article was previously published under Q40184



SUMMARY
By default, the NMAKE file maintenance utility builds only the first target in a makefile, if the command line does not explicitly list a target to build. The MAKE file maintenance utility defaults to building each target listed in the makefile.



MORE INFORMATION
The following code example demonstrates this behavior. The MAKE utility compiles PROG1.C and links PROG1.OBJ while the NMAKE utility only compiles PROG1.C. This is an important consideration when you port a makefile from MAKE to NMAKE.

Sample Code
# Build options required: None

PROG1.OBJ : PROG1.C      cl /Zi /c PROG1.C

PROG1.EXE : PROG1.OBJ link /CO PROG1.OBJ If all files are out-of-date with respect to PROG1.C and the NMAKE command line is as follows

NMAKE /f makefile

the NMAKE utility executes only the following command:

cl /Zi /c prog1.c

NMAKE defaults to building only the first target in the makefile. To achieve the desired results, specify the desired target, PROG1.EXE, on the NMAKE command-line or modify the makefile to add the following line to the beginning of the file:

ALL : PROG1.EXE

NMAKE builds the pseudotarget &quot;ALL&quot; because it is the first target in the makefile. Using a pseudotarget causes NMAKE to build all the dependencies because the pseudotarget is always out-of-date.

