Microsoft KB Archive/60746

= PRB: NMAKE Invokes MASM Instead of the C Compiler =

Article ID: 60746

Article Last Modified on 10/23/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.2
 * Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.2
 * Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.2
 * Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.2
 * Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.2
 * Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.2
 * Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.3
 * Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.4
 * Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.4
 * Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility 1.4
 * 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 Q60746



SYMPTOMS
When using an NMAKE file in combination with adding /Fa to the compiler options within Programmer's WorkBench (PWB) or Visual Workbench, NMAKE will invoke the Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM), if it is in the current search path.

This does not occur the first time you build your application, but it does occur the second time, and thereafter, because of the generation of the .ASM created by the compiler.



CAUSE
Files with the .ASM extension have a predefined inference rule within NMAKE to invoke MASM. However, the inference rule for .ASM files takes place before the rule for files with the .C or .OBJ extension. Therefore, if you have a filename with the same base name, but one has an .ASM extension and the other has a .C extension (as is the case with the /FA switch), the .ASM file will be assembled before the .C file will be compiled. Since the assembly step generates an .OBJ file that is newer than the .C file, the .C file is never compiled.



RESOLUTION
Use the following procedures to work around this behavior:  The best workaround is to use /Fa [LSTFILE.EXT] with a filename included as a compiler option, instead of allowing the /Fa option to default to its .ASM.

Example: /Fa .ASC

In using this method, the .C file will be compiled, instead of the .ASM version being assembled. Use the /Fc compiler option in place of the /Fa option (if you just want to look at an assembly source listing). This produces a .COD file (combined assembly and C source listing). Use the /R switch for the NMAKE invocation to ignore inference rules and macros that are predefined or defined in the TOOLS.INI file.

Additional query words: 1.10 1.20 1.30 1.40

Keywords: kb16bitonly KB60746

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