NMAKE Builds Only the First Target in Makefile

 Last reviewed: January 24, 1995
Article ID: Q40184
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft NMAKE Utility for MS-DOS, versions 1.01, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4
  • Microsoft NMAKE Utility for OS/2, versions 1.01, 1.11, and 1.21
  • Microsoft NMAKE Utility for Windows NT, versions 1.4 and 1.5

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If all files are out-of-date with respect to PROG1.C and the NMAKE command line is as follows 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 "ALL" 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 Using a pseudotarget causes NMAKE to build all the dependencies because the pseudotarget is always out-of-date.

REFERENCE

For more information, see the NMAKE documentation provided with your compiler or assembler.

Additional reference words: kbinf kbinf 1.20 1.30 1.40 1.50
KBCategory: kbtool
KBSubcategory: NmakeIss

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Last reviewed: January 24, 1995
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