FIX: Macros w/ Different Case Can't Be Assigned to Each Other

MS-DOS              | OS/2

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft NMAKE for MS-DOS, versions 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, and 1.2
• Microsoft NMAKE for OS/2, versions 1.11, 1.12, and 1.13

SYMPTOMS

NMAKE version 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, or 1.2 macros that are the same but have a different case cannot be assigned to one another. This kind of macro assignment results in nothing being assigned. For example, the sample makefile below displays

   upper and

   upper and lowercase

RESOLUTION

Even though NMAKE macros are case sensitive, this type of assignment is not successful. Two workarounds are:

- Use a temporary MACRO to perform the assignment. For example,

     target= file.exe;
     TEMP = $(target)
     TARGET = $(TEMP)

  -or-

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in NMAKE versions 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, and 1.2 for MS-DOS and versions 1.11, 1.12, and 1.13 for OS/2. This problem was corrected in NMAKE version 1.3.

Sample Makefile

target = lowercase TARGET = upper and $(target)

ALL:

   @echo $(TARGET)