Search Order for Include Files when Using APPEND Command

MS-DOS                 | WINDOWS

The information in this article applies to:

• The Microsoft C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE) included with:

      - Microsoft C for MS-DOS, versions 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0ax
      - Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0
      - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0 and 1.5
  

A data file path can be specified in MS-DOS by using the APPEND command. MS-DOS searches for a data file using the APPEND path. A file included by a C program can be in a directory that is in the data file path. The C compiler searches for the include file in the following order:

#include<filename>
   1. Directories specified by the INCLUDE environment variable
   2. Directories specified by the APPEND command

#include"filename"
   1. Current directory
   2. Directories specified by the APPEND command
   3. Directories specified by the INCLUDE environment variable

Note: The APPEND command can cause other problems during compilation, linking, and execution. Microsoft recommends not using the APPEND command when developing C programs.