PRB: NMAKE Runs But Does Not Produce OBJ and EXE Files

ID: Q49502

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, 1.4
Microsoft NMAKE Utility for OS/2, versions 1.01, 1.11, 1.21

SYMPTOMS

When the NMAKE utility processes a makefile, even though no warnings occur and the compiler appears to execute properly, no OBJ or EXE file is created. When the MAKE utility processes the same makefile, the following messages appear on the screen:

warning U4000: Target does not exist.
warning U4001: Dependent does not exist; Target not built.

NMAKE may generate the following

warning D4021 : no action performed

CAUSE

This problem can occur when extra characters appear at the end of a line in the makefile.

RESOLUTION

Modify the makefile to remove the unexpected trailing characters.

MORE INFORMATION

The following makefile demonstrates this problem. To address this problem, remove the semicolon from the end of the CL command.

Sample Makefile


file.obj: file.c    # Error: do not use semicolon with CL command
   CL /c /Lp file.c;

file.exe: file.obj  # OK: LINK command accepts semicolon
   LINK file;

Additional query words: 1.20 1.30 1.40

Keywords : kb16bitonly
Version : MS-DOS:1.01,1.11,1.12,1.13,1.2,1.3,1.4; OS/2:1.01,1.11,1.21
Platform : MS-DOS OS/2
Issue type :