I've written up a minor improvement to the make documentation. The
first change warns the user of the trouble that can happen when a file
name contains '='. The second change adds an explanation to the error
message "commands commence before first target", telling that it can
be a consequence of a file name containing '='.
(Please Cc: me on any reply, since I'm not on the bug-make mailing
list.)
Dale
----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff -ru /usr/local/src/make-3.79.1/make.texinfo make-3.79.1.doc/make.texinfo
--- /usr/local/src/make-3.79.1/make.texinfo 2000-06-20 10:00:17.000000000 -0400
+++ make-3.79.1.doc/make.texinfo 2004-01-23 15:18:41.000000000 -0500
@@ -1534,6 +1534,12 @@
the contents of the existing target file are no longer necessarily
valid.
+(Beware that if the first prerequisite contains an @samp{=}, the line
+will be interpreted as a target-specific variable assignment rather
+than as a rule. In the rare case
+that a file name contains @samp{=}, this can happen.
[EMAIL PROTECTED], ,Target-specific Variable Values}.)
+
How to update is specified by @var{commands}. These are lines to be
executed by the shell (normally @samp{sh}), but with some extra features
(@pxref{Commands, ,Writing the Commands in Rules}).
@@ -9533,9 +9539,16 @@
@code{make} command (such as a variable assignment). Command scripts
must always be associated with a target.
-The second form is generated if the line has a semicolon as the first
-non-whitespace character; @code{make} interprets this to mean you left
-out the "target: prerequisite" section of a rule. @xref{Rule Syntax}.
+These messages can also happen if the preceding rule line was mistaken
+for a target-specific variable assignment because the first
+prerequisite of the rule contained a @samp{=}.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Syntax}.
[EMAIL PROTECTED], ,Target-specific Variable Values}.
+
+The second form is also generated if the line has a semicolon as the first
+non-whitespace character; @code{make} interprets this to mean that the
+line is a combined rule and command line, and that you left
+out the "target: prerequisite" section of the rule. @xref{Rule Syntax}.
@item No rule to make target [EMAIL PROTECTED]'.
@itemx No rule to make target [EMAIL PROTECTED]', needed by [EMAIL PROTECTED]'.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Bug-make mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://mail.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/bug-make
