Make Utility Command Options

Options you can use with Make commands

Option Syntax Result
Build all targets /a Builds all specified targets, even if they are not out-of-date with respect to their dependent files.
Change Target Modification Dates /t Changes or "Touches" the modification dates for out-of-date target files to the current date. No commands are executed, and the target file is left unchanged.
Display Commands /n Causes Make commands to be displayed but not executed. Use /n to:
  • check which targets are out-of-date with respect to their dependents
  • debug description files
Display Help /help or /? Displays a brief summary of Make utility syntax and commands
Display Modification Dates /d Displays the modification date of each file when the dates of target and dependent files are checked.
Ignore Exit Codes /i Ignores exit codes (also called error level or return codes) returned by programs such as compilers or linkers called by the Make utility. If this option is not specified, the Make utility ends when a program returns a nonzero exit code.
Ignore TOOLS.INI File

 

/r Ignores:
  • all inference rules and macros contained in the TOOLS.INI file.
  • all predefined inference rules and macros
Override Environment Variables /e Disables inherited macro redefinition.

The Make utility inherits all current environment variables as macros, which can be redefined in a description file. The /E option disables any redefinition -- the inherited macro always has the value of the environment variable.

Print Macro and Target Definitions /p Writes all macro definitions and target definitions. Output is sent to the standard output device (typically the display).
Produce Error File /x stderrfile Produces a standard error file.
Return Exit Code /q Causes the Make utility to return either:
  • a 0 exit code if all targets built during a Make utility run are up-to-date
  • a nonzero exit code if they are not up-to-date
Specify Description File /f filename Specifies filename as the name of the description file to use. If a dash (-) is entered instead of a file name, the Make utiltiy reads a description file from the standard input device, typically the keyboard.

If a file name is not specified, it defaults to MAKEFILE.

Suppress Command Display /s Suppresses the display of commands as they are executed by the Make utility. It does not suppress the display of messages generated by the commands.

The /n command (Display Command) takes precedence over the /s option. If you use /n and /s together, commands are displayed but not executed.

Suppress Messages /c Suppresses display of the Make utility sign-on banner, non-fatal error messages, and warning messages. To suppress the sign-on banner without suppressing other messages, use the /NOLOGO option.
Suppress Sign-On Banner /NOLOGO Suppresses the sign-on banner display when the Make utility is started (not the same as Suppress Messages)

Use this option to run the Make utility from within a batch file.

 



Modify Commands in Makefiles
Escape Character