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makefilenmake

Testing file existence in NMake

In a makefile for GNU Make I use this idiom to test whether a file exists:

static:
ifeq ($(wildcard $(FileName)),)
    # do something when the file doesn't exist
else
    # do something different when it does
endif

But it doesn't work in NMake (fatal error U1000: syntax error : ')' missing in macro invocation). How can I replace it? It would be perfect if the replacement works in both build systems.

Solution

  • csharptest.net's answer is almost on point, but it lacks a minuscule detail regarding the difference in indentation rules between commands and directives:

    static:
!if exists($(FileName)) 
    @echo $(FileName) does exist!
#^^^ DO MIND THE INDENTATION HERE, a command shall fail otherwise!
#
!else
!error $(FileName) does not exist!
#^^^^^ !directives don't have to be indented, though.
#
!endif

    Oddly enough, it can be either exist (as given in official docs) or exists to the same effect.