Hi, using make 3.79.1 on multiple platforms, I've discovered a bahavior of make that I cannot explain: When intermediates are created using a pattern rule with multiple targets, only the first (intermediate) target to be created is deleted after the processing has ended. As an example, I have a 'file.input' with arbitrary contents, and I'm using the following makefile:
# The next line can be a workaround in some cases # but no wildcard like %.int is allowed #.INTERMEDIATE: file.int file-nodelete.int all: file.out file-nodelete.out %.out: %.int cat $< > $@ %-nodelete.int %.int: %.input echo "intfile, target $(subst -nodelete,,$*).int" > $(subst -nodelete,,$*).int echo "intfile nodelete, target $(subst -nodelete,,$*)-nodelete.int" > $(subst -nodelete,,$*)-nodelete.int clean: rm -f *.int *.out The two 'echo' lines will possibly get mangled by my/your mail client, but I hope the intention is clear. Since 'file.out' is the first prerequisite of target 'all', the intermediate 'file.int' is created first, but the commands for it also create 'file-nodelete.int' in the process. The commands are - correctly - executed only once. Now, if 'file-nodelete.out' would not be a prerequisite of all, 'file-nodelete.int' would arguably not be deleted afterwards, possibly since make doesn't retain any knowledge about files it doesn't need. However, since 'file-nodelete.int' is a required intermediate file, I would expect it to be deleted after the process, just like 'file.int' is. The output of running make, however, reads like this: [jbezem] darkstar:TmpTest/$ make -f Makefile-indirect echo "intfile, target file.int" > file.int echo "intfile nodelete, target file-nodelete.int" > file-nodelete.int cat file.int > file.out rm file.int I've tested this both on Windows NT4, using CygWin 1.3.10, make 3.79.1-5, and on Solaris 2.7, make 3.79.1. The inclusion of the special target name '.INTERMEDIATE' for all *.int files induces make to delete both files, however, wildcards are not supported... I couldn't find anything in the archives or the manual, either. Is this a true bug, or can someone teach me how to RTFM? Ciao, Johan Bezem CSK Software AG _______________________________________________ Bug-make mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/bug-make