Inline files in a makefile
An inline file contains text you specify in the makefile. Its name can be used in commands as input (for example, a LINK command file), or it can pass commands to the operating system. The file is created on disk when a command that creates the file is run.
Specify an inline file
Specify two angle brackets (<<) in the command where filename is to appear. The angle brackets can't be a macro expansion. The filename is optional:
<<filename
When the command is run, the angle brackets are replaced by filename, if specified, or by a unique NMAKE-generated name. If specified, filename must follow angle brackets without a space or tab. A path is permitted. No extension is required or assumed. If filename is specified, the file is created in the current or specified directory, overwriting any existing file by that name. Otherwise, it's created in the TMP directory (or the current directory, if the TMP environment variable isn't defined). If a previous filename is reused, NMAKE replaces the previous file.
Create inline file text
Inline files are temporary or permanent.
inline_text
.
.
.
<<[KEEP | NOKEEP]
Specify your inline_text on the first line after the command. Mark the end with double angle brackets (<<) at the beginning of a separate line, followed by an optional KEEP or NOKEEP. The file contains all inline_text before the delimiting brackets. The inline_text can have macro expansions and substitutions, but not directives or makefile comments. Spaces, tabs, and newline characters are treated literally.
A temporary file exists for the duration of the session and can be reused by other commands. Specify KEEP after the closing angle brackets to retain the file after the NMAKE session; an unnamed file is preserved on disk with the generated filename. Specify NOKEEP or nothing for a temporary file. KEEP and NOKEEP are not case sensitive.
Reuse inline files
To reuse an inline file, specify <<filename where the file is defined and first used, then reuse filename without << later in the same or another command. The command to create the inline file must run before all commands that use the file.
Multiple inline files
A command can create more than one inline file:
command << <<
inline_text
<<[KEEP | NOKEEP]
inline_text
. . .
inline_text
<<[KEEP | NOKEEP]
For each file, specify one or more lines of inline text followed by a closing line containing the delimiter and optional KEEP or NOKEEP. Begin the second file's text on the line following the delimiting line for the first file.