PRB: Cause of U4004 Error Message

 Last reviewed: February 28, 1995
Article ID: Q66649
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft NMAKE for MS-DOS, versions 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4
  • Microsoft NMAKE for OS/2, versions 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, and 1.21
  • Microsoft NMAKE Utility for Windows NT, versions 1.4 and 1.5

SYMPTOMS

An attempt to use a makefile fails and NMAKE generates the following message: 

   warning U4004: too many rules for target 'test.exe'

CAUSE

The makefile contains more than one build dependency block for one target and the makefile does not use the multiple dependency block separator, a double colon (::).

RESOLUTION

To eliminate the error, modify the makefile to use the multiple dependency block separator.

MORE INFORMATION

The following makefile example demonstrates this warning.

Sample Makefile 1

all: test.exe

test.exe : test.c 

    cl test.c
test.exe : test.res 
    rc test.res
The following makefile example works as expected.

Sample Makefile 2

all: test.exe 

test.exe :: test.c    # Double colons are used here
    cl test.c
test.exe :: test.res # Double colons are used here 
    rc test.res

Additional reference words: 1.10 1.20 1.30 1.40 1.50
KBCategory: kbtool kberrmsg kbprb
KBSubcategory: NmakeIss

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Last reviewed: February 28, 1995
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