How to compile with Nmake?

Question

So I'm trying to compile a C project I downloaded using nmake, however I don't know why it isn't working. There's a PATHS.mak file whose contents are:

PATH=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\bin
INCLUDE=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\include
LIB=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\lib

I'm using the Visual Studio Developer Command Prompt to do it. I go the place where the .mak file is and run nmake, however the error I get is:

    cl -c -nologo -WX -W3 -Oax2 -I C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual S
    tudio 14.0\VC\include -I C:\Users\..\Desktop\School\GERBIL02\src -I C:\Users\..\Desktop\School\GERBIL02\src\engine -Zi C:\Users\..\Desktop\School\GERBIL02
\src\engine\engine.c /FoC:\Users\..\Desktop\School\GERBIL02\ship\engine
'cl' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
 operable program or batch file.
 NMAKE : fatal error U1077: 'cl' : return code '0x1'
 Stop.

I've seen something about running a vcvarsall.bat file, but I'm unable to find the file, and I'm not sure if it is applicable. Anyone know why it won't work? Thanks

Are there any errors when when you first open the Command prompt window? What happens when you type cl at the command prompt? — Brian Tompsett - 汤莱恩
There are no errors when I open the Developer Command Prompt for VS 2015 (which I think I'm supposed to be using). Typing cl causes an error where it says cl is not an internal/external command, operable program or batch file. — TLF

James Troccoli James Troccoli · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-28T15:50:54

I had this problem, in my case it was because Visual Studio was installed with C# but C++ isn't actually installed by default and so I had to run the VS setup again to choose C++. Might not be your issue, but just thought I'd mention in case.

How to compile with Nmake?

1 Answers