Search Order for Include Files when Using APPEND Command

ID: Q40588

6.00 6.00a 6.00ax 7.00 | 1.00 1.50

MS-DOS                 | WINDOWS

kbtool

The information in this article applies to:

The Microsoft C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE) included with:

    - Microsoft C for MS-DOS, versions 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0ax
    - Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0
    - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0 and 1.5

A data file path can be specified in MS-DOS by using the APPEND command. MS-DOS searches for a data file using the APPEND path. A file included by a C program can be in a directory that is in the data file path. The C compiler searches for the include file in the following order:

#include<filename>
   1. Directories specified by the INCLUDE environment variable
   2. Directories specified by the APPEND command

#include"filename"
   1. Current directory
   2. Directories specified by the APPEND command
   3. Directories specified by the INCLUDE environment variable

Please refer to your MS-DOS documentation for specific information about using the APPEND command.

Note: The APPEND command can cause other problems during compilation, linking, and execution. Microsoft recommends not using the APPEND command when developing C programs.

Additional reference words: kbinf 1.00 1.50 6.00 6.00a 6.00ax 7.00 8.00 KBCategory: kbtool KBSubcategory: CLIss Keywords : kb16bitonly

Last Reviewed: July 18, 1997