Copyright: ® Gregg Irwin


Help Contents
Contents

Overview

Description

Quick Start

Operation

How it Works

History

Version 1.2  09/15/94

Version 1.11  08/24/94

Version 1.1  08/23/94

Version 1.0  02/17/94


Description

You know you should be doing clean compiles of your VB apps but you don't because it's a pain in the neck. VB Make makes it easier on you. Add your projects to the list, select the ones you want to compile, and go have a cup of coffee.

I didn't take a lot of time to do a real nice interface design but hey, it works and now I do clean compiles every time. Hope you find it useful.

As usual, this software is provided as is, no warranty expressed or implied, blah, blah, blah.

--Gregg Irwin [72450,676]


Quick Start

1.	Start VB Make

2.	Press the  << Add...  button

3.	Select a project MAK file and press OK

4.	Press the  Select All  button

5.	Make sure the Location of VB.EXE textbox contains the correct location of VB.EXE on your system.

6.	Press the  Compile  button

7.	Wait for the beep. It's done!


Operation

Adding projects to the list

Removing projects from the list

Selecting projects to compile

Compiling projects

Setting the location of VB.EXE

Exiting the program


Adding projects to the list

To add a project to the list press the << Add... button. you will get a common dialog from which you select the MAK file for the project you want to add to the list.

If you decide to get tricky and add files, other than Visual Basic MAK files, to the list you'll get what you deserve.


Removing projects from the list

To remove a project from the list press the Remove button. At that time all selected files will be removed from the list and discarded. There is no Undo feature so be careful.


Selecting projects to compile

The Projects list allows you to select multiple projects for batch compilation.

To select a single project, single-click on the project you wish to compile (it should then be highlighted).

To select multiple files you can use one of the following methods:

•	Hold down the Ctrl key while selecting projects. This will cause previously selected projects to remain selected.

•	Select a project then select another while holding down the Shift key. This will select the range of projects between the two projects you clicked on.

•	If the list box has focus, press the up or down arrow keys while holding down the Shift key.

Pressing Select All selects all the files in the list.


Compiling projects

When you press the Compile button all MAK files selected in the list will be compiled, in order.While VB is busy, VB Make will be minimized and it will restore when all is said and done. Make sure the Location of VB is specified (you must include VB.EXE on the end, not just the path, but hey it's a quickie). Oh yeah, it will beep after each file is compiled, in case your not watching. Remember, only selected files are compiled.


Setting the location of VB.EXE

In order for VB Make to do its thing it has to know where VB.EXE is located. Simply type the path information (including the VB.EXE filename) into the Location of VB.EXE text box.


Exiting the program

Selecting File|Exit, exits the program, AT WHICH TIME the files in the list and the location of VB are written to VBMAKE.DAT for future use. You can modify the file manually if you want but the location of VB must always be on the first line. Take your chances.


How it Works

VB Make uses the not-very-well-documented /MAKE command line switch, along with the project file name (the MAK file), to control Visual Basic. When VB sees the /MAKE command line switch, it loads the project passed on the command line, compiles it, and exits. If multiple files are selected in the Projects list, VB Make just passes them, one at a time, to VB, and waits for it to finish before passing the next one.


Version 1.2	09/15/94

•	Added context-sensitive help (mostly for practice<g>). VB Make is so simple you shouldn't need it.

•	Added trap to see if VB is running before trying to compile projects

•	Added check to see if project filename extension is "MAK"

•	VB Make now forces VB to honor the Path and ExeName info in the MAK file. Apparently VB doesn't recognize the information in the MAK file when compiling  from the command line. Thanks to Al Franz for pointing this out.

•	More descriptive message than "File Not Found" displayed if no data file is found

•	FieldPack (FLDPAK12.DLL) by Software Source required by this version


Version 1.11	08/24/94

•	Fixed Tab Order of controls

•	Resized and aligned controls slightly (command buttons looked a bit ugly with focus)


Version 1.1	08/23/94

•	Removed VBCTL3D from the project.

•	Replaced some buttons with menus

•	Added About box

•	NO VBXs required by this version (COMMDLG.DLL is still required)


Version 1.0	02/17/94

•	Initial Release


Glossary of Terms

VB Make

Software Source


VB Make

VB Make is a small batch compiler for Visual Basic. It was written by Gregg Irwin [72450,676]


Software Source

Makers of FieldPack and VB/ISAM. Other than the fact that I used FieldPack for this project there's no relation between them and this application.

Phone: 510.623.7854