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Specifying Input Dependencies

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Specifying input dependencies on a per-file basis is a way to ensure that your build steps run in the order you need them to. For example, you may have a custom build step that creates an output file, MyOutput.h. Another file in the project, MyInput.cpp, may have a build rule that depends on MyOutput.h. You can specify MyOutput.h as an input dependency to MyInput.cpp, and the build system will first ensure that MyOutput.h exists and is up-to-date before running the custom build steps for MyInput.cpp.

You can specify input dependencies to a file even if the build process doesn't recognize the extension of either the input file or the dependent file.

To specify input dependencies

  1. On the Project menu, click Settings.

  2. Specify the project configuration and select the file for which you want to specify input dependencies.

  3. Select the Custom Build tab.

    Note   If the file type is one that is already handled by the build system (such as .cpp, rc., .idl) you need to check the Always use custom build step option on the General tab in order for the Custom Build tab to appear.

  4. Click the Dependencies button.

  5. Type all of the input files into the User-defined dependencies dialog box.