## Compilation Description

### Definition

A compilation description defines how VMAKE translates the module files.

### Use

A compilation description lists the module files with their dependencies and translation-specific options.

The following dependencies between module files can exist:

· Include dependencies (include file)

· Dependencies, such as certain auxiliary files that must be located in the same directory as the module file to be translated (demand=<list>) during the translation process

· Logical dependencies – if, for example, the module file X links a file Y that produces the module file Z when it is translated (extdep=<list>)

Compilation descriptions are always created for groups of module files, not for individual module files. The compilation description has the same name as the group. Compilation descriptions have the file extension .com.

If the layer ak exists in the directory containing the module files (src), then the directory with the description files (desc) must contain the compilation description ak.com .

If a layer under the directory with the module files (src) contains further sublayers, the hierarchy must be recreated up to the second last level in the directory containing the description files (desc). The name of the compilation description is then formed from the last sublayer and the file extension .com.

The compilation description for module files in the SAPDB/DBM/Cli layer has the name Cli.com and is located in the directory containing the description files (desc) under SAPDB/DBM.

The processing steps of a compilation description are addressed selectively and are not processed sequentially.

#### Variants

You can also create compilation descriptions directly in the directory for the module files (src) with the same name and the file extension .com.

The compilation description for module files in the SAPDB/DBM/Cli layer has the name Cli.com and is located in the src/SAPDB/DBM/Cli directory.

VMAKE always searches first for compilation descriptions in the directory of the description files (desc).

See also:

Directory Structure of the Development Environment