Use settings to generate file prior to Compile-time

In visual c++ 6.0, is it possible to generate or touch a file prior to compile time.

This would allow the use of the __date__ macro in the above file to reflect the time of a build.

Well you can shell anything you want during the PreLink phase.. check project settings under the Pre-Link Step tab.. you could write a small console app that just writes the date to a file and run the console app in your pre-link step in another project.

Pre-link is post-compile, I want pre-compile

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/te...n_bldrul~1.htm
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ld_process.htm


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As far as I can tell, the following links:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/te...n_bldrul~1.htm

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ld_process.htm

provide information on how to perform pre-link and post-build operations. I am interested in
pre-compile operations.

Then you probably glanced at them, assuming they would not help. Some people do that, and I can't do much to help if they do.

If I am incorrect and there is not a way to at least add a file extension for files to be processed when out-of-date by a command that is specified for that file extension, then I apologize for wasting your time.


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Perhaps I misunderstand what you are saying. I thought that a rule that runs when an input file is out of date in relation to its output file or if the output file doesn’t exist would be something you could use.


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My rapid response to your post may suggest that I only glanced at the links that were provided. However, I had read them before sending my original post. That is not to say that they do not contain the information that I am looking for, only that I did not see it in them.

Also, my search for a "Settings"-only solution is motivated by the need to conform to established build procedures and existing documentation.