How to FORCE compilation order?

[WSinc]

This is something about the features in VS 2010 or even earlier.

We sometimes need to have the subroutines or program units compile in a specific order,
for example if we make changes to a CALLED routine in the interface.

If we compile the CALLING routine first, it does not know about the inferface changes, so
we get error messages.

Ideally, we should be alerted if there is a different interface before the compilation is done.

Example: If program PROG1 calls subroutine SUB1, is there a way to force it to recompile SUB1
first?

Maybe there is also a way to SKIP OVER routines that are never invoked, rather than specifically having to
exclude them from the current project, like we do now. This might involve some knowledge of the
"calling tree" ahead of time.

[Steven_L_Intel1]

There is no way to do this. I recommend that if you change the interface to as routine, do a "rebuild" to clear old generated interface information.

I will also point out that if you used modules and not external procedures, you would not have this problem.

[WSinc]

Compilation order is still an issue, even when using MODULES. the reason being

that I have to compile the MODULE first before any routines that USE it

can see the chenges.

I will do a rebuild though, as you suggested.

[Steven_L_Intel1]

Do you use :: in your USE statements? For example:

USE :: MYMOD

This is known to cause problems for the build dependency checker. I think this is fixed in Update 9, however.

[Arjen_Markus]

Another way to do this is by creating separate projects and force the correct order by
setting the dependencies. That is:
- create projects containing modules that are mutually independent only
- source code in a project may depend on other modules in _other_ projects but not
on modules within the same project.

Regards,

Arjen

[WSinc]

I will experiment with both suggestions -

But, a nice feature would be to have a "calling tree" that is
starting with one MAIN program, allow it to figure out the calling
order in a top down fashion.

As far as I know, you can't have a project with more than one MAIN program.

Otherwise it could give you a CHOICE as to which MAIN program to invoke at start of
execution.