Consider this simplified example:

  VPATH = src

  target : source1 source2
     cmd -opt source2 -otheropt $< -o $@

and source1/2 are both under directory "src". Everything is fine for $<, $^ and $+, because they know about $(VPATH). But not so for "source2" in the commnand line:

bash-2.05b$ gmake -n target
cmd -opt source2 -otheropt src/source1 -o target

Currently you have to write something like this to get what you want:

      cmd -opt $(filter %source2,$^) -otheropt $< -o $@

bash-2.05b$ gmake -n target
cmd -opt src/source2 -otheropt src/source1 -o target


It would be nice and safer to have a $(vpath) function instead which would allow $(VPATH) support for any argument, e.g.

     cmd -opt $(vpath source2) -otheropt $< -o $@

mailto:Stefan.Becker@nokia.com