Setting Output Variables

One way to record the results of tests is to set output variables, which are shell variables whose values are substituted into files that configure outputs. The two macros below create new output variables. See section Preset Output Variables, for a list of output variables that are always available.

Macro: AC_SUBST (variable)

Create an output variable from a shell variable. Make AC_OUTPUT substitute the variable variable into output files (typically one or more `Makefile's). This means that AC_OUTPUT will replace instances of `@variable@' in input files with the value that the shell variable variable has when AC_OUTPUT is called. The value of variable should not contain literal newlines.

Macro: AC_SUBST_FILE (variable)

Another way to create an output variable from a shell variable. Make AC_OUTPUT insert (without substitutions) the contents of the file named by shell variable variable into output files. This means that AC_OUTPUT will replace instances of `@variable@' in output files (such as `Makefile.in') with the contents of the file that the shell variable variable names when AC_OUTPUT is called. Set the variable to `/dev/null' for cases that do not have a file to insert.

This macro is useful for inserting `Makefile' fragments containing special dependencies or other make directives for particular host or target types into `Makefile's. For example, `configure.in' could contain:

AC_SUBST_FILE(host_frag)dnl
host_frag=$srcdir/conf/sun4.mh

and then a `Makefile.in' could contain:

@host_frag@

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