Build timestamp in C++

[cheer8923]

On Unix, we have the following practice:

The command for the final executable has a timestamp automatically added:

app: ${OBJ}
date +"extern const double VERSION=%Y%m%d.%H%M%S" > version.cpp
gcc version.cpp ${OBJ} -o app

In VS, the Custom Build Step can be used to create version.cpp. However, I don't see any way to include it on the build line.

If I introduce a dummy file and make a custom build rule to generate version.cpp all the time, it will end up forcing a new link when nothing else changed -- on Unix, only when sth. changes the link command will be invoked.

Is there any way to do this in Visual Studio?

 

[xwb]

How about

1) Create a dummy project like AAA build everything. All other projects depend on it. This is the one with the custom build step.
2) If you want a development build, use what you use normally.
3) If you want a new date run the dummy project.

 

[cheer8923]

I've solved the problem by manually adding a pre-link event. In it, a cpp file has to be created and compiled. Then the resulting obj is added to the link line