How to Remove Or Disable A Target In Cmake?

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To remove or disable a target in CMake, you can use the set_target_properties command with the EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL property set to TRUE. This property ensures that the target is not included in the default build target. Additionally, you can use the INSTALL property to prevent the target from being installed when the install target is run. By setting these properties appropriately, you can effectively remove or disable a target in CMake.


How to remove a specific source file from a target in CMake?

In CMake, you can use the set_source_files_properties command to remove a specific source file from a target. Here's an example of how you can do this:

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# Remove the specific source file from the target
set_source_files_properties(path/to/source_file.cpp PROPERTIES HEADER_FILE_ONLY TRUE)


In this example, path/to/source_file.cpp is the path to the specific source file that you want to remove from the target. By setting the HEADER_FILE_ONLY property to TRUE, you are essentially removing the file from the target without actually deleting the file from the file system.


After adding this line to your CMakeLists.txt file, remember to regenerate the build system files for your project by running CMake again.


How to disable a test target in CMake?

To disable a specific test target in CMake, you can use the EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL property. Here is an example:

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# Add your test target
add_executable(my_test my_test.cpp)

# Exclude the test target from the default `make all` target
set_target_properties(my_test PROPERTIES EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL TRUE)


By setting the EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL property to TRUE for the test target, it will be excluded from the default build target make all. You can still run the test target individually using make my_test or by explicitly specifying the target in the make command.


How to remove a specific target property in CMake?

To remove a specific target property in CMake, you can use the "SET_TARGET_PROPERTIES" command with the property name you want to remove set to an empty string. Here's an example:

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set_target_properties(MyTarget PROPERTIES
    MY_PROPERTY ""
)


This will remove the "MY_PROPERTY" from the target "MyTarget". Make sure to replace "MyTarget" with the name of your target and "MY_PROPERTY" with the name of the property you want to remove.


What is the purpose of the add_subdirectory() function in CMake?

The add_subdirectory() function in CMake is used to include additional CMakeLists.txt files from subdirectories within the current CMakeLists.txt file. This function allows for better organization and management of complex projects by splitting the build process into smaller, more manageable parts. By using add_subdirectory(), you can link multiple directories together and easily control the build process of your project.


How to disable a specific target's use of custom functions in CMake?

To disable a specific target's use of custom functions in CMake, you can modify the CMakeLists.txt file that defines the target.


Here is an example of how you can disable custom functions for a specific target:

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# Define a custom function
function(custom_function)
  message("Custom function called!")
endfunction()

# Define your target
add_executable(my_target main.cpp)

# Call the custom function for the target
custom_function()

# Disable the use of custom function for the target
set_target_properties(my_target PROPERTIES COMPILE_DEFINITIONS "DISABLE_CUSTOM_FUNCTION")


In the example above, the custom function is defined using the function command, and then called for the my_target using custom_function(). To disable the use of the custom function for the target, you can set a compile definition DISABLE_CUSTOM_FUNCTION for the target using set_target_properties.


You can then add a condition inside the custom function to check if the compile definition DISABLE_CUSTOM_FUNCTION is set, and skip the execution of the custom function if it is set:

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function(custom_function)
  if(NOT DEFINED DISABLE_CUSTOM_FUNCTION)
    message("Custom function called!")
  endif()
endfunction()


By following these steps, you can disable the use of custom functions for a specific target in CMake.


What is CMake's add_custom_target function used for?

The add_custom_target function in CMake is used to create a target that is not associated with building a file or generating an output. This target can be used to execute custom commands or scripts as part of the build process. Custom targets can be used to perform tasks such as generating documentation, running tests, or copying files, among other things. They are typically used when the built-in build rules provided by CMake are not sufficient for a particular task.

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