Is it possible to create a multi-line string variable in a Makefile

Question

I want to create a makefile variable that is a multi-line string (e.g. the body of an email release announcement). something like

ANNOUNCE_BODY=\"
Version $         


        

Answer 1

Yes. You escape the newlines with \:

VARIABLE="\
THIS IS A VERY LONG\
TEXT STRING IN A MAKE VARIABLE"

update

Ah, you want the newlines? Then no, I don't think there's any way in vanilla Make. However, you can always use a here-document in the command part

[This does not work, see comment from MadScientist]

foo:
    echo <