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

I believe the safest answer for cross-platform use would be to use one echo per line:

  ANNOUNCE.txt:
    rm -f $@
    echo "Version $(VERSION) of $(PACKAGE_NAME) has been released" > $@
    echo "" >> $@
    echo "It can be downloaded from $(DOWNLOAD_URL)" >> $@
    echo >> $@
    echo etc, etc" >> $@

This avoids making any assumptions of on the version of echo available.