Unexpected 'XML output file may not be null' message when linking without tests

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What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. I changed last 2 line of make/Makefile:

sample1_unittest : sample1.o sample1_unittest.o gtest_main.a
    $(CXX) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CXXFLAGS) -lpthread $^ -o $@

into the following 4 line:

sample.a: sample1.o sample1_unittest.o
    $(AR) $(ARFLAGS) $@ $^
sample1_unittest : sample.a  gtest_main.a
    $(CXX) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CXXFLAGS) -lpthread $^ -o $@

2. then make
3. then run sample1_unittest, output are the following:
Running main() from gtest_main.cc
XML output file may not be null

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?
Is there anything wrong with my change? I expected makefile should have
same effect.

What version of Google Test are you using? On what operating system?
version 1.5 on Ubuntu

Please provide any additional information below, such as a code snippet.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by zheng_xi...@rst.ricoh.com on 6 May 2010 at 7:44

[GoogleCodeExporter]

In general, it is not advisable to put one's tests into an archive.  When the 
error message you see is fixed you'll 
only see this output:

Running main() from gtest_main.cc
[==========] Running 0 tests from 0 test cases.
[==========] 0 tests from 0 test cases ran. (0 ms total)
[  PASSED  ] 0 tests.

See this thread for more info: 
http://groups.google.com/group/googletestframework/browse_thread/thread/db90eb23
9482d69d

With regards to the error message, what is the version of Ubuntu you use? What 
is your compiler version? Have 
you modified Makefile or the source code in any other way?

Original comment by vladlosev on 6 May 2010 at 2:52

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Original comment by vladlosev on 6 May 2010 at 2:53

• Changed title: Unexpected 'XML output file may not be null' message when linking without tests
• Changed state: Accepted

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Is that mean test samples can only be linked as an object file(not an archive)?
Otherwise the sample won't be linked. Is there any reason?  I don't have a deep
understanding of the difference between .o and .a .

Ubuntu version 9.10
gcc version 4.4.1

I only modified Makefile mentioned previously 

Original comment by zheng_xi...@rst.ricoh.com on 7 May 2010 at 1:30

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Yes, unless you modify your code and/or linker options in a specific way. The 
details are in the discussion linked.

Original comment by vladlosev on 7 May 2010 at 1:36

[GoogleCodeExporter]

It seams that I can't open this link. 
http://groups.google.com/group/googletestframework/browse_thread/thread/db90eb23
9482d69d

Can you send the content of link to me? thanks a lot.

Original comment by zheng_xi...@rst.ricoh.com on 7 May 2010 at 1:46

[GoogleCodeExporter]

In short, the GCC linker will not link in a static library unless there are 
references to symbols inside it, unlike an 
object file.

Original comment by vladlosev on 7 May 2010 at 2:45

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Closing per Vlad's comment from May.

Original comment by w...@google.com on 27 Sep 2010 at 7:21

• Changed state: Invalid