If we use a custom build rule, we have something like on the .rule we create:
<Rules>
<CustomBuildRule
Name="MyCompiler"
DisplayName="My Super compiler"
CommandLine="mycompiler.exe /nologo /c [AllOptions] [AdditionalOptions] /Fo"$(IntDir)\$(InputName).obj" /Ta [inputs]"
Outputs="$(IntDir)\$(InputName).obj"
FileExtensions="*.cpp"
ExecutionDescription="Super Compiling..."
ShowOnlyRuleProperties="true"
...
By this way, you are limited by the number of characters passed on the command line. If you have a lot of inputs file, for example, you will get an error with the cmd.exe because you reach the limit of 8192 characters.
The solution is probably to create a response file just before but how to do that with custom rules Is there a special variable to add into this XML file to force the rule to create a response file !
Help!!!
Christophe D.

How to use both response file and custom build rule?
MikeDDI
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp url=/library/en-us/vccore/html/_asug_running_nmake.asp