Use external libraries that are already linked to a subproject

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Hi,

Let’s suppose I have a project with two subfolders and subPrj1 links libhdf5_D.lib:
image

Now I want to link subPrj1 to subPrj2 and use the same libhdf5_D.lib in subPrj2.
What is the “cleanest” way to do that? Do I have to manually link subPrj1 and libhdf5_D.lib to subPrj2 or it is enough to simply link subPrj1 to subPrj2?

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subPrj1 has the HDF5 information on its PUBLIC interface, so it will be given to consumers of subPrj1 automatically. You should be able to do target_link_libraries(subPrj2 PRIVATE subPrj1) (feel free to use PUBLIC if needed here) and have HDF available in subPrj2.

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And do I also have to include HDF5 headers to subPrj2 via target_include_directories(subPrj2 PRIVATE ${H5_DIR}/include) ? or it is enough target_include_directories(subPrj2 PRIVATE subPrj1/include)?

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The usage requirements will come along with subPrj1, so HDF5’s PUBLIC include directory will come along. I recommend adding $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/include> to subPrj1 so that target_link_libraries is completely sufficient.

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Thank you a lot! that works