Before showing xmkmf -a typescript, 
here is comparison to non-branch tagged bde2alpha_rjl:

saturn.cs.uml.edu(317)> lg */Makefile ~/bde2alpha_rl/bde/*/Makefile
-rw-------   1 lechner  fac        41537 Dec  2 22:51 /usr/cs/fac1/lechner/bde2alpha_rl/bde/pr_util/Makefile
-rw-------   1 lechner  fac        42175 Dec  2 22:51 /usr/cs/fac1/lechner/bde2alpha_rl/bde/src/Makefile
-rw-------   1 lechner  fac        41537 Dec  2 22:51 pr_util/Makefile
-rw-------   1 lechner  fac        42175 Dec  2 22:51 src/Makefile
saturn.cs.uml.edu(318)> diff src/Makefile ~/bde2alpha_rjl/bde/src/Makefile
5c5
< # Makefile generated from "Imake.tmpl" and </tmp/IIf.abK2Da>
---
> # Makefile generated from "Imake.tmpl" and <Imakefile>
1199,1205d1198
<
< # saturn.cs.uml.edu(404)> make clean
< # make clean
< # Make: Makefile: Must be a separator on line 442.  Stop.
< # saturn.cs.uml.edu(405)> make empty
< # make empty
< # Make: Makefile: Must be a separator on line 442.  Stop.
saturn.cs.uml.edu(319)> diff pr_util/Makefile ~/bde2alpha_rjl/bde/pr_util/Makefile | wc
        87       434      2869
saturn.cs.uml.edu(320)> pwd
/nfs/aviion/cs_faculty/lechner/bde2alpha_rl/bde

=============================================================

"xmkmflog011203:2240" 222 lines, 8141 characters (col -bx < typescript)
Some sections truncated - RJL 011203 
xmkmf failed from syntax errors in both src and pr_util Makefiles at line 1193.

Script started on Sun Dec  2 22:31:32 2001
path before .tcshrc: /usr/local/bin /usr/opt/java122/bin /usr/common/bin /usr/ucb /usr/bin/X11 /usr/bin /bin .
/usr/local/bin /usr/bin /usr/bin/X11 /usr/ucb /bin /usr/bin .
/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin/X11:/usr/ucb:/bin:/usr/bin:.
path = /usr/local/bin /usr/bin/X11 /usr/ucb /bin /usr/bin . /usr/common/bin
PATH after set path ...:
/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin/X11:/usr/ucb:/bin:/usr/bin:.:/usr/common/bin
path from .tcshrc: /usr/local/bin /usr/bin/X11 /usr/ucb /bin /usr/bin . /usr/common/bin
PATH from .tcshrc: /usr/local/bin:/usr/bin/X11:/usr/ucb:/bin:/usr/bin:.:/usr/common/bin
[saturn.cs.uml.edu1](51)> xkmf -a
xkmf: Command not found.
[saturn.cs.uml.edu1](52)> xmkmf--a
imake -DUseInstalled -I/usr/lib/X11/config
make Makefiles
making Makefiles in pr_util...
Make: Makefile, line 1193: syntax error.  Stop.
making Makefiles in src...
make includes
including in ./pr_util...
Make: Makefile, line 1193: syntax error.  Stop.
*** Exit 1
Stop.
[saturn.cs.uml.edu1](53)> wc */Makefile
      1341      4327     41537 pr_util/Makefile
      1366      4246     42175 src/Makefile
      2707      8573     83712 total
[saturn.cs.uml.edu1](54)> vi pr_util/Makefile
54;1H7mlg: No such option - 'set all' gives all option valuesm
?1h"pr_util/Makefile" 1341 lines, 41537 characters ;H2J# Makefile generated by imake - do not edit!H
# $XConsortium: imake.c /main/90 1996/11/13 14:43:23 lehors $

# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
# Makefile generated from "Imake.tmpl" and <Imakefile>
# $XConsortium: Imake.tmpl /main/240 1996/09/28 16:05:43 rws $
#

all::
# ----------------------------------------------------------------------


# start of Imakefile

 brackets :-(	<<<<<<<Makefile Line 1190 - next line gives syntax error - RJL 011203
 *
* Revision 1.4.2.6  2000/09/26 02:10:20  lechner
 * I removed the SAME error from my previous Revision Comment :-)
 *
* Revision 1.4.2.5  2000/09/26 02:03:22  lechner
 * I removed this imbedded-comment error from Imakefile:
 * 65:/_* -ansi sets cli_ansi in chgen.c to select # not /_*_*_/ and #fld not "fld
"*_/
 *
* Revision 1.4.2.4  2000/09/23 01:15:09  lechner
 * Option -Wall added, option to use pre-genlog versions removed - RJL 2k0922
 *
* Revision 1.4.2.3  2000/04/20 15:17:18  ntansala
 * insert pr_startlog and pr_stoplog function in fileio.cc and
 * replace "Using Gen v10.2" by "Using Gen v11" in bde.cc
 *
* Revision 1.4.2.2  2000/04/06 07:10:21  lechner
 * I checked in 7 updated files  and added tag bde2alpha_rjl
 * Files include 3 Imakefiles, bde/{configure.h,aareadme,src/fileio.cc,
 * executables/bde}
 *
* Revision 1.4.2.1  1999/05/19 22:19:36  vdhamoda
 * bde2alpha_rv_final
 *
* Revision 1.4   1996/08/17 05:41:41  mboisver
 * Here are changes made by prior classes that were never checked in.  Without
 * these changes, the bde does not function properly.  All of these changes were
J?1l[saturn.cs.uml.edu1]>5vi>src/MakefileKKKfileKrc26;2HA54;1H:q!
54;1H7mlg: No such option - 'set all' gives all option valuesm
?1h"src/Makefile" 1366 lines, 42175 characters ;H2J# Makefile generated by imake - do not edit!H
# $XConsortium: imake.c /main/90 1996/11/13 14:43:23 lehors $

# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
# Makefile generated from "Imake.tmpl" and </tmp/IIf.aacAEa>
# $XConsortium: Imake.tmpl /main/240 1996/09/28 16:05:43 rws $
#

all::

.SUFFIXES: .i

# $XConsortium: Imake.cf /main/26 1996/09/28 16:05:09 rws $
...

# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
~
~
~
J?1l[saturn.cs.uml.edu1](63)> pwd
/nfs/aviion/cs_faculty/lechner/bde2alpha_rl/bde
[saturn.cs.uml.edu1](64)> lg M*
-rw-------   1 lechner  fac        42816 Dec  2  2001 Makefile
-rw-------   1 lechner  fac        42816 Dec  2 22:41 Makefile.bak
[saturn.cs.uml.edu1](65)> wc Makefile
      1389      4527     42816 Makefile
[saturn.cs.uml.edu1](66)> vi Makefile
54;1H7mlg: No such option - 'set all' gives all option valuesm
?1h"Makefile" 1389 lines, 42816 characters ;H2J# Makefile generated by imake - do not edit!H
# $XConsortium: imake.c /main/90 1996/11/13 14:43:23 lehors $

# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
# Makefile generated from "Imake.tmpl" and <Imakefile>
# $XConsortium: Imake.tmpl /main/240 1996/09/28 16:05:43 rws $
#

all::

.SUFFIXES: .i

# $XConsortium: Imake.cf /main/26 1996/09/28 16:05:09 rws $

# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# site-specific configuration parameters that need to come before
# the platform-specific parameters - edit site.def to change

#
# *****************************************************************
# *21;67H*
# *    Copyright Compaq Computer Corporation, 2000                *
# *23;67H*
# *   The software contained on this media  is  proprietary  to   *
# *   and  embodies  the  confidential  technology  of  Compaq    *
# *   Computer Corporation.  Possession, use,  duplication  or    *
# *   dissemination of the software and media is authorized only  *
# *   pursuant to a valid written license from Compaq Computer    *
# *   Corporation.29;67H*
# *30;67H*
# *   RESTRICTED RIGHTS LEGEND   Use, duplication, or disclosure  *
# *   by the U.S. Government is subject to restrictions  as  set  *
# *   forth in Subparagraph (c)(1)(ii)  of  DFARS  252.227-7013,  *
# *   or  in  FAR 52.227-19, as applicable.                       *
# *35;67H*
# *****************************************************************
#
# HISTORY
#
# site:  $XConsortium: site.sample,v 1.9 94/04/08 17:02:06 rws Exp $

# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
# platform-specific configuration parameters - edit osf1.cf to change

#
# *****************************************************************
# *47;67H*
# *    Copyright Compaq Computer Corporation, 2000                *
# *49;67H*
# *   The software contained on this media  is  proprietary  to   *
# *   and  embodies  the  confidential  technology  of  Compaq    *
# *   Computer Corporation.  Possession, use,  duplication  or    *
;H2JotdthRM_CMDy=l$(RM)i*.CKPf*.ln5*.BAK:*.baki*.oucoreierrso,*y*~**.a;.emacs_*ita" 1389 lines, 42816 charactersH54;1HK:1393
gs TAGS make.log MakeOut  *.Dat

        DEPLIBS = $(DEPXMLIB) $(DEPXTOOLLIB) $(DEPXPLIB) $(DEPXLIB)

        DEPLIBS1 = $(DEPLIBS)
        DEPLIBS2 = $(DEPLIBS)
        DEPLIBS3 = $(DEPLIBS)

CONFIGSRC = $(XTOP)/config

        CONFIGDIR = $(LIBDIR)/config14;5HUSRLIBDIRPATH = $(USRLIBDIR)
        LDPRELIBS = -L$(USRLIBDIR)
       LDPOSTLIBS =
     TOP_INCLUDES = -I$(INCROOT) $(TOP_MOTIF_INCLUDES) $(TOP_X_INCLUDES)
  PROJECT_DEFINES =

CXXPROJECT_DEFINES =

# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
# start of Imakefile

BDE_LIB_PATH = ../lib

BDEUSERDEFINES  =                               \
                -DDEBUG                         \
                -DString_REDEFINE_NOT_NEEDED    \
                -DBDE_SCHEMA="96subde_schema.h" \
                -DBDE_VIEW="94sbdeview"

CC              = gcc
CPLUSPLUS       = g++

BDEWARNINGS     = \
-Wall                   \
                  -Wunused              \
                  -Wstrict-prototypes   \
                  -Wmissing-prototypes  \
                  -Wnested-externs      \
                  -Wenum-clash          \
                  -Woverloaded-virtual  \
                  -W

GENVERSION = GENV11

DCLCDEFINE = -DLCWC

S94LCDEFINE = -DS94LC

J?1l[saturn.cs.uml.edu1](67)>IxmkmKfB-aUSERDEFINES) $(S94LCDEFINE) \53;20H$(DCLCDEFINE) -DDEFAULT_LIB_PATH=\"$(BDE_LIB_PATH)\"26;1H54;1H:q!
mv -f Makefile Makefile.bak
imake -DUseInstalled -I/usr/lib/X11/config
make Makefiles
making Makefiles in pr_util...
        mv -f Makefile Makefile.bak
Make: Makefile, line 1193: syntax error.  Stop.
making Makefiles in src...
        mv -f Makefile Makefile.bak
make includes
including in ./pr_util...
Make: Makefile, line 1193: syntax error.  Stop.
*** Exit 1
Stop.
[saturn.cs.uml.edu1](68)> exit

script done on Sun Dec  2 22:42:24 2001

script done on Sun Dec  2 22:42:24 2001