Using Arduino command line on windows I have an nmake file;

  srcpath = ..\pilot
  cmdline =  "C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino.exe"
  cmdflags = --verify  --board arduino:avr:uno --port com4 -v --preserve-temp-files
  prefs = --pref sketchbook.path=$(srcpath) --pref build.path=build
  deps = $(srcpath)\pilot.ino $(srcpath)\commands.h $(srcpath)\publish.h $(srcpath)\motor.h 

  pilot.hex :$(deps)
    type $(srcpath)\pilot.ino
    $(cmdline) $(cmdflags) $(prefs) $(srcpath)\pilot.ino


The file types out fine, but Arduino returns an error;

"failed to open sketch ..\pilot\pilot.ino"

I am setting --pref sketchbook.path=$(srcpath), but I have tried with and without (and many variations of both) and get the same error.

This is the command that is currently being invoked, and looks correct to me;

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino.exe" --verify  --board arduino:avr:uno --port com4 -v --preserve-temp-files --pref sketchbook.path=..\pilot --pref build.path=build ..\pilot\pilot.ino


Any ideas?
srcPath = C:\Users\mikep\Documents\MWPRobotics\Pilot\Pilot
bldPath = $(srcPath)\build
arduinoCmd = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino.exe"
arduinoFlags = --verify --board arduino:avr:uno --port com4 -v --preserve-temp-files --preferences-file $(bldPath)\pilotPrefs.txt
prefs = --pref sketchbook.path=$(srcPath) --pref build.path=$(bldPath)

deps = $(srcPath)\Pilot.ino $(srcPath)\commands.h $(srcPath)\publish.h  $(srcPath)\motor.h 

pilot.hex : $(deps)
#   type $(srcPath)\Pilot.ino
    $(arduinoCmd) $(arduinoFlags) $(prefs) $(srcPath)\Pilot.ino


Apparently it is really picky about absolute full paths (contrary to the comments that say it is relative)