This is a regression: versions up through 1.7.4 did not exhibit this problem.  All versions from 1.7.5 forward do show the problem.

If an alias is used in the quoted argument to \ref or \image, a warning is emitted and the alias is not expanded and is simply replace with an empty string.

Here is a reproducer:


% ls
Doxyfile  image.jpg  repro.h
% cat Doxyfile
ALIASES                = myalias=Complete
IMAGE_PATH             = .
% cat repro.h
/**
 * \mainpage Main Page
 *
 * \anchor myanchor
 *
 * \ref myanchor "Ref text is \myalias."
 *
 * \image html image.jpg "Image is \myalias."
 *
 * Here is some \myalias content.
 */

run:
% /extsw/pkgs/doxygen/svnold/co_1_7_5/bin/doxygen --version
1.7.5
% /extsw/pkgs/doxygen/svnold/co_1_7_5/bin/doxygen
Generating index page...
/extsw/pkgs/doxygen/bug/repro.h:4: warning: Illegal command myalias as part of a \ref
/extsw/pkgs/doxygen/bug/repro.h:6: warning: Illegal command myalias as part of a \image
/extsw/pkgs/doxygen/bug/repro.h:4: warning: Illegal command myalias as part of a \ref
/extsw/pkgs/doxygen/bug/repro.h:6: warning: Illegal command myalias as part of a \image
% links --dump html/index.html | head -12
     * [1]Main Page
     * [2]Files
     * [3]_____________________  [4][IMG]

   Main Page

   [5]Ref text is .

   [6]image.jpg
   Image is .

   Here is some Complete content.

% /extsw/pkgs/doxygen/svnold/co_1_7_4/bin/doxygen --version
1.7.4
% /extsw/pkgs/doxygen/svnold/co_1_7_4/bin/doxygen
Generating index page...
% links --dump html/index.html | head -12
     * [1]Main Page
     * [2]Files
     * [3]_____________________  [4][IMG]

   Main Page

   [5]Ref text is Complete.

   [6]image.jpg
   Image is Complete.

   Here is some Complete content.