Preprocessor directives _WINDOWS, _LIB, %(Preprocessor directives)

Question

Hi,

I started a static library project in VC++ 2010.

In project properties under 'C++/Preprocessor' I have the line 'WIN32; _WINDOWS; _DEBUG; _LIB; %(Preprocessor Directives)'

I understand WIN32 and _DEBUG, may be _LIB, but what means _WINDOWS and %(Preprocessor Directives)?

In resulting compiler command line I see a lot of /Ds like /D "UNICODE", and others that are not in stdafx.h generated by the Prolect WIzard.

Is that a result of _WINDOWS or %(..) directives or I may live without these preprocessor directives?

Answer 1

Hi Geoyar,

%(Preprocessor Directives) are inherited values, e.g. if you set the character set of the project to "Use Unicode Character Set", UNICODE and _UNICODE will be defined automatically.

I hope this is helpful, happy coding...

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"It's time to kick ass and chew bubble gum... and I'm all outta gum." - Duke Nukem

Answer 2

Thanks!