General-Purpose Compiler Options

Article
06/30/2006

The following table shows the compiler options.

Option	Description
/?	Displays the available compiler options with descriptions.
/C - Preserve Comments During Preprocessing	Preserves comments during preprocessing.
/c - Compile Without Linking	Compiles without linking.
/callcap -Enable callcap profiling	Inserts callcap profiling hooks at the beginning and end of each function.
/D - Define Constants and Macros	Defines constants and macros.
/E - Copy Preprocessor Output	Copies preprocessor output to standard output.
/EH - Exception Handling Model	Specifies the model of exception handling.
/EP - Copy Preprocessor Output	Copies preprocessor output to standard output.
/F - Set Stack Size	Sets stack size.
/Fa - Rename Assembly-File Listing	Renames assembler file listing. For more information about setting file types, see File Alternatives.
/FA - Create Listing Files	Creates assembler, machine, or source listing file. For more information about setting file types, see File Alternatives.
/fastcap - Enable fastcap profiling	Inserts fastcap profiling hooks before and after each function call.
/Fd - Rename .PDB File	Renames program database.
/Fe - Rename Executable File	Renames executable file. For more information about setting file types, see File Alternatives.
/FI - Preprocess specified Header File First	Preprocess specified header file first.
/Fm - Create Map File	Creates map file. For more information about setting file types, see File Alternatives.
/Fo - Rename Object File	Renames object file. For more information about setting file types, see File Alternatives.
/Fp - Specify Precompiled Header	Specifies precompiled header file name. For more information about setting file types, see File Alternatives.
/FR, /Fr - Generate Browser Files	Generates browser files. For more information about setting file types, see File Alternatives.
/GF - Enable Read-Only String Pooling	Enables read-only string pooling.
/GR - Enable Run-Time Type Information	Enables Run Time Type Information (RTTI).
/Gt - Use Common Global Data Area	Enables global pointer relative addressing for global variables.
/GX - Enable Exception Handling	Enables C++ exceptions.
/Gy - Enable Function-Level Linking	Enables function-level linking.
/GZ - Catch Release Errors in Debug Build	Enables run-time checks to catch bugs that only occur in a Release build while in a Debug build mode.
/H - Restrict Length of External Names	Restricts length of external names.
/HELP - List the Compiler Options	Lists the compiler options.
/I - Search Directory for Include Files	Searches directory for include files.
/J - Change Default char Type	Changes default character type.
/LD - Create a Dynamic-Link Library	Creates a dynamic-link library.
/Ld, /Lw - Control Library Selection	Controls library selection.
/link - Linker-Control Options	Sets Linker-control options.
/nobool - Disable Bool Keyword	Suppresses the C++ bool, true, and false keywords.
/nologo - Suppress Display of Sign-on Banner	Suppresses display of sign-on banner.
/O1, /O2 - Specify Small or Fast Code	Specifies small or fast code.
/Oa - Assume No Aliasing	Assumes no aliasing.
/Obn - Control Inline Expansion	Controls inline expansion, where n is a digit from 0 through 2.
/Od - Disable Optimization	Disables optimization.
/Og - Enable Global Optimization	Enables global optimization.
/Oi[-] - Generate Intrinsic Functions	Generates intrinsic functions.
/Op[-] - Improve Floating-Point Consistency	Improves floating-point consistency.
/Os, /O, /Ot - Optimize for Size or Speed	Specifies small or fast sequences of machine code.
/Ow - Assume Aliasing Across Function Calls	Assumes aliasing across function calls.
/Ox - Use Maximum Optimization for Speed	Uses maximum optimization for fast code.
/P - Create Preprocessor Output File	Creates preprocessor-output file.
/TcFilename, /TC - Specify C Source File	/TcFilename compiles Filename as a C source file. /TC compiles all files as C source files.
/TpFilename, /TP - Specify C++ Source File	/TpFilename compiles Filename as a C++ source file. /TP compiles all files as C++ source files.
/UName, /u - Remove Predefined Names	/UName removes predefined macro. /u removes all predefined macros.
/vdn - Suppress or Enable Virtual Base Class	Suppresses or enables hidden vtordisp class members.
/vmb - Use Best Case for Pointers	Uses best case for pointers to class members.
/vmg - Use Full Generality for Pointers	Uses full generality for pointers to class members.
/vmm - Declare Multiple Inheritance	Declares multiple inheritances.
/vms - Declare Single Inheritance	Declares single inheritance.
/vmv - Declare Virtual Inheritance	Declares virtual inheritance.
/V - Set Version String	Sets version string.
/Wn, /w - Set Warning Level	/Wn sets warning level to n, default is 1. /WX treats warnings as errors. /w disables all warnings.
/X - Ignore Standard Include Directory	Ignores standard include directory.
/Yc - Create Precompiled Header	Creates precompiled header.
/Yd - Duplicate Debugging Info	Duplicates debugging information in all object files.
/Yu - Use Precompiled Header	Uses precompiled header.
/YX - Automate Precompiled Header	Automates precompiled header.
/Za - Disable Language Extensions	Disables Microsoft C++ extensions and compile for ANSI compatibility.
/Zd, /Z7, /Zi -Debug Info	Generates debugging information.
/Ze - Enable Language Extensions	Enables Microsoft C++ language extensions.
/Zg - Generate Function Prototypes	Generates function prototypes.
/Zl - Remove Default-Library Name from Object File	Removes default-library names from object file.
/Zm - Specify Memory Allocation Limit	Determines the compiler memory allocation limit.
/Zp[n] - Pack Structure Members	Packs structure members on byte boundary specified by n.
/Zs - Check Syntax Only	Checks syntax only.

General-Purpose Compiler Options

See Also

Additional resources