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Q148318: FIX: Using #define NOGDI Results in Compilation Syntax Errors

Article: Q148318
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 2.2,4.0,4.1,4.2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbGenInfo kbVC kbVC500fix kbArtTypeINF
Last Modified: 03-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual C++, versions 2.2, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

Compiling a source file that contains the following code:

     #define NOGDI
     #include <windows.h>

results in several syntax errors such as these:

  winuser.h(8577) : error C2501: 'LOGFONTA' : missing decl-specifiers
  winuser.h(8577) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ';'  before
  identifier 'lfFont'

CAUSE
=====

GDI-specific types like LOGFONTA are not defined when NOGDI is defined. However,
header files like Winuser.h and Imm.h have structures that contain the
GDI-specific types without the surrounding "#ifndef NOGDI"/"#endif" pair. The
compiler generates syntax error for the GDI-specific types inside these
structures.

RESOLUTION
==========

Do not use #define NOGDI, or edit the system header files that produce the
syntax errors to add the "#ifndef NOGDI"/"#endif" pair around the structures
that contain the GDI-specific types.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the
beginning of this article. This bug was corrected in Visual C++ version 5.0.

Additional query words: kbVC400bug

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbGenInfo kbVC kbVC500fix kbArtTypeINF 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbVC400 kbAudDeveloper kbVC220 kbVC410 kbVC420
Version           : :2.2,4.0,4.1,4.2
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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