Q153901: PRB: #pragma comment(lib…) Can Specify Only Libraries

Article: Q153901
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 4.0,4.1,4.2,5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbusage kbCompiler kbVC400 kbVC410 kbVC420 kbVC500 kbVC600
Last Modified: 11-JUN-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- The C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE), included with:
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 4.0, 4.1 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition, versions 4.2, 5.0, 6.0 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition, versions 4.2, 5.0, 6.0 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Learning Edition, version 6.0 
   - Microsoft Visual C++.NET (2002) 
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SYMPTOMS
========

The comment pragma allows the user to insert comments into an object file or
executable file. The lib specifier allows the user to pass this comment to the
linker to specify additional libraries to link when using the object module.
Some users utilize the lib comment pragma to add linker options as well as
library names, such as:

  #pragma comment(lib, "MSVCRT -VERBOSE")

This line, under Visual C++ 2.x, would pass the string to the linker as is,
resulting in the addition of the /VERBOSE linker option as well as the
MSVCRT.LIB library. This behavior was not specified to work in this manner. The
compiler wouldn't put quotes around comment string, so spaces would delimit the
text.

In Visual C++ 4.0, 4.1, and 4.2, the compiler correctly puts quotes around the
comment string thereby causing the above code to generate the following error:

  LINK : fatal error LNK1104: cannot open file "MSVCRT -VERBOSE.lib"

RESOLUTION
==========

Use the following new pragma to specify linker options:

#pragma comment(linker, "<linker options>")

STATUS
======

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Sample Code
-----------

  // Compile options needed: none

  // test.c

  #pragma comment(lib,"MYLIBRARY -VERBOSE")

  void main(void)
  {
  }

REFERENCES
==========

For more information on /VERBOSE), please see the product documentation.

Additional query words: 10.00 10.10 10.20

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Keywords          : kbusage kbCompiler kbVC400 kbVC410 kbVC420 kbVC500 kbVC600 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbCVCComp
Version           : :4.0,4.1,4.2,5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbprb

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