Visual C/C++ Macro and Compiler Switch Cheat Sheet

David A. Gray

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4 Apr 2019CPOL14 min read

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Here I present a cheat sheet that I assembled for my own use, in the hope that others may as well find it useful.

Download NOTESPredefined_C_and_C__Macros.zip - 25.4 KB

Introduction

Recently, in the course of researching a coding issue related to a straight C program that I was developing, I noticed some Microsoft-specific predefined C/C++ preprocessor macros that I hadn't noticed before. Seeing these macros gave me an idea for a better approach to another problem that I had already solved by another method that was quite a bit less elegant.

Background

Like many of the lists and charts published by Microsoft, the format of the Predefined Macros list leaves a lot to be desired. Since I seem to be needing quick access to more of these switches, I decided that it was worth spending an hour or two to format it in a way that seems more useful to me, because it puts the compiler switches, macro values, and references to related pages of the compiler documentation into separate columns, so that they are easy to find.

Using the code

The following table contains the same information that appears in the Microsoft article, but I think this table is easier to read and use as a cheat sheet.

The macros are shown alphabetically by macro name, without regard to whether they are standard or Microsoft-specific; use the Status column to determine which are standard and which are MS only.
The Range column lists the single value or range of values that may be assigned to the macro. For the most part, the everyday macros are either defined with a value of 1 or are undefined.
The CL Switch column lists the pertinent Visual C++ command line compiler switches; these are the switches mentioned in the adjacent Details column.

Symbol Status Range CL Switch Details Reference

_ATL_VER Microsoft Defined in <atldef.h> as an integer literal that encodes the ATL version number. atldef.h

_MFCVER Microsoft |Defined in <afxver.h> as an integer literal that encodes the MFC version number. afxver_.h

ATOM Microsoft 1 /favor:ATOM Defined as 1 when the /favor:ATOM compiler option is set and the compiler target is x86 or x64. Otherwise, undefined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/favor-optimize-for-architecture-specifics?view=vs-2017

AVX Microsoft 1 /arch:AVX OR /arch:AVX2 Defined as 1 when the /arch:AVX or /arch:AVX2 compiler options are set and the compiler target is x86 or x64. Otherwise, undefined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/arch-x86?view=vs-2017

AVX2 Microsoft 1 /arch:AVX2 Defined as 1 when the /arch:AVX2 compiler option is set and the compiler target is x86 or x64. Otherwise, undefined

_CHAR_UNSIGNED Microsoft 1 /J Defined as 1 if the default char type is unsigned. This is set when the /J (Default char Type Is unsigned) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/j-default-char-type-is-unsigned?view=vs-2017

__CLR_VER Microsoft Defined as an integer literal that represents the version of the common language runtime used when the application was compiled. The value is encoded in the form Mmmbbbbb, where M is the major version of the runtime, mm is the minor version of the runtime, and bbbbb is the build number. __CLR_VER is defined if the /clr compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.

_CONTROL_FLOW_GUARD Microsoft 1 /guard:cf Defined as 1 when the /guard:cf (Enable Control Flow Guard) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/guard-enable-control-flow-guard?view=vs-2017

COUNTER Microsoft 0 Expands to an integer literal that starts at 0 and is incremented by 1 every time it is used in a source file or included headers of the source file. COUNTER remembers its state when you use precompiled headers. This macro is always defined. See the source document for a good example.

__cplusplus Standard compiled as C++ Defined as an integer literal value when the translation unit is compiled as C++. Otherwise, undefined.

__cplusplus_cli Microsoft 200406 /clr AND compiled as C++ Defined as the integer literal value 200406 when compiled as C++ and a /clr compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined. When defined, __cplusplus_cli is in effect throughout the translation unit.

__cplusplus_winrt Microsoft 201009 /ZW Defined as the integer literal value 201009 when compiled as C++ and the /ZW (Windows Runtime Compilation) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/zw-windows-runtime-compilation?view=vs-2017

_CPPRTTI Microsoft 1 /GR Defined as 1 if the /GR (Enable Run-Time Type Information) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/gr-enable-run-time-type-information?view=vs-2017

_CPPUNWIND Microsoft 1 /GX OR /clr OR /EH Defined as 1 if one or more of the /GX (Enable Exception Handling), /clr (Common Language Runtime Compilation), or /EH (Exception Handling Model) compiler options are set. Otherwise, undefined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/gx-enable-exception-handling?view=vs-2017

Symbol	Status	Range	CL Switch	Details	Reference
_ATL_VER	Microsoft			Defined in <atldef.h> as an integer literal that encodes the ATL version number.	atldef.h
_MFCVER	Microsoft			\|Defined in <afxver.h> as an integer literal that encodes the MFC version number.	afxver_.h
ATOM	Microsoft	1	`/favor:ATOM`	Defined as 1 when the `/favor:ATOM` compiler option is set and the compiler target is x86 or x64. Otherwise, undefined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/favor-optimize-for-architecture-specifics?view=vs-2017
AVX	Microsoft	1	/`arch:AVX` OR `/arch:AVX2`	Defined as 1 when the `/arch:AVX` or `/arch:AVX2` compiler options are set and the compiler target is x86 or x64. Otherwise, undefined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/arch-x86?view=vs-2017
AVX2	Microsoft	1	/`arch:AVX2`	Defined as 1 when the `/arch:AVX2` compiler option is set and the compiler target is x86 or x64. Otherwise, undefined
_CHAR_UNSIGNED	Microsoft	1	`/J`	Defined as 1 if the default char type is unsigned. This is set when the `/J` (Default char Type Is unsigned) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/j-default-char-type-is-unsigned?view=vs-2017
__CLR_VER	Microsoft			Defined as an integer literal that represents the version of the common language runtime used when the application was compiled. The value is encoded in the form Mmmbbbbb, where M is the major version of the runtime, mm is the minor version of the runtime, and bbbbb is the build number. __CLR_VER is defined if the /clr compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.
_CONTROL_FLOW_GUARD	Microsoft	1	`/guard:cf`	Defined as 1 when the `/guard:cf` (Enable Control Flow Guard) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/guard-enable-control-flow-guard?view=vs-2017
COUNTER	Microsoft	0		Expands to an integer literal that starts at 0 and is incremented by 1 every time it is used in a source file or included headers of the source file. COUNTER remembers its state when you use precompiled headers. This macro is always defined. See the source document for a good example.
__cplusplus	Standard		compiled as C++	Defined as an integer literal value when the translation unit is compiled as C++. Otherwise, undefined.
__cplusplus_cli	Microsoft	200406	`/clr` AND compiled as C++	Defined as the integer literal value 200406 when compiled as C++ and a /clr compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined. When defined, __cplusplus_cli is in effect throughout the translation unit.
__cplusplus_winrt	Microsoft	201009	`/ZW`	Defined as the integer literal value 201009 when compiled as C++ and the `/ZW` (Windows Runtime Compilation) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/zw-windows-runtime-compilation?view=vs-2017
_CPPRTTI	Microsoft	1	`/GR`	Defined as 1 if the `/GR` (Enable Run-Time Type Information) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/gr-enable-run-time-type-information?view=vs-2017
_CPPUNWIND	Microsoft	1	`/GX` OR `/clr` OR `/EH`	Defined as 1 if one or more of the `/GX` (Enable Exception Handling), `/clr` (Common Language Runtime Compilation), or `/EH` (Exception Handling Model) compiler options are set. Otherwise, undefined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/gx-enable-exception-handling?view=vs-2017
					https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/eh-exception-handling-model?view=vs-2017
DATE	Standard			The compilation date of the current source file. The date is a constant length string literal of the form Mmm dd yyyy. The month name Mmm is the same as the abbreviated month name in dates generated by the C Runtime Library asctime function. The first character of date dd is a space if the value is less than 10. This macro is always defined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/c-runtime-library/reference/asctime-wasctime?view=vs-2017
_DEBUG	Microsoft	1	`/LDd` OR `/MDd` OR `/MTd`	Defined as 1 when the `/LDd`, `/MDd`, or `/MTd` compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/md-mt-ld-use-run-time-library?view=vs-2017
_DLL	Microsoft	1	`/MD` OR `/MDd`	Defined as 1 when the `/MD` or `/MDd` (Multithreaded DLL) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.
FILE	Standard		`/FC` to elicit full paths	the name of the current source file. FILE expands to a character string literal. To ensure that the full path to the file is displayed, use `/FC` (Full Path of Source Code File in Diagnostics). This macro is always defined	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/fc-full-path-of-source-code-file-in-diagnostics?view=vs-2017
_FUNCDNAME	Microsoft			Defined as a string literal that contains the decorated name of the enclosing function. The macro is defined only within a function. The FUNCDNAME macro is not expanded if you use the /EP or /P compiler option.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/decorated-names?view=vs-2017
FUNCSIG	Microsoft			Defined as a string literal that contains the signature of the enclosing function. The macro is defined only within a function. The FUNCSIG macro is not expanded if you use the /EP or /P compiler option. When compiled for a 64-bit target, the calling convention is cdecl by default. For an example of usage, see the FUNCDNAME__ macro.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/ep-preprocess-to-stdout-without-hash-line-directives?view=vs-2017 https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/p-preprocess-to-a-file?view=vs-2017
FUNCTION	Microsoft			Defined as a string literal that contains the undecorated name of the enclosing function. The macro is defined only within a function. The FUNCTION macro is not expanded if you use the /EP or /P compiler option. For an example of usage, see the FUNCDNAME macro.
_INTEGRAL_MAX_BITS	Microsoft	64		Defined as the integer literal value 64, the maximum size (in bits) for a non-vector integral type. This macro is always defined.
INTELLISENSE	Microsoft	1		Defined as 1 during an IntelliSense compiler pass in the Visual Studio IDE. Otherwise, undefined. You can use this macro to guard code the IntelliSense compiler does not understand, or use it to toggle between the build and IntelliSense compiler. For more information, see Troubleshooting Tips for IntelliSense Slowness.	https://devblogs.microsoft.com/cppblog/troubleshooting-tips-for-intellisense-slowness/
_ISO_VOLATILE	Microsoft	1	`/volatile:iso`	Defined as 1 if the `/volatile:iso` compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/volatile-volatile-keyword-interpretation?view=vs-2017
_KERNEL_MOD	Microsoft	1	`/kernel`	Defined as 1 if the `/kernel` (Create Kernel Mode Binary) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/kernel-create-kernel-mode-binary?view=vs-2017
_M_AMD64	Microsoft	100		Defined as the integer literal value 100 for compilations that target x64 processors. Otherwise, undefined.
_M_ARM	Microsoft	7		Defined as the integer literal value 7 for compilations that target ARM processors. Otherwise, undefined.
_M_ARM_ARMV7VE	Microsoft	1	`/arch:ARMv7VE`	Defined as 1 when the `/arch:ARMv7VE` compiler option is set for compilations that target ARM processors. Otherwise, undefined	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/arch-arm?view=vs-2017
M_ARM_FP	Microsoft			Defined as an integer literal value that indicates which `/arch` compiler option was set, if the compilation target is an ARM processor. Otherwise, undefined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/arch-arm?view=vs-2017
	Microsoft	30-39	`/arch:ARM`	In the range 30-39 if no `/arch` ARM option was specified, indicating the default architecture for ARM was set (VFPv3).
	Microsoft	40-49	/arch:VFPv4	In the range 40-49 if `/arch:VFPv4` was set.
_M_ARM64	Microsoft	1		Defined as 1 for compilations that target 64-bit ARM processors. Otherwise, undefined
_M_CEE	Microsoft	001	any `/clr` compiler option	Defined as 001 if any `/clr` (Common Language Runtime Compilation) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined
_M_CEE_PURE	Microsoft	001	`/clr:pure`	Deprecated beginning in Visual Studio 2015. Defined as 001 if the `/clr:pure` compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.
_M_CEE_SAFE	Microsoft	001	`/clr:safe`	Deprecated beginning in Visual Studio 2015. Defined as 001 if the `/clr:safe` compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined
_M_FP_EXCEPT	Microsoft	1	`/fp:except` OR `/fp:stric`	Defined as 1 if the `/fp:except` or `/fp:strict` compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/fp-specify-floating-point-behavior?view=vs-2017
_M_FP_FAST	Microsoft	1	`/fp:fast`	Defined as 1 if the `/fp:fast` compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.
_M_FP_PRECISE	Microsoft	1	`/fp:precise`	Defined as 1 if the `/fp:precise` compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.
_M_FP_STRICT	Microsoft	1	`/fp:strict`	Defined as 1 if the `/fp:strict` compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.
_M_IX86	Microsoft	600		Defined as the integer literal value 600 for compilations that target x86 processors. This macro is not defined for x64 or ARM compilation targets
_M_IX86_FP	Microsoft		`/arch`	Defined as an integer literal value that indicates the `/arch` compiler option that was set, or the default. This macro is always defined when the compilation target is an x86 processor. Otherwise, undefined. When defined, the value is	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/arch-arm?view=vs-2017
	Microsoft	0	`/arch:IA32`	the `/arch:IA32` compiler option was set.
	Microsoft	1	`/arch:SSE`	the `/arch:SSE` compiler option was set.
	Microsoft	2	`/arch:SSE2` OR `/arch:AVX` OR `/arch:AVX2`	the `/arch:SSE2`, `/arch:AVX` or `/arch:AVX2` compiler option was set. This value is the default if an /arch compiler option was not specified. When /arch:AVX is specified, the macro AVX is also defined.
	Microsoft		`/arch:AVX2`	When `/arch:AVX2` is specified, both AVX and AVX2 are also defined.
LINE	Standard			Defined as the integer line number in the current source file. The value of the LINE macro can be changed by using a #line directive. This macro is always defined.
_M_X64	Microsoft	100		Defined as the integer literal value 100 for compilations that target x64 processors. Otherwise, undefined.
_MANAGED	Microsoft	1	`/clr`	Defined as 1 when the `/clr` compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.
_MSC_BUILD	Microsoft			Defined as an integer literal that contains the revision number element of the compiler's version number. The revision number is the fourth element of the period-delimited version number. For example, if the version number of the Visual C++ compiler is 15.00.20706.01, the _MSC_BUILD macro evaluates to 1. This macro is always defined.
_MSC_EXTENSIONS	Microsoft	1	`/Ze`	Defined as 1 if the `/Ze` (Enable Language Extensions) compiler option is set, which is the default. Otherwise, undefined.	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/za-ze-disable-language-extensions?view=vs-2017
_MSC_FULL_VER	Microsoft			Defined as an integer literal that encodes the major, minor, and build number elements of the compiler's version number. The major number is the first element of the period-delimited version number, the minor number is the second element, and the build number is the third element. For example, if the version number of the Visual C++ compiler is 15.00.20706.01, the _MSC_FULL_VER macro evaluates to 150020706. Enter cl /? at the command line to view the compiler's version number. This macro is always defined.
_MSC_VER	Microsoft			Defined as an integer literal that encodes the major and minor number elements of the compiler's version number. The major number is the first element of the period-delimited version number and the minor number is the second element. For example, if the version number of the Visual C++ compiler is 17.00.51106.1, the _MSC_VER macro evaluates to 1700. Enter cl /? at the command line to view the compiler's version number. This macro is always defined	https://devblogs.microsoft.com/cppblog/visual-c-compiler-version/
	Microsoft	1200		Visual Studio 6.0
	Microsoft	1300		Visual Studio .NET 2002 (7.0)
	Microsoft	1310		Visual Studio .NET 2003 (7.1)
	Microsoft	1400		Visual Studio 2005 (8.0)
	Microsoft	1500		Visual Studio 2008 (9.0)
	Microsoft	1600		Visual Studio 2010 (10.0)
	Microsoft	1700		Visual Studio 2012 (11.0)
	Microsoft	1800		Visual Studio 2013 (12.0)
	Microsoft	1900		Visual Studio 2015 (14.0)
	Microsoft	1910		Visual Studio 2017 RTW (15.0)
	Microsoft	1911		Visual Studio 2017 version 15.3
	Microsoft	1912		Visual Studio 2017 version 15.5
	Microsoft	1913		Visual Studio 2017 version 15.6
	Microsoft	1914		Visual Studio 2017 version 15.7
	Microsoft	1915		Visual Studio 2017 version 15.8
	Microsoft	1916		Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9
_MSVC_LANG	Microsoft			Defined as an integer literal that specifies the C++ language standard targeted by the compiler.
	Microsoft	201402L		When compiled as C++, the macro is the integer literal value 201402L.
	Microsoft	201703L		if the /std:c++14 compiler option is set, or by default; it is set to 201703L.
	Microsoft			If the /std:c++17 compiler option is set; and it is set to a higher, unspecified value when the /std:c++latest.
	Microsoft			Otherwise, the macro is undefined.
__MSVC_RUNTIME_CHECKS	Microsoft	1		Defined as 1 when one of the /RTC compiler options is set. Otherwise, undefined.
_MT	Microsoft	1		Defined as 1 when /MD or /MDd (Multithreaded DLL) or /MT or /MTd (Multithreaded) is specified. Otherwise, undefined
_NATIVE_WCHAR_T_DEFINED	Microsoft	1		Defined as 1 when the /Zc:wchar_t compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.
_OPENMP	Microsoft	200203	/openmp	Defined as integer literal 200203, representing the date of the OpenMP specification implemented by Visual C++, if the /openmp (Enable OpenMP 2.0 Support) compiler option is set.
PREFAST	Microsoft	1	/analyze	Defined as 1 when the /analyze compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.
STDC	Standard	1	`/Za` AND compiled as C	Defined as 1 only when compiled as C and if the `/Za` compiler option is specified. Otherwise, undefined.
__STDC_HOSTED__	Standard	1		Defined as 1 if the implementation is a hosted implementation, one that supports the entire required standard library. Otherwise, defined as 0.
__STDCPP_THREADS__	Standard	1		Defined as 1 if and only if a program can have more than one thread of execution, and compiled as C++. Otherwise, undefined
TIME	Standard			The time of translation of the preprocessed translation unit. The time is a character string literal of the form hh:mm:ss, the same as the time returned by the C Runtime Library asctime function. This macro is always defined.
__TIMESTAMP_	Microsoft			Defined as a string literal that contains the date and time of the last modification of the current source file, in the abbreviated, constant length form returned by the C Runtime Library asctime function, for example, Fri 19 Aug 13:32:58 2016. This macro is always defined.
_VC_NODEFAULTLIB	Microsoft	1	`/Zl`	Defined as 1 when the `/Zl` (Omit Default Library Name) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.
_WCHAR_T_DEFINED	Microsoft	1	`/Zc:wchar_t`	Defined as 1 when the default `/Zc:wchar_t` compiler option is set. The _WCHAR_T_DEFINED macro is defined but has no value if the /Zc:wchar_t- compiler option is set, and wchar_t is defined in a system header file included in your project. Otherwise, undefined.
_WIN32	Microsoft	1		Defined as 1 when the compilation target is 32-bit ARM, 64-bit ARM, x86, or x64. Otherwise, undefined.
_WIN64	Microsoft	1		Defined as 1 when the compilation target is 64-bit ARM or x64. Otherwise, undefined.
_WINRT_DLL	Microsoft	1	`/ZW` AND (`/LD` OR `/LDd`) AND compiled as C++	Defined as 1 when compiled as C++ and both /ZW (Windows Runtime Compilation) and /LD or /LDd compiler options are set. Otherwise, undefined.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/eh-exception-handling-model?view=vs-2017

DATE Standard The compilation date of the current source file. The date is a constant length string literal of the form Mmm dd yyyy. The month name Mmm is the same as the abbreviated month name in dates generated by the C Runtime Library asctime function. The first character of date dd is a space if the value is less than 10. This macro is always defined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/c-runtime-library/reference/asctime-wasctime?view=vs-2017

_DEBUG Microsoft 1 /LDd OR /MDd OR /MTd Defined as 1 when the /LDd, /MDd, or /MTd compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/md-mt-ld-use-run-time-library?view=vs-2017

_DLL Microsoft 1 /MD OR /MDd Defined as 1 when the /MD or /MDd (Multithreaded DLL) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.

FILE Standard /FC to elicit full paths the name of the current source file. FILE expands to a character string literal. To ensure that the full path to the file is displayed, use /FC (Full Path of Source Code File in Diagnostics). This macro is always defined https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/fc-full-path-of-source-code-file-in-diagnostics?view=vs-2017

_FUNCDNAME Microsoft Defined as a string literal that contains the decorated name of the enclosing function. The macro is defined only within a function. The FUNCDNAME macro is not expanded if you use the /EP or /P compiler option. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/decorated-names?view=vs-2017

FUNCSIG Microsoft Defined as a string literal that contains the signature of the enclosing function. The macro is defined only within a function. The FUNCSIG macro is not expanded if you use the /EP or /P compiler option. When compiled for a 64-bit target, the calling convention is cdecl by default. For an example of usage, see the FUNCDNAME__ macro. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/ep-preprocess-to-stdout-without-hash-line-directives?view=vs-2017

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/p-preprocess-to-a-file?view=vs-2017

FUNCTION Microsoft Defined as a string literal that contains the undecorated name of the enclosing function. The macro is defined only within a function. The FUNCTION macro is not expanded if you use the /EP or /P compiler option. For an example of usage, see the FUNCDNAME macro.

_INTEGRAL_MAX_BITS Microsoft 64 Defined as the integer literal value 64, the maximum size (in bits) for a non-vector integral type. This macro is always defined.

INTELLISENSE Microsoft 1 Defined as 1 during an IntelliSense compiler pass in the Visual Studio IDE. Otherwise, undefined. You can use this macro to guard code the IntelliSense compiler does not understand, or use it to toggle between the build and IntelliSense compiler. For more information, see Troubleshooting Tips for IntelliSense Slowness. https://devblogs.microsoft.com/cppblog/troubleshooting-tips-for-intellisense-slowness/

_ISO_VOLATILE Microsoft 1 /volatile:iso Defined as 1 if the /volatile:iso compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/volatile-volatile-keyword-interpretation?view=vs-2017

_KERNEL_MOD Microsoft 1 /kernel Defined as 1 if the /kernel (Create Kernel Mode Binary) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/kernel-create-kernel-mode-binary?view=vs-2017

_M_AMD64 Microsoft 100 Defined as the integer literal value 100 for compilations that target x64 processors. Otherwise, undefined.

_M_ARM Microsoft 7 Defined as the integer literal value 7 for compilations that target ARM processors. Otherwise, undefined.

_M_ARM_ARMV7VE Microsoft 1 /arch:ARMv7VE Defined as 1 when the /arch:ARMv7VE compiler option is set for compilations that target ARM processors. Otherwise, undefined https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/arch-arm?view=vs-2017

M_ARM_FP Microsoft Defined as an integer literal value that indicates which /arch compiler option was set, if the compilation target is an ARM processor. Otherwise, undefined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/arch-arm?view=vs-2017

Microsoft 30-39 /arch:ARM In the range 30-39 if no /arch ARM option was specified, indicating the default architecture for ARM was set (VFPv3).

Microsoft 40-49 /arch:VFPv4 In the range 40-49 if /arch:VFPv4 was set.

_M_ARM64 Microsoft 1 Defined as 1 for compilations that target 64-bit ARM processors. Otherwise, undefined

_M_CEE Microsoft 001 any /clr compiler option Defined as 001 if any /clr (Common Language Runtime Compilation) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined

_M_CEE_PURE Microsoft 001 /clr:pure Deprecated beginning in Visual Studio 2015. Defined as 001 if the /clr:pure compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.

_M_CEE_SAFE Microsoft 001 /clr:safe Deprecated beginning in Visual Studio 2015. Defined as 001 if the /clr:safe compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined

_M_FP_EXCEPT Microsoft 1 /fp:except OR /fp:stric Defined as 1 if the /fp:except or /fp:strict compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/fp-specify-floating-point-behavior?view=vs-2017

_M_FP_FAST Microsoft 1 /fp:fast Defined as 1 if the /fp:fast compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.

_M_FP_PRECISE Microsoft 1 /fp:precise Defined as 1 if the /fp:precise compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.

_M_FP_STRICT Microsoft 1 /fp:strict Defined as 1 if the /fp:strict compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.

_M_IX86 Microsoft 600 Defined as the integer literal value 600 for compilations that target x86 processors. This macro is not defined for x64 or ARM compilation targets

_M_IX86_FP Microsoft /arch Defined as an integer literal value that indicates the /arch compiler option that was set, or the default. This macro is always defined when the compilation target is an x86 processor. Otherwise, undefined. When defined, the value is https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/arch-arm?view=vs-2017

Microsoft 0 /arch:IA32 the /arch:IA32 compiler option was set.

Microsoft 1 /arch:SSE the /arch:SSE compiler option was set.

Microsoft 2 /arch:SSE2 OR /arch:AVX OR /arch:AVX2 the /arch:SSE2, /arch:AVX or /arch:AVX2 compiler option was set. This value is the default if an /arch compiler option was not specified. When /arch:AVX is specified, the macro AVX is also defined.

Microsoft /arch:AVX2 When /arch:AVX2 is specified, both AVX and AVX2 are also defined.

LINE Standard Defined as the integer line number in the current source file. The value of the LINE macro can be changed by using a #line directive. This macro is always defined.

_M_X64 Microsoft 100 Defined as the integer literal value 100 for compilations that target x64 processors. Otherwise, undefined.

_MANAGED Microsoft 1 /clr Defined as 1 when the /clr compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.

_MSC_BUILD Microsoft Defined as an integer literal that contains the revision number element of the compiler's version number. The revision number is the fourth element of the period-delimited version number. For example, if the version number of the Visual C++ compiler is 15.00.20706.01, the _MSC_BUILD macro evaluates to 1. This macro is always defined.

_MSC_EXTENSIONS Microsoft 1 /Ze Defined as 1 if the /Ze (Enable Language Extensions) compiler option is set, which is the default. Otherwise, undefined. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/za-ze-disable-language-extensions?view=vs-2017

_MSC_FULL_VER Microsoft Defined as an integer literal that encodes the major, minor, and build number elements of the compiler's version number. The major number is the first element of the period-delimited version number, the minor number is the second element, and the build number is the third element. For example, if the version number of the Visual C++ compiler is 15.00.20706.01, the _MSC_FULL_VER macro evaluates to 150020706. Enter cl /? at the command line to view the compiler's version number. This macro is always defined.

_MSC_VER Microsoft Defined as an integer literal that encodes the major and minor number elements of the compiler's version number. The major number is the first element of the period-delimited version number and the minor number is the second element. For example, if the version number of the Visual C++ compiler is 17.00.51106.1, the _MSC_VER macro evaluates to 1700. Enter cl /? at the command line to view the compiler's version number. This macro is always defined https://devblogs.microsoft.com/cppblog/visual-c-compiler-version/

Microsoft 1200 Visual Studio 6.0

Microsoft 1300 Visual Studio .NET 2002 (7.0)

Microsoft 1310 Visual Studio .NET 2003 (7.1)

Microsoft 1400 Visual Studio 2005 (8.0)

Microsoft 1500 Visual Studio 2008 (9.0)

Microsoft 1600 Visual Studio 2010 (10.0)

Microsoft 1700 Visual Studio 2012 (11.0)

Microsoft 1800 Visual Studio 2013 (12.0)

Microsoft 1900 Visual Studio 2015 (14.0)

Microsoft 1910 Visual Studio 2017 RTW (15.0)

Microsoft 1911 Visual Studio 2017 version 15.3

Microsoft 1912 Visual Studio 2017 version 15.5

Microsoft 1913 Visual Studio 2017 version 15.6

Microsoft 1914 Visual Studio 2017 version 15.7

Microsoft 1915 Visual Studio 2017 version 15.8

Microsoft 1916 Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9

_MSVC_LANG Microsoft Defined as an integer literal that specifies the C++ language standard targeted by the compiler.

Microsoft 201402L When compiled as C++, the macro is the integer literal value 201402L.

Microsoft 201703L if the /std:c++14 compiler option is set, or by default; it is set to 201703L.

Microsoft If the /std:c++17 compiler option is set; and it is set to a higher, unspecified value when the /std:c++latest.

Microsoft Otherwise, the macro is undefined.

__MSVC_RUNTIME_CHECKS Microsoft 1 Defined as 1 when one of the /RTC compiler options is set. Otherwise, undefined.

_MT Microsoft 1 Defined as 1 when /MD or /MDd (Multithreaded DLL) or /MT or /MTd (Multithreaded) is specified. Otherwise, undefined

_NATIVE_WCHAR_T_DEFINED Microsoft 1 Defined as 1 when the /Zc:wchar_t compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.

_OPENMP Microsoft 200203 /openmp Defined as integer literal 200203, representing the date of the OpenMP specification implemented by Visual C++, if the /openmp (Enable OpenMP 2.0 Support) compiler option is set.

PREFAST Microsoft 1 /analyze Defined as 1 when the /analyze compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.

STDC Standard 1 /Za AND compiled as C Defined as 1 only when compiled as C and if the /Za compiler option is specified. Otherwise, undefined.

__STDC_HOSTED__ Standard 1 Defined as 1 if the implementation is a hosted implementation, one that supports the entire required standard library. Otherwise, defined as 0.

__STDCPP_THREADS__ Standard 1 Defined as 1 if and only if a program can have more than one thread of execution, and compiled as C++. Otherwise, undefined

TIME Standard The time of translation of the preprocessed translation unit. The time is a character string literal of the form hh:mm:ss, the same as the time returned by the C Runtime Library asctime function. This macro is always defined.

__TIMESTAMP_ Microsoft Defined as a string literal that contains the date and time of the last modification of the current source file, in the abbreviated, constant length form returned by the C Runtime Library asctime function, for example, Fri 19 Aug 13:32:58 2016. This macro is always defined.

_VC_NODEFAULTLIB Microsoft 1 /Zl Defined as 1 when the /Zl (Omit Default Library Name) compiler option is set. Otherwise, undefined.

_WCHAR_T_DEFINED Microsoft 1 /Zc:wchar_t Defined as 1 when the default /Zc:wchar_t compiler option is set. The _WCHAR_T_DEFINED macro is defined but has no value if the /Zc:wchar_t- compiler option is set, and wchar_t is defined in a system header file included in your project. Otherwise, undefined.

_WIN32 Microsoft 1 Defined as 1 when the compilation target is 32-bit ARM, 64-bit ARM, x86, or x64. Otherwise, undefined.

_WIN64 Microsoft 1 Defined as 1 when the compilation target is 64-bit ARM or x64. Otherwise, undefined.

_WINRT_DLL Microsoft 1 /ZW AND (/LD OR /LDd) AND compiled as C++ Defined as 1 when compiled as C++ and both /ZW (Windows Runtime Compilation) and /LD or /LDd compiler options are set. Otherwise, undefined.

Points of Interest

I constructed the table from the Excel worksheet in the archive that accompanies this article. From there, I copied the worksheet into a text editor, saved the file as Markdown, then use Carsten Brandt's A super fast, highly extensible markdown parser for PHP to generate Git Flavored Markdown. Though I had to fix a few parse errors, it took only a few more minutes to have a presentable table that could be pasted into the Code Project article editor. Given that the table had some quirks, such as a fair number of blank cells, the parse errors didn't bother me. The resultang table was much leaner than anything I could have realized directly from Excel.

ToDo

The table could stand one more column, to display the MSBuild property that corresponds to each CL switch.

History

Thursday, 04 April 2019 is the initial publication date.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)