MS C/C++: The cl Command

1 Syntax

The cl command has the following syntax:

cl [- option...] file... [option | file]... [lib]... [@command-file] [-link link-option...]

option	An option or switch (see below).
file	A file name.
lib	A library name.
command-file	A file that contains one or more filenames or options.
link-opt	One or more linker options (see the description of the link command).

The list of valid options/switches for the cl command includes the following:

C	Preserves comments during processing.
c	Compiles without linking.
Dname[= \| # [{string \| number}]]	Defines a symbol (as with `#define`).
E	Copies preprocessor output to standard output.
Fnumber	Sets the size of the stack.
Fefilename	Names the executable file.
FI	Preprocesses the specified include file.
Fofilename	Names the object file.
GX	Enable C++ exception handling.
help	Provides (some) help.
I	Searches the given directory for "includes".
O1	Creates small code.
O2	Creates fast code.
Zs	Checks syntax only.

The following command compiles (but does not link) the source file named test.cpp and creates the file test.cpp:

cl -c test.cpp

The following command first defines the symbol DEBUG in test.c and then compiles and links it:

cl -DVERBOSE test.c

The following command "includes" files from the directory \myfiles\include in addition to the standard INCLUDE directory:

cl -I\myfiles\include test.c

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