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/define (Preprocessor Definition) (C# Compiler Options)

Visual Studio 2005

The /define option defines name as a symbol in your program.


/define:name[;name2]

Arguments

name, name2: The name of one or more symbols that you want to define.

Remarks

The /define option has the same effect as using a #define preprocessor directive in your source file. A symbol remains defined until an #undef directive in the source file removes the definition or the compiler reaches the end of the file.

You can use symbols created by this option with #if, #else, #elif, and #endif to compile source files conditionally.

/d is the short form of /define.

You can define multiple symbols with /define by using a semicolon or comma to separate symbol names. For example:

/define:DEBUG;TUESDAY

The C# compiler itself defines no symbols or macros that you can use in your source code; all symbol definitions must be user-defined.

Note
The C# #define does not allow a symbol to be given a value, as in languages such as C++. For example, #define cannot be used to create a macro or to define a constant. If you need to define a constant, use an enum variable. If you want to create a C++ style macro, consider alternatives such as generics. Since macros are notoriously error-prone, C# disallows their use but provides safer alternatives.

Note

The C# #define does not allow a symbol to be given a value, as in languages such as C++. For example, #define cannot be used to create a macro or to define a constant. If you need to define a constant, use an enum variable. If you want to create a C++ style macro, consider alternatives such as generics. Since macros are notoriously error-prone, C# disallows their use but provides safer alternatives.

To set this compiler option in the Visual Studio development environment

Open the project's Properties page. For more information, see How to: Set Project Properties (C#, J#).
Click the Build property page.
Modify the Conditional Compilation Symbols property.

For information on how to set this compiler option programmatically, see DefineConstants.

Example

// preprocessor_define.cs
// compile with: /define:xx
// or uncomment the next line
// #define xx
using System;
public class Test 
{
    public static void Main() 
    {
        #if (xx) 
            Console.WriteLine("xx defined");
        #else
            Console.WriteLine("xx not defined");
        #endif
    }
}

Other Resources

C# Compiler Options

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