/Tc, /Tp, /TC, /TP (Specify Source File Type)

Article
08/03/2021

The /Tc option specifies that its filename argument is a C source file, even if it does not have a .c extension. The /Tp option specifies that its filename argument is a C++ source file, even if it doesn't have a .cpp or .cxx extension. A space between the option and the filename is optional. Each option specifies one file; to specify additional files, repeat the option.

/TC and /TP are global variants of /Tc and /Tp. They specify to the compiler to treat all files named on the command line as C source files (/TC) or C++ source files (/TP), without regard to location on the command line in relation to the option. These global options can be overridden on a single file by means of /Tc or /Tp.

Syntax

/Tc filename
/Tp filename
/TC
/TP

Arguments

filename
A C or C++ source file.

Remarks

By default, CL assumes that files with the .c extension are C source files and files with the .cpp or the .cxx extension are C++ source files.

When either the TC or Tc option is specified, any specification of the /Zc:wchar_t (wchar_t Is Native Type) option is ignored.

To set this compiler option in the Visual Studio development environment

Open the project's Property Pages dialog box. For details, see Set C++ compiler and build properties in Visual Studio.
Select the Configuration Properties > C/C++ > Advanced property page.
Modify the Compile As property. Choose OK or Apply to apply your changes.

To set this compiler option programmatically

See CompileAs.

Examples

This CL command line specifies that MAIN.c, TEST.prg, and COLLATE.prg are all C source files. CL will not recognize PRINT.prg.

CL MAIN.C /TcTEST.PRG /TcCOLLATE.PRG PRINT.PRG

This CL command line specifies that TEST1.c, TEST2.cxx, TEST3.huh, and TEST4.o are compiled as C++ files, and TEST5.z is compiled as a C file.

CL TEST1.C TEST2.CXX TEST3.HUH TEST4.O /Tc TEST5.Z /TP