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/Gw (Optimize Global Data)

 

The latest version of this topic can be found at -Gw (Optimize Global Data).

Package global data in COMDAT sections for optimization.

Syntax

/Gw[-]  

Remarks

The /Gw option causes the compiler to package global data in individual COMDAT sections. By default, /Gw is off and must be explicitly enabled. To explicitly disable it, use /Gw-. When both /Gw and /GL are enabled, the linker uses whole-program optimization to compare COMDAT sections across multiple object files in order to exclude unreferenced global data or to merge identical read-only global data. This can significantly reduce the size of the resulting binary executable.

When you compile and link separately, you can use the /OPT:REF linker option to exclude from the executable the unreferenced global data in object files compiled with the /Gw option.

You can also use the /OPT:ICF and /LTCG linker options together to merge in the executable any identical read-only global data across multiple object files compiled with the /Gw option.

For more information, see Introducing /Gw Compiler Switch on the Visual C++ Team Blog.

To set this compiler option in the Visual Studio development environment

  1. Open the project's Property Pages dialog box. For details, see Working with Project Properties.

  2. Select the C/C++ folder.

  3. Select the Command Line property page.

  4. Modify the Additional Options property to include /Gw and then choose OK.

To set this compiler option programmatically

See Also

Compiler Options
Setting Compiler Options