pre-compiled header file

To use pre-compiled header file, for the first time of compiling a project,
we have to specify "Not use pre-compiled header file" in the project's
Setting options, since there is no .pch file yet and for each project, the
.PCH file could be different. Is this correct?

In a Windows console program, is the "stdafx.h" header file that determines
what to be included in the .PCH file?

Is "stdafx.h" header file can be compiled, can other header files like being
created by myself be compile as well?

Thanks!

Carl
Sun Jun 20 20:48:32 CDT 2004

pat wrote:
> To use pre-compiled header file, for the first time of compiling a
> project, we have to specify "Not use pre-compiled header file" in the
> project's Setting options, since there is no .pch file yet and for
> each project, the .PCH file could be different. Is this correct?
>
> In a Windows console program, is the "stdafx.h" header file that
> determines what to be included in the .PCH file?
>
> Is "stdafx.h" header file can be compiled, can other header files
> like being created by myself be compile as well?

If you create a C++ project using the standard "new project" wizards, the
project will be created with support for a PCH file (unless you checked the
"empty project" checkbox, that is).

To use a precompiled header file:

- You must have a single header that's #included before anything else in
every file that uses the pch file. This file is (badly) named 'stdafx.h' by
the new-project wizards. Personally, I think 'pch.h' is a much better name
:)

- You must compile one module of your project with /Yc ("Create Precompiled
Header File"). The new-project wizards always make a file named
'stdafx.cpp' that is built with /Yc, but it can be any one module in your
project.

- You must compile all of the other modules that are to use the PCH file
with /Yu ("Use Precompiled Header File").

You can set all of this up in the IDE if you started from a blank project.
See Project|Properties|Precompiled Header Files.

-cd