Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

The Preprocessor

Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

 Preprocessor
Preprocessor:
 A program that processes the program before compilation
 Operates under the control of preprocessor directives
 Placed before the main function
 All directives begin with the symbol #
 Semicolon in the end not required
 Divided into three categories:
1. file inclusion directives (#include directive)
2. macro substitution directives(#define directivie)
3. compiler control directives or conditional compilation
(#ifdef, #ifndef…)

Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

 1. file inclusion directives
( #include<….> )
 #include directive:
The preprocessor inserts the entire contents of file into the
source code of the program in place of directive.

– Two forms
• #include <filename>
– For standard library header files
– Searches pre-designated directories
• #include “filename”
-an external file containing functions or macro definitions
can be included as a part of program
– Searches in current directory
– Normally used for programmer-defined files

Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

 2. macro substitution directives
(#define preprocessor directives)
#define
 Used to define symbolic constants
•Constants represented as symbols
•When program compiled, all occurrences replaced
•Format: #define identifier string
•Replace where ever identifier is present by string
#define id 5
#define pi 3.14159
Where ever id is present in program, that will be replaced by 5
Where ever pi is present in program, that will be replaced by 3.14159

Note: Everything to right of identifier replaces:

#define pi =3.14159 // Replaces pi with "=3.14159”

Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

 2. macro substitution directives
(#define preprocessor directives)

 Macro
– Operation specified in #define
– Macro without arguments #define id 5
• Treated like a symbolic constant #define pi 3.14159
– Macro with arguments
• Arguments substituted for replacement text
• Macro expanded
– Performs a text substitution

Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

 2. macro substitution directives
(#define preprocessor directives)

Macro with arguments

 Example
#define PI 3.14159 Use parentheses
#define CIRCLE_AREA( x ) ( PI * ( x ) * ( x ) )
Without them,
Now if we use expression #define CIRCLE_AREA( x ) PI * x * x
area = CIRCLE_AREA( c + 2 );
area = CIRCLE_AREA( 4 );
becomes
it becomes area = 3.14159 * c + 2 * c + 2;
area = ( 3.14159 * ( 4 ) * ( 4 ) ); which evaluates
incorrectly

Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

 2. macro substitution directives
(#define preprocessor directives)

 Multiple arguments:
#define RECTANGLE_AREA( x, y ) (( x ) * ( y ))
// multiline
rectArea = RECTANGLE_AREA( a + 4, b + 7 ); #define PRINT(x,y) if(x>y)\
becomes prirntf(“x>y”);\
rectArea = (( a + 4 ) * ( b + 7 ));
else\
printf(“x<=y”);
Nested macro:
#define M 5
#define N M+1
#define square(x) ((x)*(x))
#define qube(x) (square(x)*(x))

Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

 3. Compiler control directives
(Conditional Compilation)
 It refers to the conditional definition of a macro.
 It ensures that the macro TEST is always defined.

For ex: define.h is suppose to has TEST

#include “define.h”
#ifndef TEST If TEST is not
#define TEST 5 defined
#endif then Define TEST

In case TEST is defined in define.h then ifndef condition

becomes false, and the directive #define TEST 5 is
ignored.

Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

 3. Compiler control directives
(Conditional Compilation)
 It refers to the conditional definition of a macro.
 Similar is the case when we want a macro never to be defined
For ex:
#include “define.h”
#ifdef TEST
#undef TEST
#endif

 This ensures that even if TEST is defined in header file, the

definition is removed.

Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

 3. Compiler control directives
(Conditional Compilation)

………
To make portable program
……..
#ifdef TEST
……
…….
……
#else
…….
……..
#endif

Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

 3. Compiler control directives
(Conditional Compilation)
----------
---------- To make portable program
#ifdef TEST
printf(“………”);
for……….
….
…….
#endif
……..
………

 The statements between the directives #ifdef and #endif will be compiled only if
the macro TEST is defined.

Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

#if and #elif Directives
The #if directive can be used to test whether an expression evaluates
to a nonzero value or not. If the result of the expression is nonzero,
then subsequent lines upto a #else, #elif or #endif are compiled,
otherwise they are skipped.
A simple example of #if directive is shown below:
main( )
{
#if TEST <= 5
statement 1 ; If the expression, TEST <= 5 evaluates to
statement 2 ; true then statements 1 and 2 are
#else compiled otherwise statements 4 and 5
statement 4 ; are compiled.
statement 5 ;
#endif
}
Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering
Nested conditional compilation: An example that uses such
directives is shown below.

#if ADAPTER == VGA

code for video graphics array
#else
#if ADAPTER == SVGA
code for super video graphics array
#else
code for extended graphics adapter
#endif
#endif

Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering

 Nested conditional compilation:
use of #elif
#if ADAPTER == VGA
code for video graphics array
#elif ADAPTER == SVGA
code for super video graphics array
#else
code for extended graphics adapter
#endif

Observe that by using the #elif

directives the number of #endifs
used in the program get reduced.

Manish Tiwari, Department of Computer Science & Engineering