Project macros

You can use macros to modify the way that the project system refers to files. Macros are divided into four classes:

System Macros: These are provided by the Studio application and are used to relay information from the environment, such as paths to common directories.
Global Macros: These macros are saved in the environment and are shared across all solutions and projects. Typically, you would set up paths to library or external items here.
Project Macros: These macros are saved in the project file as project properties and can define macro values specific to the solution/project they are defined in.
Build Macros: These macros are generated by the project system whenever a build occurs.

System macros

The following macro values are defined by the system

Macro	Description
StudioDir	The install directory of the CrossStudio application.

System macros can be used in build properties and also for environment settings.

Global macros

To define a global macro

Select Macros from the Project menu.
Click on the the Global tab.
Set the macro using the syntax name = replacement text.

Project macros

To define a project macro

Select Macros from the Project menu.
Click on the Project tab.
Select the solution or project the macro should apply to.
Set the macro using the syntax name = replacement text.

Alternatively you can set the project macros from the properties window:

Select the appropriate solution/project in the Project Explorer.
In the properties window, select the Macros property in the General Options group.
Click on the the ellipsis button on the right.
Set the macro using the syntax name = replacement text.

Build macros

The following macro values are defined by the project system for a build of a given project node.

Macro	Description
ProjectDir	The project directory.
ProjectName	The project name.
Configuration	The selected build configuration.
SolutionDir	The directory containing the solution file.
SolutionName	The solution name.
InputFileName	The name of an input file relative to its project directory.
InputName	The name of an input file relative to its project directory without its extension.
InputExt	The extension of an input file.
IntDir	The macro-expanded value of the Intermediate Directory property.
OutDir	The macro-expanded value of the Output Directory property.
EXE	The default file extension for an executable file including the dot.
LIB	The default file extension for a library file including the dot.
OBJ	The default file extension for an object file including the dot.
LibExt	A platform specific library extension that is generated based on project property values.

Using macros

You can use a macro in a project property or an environment setting using the $(macro) syntax. For example the Object File Name property has a default value of $(IntDir)/$(InputName)$(OBJ).

To enable debugging of builds you should use the Build Information... dialog that is on the context menu of the project explorer. This dialog will give a full list of the macros that are specified for the project node selected together with the macro expanded property values.