KB121889 - PRB: Error C2858: Command-line Options Inconsistent

Article ID: 121889

Article Last Modified on 7/5/2005

Microsoft Visual C++ 1.0 Professional Edition
Microsoft Visual C++ 2.0 Professional Edition
Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 Service Pack 5

This article was previously published under Q121889

SYMPTOMS

When building a file from an existing application that uses precompiled header files, the compiler produces the following error if the source drive letter has changed:

   error C2858: command-line option 'program database name
   (/FdN:\test.pdb)' inconsistent with precompiled header,
   which used '/FdM:\test.pdb'

CAUSE

The compiler stores and uses an absolute path to the precompiled header file, not a relative path.

RESOLUTION

Microsoft recommends that you rebuild an application when moving its source code or when connecting with a different drive letter.

MORE INFORMATION

The following sample code demonstrates the behavior. If the two files shown below are compiled from the M: drive and later TEST2.CPP is compiled from the N: drive, the error will occur.

Sample Code

/* Compile options needed: /Zi /Fp"test.pch" /Yc
   TEST1.CPP
*/ 

#include <iostream.h>

void main()
{
}

/* Compile options needed: /Zi /Fp"test.pch" /Yu"iostream.h"
   TEST2.CPP
*/ 

#include <iostream.h>

void sub()
{
}

Additional query words: 9.00

Keywords: kbprb kbcpponly kbcompiler KB121889