KB148318 - FIX: Using #define NOGDI Results in Compilation Syntax Errors

Article ID: 148318

Article Last Modified on 12/9/2003

Microsoft Visual C++ 2.2
Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Visual C++ 4.1 Subscription
Microsoft Visual C++ 4.2 Professional Edition

This article was previously published under Q148318

SYMPTOMS

Compiling a source file that contains the following code:

   #define NOGDI
   #include <windows.h>

results in several syntax errors such as these:

   winuser.h(8577) : error C2501: 'LOGFONTA' : missing decl-specifiers
   winuser.h(8577) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ';'  before
   identifier 'lfFont'

CAUSE

GDI-specific types like LOGFONTA are not defined when NOGDI is defined. However, header files like Winuser.h and Imm.h have structures that contain the GDI-specific types without the surrounding "#ifndef NOGDI"/"#endif" pair. The compiler generates syntax error for the GDI-specific types inside these structures.

RESOLUTION

Do not use #define NOGDI, or edit the system header files that produce the syntax errors to add the "#ifndef NOGDI"/"#endif" pair around the structures that contain the GDI-specific types.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This bug was corrected in Visual C++ version 5.0.

Additional query words: kbVC400bug

Keywords: kbbug kbfix kbvc500fix kbarttypeinf KB148318