Disable C++ PDB generation from the IDE

Question

We need to surpress generation of debug symbols. The options availble under project properties/ configuration properties / c/c++ / general / debug information format, are equivalent to /Z7, /Zi and /ZI - I can't find a way to omit the /Zx flag entirely.

Unlike the situation here - we're building from the IDE.

I'm using visual studio 2010, and the project at hand is a static library.

EDIT: Here's the view from my installation of VS2012. Is this some installation issue?? Are your Debug-Information-Format options different?

Answer 1

You can remove it manually:

Step 1. Compiler.

• Selected "Configuration Properties > C/C++ > General > Debug Information Format"
• Hit DEL

Step 2. Linker.

Also you need to disable generating Debug info for Linker

• Selected "Configuration Properties > Linker > Debugging> Generate Debug Info" set to No

Step 3. Profiler.

• Also set "Profile" to "No" in Linker > Advanced or you may still see PDB files generated!

Answer 2

First thing first - this is not recommended to disable .PDB generation, even for a Release Build!

Anyway, you just need to go:

• Linker -> Debugging -> Generate Debug Info, and set it to No