How Can I Simplify `dllexport`/`dllimport` Macro Management in Visual Studio?

Macro for dllexport/dllimport Switch - Defining COMPILING_DLL

In software development, the dllexport and dllimport macros are used to provide a mechanism for dynamic linking in DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries). However, defining these macros requires additional information.

COMPILING_DLL Macro Definition

Traditionally, the COMPILING_DLL macro is defined during compilation. However, it can be inconvenient to manually define this macro every time a DLL is compiled.

Default Project Macros

Visual Studio provides a default solution by defining local project macros. These macros are specific to each project and can be accessed through:

• Properties -> C/C -> Preprocessor -> Preprocessor Definitions

Example: Using Project-Defined Macros

Suppose you have a project named "MyDLL." Visual Studio will automatically define a local macro named MYDLL_EXPORTS. This macro can be used as follows:

#ifdef  MYDLL_EXPORTS 
    /*Enabled as "export" while compiling the dll project*/
    #define DLLEXPORT __declspec(dllexport)  
 #else
    /*Enabled as "import" in the Client side for using already created dll file*/
    #define DLLEXPORT __declspec(dllimport)  
 #endif

This approach eliminates the need to manually define COMPILING_DLL and ensures consistent behavior across compilation scenarios.

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