pdb-use-program-database.md

description	title	ms.date	f1_keywords	helpviewer_keywords
Learn more about: /PDB (Use Program Database)	/PDB (Use Program Database)	03/24/2025	/pdb VC.Project.VCLinkerTool.ProgramDatabaseFile	-PDB linker option /PDB linker option PDB linker option PDB files, creating .pdb files, creating

/PDB (Use Program Database)

Specify the name of the program database (PDB) file that the linker creates.

Syntax

/PDB:filename

Arguments

filename
A user-specified name for the program database (PDB) that the linker creates. It replaces the default name. When expanded, the fully qualified filename must not exceed MAX_PATH (260 characters).

Remarks

By default, when /DEBUG is specified, the linker creates a program database (PDB) which holds debugging information. The default file name for the PDB has the base name of the program and the extension .pdb.

Use /PDB:filename to specify the name of the PDB file. If /DEBUG is not specified, the /PDB option is ignored.

A PDB file can be up to 2GB in size.

For more information, see .pdb Files as Linker Input.

To set this linker option in the Visual Studio development environment

1. Open the project's Property Pages dialog box. For details, see Set C++ compiler and build properties in Visual Studio.
2. Select the Configuration Properties > Linker > Debug property page.
3. Modify the Generate Program Database File property.

To set this linker option programmatically

• See xref:Microsoft.VisualStudio.VCProjectEngine.VCLinkerTool.ProgramDatabaseFile%2A.

See also

MSVC linker reference
MSVC Linker Options