What is the purpose of {.$DEFINE VAR} instead of {$DEFINE VAR} in Delphi

Question

What is the difference in Delphi between using {.$DEFINE VAR} and {$DEFINE VAR} compiler directives ?

It's an idiom for configuration files. All possible defines are listed with dot turning it into a comment (no effect). Remove dots where you need an option and you have "flipped a switch" — Warren P, Mar 28 '13 at 01:15
Have a look at `FastMM4Options.inc` if you have Fast MM installed. It is full of these! — Gerry Coll, Mar 28 '13 at 01:19

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 27 '13 at 23:33

The code originally had a {$DEFINE VAR} statement in it, then a period was added to turn the statement into a plain ordinary comment without removing the statement, presumably so it can be restored at a later time.

{$...} is a precompiler directive.

{...} that does not start with {$ is a comment.

score 7 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 28 '13 at 00:05

7

Think of the first one as a commented version (one that the compiler will ignore) of the second one.

edited Mar 28 '13 at 00:05

Konrad Viltersten

36,151
76
250
438

answered Mar 27 '13 at 23:28

Z .

12,657
1
31
56

What is the purpose of {.$DEFINE VAR} instead of {$DEFINE VAR} in Delphi

2 Answers2