Target Preprocessor Macros are ignored by the preprocessor in Xcode

Question

I added TEST=1 in the Preprocessor Macros section of the project target's Build Settings, and whenever I use it in code, the preprocessor thinks it's not defined.

1. alt + click on it shows a question mark
2. The syntax coloring doesn't work well
3. The syntax autocomplete doesn't work well

For example, having:

#if TEST

// a

#else

// b

#endif

has this behavior:

1. Syntax coloring only works for // b
2. Syntax autocomplete only works for // b

This is because the preprocessor can't find TEST (even if it's defined as 1, as I previously stated) so it treats it as being false.

Is there any way to solve these problems?

Edit:

My use case is related to multiple Project Targets. So, say that the initial target is named First, which has the TEST preprocessor macro defined with value 1.

If I create another project target named Second with no preprocessor macros defined and want to add some code for it only if TEST is 0 (false/not defined), I'll put it in the #else block (// b).

Knowing that syntax coloring and autocomplete works for // b, it looks like it works ok, but if I change the current target to the First one (pun intended) and even build it, it still works as Second is selected.

Answer 1

If you want to do it like this in Swift, you should add a User-Defined setting named OTHER_SWIFT_FLAGS in your Build Settings like this:

And then in your code you type:

#if TEST1

// Debug

#endif

#if TEST2

// Release

#endif

I don't know why you need this, but it may be interesting to look into native Xcode Target, to use specific behavior for multiple apps with same root project. If this is what you want, you should look into an article this: AppCoda using Targets with Xcode.

Answer 2

Just go to target->Edit Scheme -> Run -> Info and check the Build Configuration. Now while adding the Preprocessor Macros in build setting just make sure you are adding the macro for correct build configuration and correct target.

I tried by adding for both debug and release build as above for my target App (Test-ObjectiveC). So when i tried below code with this setting, u can see the syntax color accordingly.