Description

The cov-preprocess command preprocesses a source file. This command reads the command-line argument from <intermediate_directory>/emit and outputs the preprocessed source file or files into the <intermediate_directory>/output/preprocessed directory. Coverity recommends that you use the --output-file option to change the default output behavior whenever you need for the combined output path and filename to be an invariant (for example, in scripts) because the internal structure of the intermediate directory might change in future releases. However, note that using this option necessitates that only one file is preprocessed per invocation of cov-preprocess.

If you do not use an absolute path name to specify a file name, cov-preprocess searches for the specified file name in <intermediate_directory>/emit. To speed up the search time, use full path names to files that you want to preprocess.

Preprocessing expands all preprocessor directives such as #include, and expands macro definitions. A preprocessed source file is self-contained and can be compiled by itself with no additional files.

Note: cov-preprocess doesn't read source files from the emit or re-create source folders. Therefore the source files, directory structure, and working environment of the original build captured in the emit must exist and be used when cov-preprocess runs.