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/WINMD (Generate Windows Metadata)

Enables generation of a Windows Runtime Metadata (.winmd) file.

/WINMD[:{NO|ONLY}]

Arguments

/WINMD
The default setting for Universal Windows Platform apps. The linker generates both the binary executable file and the .winmd metadata file.

/WINMD:NO
The linker generates only the binary executable file, but not a .winmd file.

/WINMD:ONLY
The linker generates only the .winmd file, but not the binary executable file.

Remarks

The /WINMD linker option is used for UWP apps and Windows runtime components to control the creation of a Windows Runtime metadata (.winmd) file. A .winmd file is a kind of DLL that contains metadata for Windows runtime types and, in the case of runtime components, the implementations of those types. The metadata follows the ECMA-335 standard.

By default, the output file name has the form binaryname.winmd. To specify a different file name, use the /WINMDFILE option.

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 > Windows Metadata property page.

  3. In the Generate Windows Metadata drop-down list box, select the option you want.

See also

Walkthrough: Creating a Simple Windows Runtime component and calling it from JavaScript
Introduction to Microsoft Interface Definition Language 3.0
/WINMDFILE (Specify winmd File)
/WINMDKEYFILE (Specify winmd Key File)
/WINMDKEYCONTAINER (Specify Key Container)
/WINMDDELAYSIGN (Partially Sign a winmd)
MSVC linker reference
MSVC Linker Options