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Asked: 2026-05-23T16:28:24+00:00

I’ve inherited some code written for the (ancient) Microsoft C compiler 2.x. For each

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I’ve inherited some code written for the (ancient) Microsoft C compiler 2.x. For each .c file, there is a .ec file of the same name. If I modify the C file and compile the code, nothing is different, but modifications to the .ec file take effect. Upon compiling, the .c file is updated to match the changes to the .ec file.

I’ve scoured the Internet for information about this compiler and I can’t find anything. Why is there an EC file? It doesn’t seem right to modify the EC files; I must be doing something wrong. I was expecting the .c file to contain the source code.

If anyone here used this compiler “back in the day,” I’d appreciate any insight/information you can provide.

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    The extension .ec is the old C with embedded SQL extension, and is probably unrelated to Microsoft C. Your build system probably generates the .c file from the .ec file using a preprocessor. Look for exec sql statements in the .ec file embedded inside otherwise normal looking C code. Is there a relational database hanging around?

    Unlikely to have anything to do with gcc preprocessor extensions.

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