/IDLOUT (Name MIDL Output Files)
The latest version of this topic can be found at -IDLOUT (Name MIDL Output Files).
IDLOUT:[path]filename
## Parameters
*path*
An absolute or relative path specification. By specifying a path, you affect only the location of an .idl file; all other files are placed in the project directory.
*filename*
Specifies the name of the .idl file created by the MIDL compiler. No file extension is assumed; specify *filename*.idl if you want an .idl extension.
## Remarks
The /IDLOUT option specifies the name and extension of the .idl file.
The MIDL compiler is called by the Visual C++ linker when linking projects that have the [module](../Topic/module%20\(C++\).md) attribute.
/IDLOUT also specifies the file names of the other output files associated with the MIDL compiler:
- *filename*.tlb
- *filename*_p.c
- *filename*_i.c
- *filename*.h
*filename* is the parameter that you pass to /IDLOUT. If [/TLBOUT](../Topic/-TLBOUT%20\(Name%20.TLB%20File\).md) is specified, the .tlb file will get its name from /TLBOUT *filename*.
If you specify neither /IDLOUT nor /TLBOUT, the linker will create vc70.tlb, vc70.idl, vc70_p.c, vc70_i.c, and vc70.h.
### To set this linker option in the Visual Studio development environment
1. Open the project's **Property Pages** dialog box. For details, see [Setting Visual C++ Project Properties](../Topic/Working%20with%20Project%20Properties.md).
2. Click the **Linker** folder.
3. Click the **Embedded IDL** property page.
4. Modify the **Merge IDL Base File Name** property.
### To set this linker option programmatically
- See [MergedIDLBaseFileName](assetId:///P:Microsoft.VisualStudio.VCProjectEngine.VCLinkerTool.MergedIDLBaseFileName?qualifyHint=False&autoUpgrade=True).
## See Also
[Setting Linker Options](../Topic/Setting%20Linker%20Options.md)
[Linker Options](../Topic/Linker%20Options.md)
[/IGNOREIDL (Don't Process Attributes into MIDL)](../Topic/-IGNOREIDL%20\(Don't%20Process%20Attributes%20into%20MIDL\).md)
[/MIDL (Specify MIDL Command Line Options)](../Topic/-MIDL%20\(Specify%20MIDL%20Command%20Line%20Options\).md)
[Building an Attributed Program](../Topic/Building%20an%20Attributed%20Program.md)