/PDB (Use Program Database)
The latest version of this topic can be found at -PDB (Use Program Database).
PDB:filename
## Remarks
where:
*filename*
A user-specified name for the program database (PDB) that the linker creates. It replaces the default name.
## Remarks
By default, when [/DEBUG](../Topic/-DEBUG%20\(Generate%20Debug%20Info\).md) is specified, the linker creates a program database (PDB) which holds debugging information. The default file name for the PDB has the base name of the program and the extension .pdb.
Use /PDB:*filename* to specify the name of the PDB file. If /DEBUG is not specified, the /PDB option is ignored.
A PDB file can be up to 2GB.
For more information, see [.pdb Files as Linker Input](../Topic/.Pdb%20Files%20as%20Linker%20Input.md).
### 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 **Debug** property page.
4. Modify the **Generate Program Database File** property.
### To set this linker option programmatically
- See [ProgramDatabaseFile](assetId:///P:Microsoft.VisualStudio.VCProjectEngine.VCLinkerTool.ProgramDatabaseFile?qualifyHint=False&autoUpgrade=True).
## See Also
[Setting Linker Options](../Topic/Setting%20Linker%20Options.md)
[Linker Options](../Topic/Linker%20Options.md)