Summary
When you build a DLL by using the 64-bit version of the Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler and Linker, you may receive Linker error number LNK4197 if a function has been declared for export more than one time.
Symptoms
The Linker output may be similar to the following:
C:\>link /NOLOGO /def:Sample.def /pdb:Sample.pdb /out:Sample.dll Sample.obj
Sample.obj : warning LNK4197: export 'DllSample' specified multiple times; using first specification
Creating library Sample.lib and object Sample.exp
Cause
The Linker error number LNK4197 is generated when a function has been declared for export more than one time. A function is declared for export in one of the following ways:
-
The function is declared by using the __declspec(dllexport) keyword in your C source file:
__declspec(dllexport) int DllSample()
{
return 42;
} -
The function is declared by using a module-definition (.DEF) file:
EXPORTS
DllSample
This Linker error may occur most frequently when both the __declspec(dllexport) keyword and a .DEF file are used to define the same function name in a .DLL project.
Resolution
To resolve this behavior, define exported functions only one time, either by using the __declspec(dllexport) keyword or by using a .DEF file. Do not use both of these methods.
Status
This behavior is by design.
More Information
Declaring a function for export more than one time may not produce the Linker error that is described in the "Symptoms" section of this article in 32-bit versions of the Microsoft Windows C++ Compiler and Linker. However, Microsoft recommends that you define function exports only one time in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the Windows C++ Compiler and Linker.
