Any way to parse preprocessed source through external tool before it compiles?

Question

I want the compiler to run preprocessing, generate all the .i files like it normally does if I just use the "generate preprocessed file" option, and then run an external tool, wait for it to complete, and then go on with the compilation of those .i files (which by now can be modified of course).

If that is not possible, is there a way to run an external tool on every file that is being compiled before preprocessing and compilation? (Would probably be a hell to debug in environment like that, but still).

If there is no option like that, could this even be done at all? I mean, does the compiler even use those .i files, or are they just output for the user somehow?

Basically, is there any way to automatically tamper with the source before it is compiled, but without modifying the actual files?

Just for refs: I am trying to think of a smart way to obfuscate all the strings with minimum modification of the source.

Answer 1

Let x.cpp be your file you want to preprocess.

1. Set the compiler option to generate preprocessed output for x.cpp, let it be x.i.
2. Add the x.i to the project and set the "custom build tool" in the properties. Set the "output files" to x.preprocessed.cpp.
3. Add x.preprocessed.cpp to the project.

See msdn for details.