The order of compilation when the C preprocessor runs first

When a user chooses to run the C preprocessor on the IBM® Informix® ESQL/C source file before the Informix ESQL/C preprocessor, the file undergoes the following order of compilation.

1. The eprotect utility runs on the source file to protect all SQL keywords against interpretation by the C preprocessor.
2. The C preprocessor runs on the source file.
3. The eprotect utility runs on the output of the C preprocessor with the -u mode to remove SQL keyword protection.
4. The Informix ESQL/C preprocessor runs on the output of the C preprocessor, which no longer has any SQL keyword protection.
5. The output of the Informix ESQL/C preprocessor undergoes compilation and linking by the C compiler and linker to produce an executable file.