# Indexer preferences (C/C++)

Use the Indexer preference panel to select the indexer used by default for new projects and configure its behavior.

Indexer Options
Option | Description
--- | ---
Select Indexer | Select the indexer to use by default for all new projects.
Index source files not included in the build | Activate this checkbox to index all source files used by the project.
Index unused headers | Activate this checkbox to index unused header files.
Allow heuristic resolution of includes | Activate this checkbox to allow the indexer to skip indexing duplicate include files.
Skip files larger than | Enter the maximum file size to skip when indexing.
Skip all references (Call Hierarchy and Search will not work) | Activate this checkbox to not index references to save space and gain performance. This prevents some portions of CDT from working, like Call Hierarchy and search for references.
Skip implicit references (e.g. overloaded operators) | Activate this checkbox to not index implicit references.
Skip type and macro references (Search for these references will not work) | Activate this checkbox to not index macro or type references. This prevents some portions of CDT from working, like Search.
Files to index up-front | Type a comma separated list of files that should always be indexed immediately.
Automatically update the index | Activate this checkbox to have the index automatically update as it requires.
Update index immediately after every file change | Activate this checkbox to force an index update whenever a file is saved.
Use active build configuration | Activate to always use the active build configuration indexer settings to build the index.
Use the build configuration specified in the project's indexer settings | Activate to always use the project's indexer settings to build the index.
Index database cache: Limit relative to the maximum heap size | Specify the relative size limit the index can reach based on the maximum heap size.
Index database cache: Absolute limit | Specify the maximum size the index database cache is limited to.
Header file cache: Absolute limit | Specify the maximum size the header file cache is limited to.

Coding aids
C/C++ search

Searching for C/C++ elements
Customizing the C/C++ editor

C/C++ search page, Search window
Search action
Search view