'identifier' : 'selectany' can only be applied to data items with external linkage
The selectany attribute can be applied only to externally visible and global data items.
Example
// OK __declspec(selectany) int x1 = 1; // error - x2 is not externally visible const __declspec(selectany) int x2 = 2; // OK extern const __declspec(selectany) int x3 = 3; // OK __declspec(selectany) int x4; // OK .. dynamic initialization of x5 int f(); __declspec(selectany) int x5 = f(); // error - x6 is not externally visible static __declspec(selectany) int x6 = 6; extern const int x7; // OK - redeclaration of x7 that is extern const __declspec(selectany) int x7 = 7;