If you're using Visual Studio 2017 (version 15.8.0 or higher), and targeting the Windows SDK version 10.0.17134.0 (Windows 10, version 1803), then a newly created C++/WinRT project may fail to compile with the error "error C3861: 'from_abi': identifier not found", and with other errors originating in base.h. The solution is to either target a later (more conformant) version of the Windows SDK, or set project property C/C++ > Language > Conformance mode: No (also, if /permissive- appears in project property C/C++ > Command Line under Additional Options, then delete it).