diff --git a/man/cppcheck.1.xml b/man/cppcheck.1.xml
index 599d0d22c..bed48c154 100644
--- a/man/cppcheck.1.xml
+++ b/man/cppcheck.1.xml
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ files, this is not needed.</para>
       <varlistentry>
         <term><option>--template ['text']</option></term>
         <listitem>
-          <para>Format the error messages. E.g. '{file}:{line},{severity},{id},{message}' or '{file}({line}):({severity}) {message}'</para>
+          <para>Format the error messages. E.g. '{file}:{line},{severity},{id},{message}' or '{file}({line}):({severity}) {message}'. Pre-defined templates: gcc, vs</para>
         </listitem>
       </varlistentry>
       <varlistentry>
diff --git a/src/cppcheck.cpp b/src/cppcheck.cpp
index b6fa9e159..302fe4086 100644
--- a/src/cppcheck.cpp
+++ b/src/cppcheck.cpp
@@ -186,6 +186,10 @@ std::string CppCheck::parseFromArgs(int argc, const char* const argv[])
                 return "cppcheck: argument to '--template' is missing\n";
 
             _settings._outputFormat = argv[i];
+            if (_settings._outputFormat == "gcc")
+                _settings._outputFormat = "{file}:{line}: {severity}: {message}";
+            else if (_settings._outputFormat == "vs")
+                _settings._outputFormat = "{file}({line}): {severity}: {message}";
         }
 
         // Include paths
@@ -330,6 +334,7 @@ std::string CppCheck::parseFromArgs(int argc, const char* const argv[])
         "    --template '[text]'  Format the error messages. E.g.\n"
         "                         '{file}:{line},{severity},{id},{message}' or\n"
         "                         '{file}({line}):({severity}) {message}'\n"
+        "                         Pre-defined templates: gcc, vs\n"
         "    --unused-functions   Check if there are unused functions\n"
         "    -v, --verbose        More detailed error reports\n"
         "    --version            Print out version number\n"