How to target both Win32 and x64 platforms with ONLY one set of solution/project files?

Question

I'm trying to migrate a multiple-project from VC++2005 to VC++2010, and I also need to port this application from Win32 to x64 platform.

I know that a project file could contain settings for both platforms, but it requires that I have to manully change the platfrom setting for each project say if I want to build for x64.

What I want to do is to have ONLY one set of solution/project files that could target both of these platforms, and with some kind of simple switch I can choose what platform I am building now. Is there such a way? Or do I have to maintain two sets of solution/projects files, one for each platform, so that if I want to build for x64, I can only open the solution file for x64, and if I want to build for Win32, I have to open the solution file for Win32?

Answer 1

You can use the "Configuration Manager" in Visual Studio 2010 to make multiple configurations for your solution and project files.

In the menu bar of VS 2010, go to "Build" --> "Configuration Manager..."

Answer 2

Let's say you've the platform property which duplicates in each project file:

<Platform>x86</Platform>

You can extract this property from ALL project file in a single CommonProperties.properties file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Project 
    ToolsVersion="4.0" 
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003" 
    DefaultTargets="Default">

    <PropertyGroup>
         <Platform>x86</Platform>
    </PropertyGroup>
</Project>

And then just import it in ALL project files:

<Import Project="CommonProperties.properties" />

EDIT: Multiple platform support

<Platform Condition="'$(Platform)' == 'Win32'">x86</Platform>
<Platform Condition="'$(Platform)' == 'x64'">x64</Platform> 

Useful links:

• Property Element
• MSBuild Conditional Constructs