Visual Studio 2008 Project Properties Configuration Configuration Missing Parameters

Question

I have a strange problem and hopefully someone can help me.

I have a solution with 13 separate C # projects. I am using Vista x64 for development, and I would like these projects to target the x86 platform. This is usually pretty easy. I can go to solution properties -> Configuration Properties and change the platform to x86. The strange part here is that 3 of my projects refuse to let me choose x86.

So, it seemed to me that I would go to each of these three projects separately and change it in Project Properties → Build and change the Platform. And the drop-down menus "Configuration" and "Platform" do not exist for these projects. I searched the language a bit and found the setting in the Tools-> Options-> Projects And Solutions-> Show Advanced build settings. Having selected this, when I go to Project Properties for disruptive projects, now I see both drop-down menus, but the platform allows me to select Active (Any CPU).

I also cannot change the Platform properties in Solution for x86 for these projects.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

It looks like the build configurations have been shaken. These three projects were probably added after the solution was configured to support x86 (new projects support AnyCPU, even if the solution supports more platforms.)

• Go Build-> Configuration Manager ...
• Change the "Active Solution Platform" to x86 (if it is there. If there is only AnyCPU, use it.)
• For each offensive project, in the Platform column, select Create
• Select the new platform as "x86", copy the settings from "Any processor" and make sure that the checkbox is NOT checked.
• Click OK.

Aligning a configuration / platform between a solution and individual projects can be difficult. Configuration Manager can behave unpredictably - especially with customizable solution configurations. I suggest playing a test solution first.

Answer 2

I also develop on x64 and deploy on x86. However, I do not change the platform from the default (Any CPU), and it works just fine for me. Do you have any code (e.g. Win interop) that works differently on different platforms? Check out this post from Hanselman for details on 32/64-bit .NET targeting.

Answer 3

I would compare the text contents of csproj files to see if there is any parameter that fell out or by accident. Also check the contents of sln, maybe there is something strange with the configurations.

Hi,

Sebastiaan

Answer 4

For Visual Studio 2010. To launch Access 12.0: R-click on the project name in Solution Explorer, select "Properties - Build" - Target Platform - x86.