How can I use a single Visual Studio solution to build both x86 and x64 at the same time?

Question

I\'ve got an x86 Visual Studio solution with many project files in it. Some of the DLL files are designed to work as plug-ins to other applications on a user\'s system.

Answer 1

I would suggest to create a dummy C++ Makefile project and then invoke MSBuild twice from it:

msbuild myproj.sln /p:Configuration="Debug|Win32" 

msbuild myproj.sln /p:Configuration="Debug|x64"

Answer 2

Importing a project in such manner works for me in Visual Studio 2010:

TestProject64.vcxproj

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project DefaultTargets="Build" ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
  <Import Project="TestProject.vcxproj" />
  <ItemGroup Label="ProjectConfigurations">
    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Release|x64">
      <Configuration>Release</Configuration>
      <Platform>x64</Platform>
    </ProjectConfiguration>
  </ItemGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
    <ProjectGuid>{B7D61F1C-B413-4768-8BDB-31FD464AD053}</ProjectGuid>
  </PropertyGroup>
</Project>

TestProject64.vcxproj.filters

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

TestProject.vcxproj has two configurations defined inside: Release|x86 and Release|x64. As you can see, TestProject64.vcxproj has only the Release|x64 configuration. Defining of at least one configuration in TestProject64.vcxproj is necessary, otherwise Visual Studio will not be able to add TestProject64.vcxproj to a solution.

Now it's possible to include both TestProject.vcxproj and TestProject64.vcxproj to the same solution and build Release|x86 and Release|x64 at the same time.