Convert VC++ Project 2010 to 2008

The simple way: Open the '.vcxproj' file and change

<Project DefaultTargets="Build" ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">

to read

<Project DefaultTargets="Build" ToolsVersion="3.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">

That should do it.

Tried it but this do not work. VS 2008 always told me that the project is not valid.

ms doesn't provide a downgrade of projects. the problem is that some configuration keywords for the xml in the project file have been changed or added (for example the vc directories which moved to project settings) and that vs2008 stops when it detects an unknown entry in the project file.

the only way I know is to creating same project type (and name) in vs2008. then add the sources but not the project files. and finally synchronize the properties both for debug and release. if you make a (text) diff on the project files of vs2010 and vs2008, it should show only a few differences for entries which apparently are new for vs2010. you can run both versions of visual studio same time but they should not use the same sources or project trees.

Sara

To support Sara's last suggestion, sometimes, a complex project might get hosed even without change VS versions. When I attempted to fix it by editing the project files,  I was advised to just create a new solution and add all the files. Given that there were many projects to the program (i.e., solution), I was surprised how fast it actually took to do this. Since you are not destroying the original, you can always look back to see what dependencies there may be to update the new project on the new VS version.

ok, it is not possible so I give the award to the first answer.

ok, it is not possible so I give the award to the first answer.

you can give the points to the first answer. but you should not flag it as the accepted solution cause it is not a solution.

better accept your last comment as the solution (with 0 points).

Sara