I need to have a different SDK based on the platform (Win32/x64/ARM64/etc..). Currently the .vcxproj defines <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion> as global which means if I change it for one, it changes for all.

I can add a property sheet and manually add <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion> but you can't use the UI to change it when needed.

So basically the question is, how can I make <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion> non-global so I can use the IDE to set it for each platform independently?

TIA!!

I need to have a different SDK based on the platform (Win32/x64/ARM64/etc..). Currently the .vcxproj defines <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion> as global which means if I change it for one, it changes for all.

I can add a property sheet and manually add <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion> but you can't use the UI to change it when needed.

So basically the question is, how can I make <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion> non-global so I can use the IDE to set it for each platform independently?

TIA!!

• visual-studio
• visual-studio-2022
• project-properties

1 Answer 1

Working with chatgpt, "we" came up with this PowerShell script that can move it from the global section to the other sections. Ensure you backup before attempting to use. Once the script is run on it you can manage the SDK like the platform tool-set.

param(
    [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
    [string]$vcxprojPath
)

# Load the .vcxproj file as XML
[xml]$xml = Get-Content $vcxprojPath

# Define a namespace manager (if needed)
$namespaceManager = New-Object System.Xml.XmlNamespaceManager($xml.NameTable)
$namespaceManager.AddNamespace("ns", $xml.DocumentElement.NamespaceURI)

# Find the global PropertyGroup with Label="Globals"
$globalGroup = $xml.SelectSingleNode("//ns:PropertyGroup[@Label='Globals']", $namespaceManager)

if ($globalGroup -ne $null) {
    Write-Host "Found Global PropertyGroup with Label='Globals'"

    # Search for WindowsTargetPlatformVersion
    $globalSdkNode = $globalGroup.SelectSingleNode("ns:WindowsTargetPlatformVersion", $namespaceManager)

    if ($globalSdkNode -ne $null) {
        $sdkVersion = $globalSdkNode.InnerText
        Write-Host "Found Global SDK Version: $sdkVersion"

        # Remove it from the global PropertyGroup
        $globalGroup.RemoveChild($globalSdkNode) | Out-Null
        Write-Host "Removed WindowsTargetPlatformVersion from Globals section."

        # Add it to all PropertyGroups that contain PlatformToolset
        $xml.SelectNodes("//ns:PropertyGroup[ns:PlatformToolset]", $namespaceManager) | ForEach-Object {
            if ($_.SelectSingleNode("ns:WindowsTargetPlatformVersion", $namespaceManager) -eq $null) {
                $newNode = $xml.CreateElement("WindowsTargetPlatformVersion", $xml.DocumentElement.NamespaceURI)
                $newNode.InnerText = $sdkVersion
                $_.AppendChild($newNode) | Out-Null
                Write-Host "Added SDK version ($sdkVersion) to PropertyGroup with PlatformToolset: $($_.PlatformToolset)"
            }
        }

        # Generate a temp file with a timestamp (YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS_MS.tmp)
        $timestamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyyMMdd_HHmmss_fff"
        $tempFilePath = [System.IO.Path]::Combine((Get-Item $vcxprojPath).DirectoryName, "temp_$timestamp.tmp")

        # Save changes to the temp file
        $utf8NoBom = New-Object System.Text.UTF8Encoding($false)
        $xmlWriterSettings = New-Object System.Xml.XmlWriterSettings
        $xmlWriterSettings.Indent = $true
        $xmlWriterSettings.Encoding = $utf8NoBom
        $xmlWriter = [System.Xml.XmlWriter]::Create($tempFilePath, $xmlWriterSettings)
        $xml.Save($xmlWriter)
        $xmlWriter.Close()

        # Replace the original file with the modified temp file
        Move-Item -Path $tempFilePath -Destination $vcxprojPath -Force

        Write-Host "Updated $vcxprojPath successfully!"
    } else {
        Write-Host "WindowsTargetPlatformVersion NOT FOUND in 'Globals' section."
    }
} else {
    Write-Host "No PropertyGroup with Label='Globals' found."
}