Compile and Debug Mixed-mode Projects

Building Applications for Earlier Releases

It is possible to support programs in earlier releases with the appropriate compilers and development environments installed. The following mentions the development environments needed to compile programs for earlier releases of the AutoCAD product:

• For AutoCAD 2025, you should use Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.8.0
• For AutoCAD 2024, you should use Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.2.6
• For AutoCAD 2023, you should use Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.11.5
• For AutoCAD 2022, you should use Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.7
• For AutoCAD 2021, you should use Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 (v16.0)
• For AutoCAD 2019 and AutoCAD 2020, you should use Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 with Update 2
• For AutoCAD 2018, you should use Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 with Update 3
• For AutoCAD 2017, you should use Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 with Update 1
• For AutoCAD 2015 and 2016, you should use Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 with Update 4

In many cases, it is possible to maintain a single project and target a multiple compilers using a single development environment.

To use Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 to build and debug projects in an earlier AutoCAD release, you may need to also change the target .NET Framework and Platform Toolset for your projects. Targeting a different .NET Framework with Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 requires you to install the following based on which release you are targeting:

• Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.8.0 and .NET 8.0
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.2.6 and .NET Framework 4.8
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.11.5 and .NET Framework 4.8
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 with Update 2 and .NET Framework 4.7
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 with Update 3 and .NET Framework 4.6
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 with Update 4 and .NET Framework 4.5

The following explains how to change the target .NET Framework and Platform Toolset for a Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 project to compile a project for use with AutoCAD 2015 through AutoCAD 2025:

1. Migrate your Microsoft Visual Studio 2012/2015/2017/2019 project or create a new project in Microsoft Visual Studio 2022.
2. In Microsoft Visual Studio, click Project menu Properties.
3. In the Property Pages dialog box, Configuration drop-down list, choose a configuration to edit.
4. In the Properties tree, on the left, expand Configuration Properties and select General.
5. In the Properties pane, on the right, under the General category, select Platform Toolset and choose one of the following values:
   • v143 to target AutoCAD 2024 or AutoCAD 2025
   • v142 to target AutoCAD 2021 through AutoCAD 2023
   • v141 to target AutoCAD 2019 or AutoCAD 2020
   • v140 to target AutoCAD 2017 or AutoCAD 2018
   • v110 to target AutoCAD 2015 or AutoCAD 2016
6. Click OK.
7. Next, close the solution/project in Microsoft Visual Studio. Click File menu Close Solution.
8. In File Explorer, browse to the location of your project.
9. Locate the file with the extension .vcsproj.

   For example, the file would be named AdskCustomPalette.vcsproj if the project name was AdskCustomPalette. The project name might not be the same as the solution.

10. Right-click the file with the extension .vcsproj. Click Open with Notepad.

    If needed, hold Shift and then right-click. Click Open With and then Choose Program. In the Open With dialog box, select Notepad and click OK.

11. Locate the PropertyGroup element.
12. Do one of the following:
    • Rename the TargetFramework attribute to TargetFrameworkVersion, and then change the value of the TargetFrameworkVersion attribute to one of the supported values.
    • Change the value of the TargetFrameworkVersion attribute to one of the supported values.

    Supported .NET Framework values:

    • net8.0 to target AutoCAD 2025
    • v4.8 to target AutoCAD 2021 through AutoCAD 2024
    • v4.7 to target AutoCAD 2019 or AutoCAD 2020
    • v4.6 to target AutoCAD 2017 or AutoCAD 2018
    • v4.5 to target AutoCAD 2015 or AutoCAD 2016

    The attribute should now look like <TargetFrameworkVersion>v4.5</TargetFrameworkVersion>.

    Note: If you need to use .NET Framework 3.5 Client or .NET Framework 4.0 Client, add <TargetFrameworkProfile>Client</TargetFrameworkProfile> to the PropertyGroup element.
13. In Notepad, click File menu > Save. Close Notepad.
14. Reopen the project in Microsoft Visual Studio.
15. Build/debug the project as you would with Microsoft Visual Studio.

Additional information on multi-target projects can be found at the following URLs:

• https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/vcblog/2009/12/08/c-native-multi-targeting/
• https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/vcblog/2010/03/02/visual-studio-2010-c-project-upgrade-guide/