File Types Created for Visual C++ Projects

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The latest version of this topic can be found at File Types Created for Visual C++ Projects.

This topic describes all the types of files that are associated with Visual C++ projects for classic desktop applications. The actual files included in your project depend on the project type and the options you select when using a wizard.

When you create a Visual C++ project, you might be creating a new solution, or you might be adding a project to a solution. Non-trivial applications are commonly developed with multiple projects in a solution.

Projects usually produce either an EXE or a DLL. Projects can be dependent on each other; during the build process, the Visual C++ environment checks dependencies both within and between projects. Each project has core source code, and depending on the kind of project, it may have many other files containing various aspects of the project. The contents of these files are indicated by the file extension. The Visual Studio development environment uses the file extensions to determine how to handle the file contents during a build.

The following table shows common files in a Visual C++ project, and identifies them with their file extension.

File extension Type Contents
.asmx Source Deployment file.
.asp Source Active Server Page file.
.atp Project Application template project file.
.bmp, .dib, .gif, .jpg, .jpe, .png Resource General image files.
.bsc Compiling The browser code file.
.cpp; .c Source Main source code files for your application.
.cur Resource Cursor bitmap graphic file.
.dbp Project Database project file.
.disco Source The dynamic discovery document file. Handles XML Web service discovery.
.exe, .dll Project Executable or dynamic-link library files.
.h Source A header (include) file.
.htm, .html, .xsp, .asp, .htc, .hta, .xml Resource Common Web files.
.HxC Project Help project file.
.ico Resource Icon bitmap graphic file.
.idb Compiling The state file, containing dependency information between source files and class definitions, which can be used by the compiler during minimal rebuild and incremental compilation. Use the /Fd compiler option to specify the name of the .idb file. See /Gm (Enable Minimal Rebuild) for more information.
.idl Compiling An interface definition language file. See Interface Definition (IDL) File in the Windows SDK for more information.
.ilk Linking Incremental link file. See /INCREMENTAL for more information.
.map Linking A text file containing linker information. Use the /Fm compiler option to name the map file. See /MAP for more information.
.mfcribbon-ms Resource A resource file that contains the XML code that defines the buttons, controls, and attributes in the ribbon. For more information, see Ribbon Designer (MFC).
.obj, .o Object files, compiled but not linked.
.pch Debug Precompiled header file.
.rc, .rc2 Resource Resource script files to generate resources.
.sbr Compiling Source browser intermediate file. The input file for BSCMAKE.
.sln Solution The solution file.
.suo Solution The solution options file.
.txt Resource A text file, usually the "readme" file.
.vap Project A Visual Studio Analyzer project file.
.vbg Solution A compatible project group file.
.vbp, .vip, .vbproj Project The Visual Basic project file.
.vcxitems Project Shared Items project for sharing code files between multiple C++ projects. See Project Files and Makefiles for more information.
.vcxproj Project The Visual C++ project file. See Project Files and Makefiles for more information.
.vcxproj.filters Project When Solution Explorer is used to add a file to a project, the filters file defines where in the Solution Explorer tree view the file is added, based on its file name extension.
.vdproj Project The Visual Studio deployment project file.
.vmx Project The macro project file.
.vup Project The utility project file.

For information on other files associated with Visual Studio, see File Types and File Extensions in Visual Studio .NET.

Project files are organized into folders in Solution Explorer. Visual C++ creates a folder for source files, header files, and resource files, but you can reorganize these folders or create new ones. You can use folders to organize explicitly logical clusters of files within the hierarchy of a project. For example, you could create folders to contain all your user interface source files, or specifications, documentation, or test suites. All file folder names should be unique.

When you add an item to a project, you add the item to all configurations for that project, regardless of whether or not the item is buildable. For example, if you have a project named MyProject, adding an item adds it to both the Debug and Release project configurations.

See Also

Creating and Managing Visual C++ Projects
Visual C++ Project Types
Wizard Support for Other Languages