How to: Configure Visual C++ Projects to Target 64-Bit Platforms
You can use the project configurations in Visual Studio to set up C++ applications to target 64-bit platforms. You can also migrate Win32 project settings into a 64-bit project configuration.
To develop 64-bit applications you must install the Visual C++ 64-bit compilers, otherwise 64-bit project configurations will not be available in the IDE.
Note
64-bit tools are not available on Visual C++ 2010 Express by default. To enable 64-bit tools in Visual C++ 2010 Express, install the Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 4 (Windows SDK 7.1). If you update any edition of Visual Studio with Visual Studio 2010 SP1 after installing the Windows SDK, you must also install KB2519277 to restore the 64-bit compilers and libraries. Otherwise, an error occurs when you attempt to configure a project to target a 64-bit platform.
To set up C++ applications to target 64-bit platforms
Open the C++ project that you want to configure to target a 64-bit platform.
Open the property pages for that project. For more information, see How to: Open Project Property Pages.
Note
For .NET projects, make sure the Configuration Properties node, or one of its child nodes, is selected in the <Projectname> Property Pages dialog box. Otherwise, the Configuration Manager button remains disabled.
Click Configuration Manager to open the Configuration Manager Dialog Box.
Click the Active Solution Platform list, and then select the <New…> option to open the New Solution Platform Dialog Box.
Click the Type or select the new platform drop-down arrow, and then select a 64-bit platform.
Note
In the New Solution Platform dialog box, you can copy existing project settings into the new 64-bit project configuration using the Copy settings from option.
Click OK. The platform you selected in the preceding step will appear under Active Solution Platform in the Configuration Manager dialog box.
Click Close in the Configuration Manager dialog box, and then click OK in the <Projectname> Property Pages dialog box.
To copy Win32 project settings into a 64-bit project configuration
When the New Solution Platform dialog box is open while you set up your project to target a 64-bit platform, click the Copy settings from drop-down arrow, and then select Win32. The following project settings are automatically updated on the project level:
/MACHINE (Specify Target Platform) is set to /MACHINE:IA64 or /MACHINE:X64.
Register Output is turned OFF. For more information, see Linker Property Pages.
Target Environment is set to /env x64 or /env ia64. For more information, see MIDL Property Pages: General.
Validate Parameters is cleared and reset to the default value. For more information, see MIDL Property Pages: Advanced.
If Debug Information Format was set to /ZI in the Win32 project configuration, then it is set to /Zi in the 64-bit project configuration. For more information, see /Z7, /Zi, /ZI (Debug Information Format).
Note
None of these project properties are changed if they are overridden on the file level.