C++ vcproj OutputDirectory macros

Question

In vcproj file i have

<Configuration
            Name="Release|Win32"
            OutputDirectory=".\Release"
...
>

What is .\Release it is some kind of macros? In what settings is it indicated? How setup him?

Answer 1

That looks like a very old version of VC++, but you did not specify which. The (not so) new MSBuild project files have the extension vcxproj and have a different format:

  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|Win32'">
    <LinkIncremental>true</LinkIncremental>
    <OutDir>.\Release</OutDir>
  </PropertyGroup>

Nevertheless, you make these changes from the Project properties. By default, the output directory is $(SolutionDir)$(Configuration)\ in which case the <OutDir> setting is missing. You can, however, explicitly set a different output directory.

I know this refers to the MSBuild project format but these are handled similarly in older versions that were using VSBuild.

Answer 2

.\Release is output directory name. Whenever you build your project compiler will create folder Release in the current directory and output will copy to that directory.