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Converting VS2010 Solution to VS2008

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9 Feb 2012CPOL 226.7K   39   35
Converting VS2010 Solution to VS2008
If you are working with VS 2010 (any edition) and cannot open your 2010 solution on VS 2008, then just follow these 3 steps:

For <PROJECT_NAME>.sln:

  1. Open the solution file in your favorite text editor (example: Notepad++).
  2. Find the following:
    Microsoft Visual Studio Solution File, Format Version 11.00.
    # Visual Studio 2010.
    Replace with:
    Microsoft Visual Studio Solution File, Format Version 10.00. (I)
    # Visual Studio 2008. (II, optional)


For <Project_name >.csproj/vbproj:

  1. Open project file in your favorite text editor (example: Notepad++).
  2. Find the following:
    <Project ToolsVersion="4.0" DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">.
    Replace with:
    <Project ToolsVersion="3.5" DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">. (III)

That's it.
Now you can open your solution file on VS2008.
Reverse of this will enable VS2008 solution to open in VS2010.

EDIT


After these changes, you may receive the below error:
---------------------------
Microsoft Visual Studio
---------------------------
Unable to read the project file 'XXX.csproj'. 

C:\Project path\XXX.csproj(89,11): The imported project "C:\Program Files\MSBuild\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v10.0\WebApplications\Microsoft.WebApplication.targets" was not found. Confirm that the path in the <Import> declaration is correct, and that the file exists on disk.
---------------------------
OK   Cancel   
---------------------------

To fix this error, just change the VS version(v10.0 to v9.0) in your <Project_name >.csproj/vbproj file, that's all.

Good luck with it.

Regards,
ABHISHEK DEY

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


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Comments and Discussions

 
Generalgood Dear thank you Pin
ashishjoshi11-Oct-11 22:51
ashishjoshi11-Oct-11 22:51 
GeneralReason for my vote of 4 Good Article Pin
mandar130515-Aug-11 21:58
mandar130515-Aug-11 21:58 
GeneralWill this work if you have already coded against .net framew... Pin
spacepimp4-Aug-11 6:55
spacepimp4-Aug-11 6:55 
GeneralRe: Yes, But you need to change &lt;targetframeworkversion&gt;v... Pin
GPUToaster™4-Sep-11 19:01
GPUToaster™4-Sep-11 19:01 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Very helpful. Pin
ChrisBennet15-Mar-11 9:03
ChrisBennet15-Mar-11 9:03 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 I have searched for this, Fine one Pin
thatraja5-Mar-11 17:14
professionalthatraja5-Mar-11 17:14 
GeneralReason for my vote of 4 this is nice one man Pin
Pranay Rana15-Dec-10 20:18
professionalPranay Rana15-Dec-10 20:18 
Generalhey this is nice Pin
Pranay Rana15-Dec-10 20:18
professionalPranay Rana15-Dec-10 20:18 
hey this is nice

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