When you right-click on a project node in in Solution Explorer, and select Properties, the General property page under the Configuration Properties node in the left pane displays two sections of properties:
The properties in the General section affect the location of files that are created in the build process and which files to delete when the Clean option (Build menu) is selected.
Output Directory
Specifies the directory where tools such as the linker will place all final output files that are created during the build process. Typically, this includes the output of tools such as the linker, librarian, or BSCMake.
To programmatically access this property, see OutputDirectory.
Intermediate Directory
Specifies the directory where tools such as the compiler will place all intermediate files created during the build process. Typically, this includes the output of tools such as the C/C++ compiler, MIDL, and the resource compiler.
Specifies the file name extension this project generates; for example, .exe or .dll.
Extensions to Delete on Clean
The Clean option (Build menu) deletes files from the intermediate directory where a project's configuration is built. Files with extensions specified with this property will be deleted when Clean is run or when you perform a rebuild. In addition to files of these extensions in the intermediate directory, the build system will also delete any known output of the build regardless of where it is located (including intermediate outputs such as .obj files). Note that you can specify wildcard characters.
Allows the project to target a different version of the Visual C++ libraries and compiler. Visual C++ projects can target either the toolset in Visual Studio 2010 (v100) or the toolset in Visual Studio 2008 (v90). This enables you to take advantage of the IDE enhancements in Visual Studio 2010 while you continue to use an older version of the Visual C++ libraries and compiler.
The properties in the Project Default section represent default properties that you can modify. See Specifying Project Settings with Property Pages for a discussion of default properties. The definition for these properties can be found in the .props files in Installation Directory\VC\VCProjectDefaults.
Configuration Type
There are several configuration types from which to choose:
Application (.exe), displays linker toolset (C/C++ Compiler, MIDL, Resource Compiler, Linker, BSCMake, XML Web Service Proxy Generator, custom build, prebuild, prelink, postbuild events).
Dynamic Library (.dll), displays linker toolset, specifies /DLL linker option, and adds the _WINDLL define to CL.
Makefile, displays makefile toolset (NMake).
Static Library (.lib), displays librarian toolset (same as linker toolset except substitute librarian for linker and omit XML Web Service Proxy Generator).
Specifies whether the MFC project will statically or dynamically link to the MFC DLL. Non-MFC projects can select Use Standard Windows Libraries to link to various Win32 libraries that are included when you use MFC.
To programmatically access this property, see useOfMfc.
Use of ATL
Specifies whether the ATL project will statically or dynamically link to the ATL .DLL. If you specify anything other than Not Using ATL, a define will be added to the compiler's Command Line property page.
To programmatically access this property, see useOfATL.
Character Set
Defines whether _UNICODE or _MBCS should be set. Also affects the linker entry point where appropriate.
To programmatically access this property, see CharacterSet.