How to: Exclude Projects from a Build
As you develop an application, you can build a solution without building all projects that it contains. For example, you might exclude a project that breaks the build. You could then build the project after you investigate and address the issues.
Note
You cannot exclude database projects from a build in Visual Studio. Such projects do not appear in the Configuration Manager dialog box.
You can exclude a project by taking the following approaches:
Removing it temporarily from the active solution configuration.
Creating a solution configuration that does not include the project.
For more information, see Understanding Build Configurations.
To temporarily remove a project from the active solution configuration
On the menu bar, choose Build, Configuration Manager.
In the Project contexts grid, locate the project you want to exclude from the build.
In the Build column for the project, clear the check box.
Choose the Close button, and then rebuild the solution.
To create a solution configuration that excludes a project
On the menu bar, choose Build, Configuration Manager.
In the Active solution configuration list, choose <New>.
In the Name box, enter a name for the solution configuration.
In the Copy settings from list, choose the solution configuration on which you want to base the new configuration (for example, Debug), and then choose the OK button.
In the Configuration Manager dialog box, clear the check box in the Build column for the project that you want to exclude, and then choose the Close button.
On the Standard toolbar, verify that the new solution configuration is the active configuration in the Solution Configurations box.
On the menu bar, choose Build, Rebuild Solution.
See Also
Tasks
How to: Create and Edit Configurations
How to: Build Multiple Configurations Simultaneously