How can I save a Visual Studio project with different name (like save as)?

Question

In Visual Studio, I usually call my start project as project V 1_0. Going forward with the project, adding parts, i have the necessity to maintain the previous versions and save the newest with different file name, as project v 1_5 or project v 2_0 to have the history and a backup.

Under File, there is the possibility to save the project As something else, but its only the project file (.sln). What about all the folders and relative files?

How can I save all as forward release?

Answer 1

Very simple:

1. Open the folder where the solution and the projects are.
2. Make a copy of the desired project folder.
3. Rename the *.csproj file in the copied project folder to the new project name.
4. Open the solution in the Visual Studio, right click on the solution and select Add -> Existing project. Then select the project file you renamed in step 3.

Paths in the project file are relative, so everything should work just fine.

Answer 2

I've been looking for the elusive "Save As" workaround for Visual Studio, and ran across this on Microsoft's website: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/754c3hy7.aspx

On the menu bar, choose File, New, Project From Existing Code. The Create New Project from Existing Code Files wizard opens.

I'm a total noob - and could very likely be doing something wrong - but it opened up the same project - but with a different name. Any changes to the new file also happened on the original file. Maybe you're supposed to drag/copy the old files into the new project?

Thought I'd post this here because it's from Microsoft so it might be useful in the right hands - and I'd hadn't seen any mention or reference to it in any of the workarounds.