How to enforce additional include files search order in VC++ project?

Question

For example I have two header.h files located in two different directories include1 and include2. My source code file uses regular inclusion that doesn't specifies the exact location, like this:

#include "header.h"

In the project configuration I set my both include1 and include2 folders to be in the additional include directories list.

The problem is when I build my project, include1 folder will be chosen every time, regardless of the order I defined them in the additional include list.

Is there any way to enforce a search order, if I want a specific folder, or specific header file to be used, instead of another, if they both have the same filename?

Answer 1

The include order (as documented by MS) is:

The compiler searches for directories in the following order:
1. Directories containing the source file.
2. Directories specified with the /I option, in the order that CL encounters them.
3. Directories specified in the INCLUDE environment variable.

So it really depends on where the include directories are declared. If they're both specified with the /I option (in the GUI under Configuration Properties > C/C++ > General > Additional Include Directories), then the order specified is the order searched. If the directories are in the INCLUDE environment variable (in the GUI under Configuration Properties > VC++ Directories), it depends where they're declared. If it's in the property sheets then you'd have to not inherit them and declare them (and other inherited directories) yourself in the desired order.