Is it possible to add the Visual C++ v120 Compiler Tool Set to Visual Studio 2015?

Question

I have a programm using an GSL library which worked quite well with Visual Studio 2013. Now I set up a new Windows version and installed Visual Studio 2015 RC Community.

After that I can not compile the code anymore. After converting the code to the new tool set I got the error that some external symbols of the libraries could not be found. I think this has something to do with the fact, that the library was build with Visual C++ v120.

So is there a possiblilty to add this Compiler Version to the Studio? And does it work without trouble next to a new version installed. I do not want to install the older version of VS, because of the possibility of some troubles haveing to version parallel installed.

Answer 1

You can install VS2013 toolset version from your VS2015 installer without installing visual studio 2013. From the 2015 installer, select Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.0/8.1 Tools. Thats it.

Found it in a msdn forum (have to be the first time something is actually solved in a microsoft forum)

Answer 2

1. Install Visual Studio 2013
2. Open your Project in Visual Studio 2015
3. In the General page of the Project Properties, change the Platform Toolset to "Visual Studio 2013 (v120)"

You never have to open Visual Studio 2013; you just have to install it so that Visual Studio 2015 can find the toolset. (Unfortunately there is no way to install just the toolset.)