PRB: The XLL+ 64-bit build fails in Visual Studio 2015 with Error C1189

64-bit builds of XLL+ projects created using Visual Studio 2015 fail with compile error C1189

Issue

After I create a new XLL+ project with XLL+ 7.0.7 under Visual Studio 2015, the 64-bit platform fails to build with error:

Error C1189 #error: include 'stdafx.h' before including this file for PCH

Summary

There is a fault in the project creation script in XLL+ 7.0.7 for Visual Studio 2015.

Solution

This fault was fixed in version 7.0.8, and therefore the easiest solution is to upgrade to XLL+ 7.0.8 for Visual Studio 2015, and then to run the XLL+ Upgrade Wizard.

Work-around

To work around the problem you need to:

1. Replace the faulty 64-bit platform settings by deleting them and then cloning the x86 platform settings.
2. For each build, set ForceSymbolReferences to DllMain.

Detailed steps

1. Remove the faulty 64-bit Solution settings

1. Click on the menu command: Build / Configuration Manager.
2. In the Configuration Manager dialog, click on the "Active solution platform" combo-box and select "<Edit...>"
3. In the Edit Solution Platforms dialog, select "x64" in the list, and press the "Remove" button.
4. Click "Yes" in the confirmation dialog.
5. Click "Close" in the Edit Solution Platforms dialog.

2. Remove the faulty 64-bit Project settings

1. Still in the Configuration Manager dialog, in the projects grid, drop down on the "Platform" combo box in the first row, and select "<Edit...>".
2. In the Edit Project Platforms dialog, select "x64" in the list, and press the "Remove" button.
3. Click "Yes" in the confirmation dialog.
4. Click "Close" in the Edit Project Platforms dialog.

3. Create new 64-bit settings

1. Still in the Configuration Manager dialog, click on the "Active solution platform" combo-box and select "<New...>".
2. In the New Solution Platform dialog, select "x64" in the list for the new platform, set "Copy settings from:" to "x86", put a check against "Create new project platforms" and press the "OK" button.
3. In the Configuration Manager dialog, click on the "Active solution platform" combo-box and select "x64".
4. Close the Configuration Manager dialog.

4. Fix the link settings

1. Use the Project / Properties menu command to open the Project Property Pages window.
2. Set Configuration to "All Configurations" and ensure that Platform is set to "x64".
3. In the left hand side tree, select the node: "Configuration Properties / Linker / Input". Force Symbol References will contain _DllMain%4012;%(ForceSymbolReferences). Change it to DllMain;%(ForceSymbolReferences).

The 64-bit platform settings are now complete, and you will be able to build both Release and Debug.