Like any Visual C++ project, you can load a makefile (MAKEFILE, or filename.mak) into the Visual C++ project system either as a separate workspace, or as a project that is part of the current workspace. You can also simply add a makefile to a project. For example, you might want to run custom build rules on the makefile rather than building it separately.
To load the makefile as a project and create a project workspace for it
On the File menu, click Open.
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On the File menu, click Open Workspace.
To add the makefile as a project to the current workspace
On the Project menu, click Insert Project into Workspace.
To add the makefile to an existing project
On the Project menu, click Add to Project, then click Files.
When you open a makefile as a project, Visual C++ does one of the following:
For makefiles that were created in the current version of Visual C++, Visual C++ opens the associated workspace without any prompting.
For makefiles that were created in an earlier version of Visual C++, a message box asks if you want to convert the project to the current format. If you click No, Visual C++ does not open the file. If you click Yes, Visual C++ upgrades the makefile project, adding it and any associated files to the workspace, or creating a new workspace.
For makefiles that were not created in the Visual C++ environment, a message box asks if you want to create a project to wrap the makefile. If you click No, Visual C++ does not open the file. If you click Yes, Visual C++ creates a project workspace file, and other associated project files for the external makefile. The external makefile becomes a part of the project workspace.