exec_msbuild.md

How to write your own build script by using benefit from MSBuild environment variables configuration corresponding specified platform (C++)

The following XML enables to resolve this challenge. SetBuildDefaultEnvironmentVariables is key of this.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project DefaultTargets="ManualBuild" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <PlatformToolset>v140</PlatformToolset> <!-- (Optional) only if want to explicitly specify platform toolset version -->
    <TargetPlatformVersion>8.1</TargetPlatformVersion> <!-- (Optional) only if want to explicitly specify SDK version -->
  </PropertyGroup>
  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.default.props" />
  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />
  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.targets" />
  <Target Name="ManualBuild">
    <CallTarget Targets="SetBuildDefaultEnvironmentVariables" />
    <Exec Command="echo %LIB%" />
  </Target>
</Project>

Assumes the above XML is named as example.xml, the following msbuild command will print LIB environment variable for linking x86 libraries no matter whether your machine is x64 or not.

msbuild example.xml /p:Platform=x86

On the other hand, the next one will print for ARM.

msbuild example.xml /p:Platform=arm