[question] Visual Studio 2022 (17.12.3) for opening a CMake project

[schwaerz]

What is your question?

Hi,

I wanted to use Visual Studio 2022 (v 17.12.3) for building a Conan project using the CMake generator. I am stuck with the following error message seen in Visual Studio:

I think to remember that this used to work. However it does not.

I wonder whether I am doing something wrong, or whether this is bug or incompatibilty with / between Visual Studio and Conan?

I used Conan 2.10.1, CMake 3.31.7.

The relevant part in the conanfile looks like this:

    def layout(self):
        cmake_layout(self, build_folder="build")

    def generate(self):
        CMakeToolchain(self, generator="Ninja").generate()
        CMakeDeps(self).generate()

    def build(self):
        cmake = CMake(self)
        cmake.configure()
        cmake.build()
        cmake.test(cli_args=["--verbose"])

For generating the cmake preset, I am using the following commands:

cmake_config_args="--conf tools.cmake.cmake_layout:build_folder_vars=['settings.arch'] --conf tools.cmake.cmaketoolchain:generator=Ninja"
conan install . --profile:b tools/conan/auto_build.profile --profile:h tools/conan/auto_debug.profile $cmake_config_args
conan install . --profile:b tools/conan/auto_build.profile --profile:h tools/conan/auto_release.profile $cmake_config_args

If I rename CMakeUserPresets.json to CMakePresets.json Visual Studio seems to be happy. However, according to the Conan documentation I'd have expected this to work.

Probably I am missing something?

Have you read the CONTRIBUTING guide?

• I've read the CONTRIBUTING guide

[memsharded]

Hi @schwaerz

Thanks for your report.

I am not sure what could be failing.
I guess that you are trying to let VS to call cmake, but what happens if you call directly cmake --list-presets or cmake --preset conan-default from the command line?

[Todiq]

Hello,

I am encountering the exact same issue.

Here is the full log, ran from powershell 7:

Click to expand log

(venv) PS C:\Users\Todiq\Documents\CAST\basetest> cmake --version
cmake version 3.31.4

CMake suite maintained and supported by Kitware (kitware.com/cmake).
(venv) PS C:\Users\Todiq\Documents\CAST\basetest> conan version
version: 2.11.0
conan_path: C:\Users\Todiq\Documents\CAST\venv\Scripts\conan
python
  version: 3.9.13
  sys_version: 3.9.13 (tags/v3.9.13:6de2ca5, May 17 2022, 16:36:42) [MSC v.1929 64 bit (AMD64)]
  sys_executable: C:\Users\Todiq\Documents\CAST\venv\Scripts\python.exe
  is_frozen: False
  architecture: AMD64
system
  version: 10.0.26100
  platform: Windows-10-10.0.26100-SP0
  system: Windows
  release: 10
  cpu: Intel64 Family 6 Model 186 Stepping 3, GenuineIntel
(venv) PS C:\Users\Todiq\Documents\CAST\basetest> conan install -pr:a msvc .

======== Input profiles ========
Profile host:
[settings]
arch=x86_64
build_type=Release
compiler=msvc
compiler.cppstd=17
compiler.runtime=dynamic
compiler.runtime_type=Release
compiler.version=194
os=Windows
[conf]
tools.cmake.cmake_layout:build_folder_vars=['settings.os', 'settings.compiler', 'settings.compiler.version', 'settings.arch']
tools.cmake.cmaketoolchain:generator=Ninja Multi-Config
tools.env.virtualenv:powershell=pwsh

Profile build:
[settings]
arch=x86_64
build_type=Release
compiler=msvc
compiler.cppstd=17
compiler.runtime=dynamic
compiler.runtime_type=Release
compiler.version=194
os=Windows
[conf]
tools.cmake.cmake_layout:build_folder_vars=['settings.os', 'settings.compiler', 'settings.compiler.version', 'settings.arch']
tools.cmake.cmaketoolchain:generator=Ninja Multi-Config
tools.env.virtualenv:powershell=pwsh


======== Computing dependency graph ========
Graph root
    conanfile.py (castbasetest/0.1): C:\Users\Todiq\Documents\CAST\basetest\conanfile.py

======== Computing necessary packages ========

======== Installing packages ========

======== Finalizing install (deploy, generators) ========
conanfile.py (castbasetest/0.1): Calling generate()
conanfile.py (castbasetest/0.1): Generators folder: C:\Users\Todiq\Documents\CAST\basetest\build\windows-msvc-194-x86_64\generators
conanfile.py (castbasetest/0.1): CMakeToolchain generated: conan_toolchain.cmake
conanfile.py (castbasetest/0.1): CMakeToolchain: Preset 'conan-windows-msvc-194-x86_64' added to CMakePresets.json.
    (cmake>=3.23) cmake --preset conan-windows-msvc-194-x86_64
    (cmake<3.23) cmake <path> -G "Ninja Multi-Config" -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=generators\conan_toolchain.cmake  -DCMAKE_POLICY_DEFAULT_CMP0091=NEW
conanfile.py (castbasetest/0.1): CMakeToolchain generated: C:\Users\Todiq\Documents\CAST\basetest\build\windows-msvc-194-x86_64\generators\CMakePresets.json
conanfile.py (castbasetest/0.1): CMakeToolchain generated: C:\Users\Todiq\Documents\CAST\basetest\CMakeUserPresets.json
conanfile.py (castbasetest/0.1): Generating aggregated env files
conanfile.py (castbasetest/0.1): Generated aggregated env files: ['conanbuild.bat', 'conanbuild.ps1', 'conanrun.ps1']
Install finished successfully
(venv) PS C:\Users\Todiq\Documents\CAST\basetest> cmake --list-presets
Available configure presets:

  "conan-windows-msvc-194-x86_64" - 'conan-windows-msvc-194-x86_64' config
(venv) PS C:\Users\Todiq\Documents\CAST\basetest> cmake --preset conan-windows-msvc-194-x86_64
Preset CMake variables:

  CMAKE_POLICY_DEFAULT_CMP0091="NEW"
  CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE:FILEPATH="generators\conan_toolchain.cmake"

-- Using Conan toolchain: C:/Users/Rodolphe/Documents/CAST/basetest/build/windows-msvc-194-x86_64/generators/conan_toolchain.cmake
-- Conan toolchain: Setting CMAKE_MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARY=$<$<CONFIG:Release>:MultiThreadedDLL>
-- Conan toolchain: C++ Standard 17 with extensions OFF
-- Conan toolchain: Setting BUILD_SHARED_LIBS = OFF
-- The CXX compiler identification is MSVC 19.42.34436.0
-- Detecting CXX compiler ABI info
-- Detecting CXX compiler ABI info - done
-- Check for working CXX compiler: C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Professional/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.42.34433/bin/Hostx64/x64/cl.exe - skipped
-- Detecting CXX compile features
-- Detecting CXX compile features - done
-- Configuring done (5.0s)
-- Generating done (0.0s)
-- Build files have been written to: C:/Users/Rodolphe/Documents/CAST/basetest/build/windows-msvc-194-x86_64
(venv) PS C:\Users\Todiq\Documents\CAST\basetest>

I tried your solution @memsharded, but that didn't help. Updating VS from 17.12.3 to 17.12.4 didn't do much either.
This is most likely a bug from Visual Studio, as it works with older versions of the IDE

[memsharded]

Thanks very much @Todiq for the feedback.
So, if it works both from the command line and with older VS versions, then yes, it seems this could be a bug in the recent VS versions.

[schwaerz]

Yes, I can confirm that it works on the command line. Hope that this was not changed on purpose in VS.

[memsharded]

If anyone reports or finds any relevant link in VS issue trackers, please link it here for others to follow.

[Todiq]

https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/t/CMakeUserPresetsjson-stopped-working-in/10667107?sort=newest&viewtype=all