VS 2012 - Project failed to build because of missing Toolset

49
votes

I am unable to compile/build anything within Visual Studio C++ 2012 because I am getting an error that states either I have an inappropriate ToolsVersion or that the ToolSet is missing.

Here is the error in the console:

Project file contains ToolsVersion="12.0". This toolset may be unknown or missing, in which case you may be able to resolve this by installing the appropriate version of MSBuild, or the build may have been forced to a particular ToolsVersion for policy reasons. Treating the project as if it had ToolsVersion="4.0".

1>C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\V110\Microsoft.Cpp.Platform.targets(44,5): error MSB8020: The builds tools for v120 (Platform Toolset = 'v120') cannot be found. To build using the v120 build tools, either click the Project menu or right-click the solution, and then select "Update VC++ Projects...". Install v120 to build using the v120 build tools.

I have installed Microsoft SDK. This may be relevant also - I downgraded from 2013 VSRC to 2012 MSVC recently but I made a clean uninstallation.

2
c++visual-studiovisual-studio-2012msbuild
v120 is the Visual Studio 2013 Toolset. Modify your project files to use the v110 Toolset instead (Project -> Properties -> General -> Platform Toolset). – IInspectable
@IInspectable Thankyou very much- that solved the second error. I thought both were connected though. – Jebathon
I rolled back your edits. Otherwise the question loses potentially valuable information for others. – IInspectable
My apologies. I forgot that the post was more for the site than the user – Jebathon
Open your .vcxproj file in a text editor and see if you find any occurrences of v120. Specifically, all <PlatformToolset> elements should read: <PlatformToolset>v110</PlatformToolset>. – IInspectable

2 Answers

52
votes

The builds tools for v120 (Platform Toolset = 'v120') cannot be found

Project -> Properties -> General -> Platform Toolset (as IInspectable correctly commented)

Project file contains ToolsVersion="12.0" (...) Treating the project as if it had ToolsVersion="4.0"

  1. Right-click project -> Unload Project
  2. Right-click project -> Edit (name).vcxproj
    • Change this line: <Project DefaultTargets="Build" ToolsVersion="12.0" ...
    • into: <Project DefaultTargets="Build" ToolsVersion="4.0" ...
  3. Save, close, Right-click project -> Reload Project
29
votes

Try Microsoft Build Tools 2013 for building ToolsVersion="12.0" projects here:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=40760

It might help you get going.