Logging

The project system code logs information to a custom Output Window pane either while debugging or when a certain environment variable is set.

Enabling project system logs

16.7 or earlier

Setting the PROJECTSYSTEM_PROJECTOUTPUTPANEENABLED environment variable to 1 enables project system logging.

16.8 or later

Setting the CPS_DiagnosticRuntime environment variable to 1 enables project system logging.

This environment variable is set automatically when launching the ProjectSystemSetup project within Visual Studio, via its launchSettings.json file.

To enable this logging in other situations you may, for example:

1. Start a Developer Command Prompt
2. Run: set CPS_DiagnosticRuntime=1
3. Run: devenv
4. Open a solution
5. Use "View.Output Window"
6. Select the pane titled "Project" from the dropdown

Up to date logs

The up-to-date check uses a separate CPS mechanism for logging (disabled by default) that logs to the "Build" section of the "Output" pane. It is controlled via Visual Studio's "Options" dialog: