A different assembly name for each target platform

Question

I need to create different assembly names depending on the target platform. For example, I have a console application "bob.exe". Instead of building for AnyCPU, I need to explicitly create for x86 and x64, and thus want "bob32.exe" and "bob64.exe". The Application tab in the project settings of Visual Studio 2010 disables the platform combo box. Build events also prevent the use of options on the platform, so I cannot rename them very easily.

Update: Manually editing the project file seems to work best, no additional files are part of the assembly, and pdbs have the corresponding name.

Answer 1

The IDE cannot handle this, but msbuild.exe does. Edit the .csproj file, say, using Notepad. You will see four PropertyGroups for the x86 / x64 and Debug / Release settings. The first has an element <AssemblyName>. Copy and paste it into the other 3 groups. And rename their meaning.

Answer 2

You can add a Post-Built event to copy the executable using a macro $(PlatformName).

You will need to copy (do not rename), or the debugger will not work.