Merge pull request MicrosoftDocs#1341 from mikeblome/mb-makefile

Ja-Dunn · web-flow · commit 301895b53902 · 2018-09-12T15:58:27.000-07:00
Updates per GH issue
diff --git a/docs/ide/creating-a-makefile-project.md b/docs/ide/creating-a-makefile-project.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
-title: "Creating a Makefile Project | Microsoft Docs"
+title: "Creating a C++ Makefile Project | Microsoft Docs"
 ms.custom: ""
-ms.date: "02/28/2018"
+ms.date: "09/12/2018"
 ms.technology: ["cpp-ide"]
 ms.topic: "conceptual"
 f1_keywords: ["vc.appwiz.makefile.project"]
@@ -12,21 +12,27 @@ author: "mikeblome"
 ms.author: "mblome"
 ms.workload: ["cplusplus"]
 ---
-# Creating a Makefile Project
+# Creating a C++ Makefile Project
 
-If you have an existing source code project that you build from the command line by using a makefile, the Visual Studio development environment has several ways of turning it into a project that can take full advantage of Visual Studio IDE features. This article describes how to create a Makefile Project in Visual Studio that uses your existing makefile to build your code in the IDE. Alternatively, you can use the **Create New Project from Existing Code Files** wizard to create a native MSBuild project from your source code. For more information, see [How to: Create a C++ Project from Existing Code](how-to-create-a-cpp-project-from-existing-code.md). Starting in Visual Studio 2017, you can also use the **Open Folder** feature, which can use several existing build systems as if they were native Visual Studio projects. For more information, see [Open Folder projects in Visual C++](non-msbuild-projects.md).
+A *makefile* is a text file that contains instructions for how to compile and link (or *build*) a set of C++ source code files. A *make* program reads the makefile and invokes a compiler, linker and possibly other programs to make an executable file. Microsoft's implementation of the *make* program is called **NMAKE**. (Visual Studio by default uses the MSBuild system based on .vcsproj files; this is what is created by **File | New | Project**.)
 
-To use Visual Studio to open and build your source code by using your existing makefile, you first create a new project by selecting the MakeFile project template. A wizard helps you specify the commands and environment used by your makefile. You can then use this project to build your code in the Visual Studio development environment.
+If you have an existing makefile project, you have these choices if you want to code and/or debug it in the Visual Studio IDE: 
 
-By default, the makefile project displays no files in Solution Explorer. The makefile project specifies the build settings, which are reflected in the project's property page.
+- Create a Makefile Project in Visual Studio that uses your existing makefile to build your code in the IDE. (You will not have all the IDE features that you get with a native MSBuild project.) See [To create a makefile project](#create_a_makefile_project) below.
+- Use the **Create New Project from Existing Code Files** wizard to create a native MSBuild project from your source code. For more information, see [How to: Create a C++ Project from Existing Code](how-to-create-a-cpp-project-from-existing-code.md). 
+- **Visual Studio 2017 and later**: Use the **Open Folder** feature to open a makefile. For more information, see [Open Folder projects in Visual C++](non-msbuild-projects.md).
 
-The output file that you specify in the project has no effect on the name that the build script generates; it declares only an intention. Your makefile still controls the build process and specifies the build targets.
+## <a name="create_a_makefile_project"> To create a Makefile project with the makefile project template
+
+In Visual Studio 2017 and later, the Makefile project template is available when the C++ Desktop Development workload is installed. 
 
-## To create a Makefile project
+Follow the wizard to specify the commands and environment used by your makefile. You can then use this project to build your code in the Visual Studio development environment. 
 
-1. Follow the instructions in the help topic [Creating a Project with a Visual C++ Application Wizard](../ide/creating-desktop-projects-by-using-application-wizards.md).
+By default, the makefile project displays no files in Solution Explorer. The makefile project specifies the build settings, which are reflected in the project's property page.
+
+The output file that you specify in the project has no effect on the name that the build script generates; it declares only an intention. Your makefile still controls the build process and specifies the build targets.
 
-1. In the **New Project** dialog box, expand **Visual C++** > **General** and then select **Makefile Project** in the Templates pane to open the project wizard.
+1. From the Visual Studio start page, type "makefile" in the **New Project** search box. Or, in the **New Project** dialog box, expand **Visual C++** > **General** (Visual Studio 2015) or **Other** (Visual Studio 2017) and then select **Makefile Project** in the Templates pane to open the project wizard.
 
 1. In the [Application Settings](../ide/application-settings-makefile-project-wizard.md) page, provide the command, output, clean, and rebuild information for debug and retail builds.
 
