Colored build output in Visual Studio

Question

I am using a Visual Studio project with custom build script/batch file (ala make, ant, etc.).

When the build is run from the command line we have placed colored highlighting on various output lines.

However, when built via Visual Studio (2005 in my case) the output window does not show the color anymore.

Is this possible? I am quite happy to put specific code into the build script if required.

Answer 1

As far as I know, the output panel doesn't support colouring, and probably that's why it's stripping the colouring out of the build output. Supposedly all the relevant bits they need to highlight when you compile on command line will be easier to see in the IDE, listed as errors/warnings/etc.

Answer 2

If you don't want to go with the pro version of the VSCommands plug-in, there is a free one called VSColorOutput, which does just that. I've worked with it a bit, does what it says.

See http://coolthingoftheday.blogspot.com/2011/12/vscoloroutput-visual-studio-output.html or look it up in the extension gallery.

Answer 3

The VSCommands plug-in for Visual Studio 2010 adds colour formatting to the output window so errors are red. I'm not sure how they are doing it but it might give you a starting point.

Answer 4

The problem isn't with your build scripts, but with Visual Studio not supporting ANSI control codes to change the color.