Create a solution and a project

The first task is to create a solution and a project. A solution is a container holding one or more projects that work together to create an application. The solution has the extension .sln, and is a readable text file. Microsoft recommends you do not edit the file outside of Visual Studio.

A PL/I project has the extension .pliproj, and again this is a readable file, but Microsoft recommends that you do not edit it.

To create a project and solution:

1. In Visual Studio, create a new project by clicking File > New > Project.
2. In the Project Types pane, expand PL/I, and then click Native.
3. Select the Console Application template.
4. In the Name field, specify the name of the project.

   Notice that the Name and New Solution Name fields have the same name. Changing the name automatically changes the solution name but changing the solution name does not change the project name.

5. In the Location field, browse to a directory where you want to put this tutorial.

   For example, if you create a folder on your c: drive called tutorials, change the location field to c:\tutorials. The solution will be stored in a subdirectory with the same name as the project name.

6. Click OK.

   This creates a solution and a project. Solution Explorer shows the project. It contains a newly created skeleton program, program1.pli that the IDE automatically opens in the editor.