# Use Microsoft Visual Studio* Solution Explorer

Creating a Fortran project in Microsoft Visual Studio* causes a screen to appear. This screen shows an open Solution named Console1 and a Project named Console1. You will see that the source file Console1.f90 is open. The left pane shows the file, Console1.f90, which is opened in the default language-sensitive integrated development environment text editor. The text editor uses different colors to identify the following:

- Source comments (green)
- Fortran standard language elements (blue)
- Other language text (black)
- Sample name (red)

## Solution Explorer View

The right pane shows the Solution Explorer view, which lets you view different aspects of your solution, such as the source files. The tabs displayed in Solution Explorer vary depending upon the products installed, and the files associated with the current solution. To display the Solution Explorer view, select View > Solution Explorer. To display the Properties view, select View > Properties Window.

To edit a file listed in the Solution Explorer, either double-click its file name or select File > Open and specify the file.

The Output window displays compilation and linker messages. To display the Output window, select View > Output. The Output window also links to the build log, if the Generate Build logs option is enabled in either:

- Tools > Options > Intel Compilers and Libraries > IFORT Intel Fortran Classic > General for `ifort`

  -OR-

- Tools > Options > Intel Compilers and Libraries > IFX Intel Fortran > General for `ifx`

Parent topic: Use Microsoft Visual Studio