# VS_SETTINGS

Added in version 3.18.

Add arbitrary MSBuild item metadata to a file.

This property accepts a list of `Key=Value` pairs. The Visual Studio generator will add these key-value pairs as item metadata to the file. `Generator expressions` are supported.

For example:

    set_property(SOURCE file.hlsl PROPERTY VS_SETTINGS "Key=Value" "Key2=Value2")

will set the `file.hlsl` item metadata as follows:

    <FXCompile Include="source_path\file.hlsl">
      <Key>Value</Key>
      <Key2>Value2</Key2>
    </FXCompile>

Together with `VS_TOOL_OVERRIDE`, this property can be used to configure items for custom MSBuild tasks.

Adding the metadata `ExcludedFromBuild=true` will exclude the file from the build.

Changed in version 3.22: This property is honored for all source file types. Previously, it only worked for source types unknown to CMake.