关于同时在VS2015用DevEx15.2、VS2017用DevEx16.2的可行性咨询

Absolutely! You can have both DevExpress versions installed simultaneously and use each with their respective Visual Studio versions without conflicts—this is a standard setup for developers maintaining multiple legacy or version-specific projects. Here’s how to make it work smoothly:

• Install in logical order (recommended)
  Start by installing DevExpress 15.2 first, paired with Visual Studio 2015. The DevExpress installer will automatically detect and integrate with VS2015. Then install DevExpress 16.2, which will recognize VS2017 and set up its extensions for that IDE. While reversing the order isn’t a dealbreaker, this sequence ensures older versions don’t try to hook into newer (unrecognized) VS releases.

• Configure each project to target its specific DevExpress version
  For your VS2015 project:

  • Open it in VS2015, then verify that all DevExpress references point to the 15.2 DLLs (check the References node in Solution Explorer).
  • Use the DevExpress Project Converter tool (included with your 15.2 installation) to scan and update the project’s configuration to align with 15.2—this fixes any version mismatches in config files or references.

  For your VS2017 project:

  • Repeat the same process, but use the 16.2 version of the Project Converter when working in VS2017. This ensures the project ties to 16.2’s libraries and tools.

• Avoid cross-version project mixing
  Don’t open the same project in both VS versions with different DevExpress setups—this can corrupt references and config files. Keep each project tied to its designated IDE and DevExpress release.

• Leverage separate installation paths
  By default, DevExpress installs each version to a unique folder (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\DevExpress 15.2 and C:\Program Files (x86)\DevExpress 16.2), so there’s no file overlap or overwriting. Each VS IDE will load the extensions and tools from the corresponding version’s directory.

• Troubleshooting tip
  If you ever see reference errors, manually remove the mismatched DevExpress DLL references from your project, then add the correct version from the appropriate installation folder. You can also reset the Visual Studio Toolbox for each IDE to ensure only the relevant DevExpress controls appear.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Ahmet