title: Visual Studio 2012: C++ compiler ignoring user-specified include directories
body: <p>I have the common error <code>fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'afxres.h': No such file or directory</code>. Search engines show up lots of hits for this, but none of the suggested solutions work for me.</p>
  
  <p>Normally this would appear to be a problem with the paths. So, I ensured the relevant libraries were installed, and located the file. Using the absolute path as the #include works fine:</p>
  
  <p><code>#include "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\VC\atlmfc\include\afxres.h"</code></p>
  
  <p>But, if I add the directory (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\VC\atlmfc\include) to the project settings (or to Microsoft.Cpp.Win32.User property sheet), and try this line:</p>
  
  <p><code>#include "afxres.h"</code></p>
  
  <p>I get the error C1083 again. Yet Visual Studio clearly can find the file - if I right-click on the filename and select "Open Document 'afxres.h'" then it opens it immediately!</p>
  
  <p>Why would Visual Studio be ignoring the #include path that I specified? Other #include paths I've included in a similar way work perfectly.</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/0cTZG.png" alt="Directory is explicitly included in the build settings"></p>