How to exclude files from Visual Studio compile?

In VS 2010, right-click on the CPP module, choose Properties.

Then click on Configuration Properties -> General, Exclude from Build = Yes.

"Exclude from Project" is no good, it disappears from the other Configurations as well.

You could set the Build Action (in the Properties Window) to None for the files you want excluded. You could also right-click on the folder and choose Exclude from Project.