diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator.cxx
index 48ead25db..b44b78031 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator.cxx
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator::cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator()
 {
+  this->VersionId = "MSVC10";
   this->FindMakeProgramFile = "CMakeVS10FindMake.cmake";
   std::string vc10Express;
   this->ExpressEdition = cmSystemTools::ReadRegistryValue(
@@ -26,14 +27,6 @@ cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator::cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator()
     "ProductDir", vc10Express, cmSystemTools::KeyWOW64_32);
 }
 
-//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator::AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf)
-{
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC10", "1");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_C_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "X86");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_CXX_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "X86");
-}
-
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator::WriteSLNHeader(std::ostream& fout)
 {
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator.h b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator.h
index 47ce790f8..a4a9d401f 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator.h
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator.h
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ public:
   virtual const char* GetName() const {
     return cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator::GetActualName();}
   static const char* GetActualName() {return "Visual Studio 10";}
-  virtual void AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf);
 
   /** Get the documentation entry for this generator.  */
   virtual void GetDocumentation(cmDocumentationEntry& entry) const;
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10IA64Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10IA64Generator.cxx
index 5f70f6bba..25dd88f2a 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10IA64Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10IA64Generator.cxx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmGlobalVisualStudio10IA64Generator::cmGlobalVisualStudio10IA64Generator()
 {
+  this->ArchitectureId = "x64";
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -33,8 +34,6 @@ void cmGlobalVisualStudio10IA64Generator
 {
   this->cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator::AddPlatformDefinitions(mf);
   mf->AddDefinition("CMAKE_FORCE_IA64", "TRUE");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_C_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "x64");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_CXX_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "x64");
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Win64Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Win64Generator.cxx
index 49dc47364..d0a0c49a1 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Win64Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio10Win64Generator.cxx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmGlobalVisualStudio10Win64Generator::cmGlobalVisualStudio10Win64Generator()
 {
+  this->ArchitectureId = "x64";
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -33,8 +34,6 @@ void cmGlobalVisualStudio10Win64Generator
 {
   this->cmGlobalVisualStudio10Generator::AddPlatformDefinitions(mf);
   mf->AddDefinition("CMAKE_FORCE_WIN64", "TRUE");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_C_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "x64");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_CXX_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "x64");
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator.cxx
index fef1aba61..efd71c65d 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator.cxx
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@
 #include "cmMakefile.h"
 #include "cmake.h"
 
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator::cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator()
+{
+  this->ArchitectureId = "ARM";
+}
+
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator
 ::GetDocumentation(cmDocumentationEntry& entry) const
@@ -21,12 +27,3 @@ void cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator
   entry.Brief = "Generates Visual Studio 11 ARM project files.";
   entry.Full = "";
 }
-
-//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator
-::AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf)
-{
-  this->cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator::AddPlatformDefinitions(mf);
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_C_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "ARM");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_CXX_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "ARM");
-}
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator.h b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator.h
index 77e142994..71dbf2e3b 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator.h
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator.h
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator :
   public cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator
 {
 public:
-  cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator() {}
+  cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator();
   static cmGlobalGenerator* New() {
     return new cmGlobalVisualStudio11ARMGenerator; }
 
@@ -31,7 +31,5 @@ public:
 
   /** Get the documentation entry for this generator.  */
   virtual void GetDocumentation(cmDocumentationEntry& entry) const;
-
-  virtual void AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf);
 };
 #endif
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator.cxx
index be7fd5572..ab1187df8 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator.cxx
@@ -16,19 +16,12 @@
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator::cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator()
 {
+  this->VersionId = "MSVC11";
   this->FindMakeProgramFile = "CMakeVS11FindMake.cmake";
   this->ExpressEdition = false; // TODO: VS 11 Express support
   this->PlatformToolset = "v110";
 }
 
-//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator::AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf)
-{
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC11", "1");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_C_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "X86");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_CXX_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "X86");
-}
-
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator::WriteSLNHeader(std::ostream& fout)
 {
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator.h b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator.h
index 7e8f6aa4e..56337a4db 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator.h
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator.h
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ public:
   virtual const char* GetName() const {
     return cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator::GetActualName();}
   static const char* GetActualName() {return "Visual Studio 11";}
-  virtual void AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf);
 
   virtual void WriteSLNHeader(std::ostream& fout);
 
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator.cxx
index 10c902753..94e07bf38 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator.cxx
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@
 #include "cmMakefile.h"
 #include "cmake.h"
 
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator::cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator()
+{
+  this->ArchitectureId = "x64";
+}
+
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator
 ::GetDocumentation(cmDocumentationEntry& entry) const
@@ -28,6 +34,4 @@ void cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator
 {
   this->cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator::AddPlatformDefinitions(mf);
   mf->AddDefinition("CMAKE_FORCE_WIN64", "TRUE");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_C_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "x64");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_CXX_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "x64");
 }
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator.h b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator.h
index 53f19538c..9445d156c 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator.h
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator.h
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator :
   public cmGlobalVisualStudio11Generator
 {
 public:
-  cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator() {}
+  cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator();
   static cmGlobalGenerator* New() {
     return new cmGlobalVisualStudio11Win64Generator; }
 
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx
index cc7034129..ca06b6631 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ std::string GetVS6TargetName(const std::string& targetName)
 
 cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator::cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator()
 {
+  this->VersionId = "MSVC60";
   this->FindMakeProgramFile = "CMakeVS6FindMake.cmake";
 }
 
@@ -40,14 +41,12 @@ void cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator
                  cmMakefile *mf,
                  bool optional)
 {
+  cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator::AddPlatformDefinitions(mf);
   mf->AddDefinition("CMAKE_GENERATOR_CC", "cl");
   mf->AddDefinition("CMAKE_GENERATOR_CXX", "cl");
   mf->AddDefinition("CMAKE_GENERATOR_RC", "rc");
   mf->AddDefinition("CMAKE_GENERATOR_NO_COMPILER_ENV", "1");
   mf->AddDefinition("CMAKE_GENERATOR_Fortran", "ifort");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_C_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "X86");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_CXX_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "X86");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC60", "1");
   this->GenerateConfigurations(mf);
   this->cmGlobalGenerator::EnableLanguage(lang, mf, optional);
 }
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio71Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio71Generator.cxx
index 1da575ef8..d99fa036a 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio71Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio71Generator.cxx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmGlobalVisualStudio71Generator::cmGlobalVisualStudio71Generator()
 {
+  this->VersionId = "MSVC71";
   this->FindMakeProgramFile = "CMakeVS71FindMake.cmake";
   this->ProjectConfigurationSectionName = "ProjectConfiguration";
 }
@@ -33,14 +34,6 @@ cmLocalGenerator *cmGlobalVisualStudio71Generator::CreateLocalGenerator()
   return lg;
 }
 
-//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cmGlobalVisualStudio71Generator::AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf)
-{
-  this->cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator::AddPlatformDefinitions(mf);
-  mf->RemoveDefinition("MSVC70");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC71", "1");
-}
-
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 std::string cmGlobalVisualStudio71Generator::GetUserMacrosDirectory()
 {
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio71Generator.h b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio71Generator.h
index 285f202dc..a8daad6a2 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio71Generator.h
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio71Generator.h
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ public:
 
 protected:
   virtual const char* GetIDEVersion() { return "7.1"; }
-  virtual void AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf);
   virtual void WriteSLNFile(std::ostream& fout,
                             cmLocalGenerator* root,
                             std::vector<cmLocalGenerator*>& generators);
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator.cxx
index d485d6ee3..0567d5598 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator.cxx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator::cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator()
 {
+  this->VersionId = "MSVC70";
   this->FindMakeProgramFile = "CMakeVS7FindMake.cmake";
 }
 
@@ -55,13 +56,6 @@ void cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator
 
 }
 
-void cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator::AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf)
-{
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC70", "1");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_C_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "X86");
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_CXX_ARCHITECTURE_ID", "X86");
-}
-
 std::string cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator
 ::GenerateBuildCommand(const char* makeProgram,
                        const char *projectName,
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator.h b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator.h
index 9b9107db7..1df58f97b 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator.h
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio7Generator.h
@@ -112,7 +112,6 @@ protected:
   virtual void WriteSLNFooter(std::ostream& fout);
   virtual void WriteSLNHeader(std::ostream& fout);
   virtual std::string WriteUtilityDepend(cmTarget* target);
-  virtual void AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf);
 
   virtual void WriteTargetsToSolution(
     std::ostream& fout,
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator.cxx
index a74a4eebe..f46918828 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator.cxx
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator::cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator()
 {
+  this->VersionId = "MSVC80";
   this->FindMakeProgramFile = "CMakeVS8FindMake.cmake";
   this->ProjectConfigurationSectionName = "ProjectConfigurationPlatforms";
-  this->ArchitectureId = "X86";
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -53,14 +53,6 @@ void cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator
   entry.Full = "";
 }
 
-//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator::AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf)
-{
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_C_ARCHITECTURE_ID", this->ArchitectureId);
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_CXX_ARCHITECTURE_ID", this->ArchitectureId);
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC80", "1");
-}
-
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator::Configure()
 {
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator.h b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator.h
index 31501bc90..5009f2960 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator.h
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio8Generator.h
@@ -72,7 +72,6 @@ protected:
   void AddCheckTarget();
 
   static cmIDEFlagTable const* GetExtraFlagTableVS8();
-  virtual void AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf);
   virtual void WriteSLNHeader(std::ostream& fout);
   virtual void WriteSolutionConfigurations(std::ostream& fout);
   virtual void WriteProjectConfigurations(std::ostream& fout,
@@ -82,7 +81,5 @@ protected:
   virtual bool ComputeTargetDepends();
   virtual void WriteProjectDepends(std::ostream& fout, const char* name,
                                    const char* path, cmTarget &t);
-
-  const char* ArchitectureId;
 };
 #endif
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio9Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio9Generator.cxx
index fcf00d532..531395b8c 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio9Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio9Generator.cxx
@@ -19,17 +19,10 @@
 
 cmGlobalVisualStudio9Generator::cmGlobalVisualStudio9Generator()
 {
+  this->VersionId = "MSVC90";
   this->FindMakeProgramFile = "CMakeVS9FindMake.cmake";
 }
 
-//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cmGlobalVisualStudio9Generator::AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf)
-{
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_C_ARCHITECTURE_ID", this->ArchitectureId);
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_CXX_ARCHITECTURE_ID", this->ArchitectureId);
-  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC90", "1");
-}
-
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void cmGlobalVisualStudio9Generator::WriteSLNHeader(std::ostream& fout)
 {
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio9Generator.h b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio9Generator.h
index 361b58c76..0b0d1437f 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio9Generator.h
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio9Generator.h
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ public:
   virtual const char* GetName() const {
     return cmGlobalVisualStudio9Generator::GetActualName();}
   static const char* GetActualName() {return "Visual Studio 9 2008";}
-  virtual void AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf);
 
   /** Get the documentation entry for this generator.  */
   virtual void GetDocumentation(cmDocumentationEntry& entry) const;
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.cxx
index a2b4c6519..feb3ac98b 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.cxx
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator::cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator()
 {
+  this->ArchitectureId = "X86";
+  this->VersionId = 0;
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -488,6 +490,18 @@ void cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator::ComputeVSTargetDepends(cmTarget& target)
     }
 }
 
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator::AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf)
+{
+  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_C_ARCHITECTURE_ID", this->ArchitectureId);
+  mf->AddDefinition("MSVC_CXX_ARCHITECTURE_ID", this->ArchitectureId);
+
+  if (this->VersionId)
+    {
+    mf->AddDefinition(this->VersionId, "1");
+    }
+}
+
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 std::string cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator::GetUtilityDepend(cmTarget* target)
 {
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.h b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.h
index 27fc8cf2e..a042dc0db 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.h
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.h
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ protected:
 
   virtual const char* GetIDEVersion() = 0;
 
+  virtual void AddPlatformDefinitions(cmMakefile* mf);
+
   virtual bool ComputeTargetDepends();
   class VSDependSet: public std::set<cmStdString> {};
   class VSDependMap: public std::map<cmTarget*, VSDependSet> {};
@@ -96,6 +98,9 @@ protected:
   std::string GetUtilityDepend(cmTarget* target);
   typedef std::map<cmTarget*, cmStdString> UtilityDependsMap;
   UtilityDependsMap UtilityDepends;
+  const char* ArchitectureId;
+  const char* VersionId;
+
 private:
   void ComputeTargetObjects(cmGeneratorTarget* gt) const;