Hi,

In Visual Studio (atmel) the bold project name means that is the "Startup project". You can right click any project in the solution tree and set is as the "Startup project". 

This is then the project that will compile/upload and/or debug when you press F5 or the Start command.

To set a board and port for a project you must have the code open (be ready to edit) for the respective project. It can be confusing in VS because you can have the code open for project A yet click project B in the solution explorer but without opening the code of project B.

The "Build" menu at the top of the Ide gives a good indicator as to the "active editing project". It will say "Build>Project X" and/or "Build>Solution".

If a project has never had a port specified it will use the last selected port. If a project has an old/obsolete port specified you will need to change the port. the settings will save when the project is saved (vs will prompt when required).

I hope this helps.

Great. Yes it's a Visual Studio term and few people realize how it works.

Better docs required! 

Furthermore the documentation has to give simple clarity to users who have never used a real Ide before and would find a discussion of multiple projects in a single solution too complicated.

So we have to walk a line and hope the more advanced users can use the standard F1 help system in their chosen Ide. In this case VS and Atmel work the same except in VS you can also right click a project and click "Start"

That's really good to hear thanks. It is a lot of work so pointless unless people enjoy it.