MSIX Installer for Desktop Applications - Packaging WPF, WinForms, and UWP Applications
Вставка
- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
- Creating an installer for a C# desktop application used to involve a third-party solution like InstallShield to create MSI or Setup file. With the addition of UWP, Microsoft created the MSIX installer option. However, until recently it only worked for UWP applications. Now, we can use the MSIX installer to install Winforms and WPF desktop applications without going through the Microsoft Store if we don't want to. In this video, we are going to look at how to create an MSIX setup package, how to include our project in the package, and how to install and update our application on a client machine.
Source Code: leadmagnets.app/?Resource=MSI...
Mailing List: signup.iamtimcorey.com/
MSIX Documentation: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/wind...
Microsoft Store Signup: developer.microsoft.com/en-us...
I can't tell you how thankful I am for this video. You just made my week. I spent almost 2 days trying to figure out the build configuration issue and I searched in all regular blogs but couldn't find anything helpful. I am glad I finally found this. Your video is amazing with all the minute details and clarity of thought. Thank you.
Glad I could help. Be sure to check out my other videos.
Began watching your videos in college a year ago and now love watching your stuff. It has helped me create my first very basic program. Thank you!
That is awesome!
This was EXACTLY what I needed. I simply couldn't figure out the certificate piece. Thank you for taking the extra time to be so clear and concise.
Glad it was helpful!
I wish Microsoft's instructions were as easy to understand and detailed as yours are.
I am glad my explanations are clear.
Excellent tutorial. Mr. Corey, you are a very talented man and an outstanding instructor. Your attention to details is what makes you stand out!
I appreciate the kind words.
Thanks for these links: The MSIX documentation helps a lot. Got Manifest error I am trying to figure out. Trying to put my first app in the Microsoft Store. Got some more to load out there later. I am a C# Developer. Love this stuff. Thanks man, Great videos!
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome! We use Advanced Installer, it is fantastic. Thanks for the video, love it as always.
You are welcome.
I love what you do , Tim , keep it up.
Thanks!
Awesome! Really You made c# learning easy. I always love your teaching. Great video. Thanks GURU.
You are welcome.
Hi Sir,
I published wpf app using MSIX packaging. App is interacting with sqlite database. When I removed databases interaction related logic from app it works fine. But when I try to add databases interaction logic then app gets crash. In fact when I add Microsoft.EntityFramworkCore.Sqlite and related NuGet packages and try to publish app, It doesn't open. Why this is happening. If you guide me it will be great help.
Excellent explanation. Thanks you for taking the time and for sharing your knowledge.
My pleasure!
Your work is very amazing... Keep it up.. We support you.. 😊
Thank you!
OMG. Thank you! I wasted around 2/3 of my workday today figuring out WHY i got the processor-mismatch. Thank you again.
Glad I could help!
Thank you Tim, this tutorial was super useful form me and very easy to follow.
Please continue to publish other video on this topic like to Automate the publish with Azure Dev Ops or others.
Best regards
Thanks, and noted!
Consider if our application use a database and it is necessary to make a small change in the database schema, eg. add a field in a table. Is it possible to deploy also a SQL script to update the database schema together the application exe?
I really appreciate your work and thanks alot for the contribution and I want to tell you that your aim is archived
You are most welcome.
Thanks Tim, really very helpful video
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent video as always.
Thank you!
Thanks Tim, seems like a better solution than sharing EXE files on the network. I guess using the installer, I can build my own store on the local network, I got lots of interesting ideas watching the video. Maybe a video on how developers should use certificates, I still don't understand it.
I will add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion.
thanks for video and i like your way to discription a package
Thanks for sharing and for watching the video.
Excellent tutorial ! Thanks !
You are welcome!
Great tutorial as Always
Thank you!
great as always!! thank you sr!
You are welcome.
At 29:50 "configure update settings" you mention that the app can be deployed on a server. An example on how to deploy the app on OneDrive or a server would be very nice!
I will add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion.
@@IAmTimCorey Thanks for the great video - created an installer for a friend's UWP app using your instructions here. I also attempted to deploy the files to a web server as you suggested but there is more to that than meets the eye. I got the HTML file and appinstaller file to reflect the URL but IIS would not return the files (other than the INDEX.HTML file) even after getting all the mime types configured in the web.config file. I am currently stuck trying to get some support from my hosting provider. It would be really helpful if you could walk thru the intricacies of deploying to the web because the MS doco just glosses over it like it should be automatic.
One other question regarding this video, I attempted to target the user desktop using the environment variables available to locate each users unique desktop path (\desktop). It worked great on my PC but I couldn't replicate that success on any other PC when placing the directory with all the output files in the package on their desktops. Any ideas why that falls apart with an error can't find file? That said I really want the web to work as that is the best way to go with the most reach to remote folks.
Saying Thanks in 2024.. As always Tim Corey !!
You are welcome.
Great video as always. You might want to mention that is it possible to publish to a folder or single exe without using MSIX. Although you lose 'installation' of your app (it runs as a stand-alone program) and auto-updating, I found it handy for small scale beta testing to just say, 'double-click the exe file' and not worry about the certificates, etc.
Yep, that is a nice option. I did cover that in another video I believe.
Thank you so much. That was very helpful. You are great.
Glad it was helpful!
I had got excited when I saw this topic because I've been meaning to write myself an "Application Manager" program which would allow me to manage what applications users can request access to (from an application "Gallery"), and then perform a Zip file package download and install.
At my company a lot of folks don't have Admin on their PCs, requiring IT to become involved for installations (And due to that fact, a lot of our apps have been ASP.NET MVC)
But I absolutely LOVE WPF, and I'm much more productive when coding WPF, so I've been looking to complete this application manager which would provide automated installations and auto version updates similar to web apps.
I had thought perhaps this MSIX installer would save me from having to developing my app manager, but it still appears Admin privs would be needed (at least in some cases) when using it.
Great topic though - I appreciate you, Tim!
Another option is to check out my video on Squirrel. It does not need admin rights to install applications.
@@IAmTimCorey Really?!! PROPS, Bigg Tim, I'll check it out pronto!
Great video! Thank you.
You are welcome.
keep it simple and has why-and-when-factor make you different from other channels
Thanks!
"I cannot be considered trustworthy of myself" :'( haha
Thanks for the instructions, it really helped to clarify my mind after some hours hitting my head in the wall.
Happy to help!
I haven't made an installer for a while, but I used to use Inno Setup.... works well. Used by things like Visual Studio Code. Completely Free
Yep, that's a good one.
Thanks. This is great and works brilliantly for net framework. The same project in net5 is proving trickier. Is there anything on debugging msix packages? For installs that don't go smoothly? Thanks
You, good sir, made my day!
2 questions:
a. Is it possible to show the user a license agreement text before they can install?
b. Is it possible to make updates optional for the user?
Thanks!
Hi Tim. Great content. I've been trying to figure this out for a few days and you saved the day as always. I have a little problem. When I package my app it says that the files were copied to the output locations successfully, but the folder remains empty. Any ideas? Also I set the Build Bundle to always but on the confirmation screen still says Bundle NO.
Tim, this was a great tutorial, and entertaining as well. Keep up the great work! I do have one question. The installer defaults to the Program Files\WindowsApps folder on the root drive. Is there any way to let the person installing choose a path? Maybe they want to install on D:\apps for example?
I did find an option to do this for anyone interested. Not quite as simple as I was hoping, but it's possible. techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-dev-appconsult/msix-how-to-copy-data-outside-the-installation-folder-during-the/ba-p/1133602
Hi Tim! Thanks for the video. I have a question that how can we add the other layers of the project? I have BLL, CUL, and DAL beside the main GUI project which has the windows. Thanks in advance!
Thanks for this Tim! Any pointers on MSIX for installing Windows Services projects please?
28:16 How do I access this version number in the main program?
I'm able to get the "Assembly Version" and the "File Version" but they do not match the version number here that automatically increments.
Hi Tim, thanks for your video, it's very clear. I have one question, after build it will generate two files and a folder, how could only output one .msix file? Thanks.
Could MSIX be used to bypass license screens or certain "click through" dialog boxes users need to click on in order to automate package deployment?
@IAmTimCorey...MAJOR changes man MAJOR improvements....lol
Yes sir!
정말 감사합니다!!! 좋아요 댓글 구독할께요 형님!
고마워, 형제!
[English] Thank you very much!!! I'll give you like, comment and subscribe. Bro!
That's nice tutorial, many thanks for that. Every steps was explained with simplicity. Really appreciate. Just few things, one, how to add custom form in the installer like agreements, system check etc. second, how can I create MSIX with custom form using azure devops pipeline.
I'm not sure if you can do that with the basic MSIX installer. You might need to go custom on that one.
@@IAmTimCorey so the same project type won't work for that ?
Any other options, tool on Microsoft stack ?
Look into Advanced Installer or other 3rd party MSI tools.
thank you!
You are welcome.
Thanks for the tutorial. I have a question. I want to sign also the exe of the application with a certificate, not only the package. With click once it works by clicking the option 'sing the ClickOnce manifests'. But with MSIX is the exe not signed. Any sugestions?
We are waiting the next video of How to upload MSIX package to Microsoft Store. Please upload soon.
Good to know.
Hey Tim, Gould you please make a Video about VS Blend? Is it still relevant in 2020? When and how to use it? There are so less videos about Blend there...
I will add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion. As for its relevance, it is still relevant but only to a select few people since it is a UI-specific tool that is mostly just for display changes.
Thank you for video. I was wondering if the automated process and deployment through azure dev ops was out yet?
I haven't completed this for MSIX yet. I just did something similar in TimCo with just the self-contained EXE file.
Was hoping you would do one on this.
Are you planning on adding to to the TimCoManager?
That is a good possibility.
Thanks!
Thank you!
Hey Tim, I must say that I found the tutorial very helpful!! I have one question, is it possible to automatically install a ".inf" driver using Windows Application Packaging Project?
Thx Tim .. Fast question: my wpf app start process to excute command in cmd ,work s fine made msix and install app (run as admin) ... Boom nothing happin to call cmd ...
I hope if there custom way to give permission ..like this(cmd) and run as defult run administrator ..
In internet there is advance installer and other tool to do troubleshooting ... But i want without this tools ... I prefere cutom build with my vs
thank you...
Is it possible to run MAUI development directly on Windows without using MSIX packaging for simple small development? Of course, if not, I can continue to use Flutter or React.
Hello Tim,
This is kinda golden tutorial! Super beneficial and explained in details. Many Thanks!
Even they are not directly related your content here, I have two (may be advanced or irrelevant (: ) question on mind :
1. Is it a way to create development certificate while publishing (create new trusted certificate) with end date bigger than 1 (one) year?
2. Is there a way to include not native libraries and scripts inside that installer? For ex: A winforms desktop app which use a python scripts and python libraries(pandas, numpy), could be able to include in MSIX installer project?
Glad you liked it!
So if I want to install the application on some other machine, Do I just need to copy paste the DemoInstaller folder on the target machine and have all the required framework installed?
thnx. very usefull. But my next question is, do I have any influence on the installing process? e.g. define the destination location of specific files? My app prescribes these locations.
No you do not. The installer needs to have the ability to completely uninstall the app so it retains control over what gets installed where. It is all installed inside of a sandbox.
Hi, great video and tutorial!!! I tried with a APP on Net Framework 4.5, but I get an error, than it needs Net 4.6.1 version minimal... is there a way to make it work on 4.5 ? Thank you !!
I don't believe so. Sorry.
hello sir . iam using wpf core , and i want create appx package with The Windows Application Packaging, i have a .txt file in my application. when i create my appx and install it, i get error, because for the text file. the error is this : your text file is not find !! how should i add my text file to the Windows Application Packaging?
Thanks for the great video as always. Does this installer support the .NET Framework or only Core?
Does it work only under Windows 10 like the UWP? What about windows 8 or 7? Does it have an option to check and install prerequisites like .NET framework or SQL Sever express?
It only supports .NET Core because it has to do a self-contained installation where it bundles .NET Core with the application so that it does not have to depend on the client machine to have .NET Core. The MSIX installer works on Windows 10 natively and will work on Windows 7 and beyond if you install the MSIX Core package (a one-time install). You cannot install items on the client machine that might remain after the package is uninstalled so you cannot install SQL Server Express or anything similar. It is a sandboxed installation.
@@IAmTimCorey ok thanks for the info and great tutorial
IAmTimCorey what about SQLite ? My app uses that. How will a
version update NOT touch a users database?
Also, how do alter the DB if I NEED to?
Thanks!!
Hello?
Hey Tim, this was awesome video, is there a way to include custom script that need to be run before starting installer and after installation complete Custom action possible?
Not really. Custom Actions can only be executed before the app is opened or when it’s closed. It cannot be placed in the install sequence. Scripts executions are added to the config.json file. -from www.advancedinstaller.com/msix-limitations.html
@@IAmTimCorey Thanks alot. will go through..
Hey Tim,
Thanks for the video.
My customers tend to have an Admin with install privileges and whole bunch of users that do not. Is it possible to configure the MSIX to allow the Admin to install to All Users or maybe by virtue of that Trusted Certificate, can the Admin create a group policy that would allow less privileged to install from the web my signed software?
Also, if you do a follow up, could you go through the process or maybe discus here, viable approaches to publishing to a remote web server and allow your customers to decide when to upgrade (or downgrade) versions?
Thanks,
Kurt
An MSIX installer does not need admin rights to install. That means your users should be able to install it without an issue (unless there is a group policy specifically stopping it). As for the follow-up, yep, that is on the list. Thanks for the suggestion.
Thanks Tim for this great video it is very helpful for me. Could you please extend this topic for SQL Server database engine, Instance and Database installation through this package.
Noted, added to the list.
@@IAmTimCorey Thank you so much sir.
@@IAmTimCorey Hey Tim thanks, can u share video link to create setup with database scenario.
Do I have to make a new certificate for every application? I have two apps I want to have on my other device. If not, where is the certificate located?
But if you create a local installer you basically need to give the other person the bundle installer and the certificate only right? I guess that if you create a server where to store the installer, you just give them the 1 kb .appinstaller file which will scan the latest file on the server, am I right?
Hi Tim, thanks for this very helpful tutorial. Unfortunately I have run into GitHup Push to Origin it has 50 to 60 new objects but does stop at one of the last ones and will not continue. I have tried this on two different projects and could not resolve it. Maybe any suggestions?
Identify what the file is. There may be a limitation on size or it might be an invalid file type. The error message should give you more information.
Very helpful video, thank you! I'm trying to submit my app to the Microsoft Store, it got denied before for some reason the installer is saying the app MUST use runFullTrust, I don't need runFullTrust however, I'm not collecting or using anything that needs it. Apparently it's coming back as I'm collecting personal data, and the app keeps getting denied! When I tried to manually delete it from the XML manifest for the installer, I get an error saying "The element specified requires "runFullTrust" capability. I can't find any help online :(
Unless you are packaging a UWP application, you have to have runFullTrust since that is the only way WPF or WinForms operates. Here is an article with more information: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/appconsult/a-simpler-and-faster-way-to-publish-your-desktop-bridge-applications-on-the-microsoft-store
Hello Tim,
Thank you for the video! It is very helpful
I have one question. Is there a way to automatically uninstall the older version of the application before installing the new version?
This way updates the application. There isn't a way to uninstall fully and then install a new, fresh version.
@@IAmTimCorey thank you so much for your help!
Great video. Following your instructions worked too as you missed out nothing! I could not get Click-Once to function properly in the past. You mention that you would be making a video on uploading to the Microsoft Store. How is that coming along? When you do, can you discuss things such as payment methods, trial periods and the like and how they are set up?
The video is on my list but it isn't done yet. Not sure of a release date yet. I'll add those suggestions to the list.
@@IAmTimCorey Appreciate that. Also is there a way to allow friends, testers etc to download for free.
Thanks for the guide! I'm curious, are you familiar with packaging in Azure Dev Ops or Github? I've seen various guides that cover how to do so through the UI, but none in CD. If you are, it would be very helpful!
For MSIX? Not really, no. I am planning on doing a video covering creating NuGet packages with CI/CD, though.
Hi Tim, Thanks for a great tutorial.
I was wondering if the same process will work to get the app installed on a windows server machine. THANKS
Probably not. It is meant to install under a user's profile, and it isn't really designed for being installed on a server.
@@IAmTimCorey THANKS! are you familiar with a way to perform something similar that will able to install a WPF app on windows server machine ?
It was a very useful video.
Could you please make a video on how to have a feature(premium features) unlocked by using a unique activation key for each user, in a WPF application.
Noted, added to the suggested topics list, thanks.
Hey Tim, really a nice tut.. Thanks a lot.. I have one question. Is it possible to distribute updates over GitHub, IIS or S3 Buckets? Like something we have in Squirrel.Windows?
It is possible to do that, yes. You can put that updates folder in a web-accessible location to distribute your updates.
@@IAmTimCorey Thank You for the clarification Tim.. Have a great day :)
Hi @Tim Corey --> Is this method also applicable to a .Net 4.x WPF app and can it be build that way in Azure DevOps? Or how would you go about that?
Yes, it can. I don't have any demos showing that off, though.
Thanks a lot for the video. This looks a bit like a mix of installing with ClickOnce and the Squirrel method, you demonstrated in a video before. Do you recommend this or Squirrel? Another thing. Is there a way for these installers to check if dependencies exist in the target machine's GAC and install them there if they are not? In the case of use of the big libraries provided by companies like ComponentOne and DevExpress the target machines tend to get blown by copying the same dll's over and over again on the target machines in each application folder of new applications.
Both installers have their place. It depends on your scenario. MSIX cannot touch the GAC or registry because it wants to have a clean uninstall. The only way to do that is to be self-contained.
Just checking when you are going to do the video to post app to Microsoft store
thank you for the effort Tim
i have a question though
will this work if i want to install a windows service?
thanks already
No, since installing a service is a PC-changing event and MSIX files want to be isolated changes that can be fully undone. MSIX is for desktop apps.
@@IAmTimCorey Hello, but what if our application is using Windows Service to run or may be create Service to accomplish any task. So is it support in MSIX package? Please reply.
Great tutorial. I followed the instructions on my WPF app. After installation and launch, my app ran in the background. Any idea how to fix it?
Not sure why that happened. Sorry.
hey tim hope you doing well , just one question if i sent this application to another pc , and i published a new update on my pc does the other pc get the update automatically?
Only if the other PC can see the update location on the first machine. That's why we publish to servers.
Thanks a lot Tim for the great introduction.
Wondering, if creating a MSIX installer is (still) the preferred way to create a "installeable" package of a .NET 8.0 solution, with the target platform on windows systems? Or is there a newer way to create such "installeable" packages?
From Microsoft? MSIX is the solution. There are third-party solutions that offer alternatives.
@@IAmTimCorey Thanks! Yes, it is Microsoft. We use Visual Studio 2022. We have a "windows service" which provides a REST API (based on Kestrel). The "windows service" will get installed on customer machine. I'm looking for the best way to provide this "installeable" package to the customer. I would like to have as less dependencies as possible. Waht would be the advantage of using 3rd party tools, like Wix Toolset? Is there any benefit?
How do these automatic updates work? You need to download the whole installer and then it uninstalls the old version and does a clean install of the newer version? What if I only edited one dll in my project and my application is 1 GB in size? Does the automatic update download 1 GB?
It downloads just what it needs to update the application (at the block level) to be as efficient as possible: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/msix/desktop/managing-your-msix-deployment-update
How to uninstall the app from the startup not using control panel to uninstall? Can u help me !!
Great video as always!! However, I keep having a particular issue. After creating the installer, and running it successfully, running the application itself doesn't work. It will start (as shown in task manager) then closes 2 seconds later. This same thing happens with Advanced Installer, Setup project, and the Windows Application Packaging. The app runs fine in both release and debug through VS. Any ideas?
I might be late but I ran into the same issue. When I looked in the Eventmanager I had an error stating that CoreCLR encountered a problem. After some hours of reading I found out that there was a bug with the windows application publishing project that was fixed in the version 16.10.4 of visual studio 2019. If someone encounters that problem, too, try updating your VS Version :)
would you perform the same process if you were going to create an installer with a SQL Server database. Do you have a video for this Tim ?
No, if you are going to install a SQL Server database, you would use a different process. Probably I would recommend using a DevOps pipeline (CI/CD). I demo that in the TimCo Retail Manager series. You typically don't install a SQL database for desktop applications, though. You typically have one central database that all of the desktop applications use.
Is it possible to use sqlcmd with the installer? To execute database publish scripts generated by ssdt projects? Or something similar?
With the installer? No. Later through your application itself? Yes, that is possible.
Hi Tim is MSIX can be deployed through SCCM Machine Level silent installation?
I believe so but I am not certain.
Very nice video!
So how does the installation process on the clients pc actually work? Which files do I send him?
How can I deploy the installation files to say an FTP server so that it can always check for updates?
If I just deploy it locally on my machine how will it check for updates when my PC is offline.
If you are just having them install once, you could send them the msixbundle file. If you want them to have the ability to update the application, you would point them to the appinstaller file and make sure you transfer all of the files and folders to that same location. Ideally, you FTP these files to a web server that hosts your index.html page that has the link to your installer. As far as checking for updates offline, that is not possible. You need to be connected to the location where your updates are in order to get those updates.
@@IAmTimCorey Alright thank you for that answer. One more question, how about obfuscating your app? We develop business apps for internal use which often have to be obfuscated so that they cant be reverse engineered. Currently we are using Babel Obfuscator for this. Is there any way to handle obfuscation with VS?
@@drewfyre7693 great question - I'm also in the same boat. I was thinking of creating an azure secure storage solution and require users to oauth register/authorize through azure AD, then retrieve any secrets.
RE: Distribution: I have put the files on our webserver (needed a web.config update), but the trick is knowing the URL of the file/folder when creating the packages and putting it in the 'output location'.
Hi Tim, I am able to publish my application following your instructions. However, when I run it, it looks for the application files (some images which should be loaded dynamically to the apps) in System32 folder. I guess it's because the working directory is System32. Should I copy the application files to System32 or there are other ways to handle this?
You need to change your image path to be the location of the app. It isn't in System32, so I'm guessing that the relative path is set incorrectly or you are using the wrong one.
I can't get the windows application packaging project, add my sqlite.db file.
Always love your videos, Tim! However, I have a question/issue that I am stuck on. I set the "Installer Location" (as directed by the video) to, in my case, "C:\mydir1\mydir2" It get's ignored, but the file installs. I couldn't find where, and finally learned that it was put into "Program Files\WindowsApps". I've spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out what I need to change to get it to install where I told it to.
Any help from you or your audience would be great.
That's not really what MSIX does. It is designed to be installed as a Windows App. Custom installation locations are more for MSI installers. MSIX installers are meant to be self-contained and easy to uninstall. That means a central installation location.
@@IAmTimCorey 👌 ok
Can it install SQL Express on the client or would u not recomend that route if deploying to windows store?
No, it can't because it is designed to be self-contained so that removal is easy.
Hello,
Great video but when I finished everything and in other PC want to install this error is occur "Error in parsing the app package"
Not sure but this page might help you diagnose it: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/msix/packaging-tool/tool-known-issues
Can you add SQL Server Express as prerequisite in UWP installer? or any kind of prerequisite?
I know it is possible to use connection string with localdb and SQL Server Express and it works but then do I need to tell my client to install SQL server manually on their own?
I don't believe so with MSIX. You would need a more customizable installer system for that.
Followed along with the tutorial and I got a working installer. I have some external files I need to copy during the install. Is there a "hook" to events, for example after the install event is complete, copy this folder?
That's going to be tricky because the goal of MSIX is a sandbox environment, where nothing outside the sandbox gets changed (no registry, no dependency installation, no GAC, etc.) Your best bet would be to include the files as content files in your project.
@@IAmTimCorey Thank you for taking the time to respond. I think I forgot about that, this installer is really just like getting an app from the Microsoft Store.
Hi Tim, not sure if i am posting in the correct place but i was wondering when you build a solution consisting of multiple projects for example an exe, a few dlls, and various resources when you build it seems to buld the dll projects and the exe in their respective directories and all the above together in the same folder. Is their any way you can build it such that it puts all of the dlls in a folder called libs or some other name and the other respective resources in there own folders leaving the exe in the root folder?
No, I don't believe you can do that.
Hi, my application is updating from localhost but not updating from Web Hosts like URLs. Let me know if I have to use Azure to achieve that thing for updating application online or there is any other way! Thank you Tim Corey
Those URLs have to be visible to the application and it needs to know what URL to look at.
How can i generate a Desktop Icon during the installation?
Nice tutorial. Now I have a question.
I tried this with an existing WPF app I made. It contains a folder with images but after creating the package it didn't include those images from the WPF project. How do you include those files in the MSIX package?
Are they marked as included with the project?
@@IAmTimCorey I figured it out. I have the images marked as Content instead of Resource.
Thanks for the superb video. How to install this in client's machine? Like windows server 2016/2019.
I've copied the installer/.msix, no app couldn't recognize this installer.
And which one do you recommend squirrel.windows or msix?
MSIX has certain system requirements: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/msix/supported-platforms
I use the best tool for the job. Some jobs, that is squirrel. Others, it is MSIX. And sometimes it is another solution entirely.
@@IAmTimCorey I am having a similar issue. I'm trying to install the package in a Windows Server Datacenter Virtual Machine on Azure, but it shows me an error message indicating that doesn't recognize .appinstaller file type. Do you have any suggestions or workaround to solve this?
There is one question i have about mxix. If a person chooses .net core 3.1, does the one who installs the app have to have .net core 3.1 already on their computers? Because if so and there is no option to be self contained, then this won't work for .net core apps unless the person already has the .net core on their machines.
Actually, because MSIX wants to have a clean uninstall, the entire application must be self-contained (not use the GAC or registry, for example). It also then cannot install .NET Core or expect it to already be there. So, it bundles .NET Core with your installation. That means that you can use your MSIX that contains a .NET Core 3.1 project in it on any Windows 10 machine (or any machine Windows 7 or greater if they installed MSIX Core).
Excellent. Thank you. ClickOnce deployment does not let you move the installation location after the package is built. For example I have an app that I want to give to my clients that they can place in their S3 bucket based web site to deploy the app and get updates. ClickOnce does not allow this as the update location is signed along with everything else. Squirrel allows this but it appears to be a dead project now. Does MSIX support moving the install location after the package is built?
Squirrel is not dead (it almost died but was revived). As for MSIX, no it does not allow you to choose your installation location. Installers are going away from this because doing so means that uninstalling your application might leave artifacts behind.
@@IAmTimCorey In the words of Magic Max it is "mostly dead". ;) As for my question, I used the wrong word. Not installation location but deployment location or install-from location. I have spend the last 2 days implementing MSIX for one of my apps and I answered my own question: yes you can change the location after the package has been built. All thanks to your great video!
Hi Tim, I followed your tutorial and used MSIX. I put it on my ASP.NET Core server and the installation etc is working fine. However, when I try to run the application it pops up in the taskbar for 1/2 seconds and then dissapears again. Is there anyway I can find out what I am doing wrong or to see what's going wrong? Thanks in advance.
You can't deploy a web application this way. A web application needs to be installed on a web server. Technically an ASP.NET Core web application is a Console app but it needs to be on a web server to power it. MSIX installers are for desktop applications like WPF, WinForms, and UWP apps.