Publishing game in Partner Portal - Installer Handlers?

David Long 46

I am stuck on providing the "Installer Handling" with the various reason codes and URL.

The category requires a listing of "Install Scenarios" with EXE return code values and a URL for documenting for all miscellaneous EXE return codes.

Where do I find a list of EXE return code values in order to assure I can build the required documentation page?

"Installation cancelled by user"
"Application already exists"
"Installation already in progress"
"Disk space is full"
"Reboot required"
"Network failure"
"Package rejected during installation"
"Installation successful"

David Long 46 Reputation points

2022-09-24T22:31:46.26+00:00
I cannot understand why the "Packages" section is still gray.

I have a Package URL working in an Azure blob storage.

The application architecture is x64

I have the Installer parameters marked with "Installer runs in silent mode but does not require switches"

The English language was selected.

The App type is EXE

I built a webpage with various #1, #2, #3, etc. bookmarks for the various install scenarios.

The Store Listings is completed, but the Packages is still gray. What am I missing here?
Roy Li - MSFT 32,231 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-09-26T03:05:02.403+00:00

Could you please tell if you are trying to publishing a exe in the Partner Center? If it is, please take a look at this document: Submit your MSI or EXE app to the Microsoft Store. When following these steps, where did you meet a problem?
David Long 46 Reputation points

2022-09-26T04:42:48.827+00:00

Yes, I am trying to publish an EXE in the Partner Center, but am unable to figure out why the "Packages" section is still unfinished, and there's no apparent reason why.
Roy Li - MSFT 32,231 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-09-26T05:45:27.413+00:00

Have you checked the document that I posted? Have you followed all the steps? When following the steps that listed in the documents, where is the issue?
David Long 46 Reputation points

2022-09-26T12:16:07.443+00:00

Yes, I have checked the documentation you had provided. Thank you. Unfortunately neither the documentation nor the Partner Center's application submission form is indicating why the Packages section is not yet finished.

I am guessing the problem is in the installation handlers. The game is compiled in VS2022 Community.

The instructions are not clear and there are no examples given, but for each of the categories, I added a numbers 1 through 9, so that "Disk is full" has a code of 4. Then I built a webpage with a bookmark of #4 for that area of the page. There's only one URL given for all categories.

"Provide URL for documentation for all miscellaneous EXE return code values." and I have a webpage built and entered here.
"EXE return code value" and here I entered "1", "2", "3" etc. and referenced these values into the bookmarks in the above URL.

Every other part of the Packages section has clear meaning except this area.
Roy Li - MSFT 32,231 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-09-27T05:55:11.377+00:00

So now the issue is that you can't finish the package part which is mentioned here: Provide package details for your MSI or EXE app, right? Could you please first make sure you are submitting a standalone/offline installer and not a downloader that downloads binaries when invoked?
David Long 46 Reputation points

2022-09-27T10:07:42.57+00:00

In VS2022 Community, in the Publish section of the project, it asks for the Publishing Folder, and the Installation Folder URL (if different). I publish to my local C: drive, and the Installation Folder is a blob storage on Azure.

The Install Mode and Settings is set to "The application is available offline as well (launchable from the Start menu)."

When I then click on the Publish Wizard, it asks for the local C: folder for the publish location. Then next there's the "How will users install the application?" I choose "From a Web site" (pointing to the blob storage on Azure, which I assume is the required CDN type). The next screen asks "Will the application be available offline?" and I chose "Yes, this application is available online or offline."

The result is a set of files on my C: drive, including the publish.htm, the setup.exe, the application manifest, and a folder holding the Application Files. I then upload these files into the blob storage, and by navigating by browser to either the publish.htm or the setup.exe, the application will get installed. Whenever I run the installed application, it automatically checks for updates on the Azure blob storage, giving me the option to upgrade the app.

Is anything in this process not correct for the Store publication?
Roy Li - MSFT 32,231 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-09-28T02:30:22.743+00:00

I'm not familiar about create a exe file from Visual Studio so I can't tell if the steps are correct. But have you tried the URL on other devices in a different network to see if the exe file could be download and installed correctly in a different device? Make sure the URL that you provide is correct.

3 answers

David Long 46 Reputation points

2022-10-01T13:24:40.313+00:00

Yes, the URL is correct and can be installed on another Win10 machine. The VS2022 EXE setting allows for both x86 and x64. In the one package I had submitted, I selected the x64. Could the issue be that the Partner Central is looking for an x86 package as well?
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CS Net 1 Reputation point

2022-12-16T22:05:52.317+00:00

David

Were you able to get an answer to your question? I have exactly the same problem as you. The documentation for the "Installer Handling" is basically non-existant, so I also don't know what to put here or what to make where.

Thanks
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CS Net 1 Reputation point

2022-12-16T22:28:28.11+00:00

David

Were you able to get an answer to your question? I had exactly the same problem as you. So I wrote an article on our KB and put the URL to it in the "Provide URL for documentation for all miscellaneous EXE return code values" box: https://help.callsights.com/support/solutions/articles/103000038095-callsights-setup-disks-installer-return-codes

I filled out the return code values on the form to match my values, ie "Installation cancelled by user" = "5002" and "5012", etc.

Then I saved, and my package was uploaded, and the tick went green.

I hope this helps you or others.
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David Long 46 Reputation points

2022-12-17T01:02:59.29+00:00

Thanks for the return codes. It looks like my problem is that I had compiled my game app in a version of VS Community where there is no option to acquire a standalone/offline installer. The Partner Center is probably waiting for a correct EXE/MSI, and doesn't like the mash of setup and HTM files in the CDN location. I tried to find a way to do copy/paste form controls from one session of VS to another, but it doesn't work. The conversion utility I had tried likewise doesn't work. So I've given up on publishing the game app, as I don't want to have to design the whole game twice just to try again.
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Jesús Miguel Álvarez Vázquez 5 Reputation points

2024-01-18T02:19:11.5966667+00:00

I need help too, I don't know what to put here, pls is the last step to publish my app
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