Unable to download a package from a specific URL

Question

We are trying to use .appinstaller to wrap our packages and dependencies so users can use it to install our applications and its dependencies. Here is the sample file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><AppInstaller
        Uri=http://xxx/a/b/c/package.appinstaller" 	
        Version="x.x.x.x" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/appinstaller/2017/2">        <MainBundle                Name="CompanyName"                Version="x.x.x.x"                Publisher="publishername"                Uri="http://xxx/a/b/c/package.msixbundle" />        <Dependencies>                <Package			     Name="Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.8" 
			     Publisher="CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US" 
			     ProcessorArchitecture="x64"                             Uri="http://xxx/a/b/c/dependent1.appx" />                                        
        </Dependencies> 
	<UpdateSettings> 
		<OnLaunch 
			HoursBetweenUpdateChecks="0" /> 
	</UpdateSettings> 
</AppInstaller>

We are expecting the dependency should be downloaded from "http://xxx/a/b/c/dependent1.appx" however it is going to MS Store. How can we ensure that it will always use the given URL instead of MS Store?

Answer 1

If you want to ensure that a specific dependency is downloaded from a custom URL rather than the Microsoft Store, you need to manage the deployment and distribution of that dependency yourself.

You should host the dependency file on a web server or a file storage service accessible via the custom URL will be like this:

"http://xxx/a/b/c/dependent1.appx."

Ensure that your installation or deployment script is designed to download the dependency.

You can use PowerShell to download the file from the URL. This script should be responsible for downloading and installing the dependency.