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Hi,
I am currently building a WinUI3 C++ application using Windows App SDK. But currently the application is unpackaged mode.
I am currently thinking to shift to packaged mode as it is recommended by the Microsoft currently I have tried the sample packaged application (WinUI3 blank app) of Visual Studio.
Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/package-and-deploy/
During publishing the application, internally it uses MSIX to generates this '.msix' file which launches the application.
My question is can I make my application packaged myself via command line something... instead of using MSIX?
Where do you want to publish the application? Microsoft Store? Or publish the app to the other users? Could you please tell us what kind of behavior you want to? Whether you want to run the application(.exe) in unpackaged mode?
We are thinking to provide the application in both the ways, via the website and Microsoft store.
We want our application behavior to be as an exe and when we double click on the exe it should launch our application. Can this done in the packaged mode?
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Yes that can be done in packaged mode.
Hello,
Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!
In the packaged mode, you need to package your app via MISX. And you can only get an .msix file not a .exe file.
If you want to double click on the exe to launch the application, it can be done in unpackaged mode. You just need to add the lines to your *.csproj .
<PropertyGroup>
...
<WindowsPackageType>None</WindowsPackageType>
<WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>true</WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>
</PropertyGroup>
Thank you.
Jeanine
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Some doubts regarding this:
Even being a packaged application, I can see the exe inside the x64/Debug folder. Can't we use that exe to run our application?
And one more doubt, I have seen Outlook Application which is a packaged application (Since its present in "Windows Apps" folder) and double clicking on the exe launches the application. How is this working?
Even being a packaged application, I can see the exe inside the x64/Debug folder. Can't we use that exe to run our application?
It is by design. You couldn't double click that exe to run a packaged winui3 app.
I have seen Outlook Application which is a packaged application (Since its present in "Windows Apps" folder) and double clicking on the exe launches the application. How is this working?
Hers is the winui3 forum and I'm not sure what kind of app the Outlook Application is.
Thanks a lot @Jeanine Zhang-MSFT .
QUOTE
It is by design. You couldn't double click that exe to run a packaged winui3 app.
UNQUOTE
Is this documented somewhere? couldn't find anything such.
This helps but a last question, let's say if we want application to be a packaged, now I am not sure of how can I make the application available to users via the website? Since now it is an msix and not an exe. Can you help me over here?
Is this documented somewhere? couldn't find anything such.
Sorry, there is no document.
how can I make the application available to users via the website?
When you Create App Packages, you need to select Sideloading in the first page of the wizard.
Next you could create a new certificate. And then complete the Select and configure packages page.
When you want to make the application available to users, you could find the certificate file (.cer) and the app package file (.msix) in the Output location, you need to send these files to users. The user needs to install the signing certificate first, and then install the app package by double clicking the app package file.
For more details you could refer to the Doc: Package a desktop or UWP app in Visual Studio
So, we need to have an executable that adds these set of files on the users machine to run our application? Is this correct?
Please ignore the above comment.
So, we need to have an executable that can upload these files on the users machine? Is this correct @@Jeanine Zhang-MSFT ?
I could see in the sample app all these files in the AppPackages folder. Will all these files be required?
So, we need to have an executable that can upload these files on the users machine? Is this correct
If you want to publish your app via the website, it is out of the scope of Winui3 forum support. The winui3 forum just supports the issues related to winui3 development.
Will all these files be required?
The users just need to get the .cer file and the .msix file. Install the signing certificate (the .cer file) first, and then install the app package (the .msix file) by double clicking the app package file.
Hi Jeanine Zhang-MSFT came back here as I have some doubts. Can you tell me instead of moving to packaged. Can we move to package with external location?
I have an existing app that gives me an exe how can I move to package with external location? If I move to this mode of packaging can I get an exe?