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john_dinnen
Level 3
‎Sep 06, 2019 10:51 AM

Tutorials for creating an MSIX package for Windows Store App

We just spent thousands of dollars to go through InstallShield training via Flexera but the main point of going to the training was to get some training on how to use Installshield to create an MSIX package to sideload/install a Windows Store App. Unfortunately the course didn't cover this, even though we asked for this to be covered. In fact all the training materials were for 2016 and geared towards the desktop application installation.

Unfortunately having installed 2019 R2 Professional there is no documentation on how to use Installshield to achieve this, and my Visual Studio 2019 only has a Basic MSI project type i can choose. Ive heard there is a work around but have been unable to find it. Even if I did, there is not documentation that I can find.

Is there anyone that can show me where to find an example of wiring my existing Xamarin forms UWP application into an MSIX installer? We have corporate customers who can't install from the Microsoft Store so they need to be able to side load  via MSIX. I do appreciate the Notepad++ tutorials for Desktop apps but this is a different fish.

Thanks in advance!

 

 

 

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(6) Replies
Jenifer
Flexera Alumni
‎Sep 06, 2019 12:09 PM

Hi @john_dinnen ,

 

You can achieve it via new MSIX project type in the professional edition of InstallShield you have.To get msix build working,as a work-around you might need to change productSku which i can update you.

  • Add files under Files and Folders view
  • Include all the dependent files specific to application(.xbf,.winmmd,.dll etc).On missing dependent files UWP app might not work properly.
  • Select the required capabilities from Capabilities view same applies to Declarations as well
  • Add shortcut to the main application which is mandatory for msix application in Applications view
  • If any declaration set been added,you can select that from application view->Declaration Set same applies to custom visual assets if any.
  • Add signing information from Releases view using trusted root authentication storage or trusted .pfx file since without trusted signature msix applcation can't run
  • Add entrypoint as per the UWP Application specification in Application(Shortcuts view)
  • Build and execute ,you will be able to see msix application running

 

Thanks,
Jenifer

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john_dinnen
Level 3
In response to Jenifer
‎Sep 06, 2019 02:36 PM

Thank you for your reply... I changed the SKU, rebooted and even repaired my installation and I still don't get an MSIX option in visual studio 2019 but i can create a standalone MSIX project.

As for the files there is no indication as to what files i need since I don't install directly to program files etc. I usually have an appxbundle etc, not a bunch of dlls and exe files... I won't know the destination directory or the file system layout.
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Jenifer
Flexera Alumni
In response to john_dinnen
‎Sep 09, 2019 02:05 AM

Hi @john_dinnen ,

 

There is an issue related MSIX project option not visible in Microsoft Visual Studio and it had been raised as a bug.It can be tracked as  part of IOJ-2069708 in the upcoming release.

Coming to files part:

  • In that case,do you have your app files as bundle already ?
  • I could see you mentioning about Xamarin forms UWP application ,this application's output would be in what format?

 

Thanks,

Jenifer

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john_dinnen
Level 3
In response to Jenifer
‎Sep 12, 2019 11:49 AM

2019-09-12_11-37-00.jpg
I get the following output for the app bundle on UWP, an appxbundle and then a few appxsym file and a PowerShell script that is used to install the package.

The app is installed to wherever the user choses to install store apps (usually C:\Program Files\WindowsApps) and we do not lay down the files on the stay, he appxbundle does this. as well as choosing the correct architecture to install etc.
The dependencies will include the app files to install the relevant runtimes and dependencies for the app, in this case .net core runtime, framework and some other library.  Here is a full list of everything in the output

 Volume in drive C has no label.
 Volume Serial Number is 52E8-0E6F

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test

09/12/2019  11:44 AM    <DIR>          .
09/12/2019  11:44 AM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM            35,164 Add-AppDevPackage.ps1
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          Add-AppDevPackage.resources
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          Dependencies
09/12/2019  11:44 AM                 0 dir.txt
09/06/2019  03:10 PM           577,694 JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_ARM_Debug.appxsym
09/06/2019  03:10 PM           577,691 JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_x64_Debug.appxsym
09/06/2019  03:10 PM           577,691 JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_x86_Debug.appxsym
09/06/2019  03:10 PM        17,252,105 JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_x86_x64_arm_Debug.appxbundle
               6 File(s)     19,020,345 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM            10,150 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          cs-CZ
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          de-DE
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          en-US
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          es-ES
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          fr-FR
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          it-IT
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ja-JP
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ko-KR
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          pl-PL
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          pt-BR
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ru-RU
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          tr-TR
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          zh-CN
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          zh-TW
               1 File(s)         10,150 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\cs-CZ

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM            10,278 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)         10,278 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\de-DE

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM            11,628 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)         11,628 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\en-US

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM            10,150 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)         10,150 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\es-ES

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM            10,834 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)         10,834 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\fr-FR

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM            11,344 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)         11,344 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\it-IT

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM            10,738 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)         10,738 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\ja-JP

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM             6,698 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)          6,698 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\ko-KR

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM             6,348 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)          6,348 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\pl-PL

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM            10,106 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)         10,106 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\pt-BR

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM            10,580 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)         10,580 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\ru-RU

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM            10,342 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)         10,342 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\tr-TR

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM             9,608 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)          9,608 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\zh-CN

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM             4,998 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)          4,998 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Add-AppDevPackage.resources\zh-TW

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2019  03:13 PM             5,180 Add-AppDevPackage.psd1
               1 File(s)          5,180 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Dependencies

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          arm
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ARM64
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          x64
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          x86
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Dependencies\arm

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
07/22/2019  01:59 PM         8,921,908 Microsoft.NET.CoreFramework.Debug.2.2.appx
07/22/2019  01:59 PM         7,607,114 Microsoft.NET.CoreRuntime.2.2.appx
04/19/2019  11:47 AM         2,114,047 Microsoft.VCLibs.ARM.Debug.14.00.appx
               3 File(s)     18,643,069 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Dependencies\ARM64

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
04/19/2019  11:47 AM         2,143,802 Microsoft.VCLibs.ARM64.Debug.14.00.appx
               1 File(s)      2,143,802 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Dependencies\x64

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
07/22/2019  02:00 PM         8,939,496 Microsoft.NET.CoreFramework.Debug.2.2.appx
07/22/2019  02:00 PM         9,651,863 Microsoft.NET.CoreRuntime.2.2.appx
04/19/2019  11:47 AM         2,197,159 Microsoft.VCLibs.x64.Debug.14.00.appx
               3 File(s)     20,788,518 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\johnd\source\repos\JobTask\JobTask\JobTask.UWP\AppPackages\JobTask.UWP_1.0.24.0_Debug_Test\Dependencies\x86

09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          .
09/06/2019  03:10 PM    <DIR>          ..
07/22/2019  02:00 PM         8,935,550 Microsoft.NET.CoreFramework.Debug.2.2.appx
07/22/2019  02:00 PM         8,538,000 Microsoft.NET.CoreRuntime.2.2.appx
04/19/2019  11:47 AM         1,859,068 Microsoft.VCLibs.x86.Debug.14.00.appx
               3 File(s)     19,332,618 bytes

     Total Files Listed:
              31 File(s)     80,067,334 bytes
              62 Dir(s)  11,408,936,960 bytes free
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john_dinnen
Level 3
In response to john_dinnen
‎Sep 30, 2019 09:59 AM

Where you able to find any more resources on this? I know AdvancedInstaller can do this so maybe I just use it instead if InstallShield doesn't support it?
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Jenifer
Flexera Alumni
In response to john_dinnen
‎Oct 02, 2019 09:16 AM

Hi @john_dinnen ,

 

You can add those files/folders using drag and drop option(From Destination computer view to Files view) in Files and Folders view to INSTALLDIR folder itself.

  • Create a shortcut for the exe file using you want to launch post installation(Since shortcut creation is mandatory for msix creation as of today)using Applications view.
  • Digitally sign the package using digital store(Trusted Root Certification Authorities)/trusted certificate option using Releases->MSIXRelease->Signing
  • Build a project
  • You will be able to see package getting installed under C:\ProgramFiles\WindowsApps\<PackageName>\VFS\ProgramFiles\My Company Name\My Product Name
  • You can use capabilities/declarations/visual-assets on need basis
  • On need of any file-re-directions support you can explore Package Support Framework view which you could see under Applications/shortcuts view.

Let me know whether you could proceed with Visual Studio MSIX project option,we can provide hotfix based on your request.

Thanks,

Jenifer

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