cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Tim_Mayert
Level 9

Windows 8 and Metro

Has anyone started looking at installs on Windows 8 and the new Metro interface?

We have just started noticed some issues already with icons desktop shortcuts...

What kinds of issues can we expect and work arounds that we would have to support before an updated IS can come out?

Thanks,
Labels (1)
0 Kudos
(6) Replies
joshstechnij
Level 10 Flexeran
Level 10 Flexeran

Can you clarify what issues you are seeing? Normal desktop applications (like InstallShield, Visual Studio, Office, etc.) still install as they would normally (through MSI, InstallScript, custom installers, etc.). However, Metro applications can only be installed through the Appx deployment mechanism which is normally just provided through the Windows application store/marketplace (enterprises do have the option of "side loading" through group policy settings and requirements on the appx packages being deployed).

From a desktop application standpoint, except for the new Start screen, we have seen no issues with installations assuming they were authored correctly (in regards to conditions such as OS version requirements). Shortcuts and icons on the desktop function as they did in previous versions of Windows as far as we can tell.
0 Kudos
Tim_Mayert
Level 9

Well actually the old style desktop icons did actually look correct, but looking at the Metro-style UI our start menu shortcuts all go to the same level and are all visible.

So what do we have to do to avoid the way our shortcuts are displayed? Attached is an image of what they look like after install.
0 Kudos
joshstechnij
Level 10 Flexeran
Level 10 Flexeran

The behavior you are seeing is expected to our knowledge. Although an installer may create start menu folders, the new start screen presents all shortcuts in a flat layout. Users can arrange shortcut tiles into groups if they would like, but this is up to the user. The concepts of the old start menu don't really exist any more since the start menu is now a new entity termed the 'start screen'.

The old start menu folders do still exist to a certain extent if you go to the "all apps" view of the start screen (right-click on some blank space on the start screen and click the All apps button on the command bar at the bottom of the screen).

The concepts of folders and other things on the traditional start menu have been fading somewhat since Windows Vista introduced the ability to search for start menu items and launch purely through searching with the keyboard. Windows 7 deemphasized the start menu even further by being able to pin shortcuts to the taskbar (eliminating the need to even open the start menu for frequently used shortcuts). The start screen on Win8 is a bit of a drastic change, but in the light of the progression of start menu usage over the last couple Windows releases, the changes in Win8 aren't quite as surprising.
0 Kudos
Tim_Mayert
Level 9

Okay thanks for the information Josh.

So if it is a flat layout then what do we have to do in our IS 2012 install project to create a tile group so that it will look better and not crowd the Start Screen?

So what ever we have to do to make this group would also have to make sure that it is conditioned to only occur on Windows 8. What would be the VersionNT value for Windows 8? Windows 7 is 601 and WindowsBuild is greater than 7100.

Thanks,
0 Kudos
joshstechnij
Level 10 Flexeran
Level 10 Flexeran

Groups on the start screen are user configured. Based on the list of new APIs in Windows 8, there doesn't appear to be anything that allows programmatic creation of groups: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh405363(v=vs.85).aspx.

There is a SecondaryTile class available to Metro applications for creating additional start screen tiles, but even this doesn't allow for creating new tiles in specific groups.

The following articles provide some additional information about the start screen and what can be done with it:
Designing the Start Screen
Reflecting on your comments on the Start screen

Also, VersionNT on Windows 8 should be 602.
0 Kudos
Not applicable

I have seen the discussion that you were looking for grouping of tiles in a programatic way rather leaving the start screen cluttered with icons/tiles. Even I have got a requirement where i would like to group the icons via msi/scripting. So could you please assist or share your thoughts to find a way to group the tiles.
(In 2012 you were asking about this issue and by this time(2014) you would have find a solution or an another way around. please advise)
0 Kudos