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Author Topic: Packaging APPX for MS Store  (Read 3531 times)

torumyax

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Packaging APPX for MS Store
« on: March 21, 2018, 12:47:10 pm »
I recently converted my Lazarus win32 application into appx package and submitted to Microsoft store.

The reason why I did it was .. just for the sake of it. Just let you know it is possible.

1) Download and install "Desktop App Converter" from Microsoft Store.
2) Start "Desktop App Converter" as Administrator(<-important).
3) Execute following in the Windows PowerShell (command-line)

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]
  1. DesktopAppConverter.exe -Installer C:\Apps\hoge\ -AppExecutable hoge.exe -Destination C:\Output -PackageName "hoge" -Publisher "CN=fuga" -Version 0.1.0.0 -MakeAppx -Sign -Verbose -Verify

You'll find hoge.appx in the output directory.

4) You can test it locally by executing,

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]
  1. Add-AppxPackage -Register C:\Output\hoge\PackageFiles\AppxManifest.xml

Now you will see it in the start menu.

Simple enough. But there is a catch. If you want to customize the installation such as file type associations, you have to edit AppxManifest.xml manually and use makeappx which is sucks.

Took me 1 day to research and prepare, and 1 day to figure things out.

*I recommend compiling 32bit exe because it runs fine on 64bit windows too.
*You need to create a windows developer account and receive IDs and replace -Publisher "CN=fuga" and -PackageName with your ID and package name.



« Last Edit: March 27, 2018, 03:19:47 am by torumyax »

avra

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Re: Packaging APPX for MS Store
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2018, 05:56:29 pm »
Thank you. It would be nice if you could make a wiki page to preserve the knowledge.
ct2laz - Conversion between Lazarus and CodeTyphon
bithelpers - Bit manipulation for standard types
pasettimino - Siemens S7 PLC lib

cappe

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Re: Packaging APPX for MS Store
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2018, 08:41:15 pm »
Thank you

torumyax

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Re: Packaging APPX for MS Store
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2018, 10:20:12 am »
Sorry for the delay and thank you for the reply.

The thing is my English is very limited to write a wiki page...Besides, soon you might be able to skip these steps because Microsoft is preparing new install packaging format.

Quote
MSIX is our vision for a complete containerization solution and it inherits all the great features in UWP and most importantly, it applies to all Win32, WPF, Windows Forms, and UWP applications. The MSIX packaging format was open sourced today.
(I don't know what is great about uwp....but anyway)

https://blogs.windows.com/buildingapps/2018/03/07/three-things-need-know-windows-developer-day/#U9oRCqUu2BpFgdoX.97

MSIX
https://github.com/Microsoft/msix-packaging



PS. A couple of things to add:
1. You have to submit a form(below) to get an approval (runFullTrust privilege) before submitting your apps.
https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/projects/campaigns/desktop-bridge
2. You don't have to sign your apps if you are just submitting to the store. (This is the only nice thing about distributing apps via the store. plus updates is easy..)
3. Local translation files (.po) seem to be working too.
« Last Edit: March 23, 2018, 10:40:32 am by torumyax »

torumyax

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Re: Packaging APPX for MS Store
« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2018, 06:21:01 am »

 

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