MSIX Installer for Desktop Applications - Packaging WPF, WinForms, and UWP Applications 

I am glad my explanations are clear.

Glad I could help. Be sure to check out my other videos.

Glad it was helpful!

That is awesome!

I appreciate the kind words.

Glad it was helpful!

You are welcome.

Thanks!

You are welcome.

Hi Sir, I published wpf app using MSIX packaging. App is interacting with sqlite database. When I removed databases interaction related logic from app it works fine. But when I try to add databases interaction logic then app gets crash. In fact when I add Microsoft.EntityFramworkCore.Sqlite and related NuGet packages and try to publish app, It doesn't open. Why this is happening. If you guide me it will be great help.

Thank you!

Glad I could help!

My pleasure!

Thanks, and noted!

Consider if our application use a database and it is necessary to make a small change in the database schema, eg. add a field in a table. Is it possible to deploy also a SQL script to update the database schema together the application exe?

You are most welcome.

Another option is to check out my video on Squirrel. It does not need admin rights to install applications.

@@IAmTimCorey Really?!! PROPS, Bigg Tim, I'll check it out pronto!

Glad it was helpful!

Yep, that is a nice option. I did cover that in another video I believe.

Thanks!

Thank you!

I will add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion.

@@IAmTimCorey Thanks for the great video - created an installer for a friend's UWP app using your instructions here. I also attempted to deploy the files to a web server as you suggested but there is more to that than meets the eye. I got the HTML file and appinstaller file to reflect the URL but IIS would not return the files (other than the INDEX.HTML file) even after getting all the mime types configured in the web.config file. I am currently stuck trying to get some support from my hosting provider. It would be really helpful if you could walk thru the intricacies of deploying to the web because the MS doco just glosses over it like it should be automatic. One other question regarding this video, I attempted to target the user desktop using the environment variables available to locate each users unique desktop path (\desktop). It worked great on my PC but I couldn't replicate that success on any other PC when placing the directory with all the output files in the package on their desktops. Any ideas why that falls apart with an error can't find file? That said I really want the web to work as that is the best way to go with the most reach to remote folks.

You are welcome.

I will add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion.

Thank you!

You are welcome!

You are welcome.

Yep, that's a good one.

Thanks for sharing and for watching the video.

Happy to help!

You are welcome.

Glad it was helpful!

Yes sir!

고마워, 형제!

[English] Thank you very much!!! I'll give you like, comment and subscribe. Bro!

I'm not sure if you can do that with the basic MSIX installer. You might need to go custom on that one.

@@IAmTimCorey so the same project type won't work for that ? Any other options, tool on Microsoft stack ?

Look into Advanced Installer or other 3rd party MSI tools.

Good to know.

I did find an option to do this for anyone interested. Not quite as simple as I was hoping, but it's possible. techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-dev-appconsult/msix-how-to-copy-data-outside-the-installation-folder-during-the/ba-p/1133602

You are welcome.

Thank you!

That is a good possibility.

Glad you liked it!

I will add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion. As for its relevance, it is still relevant but only to a select few people since it is a UI-specific tool that is mostly just for display changes.

It only supports .NET Core because it has to do a self-contained installation where it bundles .NET Core with the application so that it does not have to depend on the client machine to have .NET Core. The MSIX installer works on Windows 10 natively and will work on Windows 7 and beyond if you install the MSIX Core package (a one-time install). You cannot install items on the client machine that might remain after the package is uninstalled so you cannot install SQL Server Express or anything similar. It is a sandboxed installation.

@@IAmTimCorey ok thanks for the info and great tutorial

IAmTimCorey what about SQLite ? My app uses that. How will a version update NOT touch a users database? Also, how do alter the DB if I NEED to? Thanks!!

Hello?

I haven't completed this for MSIX yet. I just did something similar in TimCo with just the self-contained EXE file.

For MSIX? Not really, no. I am planning on doing a video covering creating NuGet packages with CI/CD, though.

Not really. Custom Actions can only be executed before the app is opened or when it’s closed. It cannot be placed in the install sequence. Scripts executions are added to the config.json file. -from www.advancedinstaller.com/msix-limitations.html

@@IAmTimCorey Thanks alot. will go through..

From Microsoft? MSIX is the solution. There are third-party solutions that offer alternatives.

@@IAmTimCorey Thanks! Yes, it is Microsoft. We use Visual Studio 2022. We have a "windows service" which provides a REST API (based on Kestrel). The "windows service" will get installed on customer machine. I'm looking for the best way to provide this "installeable" package to the customer. I would like to have as less dependencies as possible. Waht would be the advantage of using 3rd party tools, like Wix Toolset? Is there any benefit?

Noted, added to the list.

@@IAmTimCorey Thank you so much sir.

@@IAmTimCorey Hey Tim thanks, can u share video link to create setup with database scenario.

It is possible to do that, yes. You can put that updates folder in a web-accessible location to distribute your updates.

@@IAmTimCorey Thank You for the clarification Tim.. Have a great day :)

This way updates the application. There isn't a way to uninstall fully and then install a new, fresh version.

@@IAmTimCorey thank you so much for your help!

The video is on my list but it isn't done yet. Not sure of a release date yet. I'll add those suggestions to the list.

@@IAmTimCorey Appreciate that. Also is there a way to allow friends, testers etc to download for free.

Noted, added to the suggested topics list, thanks.

Probably not. It is meant to install under a user's profile, and it isn't really designed for being installed on a server.

@@IAmTimCorey THANKS! are you familiar with a way to perform something similar that will able to install a WPF app on windows server machine ?

Both installers have their place. It depends on your scenario. MSIX cannot touch the GAC or registry because it wants to have a clean uninstall. The only way to do that is to be self-contained.

No you do not. The installer needs to have the ability to completely uninstall the app so it retains control over what gets installed where. It is all installed inside of a sandbox.

No, since installing a service is a PC-changing event and MSIX files want to be isolated changes that can be fully undone. MSIX is for desktop apps.

@@IAmTimCorey Hello, but what if our application is using Windows Service to run or may be create Service to accomplish any task. So is it support in MSIX package? Please reply.

The things you are asking for are mostly not something MSIX will do. The reason goes back to what MSIX represents - a sandboxed application that has very little access to the system. We bypass some of that when we use WPF applications because they get full access but accessing the GAC, modifying the registry, and other similar tasks are mostly out. The reason why is because MSIX wants to be a clean uninstall, which it can't do if it does any of those things. If you want a Wix alternative, you might look at Inno Setup to see if they have what you need ( www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php ).

@@IAmTimCorey Tim, thank you so much for your time and effort to help the .NET community. It is greatly appreciated!

If you are interested in the MSIX capabilities. techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/msix-blog/msix-packaging-tool-insider-preview-feb-2019-now-available/ba-p/357347 and also a build2019 talk on the 'install exe and files and make registry changes etc.' then make diff of changes into MSIX: mybuild.techcommunity.microsoft.com/sessions/77012 note all MSIX packages only 'install' to an isolated user environment.

It does not work for the .NET Framework. If you need to support the .NET Framework, I would suggest looking at Squirrel: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-W8Qu4qMJyh4.html

@@IAmTimCorey thanks i will definitly watch it

Possibly, but I don't believe so. You want to make sure that local databases are only used for caching, not things you want to store long-term though.

@@IAmTimCorey thanks Tim! I am quite new to c# and everything so please bear with me here. I am building a really small inventory management software as practice for a friend. I was assuming SQLite is enough for a local small database. According to your reply the local databases are for caching. So should I use service-based database even for a small application like this ? Appreciate your time

An MSIX installer does not need admin rights to install. That means your users should be able to install it without an issue (unless there is a group policy specifically stopping it). As for the follow-up, yep, that is on the list. Thanks for the suggestion.

I don't believe so. Sorry.

Squirrel not working with .net core projects

They each have their benefits and uses. I personally prefer Squirrel projects because they are simpler in some ways.

Yes it does work with .NET Core. It appears to use .NET Framework but that is just old naming that hasn't been fixed. It doesn't rely on .NET at all. You can deploy anything you want, including non-.NET projects.

Identify what the file is. There may be a limitation on size or it might be an invalid file type. The error message should give you more information.

That's not really what MSIX does. It is designed to be installed as a Windows App. Custom installation locations are more for MSI installers. MSIX installers are meant to be self-contained and easy to uninstall. That means a central installation location.

@@IAmTimCorey 👌 ok

Do what works for you! Many folks adjust the speed, nothing wrong with that. Thanks for watching!

I believe your application will be installed in AppData. To put a log directory in the folder where the application is installed, just use the relative path instead of the absolute path. Either that or you can ask the application where it is installed (it knows).

@@IAmTimCorey Thanks Tim, you are my tecnical leader on .Net Core. The app is installed in: "C:\Program Files\Windowsapp\cashReg_... " but I have no access to that directory, I have no rights on that dir, even if I'm administrator. On "AppData" only some configuration files are installed. Question: where do I have to set "relative path instead of absolute path" ? in the building phase ? while I'm configuring the package ?? Thanks in advance. How can I ask it to the application ? I don't understand your suggestion.

Yes, it can. I don't have any demos showing that off, though.

MSIX has certain system requirements: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/msix/supported-platforms I use the best tool for the job. Some jobs, that is squirrel. Others, it is MSIX. And sometimes it is another solution entirely.

@@IAmTimCorey I am having a similar issue. I'm trying to install the package in a Windows Server Datacenter Virtual Machine on Azure, but it shows me an error message indicating that doesn't recognize .appinstaller file type. Do you have any suggestions or workaround to solve this?

Yep. The reason is because it takes all of .NET Core with it so that it can be sure it will run on any machine.

No, if you are going to install a SQL Server database, you would use a different process. Probably I would recommend using a DevOps pipeline (CI/CD). I demo that in the TimCo Retail Manager series. You typically don't install a SQL database for desktop applications, though. You typically have one central database that all of the desktop applications use.

It can, yes.

You need a code signing certificate. If you have a code signing service, you might already have something like that in place.

@@IAmTimCorey Thanks Tim!

Are they marked as included with the project?

@@IAmTimCorey I figured it out. I have the images marked as Content instead of Resource.

If you are just having them install once, you could send them the msixbundle file. If you want them to have the ability to update the application, you would point them to the appinstaller file and make sure you transfer all of the files and folders to that same location. Ideally, you FTP these files to a web server that hosts your index.html page that has the link to your installer. As far as checking for updates offline, that is not possible. You need to be connected to the location where your updates are in order to get those updates.

@@IAmTimCorey Alright thank you for that answer. One more question, how about obfuscating your app? We develop business apps for internal use which often have to be obfuscated so that they cant be reverse engineered. Currently we are using Babel Obfuscator for this. Is there any way to handle obfuscation with VS?

@@drewfyre7693 great question - I'm also in the same boat. I was thinking of creating an azure secure storage solution and require users to oauth register/authorize through azure AD, then retrieve any secrets. RE: Distribution: I have put the files on our webserver (needed a web.config update), but the trick is knowing the URL of the file/folder when creating the packages and putting it in the 'output location'.

Yep, they should be able to help.

If you have your code in a repo, you have to commit your code to the repo so while five people might be working on it at the same time, you commit one at a time (even if you are all trying at the same time). After the first person commits, the people after that will need to pull down the latest changes, resolve any conflicts and then push their changes. So the changes go in one at a time, not all at once. On the publish side, if you set up your CI/CD process to automatically create and publish your code (great for development, not great for production without an approval process), the builds will be sequential. If you stack up multiple builds while the first one is running, you can have the choice of taking the last build or you can build them all in order.

@@IAmTimCorey thanks Tim! I looked into CI/CD pipelines. Microsoft advised to put the certificate in the Azure library as a secured file. So I added the certificate file extension to gitignore and uploaded it to azure library instead.

@@IAmTimCorey Btw, if you can make another video about the entire process of packaging a .Net app with MSIX and Azure CI/CD pipelines i would really appreciate it. There are not many good tutorials out there for this.

Squirrel is not dead (it almost died but was revived). As for MSIX, no it does not allow you to choose your installation location. Installers are going away from this because doing so means that uninstalling your application might leave artifacts behind.

@@IAmTimCorey In the words of Magic Max it is "mostly dead". ;) As for my question, I used the wrong word. Not installation location but deployment location or install-from location. I have spend the last 2 days implementing MSIX for one of my apps and I answered my own question: yes you can change the location after the package has been built. All thanks to your great video!

That's going to be tricky because the goal of MSIX is a sandbox environment, where nothing outside the sandbox gets changed (no registry, no dependency installation, no GAC, etc.) Your best bet would be to include the files as content files in your project.

@@IAmTimCorey Thank you for taking the time to respond. I think I forgot about that, this installer is really just like getting an app from the Microsoft Store.

I believe so but I am not certain.

Not sure why that happened. Sorry.

Unless you are packaging a UWP application, you have to have runFullTrust since that is the only way WPF or WinForms operates. Here is an article with more information: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/appconsult/a-simpler-and-faster-way-to-publish-your-desktop-bridge-applications-on-the-microsoft-store

With the installer? No. Later through your application itself? Yes, that is possible.

Only if the other PC can see the update location on the first machine. That's why we publish to servers.

I don't believe so.

@IAmTimCorey is there a better option to install for all users or do I need to use a third party application?

Yes. Here is more info on it: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/msix/desktop/managing-your-msix-deployment-update

@@IAmTimCorey Thanks!

It sounds like you have a configuration issue in Visual Studio. It should be able to do it (VS2019, right?)

Yes, VS 2019 Community

There isn't really a Chrome installer. It is just a simple web page that launches the "real" installer. You can see that by opening up the page that it creates in an editor.

@@IAmTimCorey How to create an installer which installs an application just on a single click? The chrome "real" installer doesn't have any user input but installs in the system.

That's an apples and oranges comparison, though. When you are installing a Chrome extension, you are adding on to an already-installed application (Chrome). In our case, we are installing a brand new application. There isn't a way to make that process quicker unless you changed to a different installer mechanism like Squirrel: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-W8Qu4qMJyh4.html