Forum Discussion
Create MSIX Package in Release Pipeline!
Hi s_salaria
The AppxManifest.xml should be in the root of the directory you are packaging. So you need to either move it to the BRMS_Packaging_MSIX\Shell\ directory or point the task to the BRMS_Packaging_MSIX\ directory. (Which probably means that the task doesn't actually need to ask for the path to the manifest, or that if it does it should be using it even if it's not at the root.)
In your manifest file I noticed that there is a reference to a Shell\*.exe file and several Images\*.png files. These files must exist relative to the input directory, so you will want the directory you pass to the task to look something like this:
\ AppxManifest.xml Shell\ BRMSv2.exe ... Images\ StoreLogo.png ...
MicrosoftHi s_salaria ,
How do specify the env specific configurations for your packages? E.g. whether you modify the manifests, or add a flag when compiling, or something else. Knowing that could help us find a way to do what you need.
If you use the MSIXPackaging task, you will want to point either
- To the .sln file and .appxmanifest in your sources directory $(Build.SourcesDirectory), to compile into DLLs/EXEs and then create an MSIX (so you skip the VSBuild step); or
- To a directory with your already compiled DLLs/EXEs and an AppxManifest.xml, to create the MSIX from that without compiling. This could be in your $(Build.BinariesDirectory) if you pointed the VSBuild step to place the files there.
I know that doesn't answer your question, but hopefully helps to move in the right direction.
Hi Chacon,
Just to add on more about env specific config , I'm using multiple app.config files with env text in their names e.g app.dev.config. I have added one propertygroup in project's .csproj file. Attached is the screenshot for your reference.
By using above approach I'm able to create env specific MSIX in build pipeline(e.g Dev or UAT). What I'm not understanding that how I can proceed further to use that MSIX to point QA configs then later to Prod configs in release pipeline.
- Chacon
Hi s_salaria,
I believe the app.config file is only copied by the build process to a path similar to <output>.dll.config. In that case, you can have your build pipeline publish the multiple app.config files for each environment, then in the release pipeline copy the appropriate file to the right location before creating the MSIX.
This wouldn't apply if the build process modifies or uses the app.config file in any way (which is not the case AFAIK), because then you would have to set which one to use at build time.
Hi Chacon,
Thank you for your response. How I can create MSIX package in release pipeline because task "MSIX build and package" look for .sln which is not present in Artifacts(build output). Artifact contains build output(dlls and config file) or msix package(if I include packaging information in vsbuild arguments).
Is there a way to create MSIX in release pipeline?
- ChaconIn the "MSIX build and package" task, un-select the option "Build solution with MSBuild". Then instead of pointing it to the .sln you will have to point it to the directory containing the contents of the package (like dlls, config and assets) which you already built.
This directory also needs to have an AppxManifest.xml. You could create this by hand, but I believe the VSBuild task should already be creating it for you from the Package.appxmanifest file.