Forum Discussion
Machine-wide Package Provisioning (Install for All Users)
Thanks for the reply. I wasn't aware of the API, but if I understand the documentation correctly the only way to achieve the 'double-click to install' that we get with MSI is to create a bootstrapper application that has the MSIX package embedded in it (like a setup.exe does with MSI package). That would imply needing to build out the UI experience and handling of install progress etc (assuming the API supports that). While it may be technically possible, it's not the type of software we'd want to spend our time building out and maintaining.
This seems like the type of thing a 3rd party vendor like Advanced Installer, or Flexara should be tackling rather than an independent ISV. Even better would be to have built-in support for it as I suggested above.
Is it worth me adding an entry into the ideas area of the MSIX Tech Community for future consideration? Or is there a technical/business reason that it's not made it into the queue? Seems like a fairly common thing for an ISV to install an app for all users - I'm surprised it isn't easily supported.
Nels.
Microsoftnanvik
I would always recommend creating a feature improvement idea and putting it out to the MSIX Tech Community for their input. I have created a backlog item to provide the User / IT Pro with the option to selectively install an MSIX app for current / all users when double-clicking on the MSIX app installer.
Thanks! I've submitted a suggestion to the community as well. In addition to optionally allowing it for the end user / IT Pro to enable, I think it's also important to allow the vendor to flag the package at development time so that the end user doesn't have to be forced with making the decision, or worse, making it incorrectly and having to remove/re-add the package to get it as they expect it.
Would love to see this move forward. MSIX is a big step forward from MSI, but without this, I just can't see it taking over MSI for independent software vendors who license their software based on machine rather than a Microsoft account.
Nels.