Forum Discussion
MSIX installed application on Windows 10 cannot access host machine graphics
Hello All, I am developing a Microsoft Application that is installed with a MSIX installer. The structure of the application is a *.exe application that is identified as the primary application (...
The MSIX packaging format is designed to provide a containerized and secure environment for applications, and this might affect how your application interacts with the host system, especially when it comes to graphics access. Here are some suggestions:
Graphics Capabilities in MSIX:
MSIX packages are designed to be self-contained and isolated from the system to enhance security and portability. However, this isolation might limit certain interactions, especially when it comes to low-level system components like graphics drivers.
Dependency on OpenGL:
If your application relies on OpenGL and the error suggests that it is not installed, it's worth exploring whether your MSIX package includes the necessary OpenGL components. You might need to ensure that the required libraries are included in your package.
-Separate MSIX Packages:
You've mentioned that separating the runtime component into its own MSIX package works. While this might not be your ideal solution, it could be a viable workaround. You can consider using the MSIX package dependencies feature to manage the relationship between the two packages.
-Check Graphics Driver Dependencies:
Ensure that the host machine has the necessary graphics drivers installed. Sometimes, issues with graphics access can be related to missing or outdated drivers.
Registry Entries and Permissions:
Verify that the registry entries you are using to establish connections between components are set up correctly and that the necessary permissions are granted.
-Check App Capabilities:
Ensure that your MSIX package declares the necessary capabilities in the manifest. For graphics-related capabilities, you might need to declare access to certain resources.
-Logging and Diagnostics:
Implement logging and diagnostics in your application to get more detailed information about what might be causing the OpenGL error. This can help you pinpoint the issue more precisely.
-Engage with Microsoft Support:
If you've exhausted all options and are still facing difficulties, consider engaging with Microsoft Support. They can provide more detailed assistance based on the specifics of your application and its requirements.
Community Forums:
Check Microsoft community forums or developer forums for MSIX-related discussions. Other developers might have faced similar issues and could provide solutions. Always ensure that you are using the latest version of the MSIX packaging tools and platform.
Graphics Capabilities in MSIX:
MSIX packages are designed to be self-contained and isolated from the system to enhance security and portability. However, this isolation might limit certain interactions, especially when it comes to low-level system components like graphics drivers.
Dependency on OpenGL:
If your application relies on OpenGL and the error suggests that it is not installed, it's worth exploring whether your MSIX package includes the necessary OpenGL components. You might need to ensure that the required libraries are included in your package.
-Separate MSIX Packages:
You've mentioned that separating the runtime component into its own MSIX package works. While this might not be your ideal solution, it could be a viable workaround. You can consider using the MSIX package dependencies feature to manage the relationship between the two packages.
-Check Graphics Driver Dependencies:
Ensure that the host machine has the necessary graphics drivers installed. Sometimes, issues with graphics access can be related to missing or outdated drivers.
Registry Entries and Permissions:
Verify that the registry entries you are using to establish connections between components are set up correctly and that the necessary permissions are granted.
-Check App Capabilities:
Ensure that your MSIX package declares the necessary capabilities in the manifest. For graphics-related capabilities, you might need to declare access to certain resources.
-Logging and Diagnostics:
Implement logging and diagnostics in your application to get more detailed information about what might be causing the OpenGL error. This can help you pinpoint the issue more precisely.
-Engage with Microsoft Support:
If you've exhausted all options and are still facing difficulties, consider engaging with Microsoft Support. They can provide more detailed assistance based on the specifics of your application and its requirements.
Community Forums:
Check Microsoft community forums or developer forums for MSIX-related discussions. Other developers might have faced similar issues and could provide solutions. Always ensure that you are using the latest version of the MSIX packaging tools and platform.
@Eyad, is there an example of best practice to include the OpenGL library in a MSIX package structure?
farmerphd
Without seeing the Process Monitor trace myself, I can only give you an educated guess. Traditional applications have multiple ways to help find the dlls that they need, and this can get messed up in MSIX.If in the procmon trace you notice the app trying to open the opengl dll(s) from different locations but ultimately failing, there are actions that you can take.
- Treat the OpenGL libraries as an external dependency. This is probably not desirable.
- Include them inside the package but make sure they can be found. There are several different ways to do this, and all are effective:
- If all dlls are the same "bitness" (architecture), then placing them in the root folder of the package will solve the issue.
- They may also be placed in the VFS\SystemX86 and VFS\SystemX64 folders of the package and this would also solve the issue. This is needed when the app has the same dll name in different bitnesses for different exes, but even if not, as long as you put it in the right system virtual folder it works.
- There is an extension for the AppXManifest called uap6:LoaderSearchPathOverride that can list additional directories in your package that dlls live in.
- The PSF has a solution (DynamicLibraryFixup) as well, but you probably don't want to go there.
- Thank you for your reply TIMOTHY_MANGAN. This is really helpful. Best case, I will add the .dlls to the root folder. First, I'll add the uap6:LoaderSearchPathOverride to the AppXManifest and check for all dlls.
Thanks again.Are there any examples of include opengl dlls in a MSIX package? I only added the opengl32.dll to the SystemX64 and X86 folders. It still shows 'not installed'. There are libraries to include but not sure which one is needed. My app is a X64 application.
