MSIX with Pre-requisites

Question

Hello Team,@John Vintzel&nbsp;We have MSI file which was created from Visual Studio 2017 and i am trying to convert the MSI file into MSIX.&nbsp;My MSIX packaging tool installed properly and I just want to know how to add pre-requisites in MSIX so that MSIX will automatically install if not found.&nbsp;Our application want below pre-requisites&nbsp;1..Net Framework 4.6.12.Crystal Report Runtime 32&amp; 64 Bit (13.0.24)&nbsp;One more thing that how i can change the installation path currently it save on (C:\Program Files\WindowsApp)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Thanks &amp; RegardsSakthi

tim mangan · Answer

Changes made by Microsoft to the PSF may be the best way to go. In your package include the PsfLauncher EXE and PsfRuntime DLL and config.json file. Make PsfLauncher the target of the shortcut. Configure the json file to have PsfLauncher run a script before starting the real app. The script must be in PowerShell, perform the check and install if necessary. There may be a UAC prompt. Not sure what to do with that one, though.

tanaka_jimha · Answer

FredrikDahlberg&nbsp;
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If you to use PSF scripts to install SQL server from the App Packaging project you need to:

Add PsfLauncher*.exe, PsfRunDLL*.exe, PsfRuntime*.dll, and StartingScriptWrapper.ps1 to your package
Make a config.json file.&nbsp;
Make your own .ps1 file that will install SQL&nbsp;I found a few inks that may be helpful:https://www.niallbrady.com/2018/04/25/install-sql-server-2017-powershell-script-download-it-here/https://colinsalmcorner.com/post/install-and-configure-sql-server-using-powershell-dsc
Add the script to the config.json

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If everything is right the script will start when the app starts and install SQL.
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You can also add an ending script that will shut down SQL when the app exits.
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Hope this helps.
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Tanaka

tim mangan · Answer

I see John missed this one.
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With the exception of Win7 backrev deployment, .Net 4.6.1 is guaranteed to be there.&nbsp; MSIX does have a way to indicate package dependencies, but within the MSIX tool this means manually editing the AppXManifest.
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Most of the time, I expect that an MSIX based app that needs Crystal Reports runtime available will need it available within the app MSIX container.&nbsp; So an external "native" install or even a unrelated MSIX package listed as a package dependency won't meet your needs so going this dependency route will probably not go well for you.&nbsp;
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You probably can package up Crystal Reports Runtime in an MSIX package, and then your app that depends on it as an Add-On package (Modification package in MSIX Packaging Tool parlance), except that (currently) modification packages don't get shortcuts and you need one (or more) of those. &nbsp;&nbsp;
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So if you have to put the shortcut into CRR, given these limitations today I'd just make a single package with both parts.&nbsp; It's not as bad of idea as it sounds, as you probably aren't going to change CRR on it's own and you have single instance download and storage at the block level.&nbsp; So no matter how many packages you build with the CRR in it, you still only download and store it once on the client.
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fredrikdahlberg · Answer

Tim Mangan&nbsp;Hi,&nbsp;I have a similar problem. I would like to ship an app as an .msix. This app needs to have Sql Server Localdb installed. Our current installer (made by installshield) checks if Localdb is installed, and if not installs it (after having asked the user for permission).&nbsp;Is it possible to achieve something like that with msix?

fredrikdahlberg · Answer

Tim Mangan&nbsp;Thanks for your reply Tim. I've tried to add the psf files plus a config.json to my to my "Windows Application Packaging Project", but I'm not really sure how to continue from here. Is there any example of this that you can direct me to?Also a beginner when it comes to Powershell scripting. Do you know of any good resource for checking and installing an app from powershell.&nbsp;

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MSIX with Pre-requisites