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THillebrand's avatar
THillebrand
Copper Contributor
Oct 09, 2019

Update process not started lauching the program by shortcut or taskbar-item

Hi @all!

We had developed a client program, deploying it by msix (wapproj with VS2019 (16.3.1), build by AzureDevOps/TFS 2017 with MakeAppx.exe). The update-settings in the appinstaller-file are set to automatic update:

 

<OnLaunch HoursBetweenUpdateChecks="0" ShowPrompt="true" UpdateBlocksActivation="true"/>

 

Installing works fine. But if an update is required, the msix update window-prompt only appears after  the program was launched by the start-menue. Launching the program by a manuell created shortcut - or taskbar item - does not trigger the update and the program starts without it, running the old version. 

 

The shortcut entries seems to be ok, calling the:

explorer.exe shell:AppsFolder\8bbf065c-eac1-4fca-a02e-6753c5308256_ke2zapfkqzqsw!App

But execute the shell manually the update does not appear, also.

 

Within the program I set up the Windows.Management.Deployment.PackageManager. After starting by shortcut an the update does not appear the old version of our program tells  "PackageUpdateAvailability.Required".

 

Have you got an idea how I can set up desktop-shortcuts and taskbar-items which are able to start the update before starting the (new) program? Is this  maybe a windows or msix bug? And how can I create a desktop-shortcut by the definition of msix?

 

Btw., the program was installed on a PC with Windows 10, Version 1903 (Build 18362.356).

 

The complete appinstaller-File: 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<AppInstaller Uri="UriForAppInstallerFileChangedForPrivacyReasons/PremiumDrive.package.appinstaller"
Version="1.0.0.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/appinstaller/2018">
<MainBundle Name="8bbf065c-eac1-4fca-a02e-6753c5308256" Version="1.0.0.0"
Publisher="CN=Stieger Software AG, O=Stieger Software AG, POBox=9422, STREET=Hauptstrasse 71, L=Staad, S=SANKT GALLEN, PostalCode=9422, C=CH"
Uri="UriForAppInstallerFileChangedForPrivacyReasons/PremiumDrive.package_1.0.0.0/PremiumDrive.package_1.0.0.0.msixbundle" />
<UpdateSettings>
<OnLaunch HoursBetweenUpdateChecks="0" ShowPrompt="true" UpdateBlocksActivation="true"/>
</UpdateSettings>
</AppInstaller>

  • Tanaka_Jimha's avatar
    Tanaka_Jimha
    Oct 16, 2019

    THillebrand 


    After following up with our team, it turns out current implementation does not trigger the update from taskbar and desktop shortcuts by design. The reasoning was that many of those types of app launches are for completing a task so they were trying to reduce friction for the user. Updates were limited to launches from the Start menu or live tiles.

    We've added your ask as a feature request for upcoming releases. 

  • Tanaka_Jimha's avatar
    Tanaka_Jimha
    Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
    Oct 16, 2019

    THillebrand 


    After following up with our team, it turns out current implementation does not trigger the update from taskbar and desktop shortcuts by design. The reasoning was that many of those types of app launches are for completing a task so they were trying to reduce friction for the user. Updates were limited to launches from the Start menu or live tiles.

    We've added your ask as a feature request for upcoming releases. 

    • ChreesM's avatar
      ChreesM
      Brass Contributor
      Oct 28, 2019

      Tanaka_Jimha- A user should not be able to bypass the auto update process in an Enterprise LOB application. The majority of the MSIX options appear to support this point of view - We have features to support preventing a user from being able to continue with starting the application if there is an update available. It could be that the last release is creating bad data in the database, so you need to get out a hotfix. If they are launching from the desktop or they have pinned to the taskbar, they will bypass all of the controls.

       

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