MSIX Packaging Tool Update

[BrandonWilson]

First published on TECHNET on Apr 23, 2019
Today we want to introduce a new member on the board. The MSIX Packaging Tool April Release is there for you to use. If you want to doublecheck - it is the version 1.2019.402.0 .

Before we start our quick overview, we like to provide you with the link to the release notes: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/msix/packaging-tool/release-notes/history

Now let's start with a quick overview what changed:

• Remote Desktop packaging
  
  There is one more option how to create the MSIX package. In addition to create the package locally and within a local Hyper-V based virtual machine you now can remotely connect to any machine reachable. So, all of you not using Hyper-V locally or relying on 3rd party virtualization platforms, now share the same comfort workflow during package creation.
  

  

• Improved wizard workflow 
  • Automatic version increment
    After you edited you MSIX package in the package editor a new dialog is added to the save procedure.
    

    

    
    This little box would have saved myself quite some minutes. Another needed optimization is the ability to use the dot "." , to proceed within the version fields while you type in the package version. As always - sometimes the little things are the greatest.
  
  
  • Disabled Windows Update
    Disabling of Windows Update is now mandatory and done automatically during the wizard

• Package Editor changes
  
  You now have the ability to import complete folders (-structures) and their contents into the Package Editor, not just files.
  

  

  
  Furthermore empty folders are not dropped any more.

• Package time stamp
  
  A time stamp extends the validity of a certificate by verifying that the executable file was signed at the time that it was time stamped.
  
  During the "Create new package" workflow, you can now specify a custom Time Stamp Server URL, to ensure the MSIX package can be installed, even after the used signing certificate has expired. (it can be found in the settings menu)
  

  

• Quick Create Hyper-V template
  
  The Quick create template just got updated to the April version of the packaging tool.

Just a refresher - here is how you can find out the current version of the MSIX Packaging Tool:

1. Open Settings-Menu
   
   

                 2. Click Advanced

That's all for today - stay tuned and keep an eye on the further posts in our series about Package Support Framework



Thanks for reading!



Ingmar Oosterhoff, Johannes Freundorfer and Matthias Herfurth