Is it possible to develop a Windows 8 application which can be used as a ClickOnce application - that is, a user will just hit a URL, then the Windows 8 application will get downloaded, installed and then will start running. I don't want the application to be a Windows Store application. The application will have some simple functionality for internal company usage.
It depends on the version of Windows 8 you are talking about. You can't run a ClickOnce app on Windows 8 RT. You can run it on Windows 8. You need to be aware of the issue with the Smart Screen Filter. You have to sign the executable now, which you can do with a pre-publish or post-build directive. If you do not have a signing certificate from a CA, you will have to educate your users to click "more info" when the installation is interrupted by the Smart Screen Filter. For VSTO applications, you must have a valid certificate; it won't work at all on Windows 8 if it is not signed, or is signed with a self-created certificate.
This is explained initially in this article and clarified more in this article.
Related
Our application does the following operations. When a user registers on a portal, the application does the following
Installs certificates to Local Machine store. Installation of the certificates is done by a Windows Communication Service (WCF)
Creates a VPN profile (using Windows.Networking.Vpn APIs)
We need to ship this app to end user which consists of an UWP App, and a Windows Communication Service. We would like the user to install this app with as few clicks as possible and the result should be that user should have UWP app installed as well as the WCF Service installed and running on his/her system. We are looking for guidance relating to the best option to distribute this app to end-users? We are open to distributing this app through Windows store or by sideloading.
Please provide your guidance after taking into consideration all the below scenarios
Update/Upgrade of UWP-Application or WCF-Service.
Uninstall scenario.
How can we distribute this application for Windows 7. (Note: We use XAML Islands to make UWP App running inside WPF)
Thank you
Sujay
I have a Windows Phone individual developer account and need to do a beta testing internally. I used Appaloosa and HockeyApp for this purpose. But, when I try to download the app and install it on my Windows Phone, it shows a message "Can't install company app" on both Appaloosa and HockeyApp.
I heard that one needs to have a Symantec certificate and an .aetx file in order to install Windows Phone app which costs $299.00.
I need to know if there is any other option so that I can install my developed app freely on some Windows Phone devices which are intended for testing. I might need to email my .xap file to the testers and let them download and install for testing purpose.
You can install your developed app on some Windows Phone devices from Windows Store. If you have development account, you can publish your app with limited access. You will get link on your app. Your app will access only for people, who have this link. Another people will not find your app in Windows Store.
Short question:
Does the Windows Store allow applications that obtain DLLs or other low-level resources not packaged at compile time? Is there a requirement either by Windows Phone or Microsoft that requires DLLs to be signed? If so, can I use a DLL in my application that is signed by another developer?
Why I'm asking/explanation:
I'm working an an application for Android that allows users to download extensions (like themes), and I'd like to port this to Windows Phone.
I have determined that it's not possible for my app to utilize libraries or other resources of other applications downloaded from the Windows Store. (Please correct me if this is not always the case)
The workaround I'm considering is an in-app download center for other resources specific to this application. I'm wondering if a downloads for this app, specifically DLLs, can be used in my application. These DLLs would be developed by 3rd party developers, so I see that signing might be an issue.
The store specifically prohibits any additions / modifications after the app has been purchased. So although it may technically be possible, they won't certify it.
This makes sense if you think about certification . If they would allow this, it would make certification a moot point, since you would just publish a basic app, and afterwards side-load the uncertified part.
Local services are not available to Windows 8 apps. If I enable Loop Back, then I can access local services, but my Windows 8 app will not be allowed in the Store. If I do not care about the Store (for a line of business app) how do I use Loop Back?
This document tells you how; however, it also includes the following note:
Warning Loopback is only permitted for development purposes. Usage by
apps installed outside of Visual Studio is not permitted.
I read that as even sideloaded apps are not permitted to do so; though, I'm not sure how that could be enforced.
Is their any sites available to download windows 8 metro apps for offline installation. Alternative to windows store.Because i don't have internet connection in home.
Please tell me any sites ?
You have to be connected to install Windows 8 Store apps. You cannot sideload an app that has been downloaded from the Windows Store.
Alternatively, you can get your app directly from the developer without involving the Store, in which case, installation can be offline. Apps that aren't signed by Windows Store can only be installed on sideloading-enabled devices.
Actually you can install Windows apps offline, I did it by capturing the URL windows store referring to, it was a file with .appx or .appxbundle extension. However, the URL contained some security information referring to the Windows Store session and user id. It means you cannot multi-part-download it or resume it if disconnected, very disappointing in case of games with 2 Gb or more data. After that, I installed these packages with PowerShell command
Add-AppxPackage [Disk:\File Location\File name.appx]
without brackets. It installed and worked correctly.
Waiting for a dedicated side-software (Like Cydia or smith.) that does it in one-click.
It is only a few days for Windows app store to be live and unfortunately in your case, NO option to it for now.