Adding non referenced dll's so they are deployed to the AppX directory after running the simulator

Question

Hi,

My Windows store application is mainly driven by html5/javascript with a WINMD library. Some of the dll's required to run the WINMD library aren't referenced. How can these dll's be copied to the AppX directory when I run the application within visual studios.

Thanks

Martin.

PS. I've tried the following but the AppX directory is cleared when I run the simulator and just the referenced files are deployed

  <Target Name="AfterBuild">
    <!-- Copy non-referenced assemblies -->
    <Copy SourceFiles="@(NonReferencedAssemblies)" DestinationFolder="$(TargetDir)\AppX" SkipUnchangedFiles="false" />
  </Target>

Answer 1

Add the files to the project, open the files' properties in the Solution Explorer window, and mark them as content to be included in the app package.

Answer 2

If I add the dll as content, it is only copied to the debug directory not to the AppX directory

Answer 3

That shouldn't happen. It sounds like they aren't being properly added. I just confirmed that adding a DLL to the project, setting its Build Action to Content (this was the default), and deploying the project did copy the DLL to the Appx. This is a C# Blank app (Windows) in Visual Studio 2013:

Can you walk through your steps? Can you share a minimal project which demonstrates the problem on your OneDrive?

Answer 4

I just reread your initial post and realized you're using an HTML app not a .Net app. I'll move this to the right forum for you.

It's also not clear why you are using a winmd but not referencing it? That would act differently as well. Just referencing the winmd should pull in everything needed for a basic winmd. If you have something complicated (such as a native component) you may need to create an SDK as described at Creating a Software Development Kit

Can you explain clearly the steps you're using and share a minimal project?