Getting error APPX0101 during execution of msbuild

Question

Hi all,

First time I've used Windows 8 and Visual Studio 12 so I'm probably missing something obvious.  I'm trying to compile a package using msbuild on the sample test apps and I'm getting the following error:

_GenerateAppxPackageFile:
  FilePicker -> C:\Users\glenh\dev\Windows 8 Release Preview Metro style app samples - C#, VB.NET, C++, JavaScript\Acce
  ss and save files using the file picker sample\C#\AppPackages\FilePicker_1.0.0.0_AnyCPU_Debug_Test\FilePicker_1.0.0.0
  _AnyCPU_Debug.appx
_GenerateAppxSymbolPackage:
  C:\Program Files\MSBuild\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v11.0\AppxPackage\PDBCopy.exe "C:\Users\glenh\dev\Windows 8 Release P
  review Metro style app samples - C#, VB.NET, C++, JavaScript\Access and save files using the file picker sample\C#\bi
  n\Debug\FilePicker.pdb" obj\Debug\Stripped\FilePicker.pdb -p
  Adding file 'FilePicker.pdb'.
  FilePicker -> C:\Users\glenh\dev\Windows 8 Release Preview Metro style app samples - C#, VB.NET, C++, JavaScript\Acce
  ss and save files using the file picker sample\C#\AppPackages\FilePicker_1.0.0.0_AnyCPU_Debug_Test\FilePicker_1.0.0.0
  _AnyCPU_Debug.appxsym
C:\Program Files\MSBuild\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v11.0\AppxPackage\Microsoft.AppXPackage.Targets(1103,9): error APPX0101
: A signing key is required in order to package this project. Please specify a PackageCertificateKeyFile or PackageCert
ificateThumbprint value in the project file. [C:\Users\glenh\dev\Windows 8 Release Preview Metro style app samples - C#
, VB.NET, C++, JavaScript\Access and save files using the file picker sample\C#\FilePicker.csproj]
Done Building Project "C:\Users\glenh\dev\Windows 8 Release Preview Metro style app samples - C#, VB.NET, C++, JavaScri
pt\Access and save files using the file picker sample\C#\FilePicker.csproj" (default targets) -- FAILED.

Done Building Project "C:\Users\glenh\dev\Windows 8 Release Preview Metro style app samples - C#, VB.NET, C++, JavaScri
pt\Access and save files using the file picker sample\C#\FilePicker.sln" (default targets) -- FAILED.

Build FAILED.

"C:\Users\glenh\dev\Windows 8 Release Preview Metro style app samples - C#, VB.NET, C++, JavaScript\Access and save fil
es using the file picker sample\C#\FilePicker.sln" (default target) (1) ->
"C:\Users\glenh\dev\Windows 8 Release Preview Metro style app samples - C#, VB.NET, C++, JavaScript\Access and save fil
es using the file picker sample\C#\FilePicker.csproj" (default target) (2) ->
(_SignAppxPackage target) ->
  C:\Program Files\MSBuild\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v11.0\AppxPackage\Microsoft.AppXPackage.Targets(1103,9): error APPX01
01: A signing key is required in order to package this project. Please specify a PackageCertificateKeyFile or PackageCe
rtificateThumbprint value in the project file. [C:\Users\glenh\dev\Windows 8 Release Preview Metro style app samples -
C#, VB.NET, C++, JavaScript\Access and save files using the file picker sample\C#\FilePicker.csproj]

    0 Warning(s)
    1 Error(s)

I tried assigned a test certificate (through VS) to the manifest but that didn't make any difference.  I have no problem building and deploying the sample app through VS though.  I tried googling the error code as well as looking at the microsoft forums but I didn't find anything.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Glen

Answer 1

Hi Glen,

Thank you for your post.
 
Based on this case relate to Metro style apps, I will move it to Tools for Metro style apps forum for better support.
 
Thank you for your understanding and support.

Best regards,

---

Ego [MSFT]
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 2

Hi Glen,

I tried building with the same sample above and I can repro the issue.  I double clicked on the Package.appxmanifest and selected the packaging, choose certificate, Configure certificate, Create test certificate, etc... I think you mentioned that you did that, but did you save the project and solution after making that change in the IDE?  To make sure, could you right click on the project in solution explorer, select "unload project", right click again and select "edit filepicker.csproj, look for the following xml tags:

<PackageCertificateThumbprint><some thumbprint></PackageCertificateThumbprint>
<PackageCertificateKeyFile>FilePicker_TemporaryKey.pfx</PackageCertificateKeyFile>

msbuild filepicker.sln /p:platform="Any CPU";configuration=debug

...

Build succeeded.
    0 Warning(s)
    0 Error(s)

D:\\samples\Access and save files using the file picker sample\C#>msbuild
filepicker.sln /p:platform="Any CPU";configuration=debug

could you check for the xml elements above?

thanks!

mike

Answer 3

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the response.  I followed your instructions and it works now.  Thanks.

Glen