MSIX VFS AppData - Notepad++ disable autoupdate issues

MSIX: Notepad++ Auto-Update Issue

Notepad++ usually controls its auto-update setting through a config.xml file in the VFS\AppData\Notepad++ folder.

Even if you set it to disable auto-updates, this setting might not work in an MSIX container, especially when using the MSIX Packaging Tool.

When using a tool like Process Monitor, we see that:

• Notepad++ can't find the config.xml file in an MSIX container.
• As a result, it creates a new file with default values, which includes enabling auto-updates.

PSF (Package Support Framework) as a Solution

To fix this, we need to use the Package Support Framework (PSF). It involves adding a piece called FileRedirectionFixup to the package.

This makes sure that Notepad++ can see and use its config file properly.

The config.json should look like the following:

{
  "enableReportError": true,
  "applications": [
    {
      "id": "PSFLAUNCHEROne",
      "executable": "VFS\\ProgramFilesX64\\Notepad++\\notepad++.exe",
      "arguments": "",
      "workingDirectory": ""
    }
  ],
  "processes": [
    {
      "executable": "^PsfLauncher.*"
    },
    {
      "executable": "^[Pp]ower[Ss]hell.*"
    },
    {
      "executable": ".*",
      "fixups": [
        {
          "dll": "FileRedirectionFixup.dll",
          "config": {
            "redirectedPaths": {
              "packageRelative": [
                {
                  "base": "",
                  "patterns": [
                    ".*\\.[eE][xX][eE]$",
                    ".*\\.[dD][lL][lL]$",
                    ".*\\.[tT][lL][bB]$",
                    ".*\\.[oO][cC][xX]$",
                    ".*\\.[cC][oO][mM]$",
                    ".*\\.[fF][oO][nN]$",
                    ".*\\.[tT][tT][cC]$",
                    ".*\\.[tT][tT][fF]$",
                    ".*\\.[zZ][iI][pP].*"
                  ],
                  "isExclusion": true
                },
                {
                  "base": "VFS\\FONTS",
                  "patterns": [
                    ".*"
                  ],
                  "isExclusion": true
                },
                {
                  "base": "",
                  "patterns": [
                    ".*"
                  ]
                }
              ],
              "packageDriveRelative": [],
              "knownFolders": [
                {
                  "id": "RoamingAppData",
                  "relativePaths": [
                    {
                      "base": "",
                      "patterns": [
                        ".*"
                      ]
                    }
                  ]
                },
                {
                  "id": "ProgramFilesX64",
                  "relativePaths": [
                    {
                      "base": "",
                      "patterns": [
                        ".*"
                      ]
                    }
                  ]
                }
              ]
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Now, If we install the MSIX package and run Process Monitor, we can see that the file operations for config.xml are now redirected to LocalCache\Local\Microsoft\WritablePackageRoot folder.

Streamlining with Advanced Installer

Having a tool like Advanced Installer you don’t need to worry too much – it is all catered for you in the background.

Even if you use the package created with MSIX Packaging Tool, it is enough to open that in Advanced Installer and save it.

How does it work?

• If we install the MSIX file created with Advanced Installer and run the application, we can see that the auto-update is disabled.
• Advanced Installer automatically evaluates the resources from each MSIX package and injects file or folder redirections for the resources included in the package.
• This increases the percentage of successful conversions to MSIX considerably.

Conclusion

In summary, managing Notepad++ auto-update settings within an MSIX packaged environment can present unique challenges, primarily due to the way MSIX handles user data and application files. However, with the right tools and understanding, these challenges can be effectively overcome.

With Package Support Framework (PSF), specifically the FileRedirectionFixup, we can ensure that Notepad++ accesses its configuration files correctly, maintaining the desired settings.

Furthermore, tools like Advanced Installer streamline the process, making it more accessible and less technical for users.

Overall, while MSIX may introduce new complexities in application management, the solutions and tools available demonstrate that these challenges are not insurmountable. With continued innovation and community collaboration, MSIX continues to evolve as a robust and reliable packaging format for modern software deployment.