Microsoft has released a new update for its Project Centennial tool, Desktop App Converter (DAC) in the Windows Store. The latest update fetches a lot of new features which are particularly helpful for developers building apps targeted at PCs running the Windows 10 Creators Update (Build 15063).
This means if your desktop or Win32 app makes use of the new Desktop Bridge features now supported in the Windows 10 Creator’s update, the DAC will automatically register these features in your converted app package.
Some of the new app-package features include:
- Preview Handlers
- Thumbnail Handlers
- Property Handlers
- Grouping files by their kind
- Public out-of-proc COM server support
- Firewall Rules and Use URL flags.
In addition, the DAC still produces a converted app package compatible with older versions of Windows. The added functionality will only show up when your converted app is running on the Creator’s Update (Build 15063) and later builds.
Here’s what is new in DAC v2.0.2.0
- Public out-of-proc server registration (Packaged COM) – In the Windows 10 Creator’s Update Desktop Bridge apps can now expose their COM extension points to external applications. When running the Desktop App Converter you can use the new -PublishCOMRegistrations flag to publish the public COM servers in your converted app package.
- Cleanup bug fix
- No-Installer conversion – If your app is installed using xcopy or you’re familiar with the changes your app’s installer makes to the system, you can run conversion without an installer by setting the -Installer parameter to the root directory of your app files. The -AppExecutable parameter is required in this case.
The Desktop App Converter tool enables developers to bring their existing desktop apps written for .NET 4.6.1 or Win32 to the Universal Windows Platform (UWP). This way, apps published to Windows Store can take full advantage of numerous Windows 10 APIs and unlock a number of functionalities like Live tiles, Cortana integration, actionable notifications and more. Some examples include Evernote, Telegram Desktop etc.
Download the latest Windows 10 Base Images (.WIM) for use with the Desktop App Converter.
