<![CDATA[Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there]]>TL;NR
It’s almost done, but it has been blocked - we need Microsoft (or UWP expert) support so we have a stable way to build UWP package for each release.

I have managed to have a Notepad++ UWP package and have tested it in July 2017. However more work needed to be done in order to adapt Notepad++ to UWP package’s nature.
In end of Auguest 2017, the adaptation has been finished so I released 7.5.1 for the desktop firstly. Afterward I’ve tried to build Notepad++ UWP package with the same command for Windows Store: surprise - the build failed with the following error:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>DesktopAppConverter.exe -Installer C:\sources\notepad-plus-plus\PowerEditor\installer\build\npp.7.5.1.Installer.x64.exe -InstallerArguments /noUpdater -Destination C:\tmp -PackageName "Npp" -Publisher "CN=notepad-plus-plus.com" -Version 7.5.1.0 -MakeAppx
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppConverter_2.0.2.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\DesktopAppConverter.ps1 :
DesktopAppConverter : error 'E_STARTING_ISOLATED_ENV_FAILED': Failed to start the isolated environment. See inner
exception for more details.
At line:1 char:1
+ &'C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppConverter_2.0.2.0_ ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [Write-Error], WriteErrorException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.WriteErrorException,DesktopAppConverter.ps1

Output Paths:

Name                           Value
----                           -----
CertPath
PackageFilesPath
PackagePath
LogFilesPath                   C:\tmp\Npp\logs

Here is the log: https://notepad-plus-plus.org/temp/DesktopAppConverter (1).log

Then I try on the 2 others PC with another application that I have managed to build - same result.

The different results on same configuration with the same installers to build makes me deduct the conclusion: the source of problem comes from Windows Update.

Please let me know if anyone has any idea for why and how ( my email is don.h@free.fr ).

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/topic/14734/notepad-uwp-package-in-windows-store-almost-thereRSS for NodeMon, 18 May 2026 02:52:35 GMTFri, 03 Nov 2017 18:31:55 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Tue, 27 Nov 2018 12:53:15 GMT]]>I like the title of this related Notepad++ issue…a lot !

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/36837https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/36837Tue, 27 Nov 2018 12:53:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 19:51:48 GMT]]>Thanks @chcg - at some point here I will get a PR in to atleast see if he will take the dynamic config values to remove run… although signing verification will still be a PITA unless he can also build and sign versions with that set. This is one of those things where colaberation would be great.

In an ideal state… https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus would get another repo, with all the packaging components - embedded plugins, Lang files, config files ect. You could then have a separate appveyor config to build the upstream with the right flag, sign, and package. Thats a little more work than just a PR unfortunately - but once setup - like my repo there is very little overhead.

@Scott-Sumner said:
open source is open source

Yep… and I think thats why MS let it stay in the store. That and this thread where I am totally willing to let Don manage it if he wants - if not - well its a legit clone under GPL. Note a fake… not a different product… a fork yes, but its still notepad++ just avalible to the masses. Lets also not forget this is out there:

https://twitter.com/Notepad_plus/status/992934011533254656
https://snapcraft.io/notepad-plus-plus

This is not the only instance where someone other than Don is maintaining a packaged version of the in a main stream store.

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35705https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35705Wed, 24 Oct 2018 19:51:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 18:15:30 GMT]]>So AFAIK when changes are made to Notepad++ they are done in the form of a PR. If @donho chooses to accept the PR then it is so done, otherwise it is not done (obviously). So the proper way to have gone about this would have been to prepare a PR, say “hey, Don, here’s a PR for the Windows Store” (hint: all the work is done for you, you just have to adopt it by accepting this PR), and wait and see what happens with it. If it gets accepted, Great. If not, you have to swallow that and move on.

@chcg, I’m kind of surprised at your stance on this. The fact that Don worked on this in the past isn’t all that relevant. For all we know he hit something he didn’t like and decided not to move forward with it. His project, his prerogative. It’s nice when he shares his reasoning with us, but he’s under no obligation to do so.

And sure, open source is open source. Do what you like with it. But I personally have a problem with what was done, because it inserts something that appears (to the masses) to be Notepad++ into a major distribution channel. And regardless of how little was changed, it is not Notepad++.

I’m surprised Don didn’t work harder to get the fork taken down from the Store or at least significantly renamed. But…again because we are in the dark…maybe he did and was unsuccessful. I’m sure the people at Microsoft weren’t in a big hurry to side with him.

I really don’t have much more to say about it–for which I’m sure some people are glad. :-)

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35704https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35704Wed, 24 Oct 2018 18:15:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:44:12 GMT]]>As donho seems no to be actively working at that task (also he did in the past) i think it is ok to have a guy who takes that place in the meantime until donho makes a clear statement if the current state is ok and official or he would like to take care on it.

Seems the necessary changes for the store could be made configurable (build parameters of dynamic config values) and added as PR to the upstream project

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35703https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35703Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:44:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:24:19 GMT]]>@Scott-Sumner 163,334 Installs and 15000-18000 daily active user sessions would imply they should reconsider that…

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35702https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35702Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:24:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:19:34 GMT]]>@jakevis

I still believe the “team” doesn’t want the product on the Store, for whatever the reason. That should be the end of it.

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35700https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35700Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:19:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:09:08 GMT]]>@Scott-Sumner … if you say so. Its 5 lines; and 3 of those are me pointing to my own signing certificate instead of the original. This is the only other change (the remaining 2 lines)…

Changes

If upstream would like to remove that cmd run dialog, Notepad++ would be fully compliant with store policies, and no code changes would be required at all.

As always, if someone from the core team would like to publish an official version of Notepad++ to the windows store (so users of Win 10S, or under app control enforcement) are still able to use this great tool - I will fully support them in doing so, and move my deployment over to them (or I will also transfer my repo if you prefer to keep it as a different branch).

If users run into a bug on the store version… chances are its a bug on the native version as well. There is no differences there.

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35699https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35699Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:09:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 12:10:31 GMT]]>@jakevis said:

Only minor modifications have been made to the code

That is what makes it a different product.

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35670https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35670Wed, 24 Oct 2018 12:10:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Tue, 23 Oct 2018 22:02:17 GMT]]>@Scott-Sumner Just to be clear… this version is “as real” as the packaged versions currently running on Ubuntu or OSX. Only minor modifications have been made to the code in order to meet store policies - but otherwise its original (and its on GitHub so you can verify that). I am now also using appveyor to fully automate the build process. There is no reason why Don or team could not publish this themselves… or publish this version officially.

And thanks @kristian-b @TFA-Web-Master :) - FWIW… new version is going through store certification now (I was a little slow off the batt pushing the update through)

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35654https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/35654Tue, 23 Oct 2018 22:02:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Sun, 05 Aug 2018 23:10:15 GMT]]>@TFA-Web-Master

This forum is provided for discussion of the real Notepad++, not the “fake” version in the store that it’s “author” won’t give a different name to. That version should have its own forum; please take any further discussion about that product to that forum, wherever it is, to avoid confusion with real Notepad++.

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/33976https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/33976Sun, 05 Aug 2018 23:10:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Sun, 05 Aug 2018 22:31:05 GMT]]>FYI if your code is on github you can and should expect people to take it and port it to the store if they like what it does if you have not done it. WHY DO YOU THINK MS BOUGHT GIT HUB? To port useful stuff to its store! Approved store apps are one of the only safe ways MS recommends deploying apps to roaming profiles in domains. AND fyi if anyone ports Irfan View to the store I will love you forever. Right now I have to side load it and use admin rights to install.

BTW I used notepad ++ from the store to save this the 20 minutes while I waited to post it for being a new user…

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/33975https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/33975Sun, 05 Aug 2018 22:31:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Sun, 05 Aug 2018 21:47:02 GMT]]>We run a windows server domain the only way we can use notepad++ is by jakevis port to the store. The issue I have is odd I can not use my work or school email to leave you a 5 star review on the store. It wants me to log in with a windows hello account. While I could do that, we do not mix work PC’s with Home Log ins.

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/33973https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/33973Sun, 05 Aug 2018 21:47:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Wed, 18 Jul 2018 21:34:59 GMT]]>I can confirm, that it is great to have notepad++ in the store. The updates are applied silently without any problems and all other great notepad++ features are working as they should.

I would love to see Jakes work applied to the official project.

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/33617https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/33617Wed, 18 Jul 2018 21:34:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Thu, 12 Jul 2018 20:35:26 GMT]]>Just wanted to loop back to this one - now its been about 4 months since release. We are sitting at about 85000 installs, with 3000-5000 new “acquisitions” a week (averaging that since may). There a few hickups in the first set of packages (to do with how config is saved), and some continuing issues with how plugins can not be installed on Win10S machines (unless included and signed in the store package)… but other than that… things seem stable. The build process + packaging overhead is down to less than 10min.

If folks would like to re-assess the fork to see if it will work as an official release (and move it over) let me know… happy to continue to support that as an official version… or ill continue as it is, as an unofficial fork. LMK.

Cheers - Jake

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/33486https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/33486Thu, 12 Jul 2018 20:35:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Wed, 21 Mar 2018 07:06:37 GMT]]>@AngryGamer mm OK thanks. I do think I took that from a Google image search… On the 10th try to get the size right (so lots of copy right breaches out there I guess ;))

As soon as this update is through certification I’ll do another to update that as well. New image I am playing with is on github.

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31073https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31073Wed, 21 Mar 2018 07:06:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Wed, 21 Mar 2018 01:07:40 GMT]]>@jakevis The logo on the MS store front is likely what’s disputed. That particular image seems to have been taken from the website and not from the repository.

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31071https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31071Wed, 21 Mar 2018 01:07:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:04:56 GMT]]>@jakevis You’re awesome, keep up the good work!
I see the good software like Paint .NET appear in the Store (which I bought BTW), and thus as a user I don’t actually care about those “stability” or supporting issues, I just want this software to be in the Store. If @donho can’t do this – you can do this instead.
Cheers!

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31049https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31049Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:04:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Tue, 20 Mar 2018 15:40:58 GMT]]>@donho and for a moment I thought folks were going to be reasonable and awesome ;)

So as per https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/blob/master/LICENSE I will maintain this as a fork. Folks dont need to use it if they dont want to. The name is being changed to Notepad++ Fork on the 7.5.6 update that is pending now.

Also just had a search on the TESS database… I cant see a trademark? I also think the word “Notepad” is to generic to trademark. Logo possibly… but then again its included in the codebase and such that is under GPL.

Totally happy to work with you all, if you would like to transfer this fork to the notepad++ team and organization. Until then I will do my best to mitigate @Scott-Sumner 's support concern issue. If someone does create an issue to do with the packaging of the notepad++ fork in the store, feel free to assign it to myself (and point out its unofficial).

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31046https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31046Tue, 20 Mar 2018 15:40:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Tue, 20 Mar 2018 11:15:19 GMT]]>@donho I think you mean https://twitter.com/Notepad_plus/status/975886395461046272 ?

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31017https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31017Tue, 20 Mar 2018 11:15:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Tue, 20 Mar 2018 00:36:45 GMT]]>For the record, I think it is for the best this way. As long as there are two different things out there calling themselves “Notepad++”…no matter how well-intentioned it is…we’ve got a support nightmare.

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31011https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31011Tue, 20 Mar 2018 00:36:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Tue, 20 Mar 2018 21:46:13 GMT]]>Here’s my answer about Notepad++ on Windows Store:
https://twitter.com/Notepad_plus/status/975886395461046272

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31010https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/31010Tue, 20 Mar 2018 21:46:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Sun, 18 Mar 2018 02:10:32 GMT]]>@Scott-Sumner your right, one thing lead to another - and I had a np++ clone in the store and users were finding it, so I just opened it up to the public. No blessings given.

I am trying to make it as clear as possible that this is a clone - and I will totally pull it when there is an “official” version avalible (or someone can convert this to an official one if they prefer). I cant say I care much either way… other than I need one in the store for the moment.

Re the plugin manager. I wasn’t aware of this… but interesting thing about an official store is folks provide reviews… and a plugin manager is the number 1 thing folks are complaining about (now the persistent settings issues, and file association issues are corrected), or asking for. Folks seem to be creating issues there in the reviews, or as instructed, against my fork in GitHub. Here is the plugin manager issue: https://github.com/NightRi-se/notepad-plus-plus/issues/10

Another interesting tidbit… MS failed this app for store certification on one round due to the certifier being unable to load a plugin… [they did try to load a 32bit plugin, and this fork is 64bit only].

Ill let @donho weigh in as to his thought on all this. yes, boundaries pushed and as per the reddit thread, folks are split if this is a good thing or not. But due to the store requirements, this is a true fork, with code changes to support (that will have to be maintained for the app to stay in the store).

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/30968https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/30968Sun, 18 Mar 2018 02:10:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Sun, 18 Mar 2018 00:06:23 GMT]]>@jakevis

Dude, seriously, don’t you think this is a little bit presumptuous? If this “store” thing is to happen, shouldn’t @donho be the one to do it? I mean, at the end of the day, it is his software…he’s the “benevolent dictator” after all…

Sure, it’s open source, and you can pretty much do with it what you’d like, but, I don’t know, creating an unauthorized distribution channel seems to push the boundaries…

and next step is getting the x64 plugin manager in there and working

So it was @donho’s decision to remove the PluginManager from the distribution…and you can just arbitrarily decide to add it back in? Again, seems quite, well…presumptuous…

So now people will report bugs against some version of Notepad++, but probably no one will be really sure which one. (Will the real Notepad++ please stand up?)

Now if you’re doing all this with @donho’s approval and blessing, then I retract all of the above…

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/30967https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/30967Sun, 18 Mar 2018 00:06:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Notepad++ UWP package in Windows store - almost there on Mon, 06 Mar 2023 14:05:18 GMT]]>@Claudia-Frank The store version is built of 7.5.5 (calling the store version 7.55.buildnumber.0). Most of the updates I have been posting have been to get settings to save/work correctly in UWP land, get file associations working, and next step is getting the x64 plugin manager in there and working.

@[Name Redacted From Deleted Account] no not official… it is a clone. If you can think of a better way to make that clear let me know.

@gjsman sorry if you got a bad wrap for this - also great work above… I didn’t see this announcement before going down this line however. For Windows 10S there is a bunch of policy’s that MS requires you comply by (with a possible fine of $15 per download if you app breaches them). One of those is no run, or ability to get to command. … it took about 4 weeks of going back and forth to get this working, approved, and published (initially it was published hidden/privately… but some friends wanted to use it, so I recently moved it to be public).

]]>https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/30965https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/30965Mon, 06 Mar 2023 14:05:18 GMT