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visual-studiowindows-store-appsvisual-studio-2013windows-8.1

Is it possible to create a Windows 8 Store App from Visual Studio 2013?


So, I have a Windows 8.1 machine with Visual Studio 2013 installed. Whenever I go to create a new Windows Store project I do not see any options to create a new Windows 8 Store app, rather than Windows 8.1 Store App. However, I have no problem opening existing Windows 8 Store App Projects.

Is it possible to create a Windows 8 Store App project from Visual Studio 2013 when running on Windows 8.1?


Solution

  • It's easy - create a new 8.1 project and remove the following lines from the .csproj file:

    <TargetPlatformVersion>8.1</TargetPlatformVersion>
    <MinimumVisualStudioVersion>12</MinimumVisualStudioVersion>
    

    Reopen the file and voila - it's a Windows 8 project!

    Additionally, you might want to change the following as well:
    In MainPage.xaml:

    -    <Grid Background="{ThemeResource ApplicationPageBackgroundThemeBrush}">
    +    <Grid Background="{StaticResource ApplicationPageBackgroundThemeBrush}">
    

    In Package.appxmanifest:

    - <m2:VisualElements
    + <VisualElements
    - Square150x150Logo="Assets\Logo.png"
    - Square30x30Logo="Assets\SmallLogo.png"
    + Logo="Assets\Logo.png"
    + SmallLogo="Assets\SmallLogo.png"
    - <m2:SplashScreen Image="Assets\SplashScreen.png" />
    + <SplashScreen Image="Assets\SplashScreen.png" />
    - </m2:VisualElements>
    + </VisualElements>        
    

    If this doesn't work - it might mean that the project files have further changed in current versions of VS and you might need to install VS 2012 (Express should do) and create a project in that. You can then work on it in the new version of VS.