Challenges

When launching the packaged application the executable is unable to find the location of critical DLL files needed at runtime. Experimenting with the DynamicLibraryFixup shim from the package support framework seems to introduce other issues.

Before packaging

• Download a copy of GIMP for Windows: gimp.org/downloads (version 2.10.24 at time of writing)

Capturing

• Start the MSIX packaging tool and enter your package signing information but do not specify the installation file

• On the second page of the packaging tool, specify the install location for the package to C:\GIMP

• Click next to start the capture process and then run the gimp-2.10.24-setup-3.exe file downloaded before packaging.

• Select to Install for all Users when prompted, and select the option to Customize the installation when the wizard appears

• Point the installer location to C:\GIMP and select a Full installation when asked to select components

• Complete the installation wizard and when finished click Next on the MSIX packaging tool capture window to finish capturing

• When prompted to Manage first launch tasks, skip this step and click Next again (do not run the executable)

• Complete the remaining steps in the packaging tool and then proceed to the Package Editor

Post packaging modifications

• Within the package editor navigate to the Package files tab.

• Remove the TWAIN plugin by deleting the following folder from the package GIMP 2\lib\gimp\2.0\plug-ins\twain (this plugin seems to be used for importing images directly from a scanner without creating intermediate files but causes issues with the package)

• Add a new folder under the VFS directory for SystemX64

• Using the MSIX packaging tool unpack option, extract the contents of the package to a folder on your desktop

• Add the DLL files contained in the extracted GIMP 2\bin folder to the newly created SystemX64 folder inside the package.

Finish the packaging process clicking Save and outputting a new package. You should now have a functioning version of GIMP in MSIX format that can be delivered through the Windows Store to your users!