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Question
Tuesday, January 5, 2016 12:46 PM
Hi there
I'd like to deploy the Office Mobile Apps to our school tablets (Win 10 Edu x86).
From what I've read you can download the offline installers and use powershell and DISM to deploy the app. However, the guides all refer to an .appx package and the download from the store is a .json.
eg Microsoft.Office.PowerPoint_8wekyb3d8bbwe_en-gb.json
What do I do with the package I've downloaded?
Thanks
All replies (18)
Friday, January 15, 2016 5:29 PM âś…Answered | 1 vote
Hello;
When downloading apps from the Windows Store for Business for offline deployment you will need download the app package itself, the license file, and any required dependencies. In your case you are attempting to download Power Point Mobile. On the download page there are three sections. Download the package for offline use, Get app license, and Required frameworks. Use the Download button under "Download the package for offline use" to download the app package. In this case that would be Microsoft.Office.PowerPoint_2015.6326.10161.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe.AppxBundle
Note that the details above the Download button will detail the package name, and type.
Next, under "Get app license", select Unencoded license, then click Generate license. This will trigger a download for a .XML file. This is the required license file.
Last, under "Required framework", click the download button for each dependency listed. In this case for x86 there is only one dependency. Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00_14.0.22929.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe.appx
NOTE: For each dependency listed the file name will be displayed, but when you click download the file name provided is a GUID with no extension. Rename the downloaded file to match the file name displayed with a .appx extension.
Now that you have the necessary files you can use the DISM Add-ProvisionedAppxPackage PowerShell cmdlet documented here https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh852134.aspx, and/or the Add-AppxPackage PowerShell cmdlet documented here https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn448376.aspx
For Add-ProvisionedAppxPackage you will need to use the -PackagePath -DependencyPackagePath, and -LicensePath switches.
Place all downloaded file is a single folder. Your command line should look something like this when executed from the folder containing the downloaded file.
Add-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -PackagePath Microsoft.Office.PowerPoint_2015.6326.10161.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe.AppxBundle -DependencyPackagePath Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00_14.0.22929.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe.appx -LicensePath Microsoft.Office.PowerPoint_8wekyb3d8bbwe_feb9764f-4e7e-2548-28cd-3681491ef81f.xml
NOTE: if more than one dependency package is needed list each one as a parameter of the -DependencyPackagePath switch separated by a , Example: -DependencyPackagePath Package1.appx, Package2.appx
For Add-AppxPackage you will need to use the -Path, and -DependencyPath switches. Your command line should look something like this.
Add-AppxPackage -Path Microsoft.Office.PowerPoint_2015.6326.10161.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe.AppxBundle -
DependencyPath Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00_14.0.22929.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe.appx
Again if more than one dependency is needed list all separated by a comma.
I also wanted to add a quick word on Add-AppxPackage VS Add-ProvisionedAppxPackage.
Add-AppxPackage is used to install an app for the currently signed in user. It does not affect any other user on the system.
Add-AppxProvisionedPackage is used to add an app to the list of pre-installed apps on the PC. When a new user profile is created all provisioned apps will be installed for the user. Adding a provisioned app will not add the app for existing users.
In the event that you want to install an app for existing users, and all new users, both commands will be necessary.
If you are building a baseline image, then adding a provisioned app is sufficient.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 2:32 AM
Just out of curiosity, where are you downloading these apps? I was not aware that there were even JSON files.
Thursday, January 7, 2016 9:29 AM | 1 vote
Error on my part above. You can download the appxbundle from the Windows store for business here:
https://businessstore.microsoft.com/en-gb/inventory
Currently trying to install using dism as described here
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh824882.aspx
Using the following powershell command:
Dism /online /Add-ProvisionedAppxPackage /FolderPath:\servername\share\packagefolder
I'm getting 'No applicable main package was found for this platform.
The directory must contain an applicable package with a .main file extension.'
Any tips would be appreciated - I can't seem to find any official documentation on using Offline Apps from the Windows store for Business.
Many Thanks!
Thursday, January 7, 2016 9:33 AM
Hi TC1927,
Generally I don't think offline install Office Mobile apps on Windows 10 tablet would work, as those apps are already published to Windows Store.
For the LOB apps, yes we could add the appx package using DISM to the offline image.
I will take more research on this topic, if any more findings, I will post back.
Besides, you may also consider to ask at the Office 365 side, for the json, which seems to be related with Windows Azure.
Regards
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help, and unmark the answers if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact [email protected].
Thursday, January 7, 2016 10:06 AM
Thanks for the reply Michael.
What are the offline Office Mobile apps for then?
We're not using SCCM or any MDM tool here at the moment. How should I go about installing apps per device for all users? The tablets are running Win 10 Education x86.
Many Thanks
Thursday, January 7, 2016 11:36 AM
Error on my part above. You can download the appxbundle from the Windows store for business here:
https://businessstore.microsoft.com/en-gb/inventory
Currently trying to install using dism as described here
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh824882.aspx
Using the following powershell command:
Dism /online /Add-ProvisionedAppxPackage /FolderPath:\servername\share\packagefolder
I'm getting 'No applicable main package was found for this platform.
The directory must contain an applicable package with a .main file extension.'Any tips would be appreciated - I can't seem to find any official documentation on using Offline Apps from the Windows store for Business.
Many Thanks!
From the documentation you linked:
Use /FolderPath to specify a folder of unpacked app files containing a main package, any dependency packages, and the license file. This is only supported for an unpacked app package.
Use /PackagePath to specify an app package (.appx or .appxbundle). You can use /PackagePath when provisioning a line-of-business app online.
--
So, does the download consist of .appx or .appxbundle? If so, then use /PackagePath not /FolderPath ?
Don [doesn't work for MSFT, and they're probably glad about that ;]
Thursday, January 7, 2016 11:54 AM
Don - Thanks!
However I'm now getting an Error 5 'Access is Denied' Error message from Dism.
I'm running powershell as an administrator with full access to the share the package is held on.
Appreciate the input.
Thursday, January 7, 2016 12:34 PM
However I'm now getting an Error 5 'Access is Denied' Error message from Dism.
I'm running powershell as an administrator with full access to the share the package is held on
try with a local folder/path - there may be some implicit constraint relating to network paths
Don [doesn't work for MSFT, and they're probably glad about that ;]
Thursday, January 7, 2016 1:55 PM
Just tried it locally and still no joy, same error.
Where do Apps install to? Might be a permission thing specific to that folder (wherever it is...).
Thursday, January 7, 2016 11:09 PM
Apps "install" to c:\program files\windowsapps\ which has some funky security on it.
anything useful recorded @ %WINDIR%\Logs\Dism\Dism.log ?
Don [doesn't work for MSFT, and they're probably glad about that ;]
Saturday, January 9, 2016 1:55 AM
Hi TC1927,
Generally I don't think offline install Office Mobile apps on Windows 10 tablet would work, as those apps are already published to Windows Store.
For the LOB apps, yes we could add the appx package using DISM to the offline image.
I will take more research on this topic, if any more findings, I will post back.
Besides, you may also consider to ask at the Office 365 side, for the json, which seems to be related with Windows Azure.
Regards
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help, and unmark the answers if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact [email protected].
So adding apps is only for non-Store apps? That's disappointing, if true. I was thinking we could add any non-paid apps. Is that not the case?
Saturday, January 9, 2016 6:04 AM
It's been some time since I viewed these videos, but at the time, I found them informative:
https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Ignite/2015/BRK3306
Windows 10 Universal App Deployment for Enterprises
https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Ignite/2015/BRK3338
Using the Business Store Portal with Windows 10 Devices
Don [doesn't work for MSFT, and they're probably glad about that ;]
Saturday, January 9, 2016 6:45 AM
It's been some time since I viewed these videos, but at the time, I found them informative:
https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Ignite/2015/BRK3306
Windows 10 Universal App Deployment for Enterpriseshttps://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Ignite/2015/BRK3338
Using the Business Store Portal with Windows 10 DevicesDon [doesn't work for MSFT, and they're probably glad about that ;]
I didn't view the entire videos, but just skimming through them, I didn't really see them answer the question about whether free apps from the Store could still be deployed via DISM.
Sunday, January 10, 2016 12:15 AM
I didn't view the entire videos, but just skimming through them, I didn't really see them answer the question about whether free apps from the Store could still be deployed via DISM.
a demo of sideloading (which seems to me, this is very similar, at least for the provisioning steps), and that on Win10 you need to enable sideloading settings, maybe enable-sideloading is needed for this to succeed, since we aren't using the Store to provision the app?
https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Ignite/2015/BRK3306 (30:00)
Don [doesn't work for MSFT, and they're probably glad about that ;]
Sunday, January 10, 2016 3:17 AM
a demo of sideloading (which seems to me, this is very similar, at least for the provisioning steps), and that on Win10 you need to enable sideloading settings, maybe enable-sideloading is needed for this to succeed, since we aren't using the Store to provision the app?
https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Ignite/2015/BRK3306 (30:00)
Don [doesn't work for MSFT, and they're probably glad about that ;]
It looks like the verbiage has changed since this video was produced, but yeah, that's interesting. So maybe it just needs to be enabled...that would fall in line with the "access is denied" errors, wouldn't it?
Thursday, January 14, 2016 3:29 AM
Well,
I think the discussion might be out of the scope here. If any more questions, please consider to ask in the forum below:
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/Windowsapps/en-US/home
Regards
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help, and unmark the answers if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact [email protected].
Thursday, January 14, 2016 3:41 AM
A new post on the topic:
Don [doesn't work for MSFT, and they're probably glad about that ;]
Thursday, January 14, 2016 9:19 AM
Thanks for all the replies.
I've had a few days away from looking at this but will have another crack in the coming days and report back.
Thanks again.