How to embed a manifest file at compile time in Visual Studio 2010

Question

I have a project with a manifest file with the following node:

 <requestedExecutionLevel  level="requireAdministrator" uiAccess="false" />

...meaning I want it to only run "as administrator" by default.

from searching around, to make this work I have two options:

"Embed" it.
deploy the manifest file with the exe, and name it YourProject.exe.manifest.

I've tried option 2, and when I run my app it doesn't ask for admin rights?

So, how do I do option 1 in VS2010? I've heard of mt.exe, but this is no good to me as it's done post build. I need the option to part of the solution and the project file itself.

So, how do I make this work? I'll be happy to do 2, but it doesn't seem to work?

If you are developing native C++ apps, it's simpler. Just open project properties/Linker/Manifest File,and select a new value for "UAC Execution level". — swigger, Apr 16 '13 at 06:05

score 22 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 03 '10 at 06:16

22

In Visual Studio 2010 the default setting for a new project is to embed the manifest in the application (option #1). By default though a default manifest is included. What you need to do is add a custom manifest.

Right click on the project and select "Add New Item"
Select "Application Manifest File"

This will add a file named app.manifest to the project. Open that file and modify the line to be the following

<requestedExecutionLevel level="requireAdministrator" uiAccess="false" />

This should also work in Visual Studio 2008.

answered Nov 03 '10 at 06:16

JaredPar

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I cannot find an Application Manifest File among the templates. Which categiory (Code, Data, General etc.) is it under? – Andrew J. Brehm Jul 08 '11 at 13:50
Same here -- I cannot find it among the templates – Nick Nov 23 '11 at 05:14
3

For VB.Net, click 'View Windows Settings' in the solution's Application tab. app.manifest will appear. – smirkingman Apr 17 '13 at 08:21

score 8 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 20 '11 at 02:13

8

Under VS2010 it is a little different. Right click the Project and select Properties. Select the "Application" tab and then click "View Windows Settings". This opens the manifest. Then make the changes you need.

answered Dec 20 '11 at 02:13

Paul Pavlinvovich

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That's available in the vb.net IDE only. The accepted answer describes the C# way. – Hans Passant Dec 20 '11 at 02:20
Thanks to @HansPassant, I finally got the way in VB.NET – tete Apr 25 '12 at 09:15

score 2 · Answer 3 · edited Oct 09 '18 at 17:06

2

I just ran into the same problem caused by copying an existing app.manifest into another project (C#).

I fixed it by unloading the project, editing its csproj file and inserting the following section:

<PropertyGroup>
  <ApplicationManifest>app.manifest</ApplicationManifest>
</PropertyGroup>

This allowed my application to pick up the app.manifest correctly.

edited Oct 09 '18 at 17:06

Brian THOMAS

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answered Oct 24 '12 at 12:26

Jay

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How to embed a manifest file at compile time in Visual Studio 2010

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