How to enable DocumentsLibrary capability in a Windows store (WinRT) app?

Question

I just created a new blank XAML/C# Windows Store app in Visual Studio. I tried to create a file in the Documents folder with this code:

// DEBUG ONLY:
StorageFile file = await KnownFolders.DocumentsLibrary.CreateFileAsync("Hey lol.txt");

But it throws this exception (which I expected):

WinRT information: Access to the specified location (DocumentsLibrary) requires a capability to be declared in the manifest.

Which is fine. I expected it. So I go to Package.appxmanifest and go to Capabilities tab, and to my surprise, there is no "DocumentsLibrary" capability listed.

How do I enable it if it's not even there?

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score 7 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 20 '14 at 04:12

7

Looks like your answer is here. The author shows it available in VS2012, but gone from the list in VS2013, citing MS policy against accessing that particular folder.

[Although] this capability is gone just from the UI, you still can open appxmanifest source and manually add the capability. The result will probably be the same as before – failure of certification for individual developers, so you better stay away from this trick. Microsoft strongly recommend against using Documents Library capability, suggesting Folder and File Pickers instead.

answered Jan 20 '14 at 04:12

Grant Winney

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A stupid decision on their part. This severely limits the usefulness of many types of apps. Just as I was about to post my solution to this, I saw your answer. My solution was to just add the Capability manually. Thanks @Grant. – uSeRnAmEhAhAhAhAhA Jan 20 '14 at 04:14
You might not know the answer to this, but if I am selling apps in the Windows Store as a Business (I'm using my Business name), am I allowed to use DocumentsLibrary Capability? I am an "Individual" developer, but it's a business, I'm not trading under my own name, I am trading under my business name - but it's not a Company. In Australia, a Business is not necessarily a Company unless it is registered as a Company and not a Business. – uSeRnAmEhAhAhAhAhA Jan 20 '14 at 04:17
So what I'm asking is, does Microsoft allow Businesses _and_ Companies to use this capability, or only companies? – uSeRnAmEhAhAhAhAhA Jan 20 '14 at 04:20
No worries. Looks like I'll need to contact their support people for this. I really don't want to register a Company just yet. It makes no logical sense to do that - because when you register a Company here, you need to do tax and everything even if you don't make money, and you also have to renew the company name ever year (which is around $400). – uSeRnAmEhAhAhAhAhA Jan 20 '14 at 04:27
1

Yeah, I agree. I'll still go ahead with development though because most apps I make I end up using for myself anyway, so on the bright side, atleast I can still use DocsLibrary for myself :) – uSeRnAmEhAhAhAhAhA Jan 20 '14 at 04:29

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 08 '17 at 01:07

4

As this is UAP the syntax needs to state this, should be as followed

  <Capabilities>
    <Capability Name="internetClient" />
    <uap:Capability Name="documentsLibrary" />
  </Capabilities>

You need to add 'uap:' in front of Capability

answered Nov 08 '17 at 01:07

Reece Smith

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uSeRnAmEhAhAhAhAhA · Answer 3 · 2014-01-20T04:31:33.133

3

As per Grant's answer, a way around this is to add the Capability manually.

Right-click the Package.appxmanifest file in Solution Explorer, and select "View code", then either find the Capabilities element, or add it yourself:

...
  <Capabilities>
    <Capability Name="internetClient" />
    <Capability Name="removableStorage" />
    <Capability Name="documentsLibrary" />
  </Capabilities>
</Package>

edited Jan 20 '14 at 04:31

answered Jan 20 '14 at 04:20

uSeRnAmEhAhAhAhAhA

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and add: FileTypeAssociation : .txt – R.Titov Mar 19 '15 at 16:19
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@KeMik Where exactly should I add this in the manifest file? It always says app manifest validation failed. – Dominik Antal Jun 09 '15 at 09:00
2

@DominikAntal: unfortunately I can't insert code in comment, that's why I shared screenshot with manifest example here: http://prntscr.com/7ex6k7 – R.Titov Jun 09 '15 at 12:32

score 3 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 21 '15 at 01:30

3

Here's what you'll get from the Windows Store when you try to publish it

answered Nov 21 '15 at 01:30

atomaras

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How to enable DocumentsLibrary capability in a Windows store (WinRT) app?

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