VSTO ClickOnce ends with "The application could not be downloaded because a connection to the network could not be established."

Question

Using an Apache Ant task we generate and sign the manifests for a Microsoft ClickOnce VSTO deployment. For one specific ClickOnce install, we are getting the error:

The application could not be downloaded because a connection to the network could not be established.
Ensure that you can connect to the network, and try again.
at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Tools.Applications.Deployment.ClickOnceAddInDeploymentManager.DownloadAddIn(TimeSpan timeout)
at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Tools.Applications.Deployment.ClickOnceAddInDeploymentManager.InstallAddIn()

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 08 '14 at 10:13

1

The signtool.exe started from Apache Ant re-evaluates the contents of the directories. When you by accident include an executable (*.exe) in the directories, the error "The application could not be downloaded because a connection to the network could not be established." is raised by clickonce during installation of your product.

Background

During the signing and with an executable present, the header of the manifest in the folder with the DLL-s changes from

<entryPoint>
  <co.v1:customHostSpecified />
</entryPoint>

to:

<entryPoint>
  <assemblyIdentity name="Invantive.Estate.App" version="20141.0.14188.24543" language="neutral" processorArchitecture="msil" />
  <commandLine file="Invantive.Estate.App.exe" parameters="" />
</entryPoint>

That there is an error is correct because the manifest is not what I intended, but the message text is a little confusing.

answered Jul 08 '14 at 10:13

Guido Leenders

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Great observation that unknown executables in the click-once deployment installer directory will cause this error. Thanks! – Joel MC Apr 06 '17 at 15:30
@JoelMC happy to hear it helped. Enjoy :-) – Guido Leenders Apr 06 '17 at 15:31
@GuidoLeenders I'm having the same issue and I don't really know how to fix it...can you please tell me which is the file that I need to modify? – Valip Apr 27 '17 at 06:41
@Valip it is in the manifest. Small file in the deployment folder. – Guido Leenders Apr 27 '17 at 07:23
After I modify this file should I be able to copy the `[AddIn].vsto` file and run it on another machine? – Valip Apr 27 '17 at 07:28
@Valip I don't understand the question. Please raise the question on stackoverflow. – Guido Leenders Apr 28 '17 at 07:55
@GuidoLeenders I raised a question here http://stackoverflow.com/questions/43732766/excel-add-in-not-working-after-publish. Thank you! – Valip May 02 '17 at 07:50

VSTO ClickOnce ends with "The application could not be downloaded because a connection to the network could not be established."

1 Answers1

Background

Linked