How can I get my XBAP to run in my browser instead of downloading it on Windows 7?

Question

On my old XP computer, running an XBAP from Visual Studio would open it up in Google Chrome. I switched to Windows 7, and now running an XBAP downloads the file like it were a ZIP or an EXE instead of opening it in the browser. The same thing happens in FireFox.

Does anyone know why I am suddenly downloading the file instead of opening it? And how I can fix it?

And yes, I know XBAPs are not meant to run on Chrome, but if you copy a bunch of FireFox dlls to the Google\Chrome\Application directory it runs just fine (steps here if anyone wants).

Even before I had that setup, it would still try and open an xbap in chrome and I could copy the URL to IE for testing. Now it downloads the file so I can't even do that.

Edgardoedge

Have you looked at #75486? – Space

@Space Yes I did. My issue isn't running XBAPs on Chrome, it's the fact it's downloading the xbap instead of trying to run it. – Edgardoedge

Answer 1

Got it... Firefox (and Chrome, since I'm using FF dlls to run XBAPs in Chrome) runs XBAPs by using a dll from the .Net 3.5 Installer, and since Windows 7 comes with 3.5 already installed, this dll isn't available

To fix this, I needed to copy the file

C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Windows Presentation Foundation\NPWPF.dll

from an XP machine to

C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\plugins

(if FireFox folder doesn't exist, create it)

Also in case you're looking to do the same, I think this was the link I used to figure out what FF files I needed to copy to Chrome's installation directory:

The following libraries found in Mozilla Firefox instalation directory C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox have to be coppied to Chrome installation directory:

• js3250.dll
• mozcrt19.dll
• nspr4.dll
• nss3.dll
• nssutil3.dll
• plc4.dll
• plds4.dll
• smime3.dll
• sqlite3.dll
• ssl3.dll
• xpcom.dll
• xul.dll

Assumming Chrome is installed in the following directory, USER corresponds to your windows user. C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application

Edgardoedge

@RashminJaviya The cause of the problem and method for the solution should be the same, so a little Googling should find you the equivalent file in .Net 4.0 – Edgardoedge

actually i tried a lot, but my chrome 36.0.1985.125 download xbap file instead of showing on page :( – Bolt

@RashminJaviya I've added an update to my answer to clarify what the steps are to get this working. If you still need help, please post a new question with the relevant details of what you're trying to do, what's actually happening, and exactly what steps you've tried already. – Edgardoedge

Answer 2

MIME Type                       Extension

application/manifest            .manifest
application/x-ms-xbap           .xbap
application/octet-stream        .deploy
application/x-ms-application    .application
application/vnd.ms-xpsdocument  .xps
application/xaml+xml            .xaml

Maybe it is related with the file extentsions?

Skeleton

The MIME type in IIS is for running .xbap applications on your web server. It doesn't affect running them locally in a browser (but just in case, yes my IIS MIME types are setup) – Edgardoedge