Couldn't create react windows app with existing react-native application if app name has a dash in it

[SireeshaThota]

Can we create windows app with existing react-native application.
I was trying to do the same. I am getting following errors.

Processing WinMD c:\program files (x86)\windows kits\10\references\10.0.18362.0\windows.ui.xaml.core.direct.xamldirectcontract\2.0.0.0\windows.ui.xaml.core.direct.xamldirectcontract.winmd
9>D:\MCD\MCDSource\gvc-react-native\windows\gvc-react-native\App.idl(1): error MIDL2025: [msg]syntax error [context]: expecting { near "-" [D:\MCD\MCDSource\gvc-react-native\windows\gvc-react-native\gvc-re
act-native.vcxproj]
9>D:\MCD\MCDSource\gvc-react-native\windows\gvc-react-native\App.idl(2): error MIDL2026: [msg]cannot recover from earlier syntax errors; aborting compilation [D:\MCD\MCDSource\gvc-react-native\windows\gvc-
react-native\gvc-react-native.vcxproj]
9>Done Building Project "D:\MCD\MCDSource\gvc-react-native\windows\gvc-react-native\gvc-react-native.vcxproj" (default targets) -- FAILED.
2>Done Building Project "D:\MCD\MCDSource\gvc-react-native\windows\gvc-react-native\gvc-react-native.vcxproj.metaproj" (default targets) -- FAILED.
1>Done Building Project "D:\MCD\MCDSource\gvc-react-native\windows\gvc-react-native.sln" (default targets) -- FAILED.

[acoates-ms]

I wonder if this is an issue with apps that have a - in the name? Maybe we need to sanitize the app name as part of app generation.

[SireeshaThota]

Yes i understood now. It is because of - in the name. When i change it, i could build it successfully.

[SireeshaThota]

If i remove "-" in the name of the project, project is building successfully. But i think it should be supported.

[chrisglein]

Agreed that "-" in app name should either be fixed to be supported or at the very least give better errors if that's unfixable (but it should be).