Windows Application Package build error Microsoft.DesktopBridge.targets(744,5): error : Specified EntryPointExe '' was not found in the project outputs.

[acrigney]

Description

This error is generated when attempting to build a Windows Application Package for .net 6 and for .net 7 MAUI apps with x64 build config.
2> C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\MSBuild\Microsoft\DesktopBridge\Microsoft.DesktopBridge.targets(744,5): error : Specified EntryPointExe '' was not found in the project outputs.

Also I had to manually add the location of the actual MAUI application in the Windows Application Package project as using the usual add reference method in visual studio gives the error.
referenced project paths must contain at least one element
Parameter name: referencedProjectPaths

I only want a windows app at this stage.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Get Latest version of VS2022 17.4.4 also 17.4.3 has the same issue
2. Create a MAUI .net 6 or .net 7 application
3. Add a Windows application Package project.
4. Attempt to reference the application from the package project.
5. Gives error
   referenced project paths must contain at least one element
   Parameter name: referencedProjectPaths
6. Manually add the project reference as shown to the end of the Package project
   .
   

Link to public reproduction project repository

https://ausdxau-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/alistair_rigney_ausdx_com/EgjHx1Qyy39Ap0vwPq9qogEBRrJrZ7FKEJf2KpsIbPHH-g?e=2DoL6p

Version with bug

7.0 (current)

Last version that worked well

Unknown/Other

Affected platforms

Windows

Affected platform versions

maui-windows 7.0.52/7.0.100 VS 17.4.33213.308 maui-maccatalyst 7.0.52/7.0.100 VS 17.4.33213.308 maccatalyst 16.1.1477/7.0.100 VS 17.4.33213.308 android 33.0.4/7.0.100 VS 17.4.33213.308 maui-ios 7.0.52/7.0.100 VS 17.4.33213.308 ios 16.1.1477/7.0.100 VS 17.4.33213.308 maui-android 7.0.52/7.0.100 VS 17.4.33213.308 wasm-tools 7.0.2/7.0.100 VS 17.4.33213.308

Did you find any workaround?

No apart from manually adding the reference

Relevant log output

No response

[ghost]

Hi @acrigney. We have added the "s/needs-info" label to this issue, which indicates that we have an open question for you before we can take further action. This issue will be closed automatically in 7 days if we do not hear back from you by then - please feel free to re-open it if you come back to this issue after that time.

[rachelkang]

Hi, @acrigney - thanks for opening this issue. Could you share why you are adding a Windows Application Package project? It should not be necessary for most cases. Here are some docs that might be helpful: https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/maui/windows/deployment/overview?view=net-maui-7.0

[ghost]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has been marked as requiring author feedback but has not had any activity for 4 days. It will be closed if no further activity occurs within 3 days of this comment. If it is closed, feel free to comment when you are able to provide the additional information and we will re-investigate.