Where are Apps Stored on PC

[pjglad]

Where are the Affinity apps stored on a PC. I checked Program Files Folder and could not find them? Thanks.

[Mitch I]

I have the same question. I may have found the answer.

C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\SerifEuropeLtd.AffinityPhoto2_2.0.0.1640_x64__xxxxxxx\App\photo.exe  (xxxxxxx is replacement)

But this doesn't help me, because, even though I'm an administrator, I don't have access to this folder. I'm on Windows 10, and Photo v1 is already installed.

I need to solve this because

(1) I need to set up a Desktop shortcut. Install didn't do that.

(2) I need to set it up in the export dialog of DxO Photolab.

[Pšenda]

15 minutes ago, pjglad said:

I checked Program Files Folder and could not find them?

You purchased from Affinity Store? If from the MS Store, then the location is elsewhere.

[pjglad]

Affinity Store. Thanks.

[lphilpot]

C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\SerifEuropeLtd.Affinity<Photo ... whatever >*

[Pšenda]

 

 

[lphilpot]

Yes, but that's not the actual executable file that's running:

C:\Users\len>which affinityphoto2.exe
C:\Users\len\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\affinityphoto2.exe

C:\Users\len>cd C:\Users\len\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps

C:\Users\len\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps>dir affinityphoto2.exe
 Volume in drive C is Acer
 Volume Serial Number is E093-B4E9

 Directory of C:\Users\len\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps

2022-11-09  08:34                 0 AffinityPhoto2.exe
               1 File(s)              0 bytes
               0 Dir(s)  243,282,317,312 bytes free

It's just a zero-length link. The actual binary itself is (on my system):

 

 

[walt.farrell]

50 minutes ago, Mitch I said:

(1) I need to set up a Desktop shortcut. Install didn't do that.

For that: 

 

51 minutes ago, Mitch I said:

(2) I need to set it up in the export dialog of DxO Photolab

For that, there was a FAQ suggesting use of the App Execution Aliases, but it's apparently been hidden after reports that it wasn't working. If you're lucky, you can tell DXO to use a .bat file like the one above. Some apps allow that, but some don't.

[lphilpot]

I don't know about DXO but specifying the full path to the Photo executable (in the WindowsApps folder) works for two other apps I've tried. No bat / cmd file needed.

[walt.farrell]

9 hours ago, lphilpot said:

I don't know about DXO but specifying the full path to the Photo executable (in the WindowsApps folder) works for two other apps I've tried. No bat / cmd file needed.

But that can only work for users who have modified the permissions on the WindowsApp folder, which is not recommended.

[pjglad]

Why?

 

[lphilpot]

1 hour ago, walt.farrell said:

But that can only work for users who have modified the permissions on the WindowsApp folder, which is not recommended.

I haven't modified security -- I thought about it but didn't. But to be clear I've used the other apps to send a file to Photo, not used Photo to send a file to them, nor round trip, if that matters. 

I don't like the idea of store apps either but so far in my case it's worked for what I need. My use case may be simpler than others, though after 2+ decades in IT I can certainly identify with the system management frustrations. I certainly understand (to say the least!) that a too-open system security-wise is a recipe for disaster in the hands of some but I always lean in the direction of "let me do what I want and if I break something it's my responsibility to fix it". That's why I like *nix. 🙂

[walt.farrell]

4 hours ago, pjglad said:

Why?

 

If that question was to me, because the WindowsApp folder is Hidden, and users do not even have Read authority to it. So when you (or an application) tries to navigate into it to find the executable files within it, they fail.

There are tools to let you gain access, but I've read that they're risky and can cause other problems.

[artbsurf]

On 11/9/2022 at 6:55 PM, lphilpot said:

C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\SerifEuropeLtd.Affinity<Photo ... whatever >*

If they would add a file viewer to the app this problem would go away.  As they should have done from day one ver1.