How can I make Windows App SDK self-contained not only when built but also when packaged?

[Pure-Happiness]

Adding <WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>true</WindowsAppSDKSelfContained> makes Windows App SDK self-contained when the project is built locally, but loses its effect when the app is packaged. How can I solve the issue?

Note: I need to make Windows App SDK self-contained due to a bug in 1.8.0-Experimental4.

[DarranRowe]

If you have a good sample showing that the package is referencing the Windows App Runtime package, and loading dependencies from that, then it would be better to report this as a bug.

1.7 works as you expect. The output package contains all of the runtime files, registration free WinRT is used to register all of the WinRT runtime classes, and the output package's manifest doesn't contain a reference to the Windows App Runtime. So if you don't see this for 1.8 then it is a bug.

[Pure-Happiness]

Sample.mp4

The file picker works only when Windows App SDK 1.8.0-Experimental4 is self-contained, so it is obvious that the packaged app is not self-contained.

Do you know if this is indeed a bug, or do I need other settings?

[DarranRowe]

This is properly documented in the release notes as a known issue with a workaround.

This does mean that it is seen as a bug by the Windows App SDK team. I also believe there has been mentions of it being fixed in the next release. Although I don't have time to look through related posts for this right now.

[Pure-Happiness]

Anyway, there will be no need for my app to be self-contained after the release of the next version of Windows App SDK, if they have resolved the issue of file pickers by then.