Enable MAUI Essentials on WinUI

[Soap-141]

How can I use MAUI Essentials with a WinUI project found the default Uno .NET 6 Template?

I've tried using UseMauiEssentials in project configuration but it's only working for the Mobile head.
On Windows head, I'm getting a weird error on launch.

I've clicked on Yes and I installed what was required but it still doesn't work.

I also tried a normal MAUI project where the Windows platform is in the same head as Android and iOS and it was working while using UseMaui which includes MAUI Essentials.

[jeromelaban]

Why do you need MAUI essentials? We may be able to cover what's missing using WinRT APIs (or maybe it's already covered).

[Soap-141]

@MCAleckson Last thing I can suggest is to make sure you have all the required workloads. dotnet workload --list

[MCAleckson]

Here are my workloads, what needs to change? Thanks again.

Installed Workload Id Manifest Version Installation Source

maui-windows 8.0.0-preview.7.8842/8.0.100-preview.7 VS 17.7.34009.444
maui-maccatalyst 8.0.0-preview.7.8842/8.0.100-preview.7 VS 17.7.34009.444
maccatalyst 16.4.8694-net8-p7/8.0.100-preview.7 VS 17.7.34009.444
maui-ios 8.0.0-preview.7.8842/8.0.100-preview.7 VS 17.7.34009.444
ios 16.4.8694-net8-p7/8.0.100-preview.7 VS 17.7.34009.444
maui-android 8.0.0-preview.7.8842/8.0.100-preview.7 VS 17.7.34009.444
android 34.0.0-preview.7.382/8.0.100-preview.7 VS 17.7.34009.444

Use dotnet workload search to find additional workloads to install.

[jeromelaban]

Can you specify the build errors you're getting, best is a binlog.

[MCAleckson]

Thank you as always Jerome for stepping in here. Since it seems UseMauiEssentials=true is the way forward, I will reorient my build towards it. And I'll for sure bring the build errors here. Thanks!

[Soap-141]

Workloads look fine :/

[marwalsch]

I believe this issue is to be blamed on the development environment rather than Uno.
<UseMauiEssentials/> works for WinUI/.NET 6 on my end. From what I understand the Maui abstractions are included in the corresponding .NET-workload rather than a Nuget depenndency as with Xamarin.Essentials, hence the necessary flag in the project file. You must not use <UseMaui/> however.
Though i recall stumbling into the same error a while ago, I unfortunately don't remember what exactly fixed it for me. I suggest to ensure that the Maui SDK for windows is actually installed.

Running Visual Studio 22 on at least 17.4.3 should provide you with a Essentials version equal or greater than 6.0.548.

[Soap-141]

Hello I checked and I have everything.

[marwalsch]

Then I'm afraid I'm unable to help any further.

But I can think of one last thing to try, though entirely based on speculation: Try re-installing the workloads through Visual Studio and verify it through: dotnet workload list.

Installed Workload Id      Manifest Version       Installation Source
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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
maui-ios                   7.0.52/7.0.100         VS 17.4.33213.308
android                    33.0.4/7.0.100         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

The Maui.Essentials Framework reference with the required version is pointed to C:\Users\*user*\.nuget\packages\microsoft.maui.essentials.ref.win\6.0.548 on my machine.

.

[Soap-141]

Tried it, ended up updating my entire workload list and breaking my iOS simulator because the updated version require XCode 14.2 that is not compatible with Visual Studio 17.4.4. It worked for longer, had the output telling me that I had to update a package for Essentials to work, I updated it and still got the same error after.

Anyway, Thanks for the help. @marwalsch

[Soap-141]

Fixed using .NET 8 and latest workloads, also using <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK" Version="1.4.231219000" />.