/win32manifest (C# Compiler Options)

Use the /win32manifest option to specify a user-defined Win32 application manifest file to be embedded into a project's portable executable (PE) file.

/win32manifest: filename

Arguments

• filename
  The name and location of the custom manifest file.

Remarks

By default, the Visual C# compiler embeds an application manifest that specifies a requested execution level of "asInvoker." It creates the manifest in the same folder in which the executable is built, typically the bin\Debug or bin\Release folder when you use Visual Studio. If you want to supply a custom manifest, for example to specify a requested execution level of "highestAvailable" or "requireAdministrator," use this option to specify the name of the file.

An application that has no application manifest that specifies a requested execution level will be subject to file/registry virtualization under the User Account Control feature in Windows Vista. For more information about virtualization, see The Windows Vista Developer Story: Windows Vista Application Development Requirements for User Account Control (UAC).

Your application will be subject to virtualization if either of these conditions is true:

• You use the /nowin32manifest option and you do not provide a manifest in a later build step or as part of a Windows Resource (.res) file by using the /win32res option.

• You provide a custom manifest that does not specify a requested execution level.

Visual Studio creates a default .manifest file and stores it in the debug and release directories alongside the executable file. You can add a custom manifest by creating one in any text editor and then adding the file to the project. Alternatively, you can right-click the Project icon in Solution Explorer, click Add New Item, and then click Application Manifest File. After you have added your new or existing manifest file, it will appear in the Manifest drop down list. For more information, see Application Page, Project Designer (C#).

You can provide the application manifest as a custom post-build step or as part of a Win32 resource file by using the /nowin32manifest (C# Compiler Options) option. Use that same option if you want your application to be subject to file or registry virtualization on Windows Vista. This will prevent the compiler from creating and embedding a default manifest in the portable executable (PE) file.

Example

The following example shows the default manifest that the Visual C# compiler inserts into a PE.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
  <assemblyIdentity version="1.0.0.0" name="MyApplication.app"/>
  <trustInfo xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v2">
    <security>
      <requestedPrivileges xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3">
        <requestedExecutionLevel level="asInvoker"/>
      </requestedPrivileges>
    </security>
  </trustInfo>
</assembly>

See Also

Reference

/nowin32manifest (C# Compiler Options)

Other Resources

C# Compiler Options

Project Properties (Visual Studio)