Recently Microsoft released a Windows 8.1 app called Project Siena, an app to build modern apps without the need of any programming skills. Then it wasn’t clear if you could actually submit those apps to the Windows Store, which soon after turned out that you can. Now for those who still wondering, here are the step by step instructions to create and submit your very own Windows 8.1 app built with Project Siena to the Windows Store.

Instructions

  1. Get a developer account — Use this link to register.

  2. Download and install Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows 8 (don’t download the Express 2013 version). And don’t worry, you don’t need to know how to use Visual Studio, this is just to be able to Submit your newly created app to the Windows Store.

  3. Create your modern app with Project Siena, when you are done, go to File and click Publish. Save the project in your PC. The Project Siena will create a folder named PublishedPackage. Enter the folder and double-click InstallApp.exe and select “Install on this PC” — if required, enter your Microsoft Account credentials.

Also download the ProduceAppForStore.zip from http://aka.ms/ProjectSienaProduceAppForStore and extract all the files inside the PublishedPackage\YourAppName folder. If you’re prompted to overwrite any file, click yes.

You’ll also see a file called ProduceAppForStore.cmd, double-click it. If during this step you get the message “Windows protected your PC”, click the “More info” link and select “Run anyway”.

Time to submit your app to the Windows Store:

4. Start Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows 8, go to Store > Reserve App Name, and create a good name for your app.

5. Select Store > Associate App with Store and follow the instructions.

6. Select Store > Edit App Manifest, select the Capabilities tab, and uncheck any capability that your newly created Windows 8.1 app doesn’t have.

  1. In the Solution Explorer, double-click privacy.html to edit your custom Privacy Policy for your app built with Project Siena.
  • Remove the placeholder text “[REVIEW PRIVACY POLICY]” and edit the rest of text to accurately describe your app’s privacy policy
  • Substitute “[INSERT EMAIL ADDRESS]” with your own email address(es). The text should now look like this:[email protected]
  • Substitute “[INSERT DATE]” with the actual date

  1. Select Store > Create App Packages and follow the instructions to create the app package (.appx).

  2. Select Store > Upload App Packages to open the Developer Dashboard website. Then enter the require information: In the section ”Packages”, select your .appx using the path on step (8). In the section “Description”, choose the Windows 8 tab (but don’t be afraid, the app will work in both operating system 8 and 8.1). Finally, complete any remaining information and click the “Submit for certification” to finish.

You done it! Now just wait for Microsoft to approve and publish your app in the Windows Store. For more information on these instructions, visit this Microsoft web page.

Remember that apps built with the Project Siena app works in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1

Source Microsoft