Windows API Code Pack for .NET

Managed wrappers for selected Windows Shell and desktop APIs, originally released by Microsoft as the Windows API Code Pack 1.1 and maintained here for modern .NET.

Active source: Source/Current/Windows API CodePack
License: MIT — see LICENSE
Roadmap: Source/Current/ROADMAP.md · Changes: Changelog.md

Target frameworks: .NET Framework 4.6.2–4.8.1 and .NET 8 / 9 / 10 (net*-windows). Windows desktop (WinForms/WPF) only.

DirectX from the original Code Pack is not shipped in 8.x. The Current tree keeps an unbuilt stub; see Components/DirectX/README.md.

If creating a TaskDialog throws NotSupportedException about comctl32.dll version 6, enable Common Controls v6 in the application manifest:

<dependency>
  <dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity
        type="win32"
        name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
        version="6.0.0.0"
        processorArchitecture="*"
        publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
        language="*" />
  </dependentAssembly>
</dependency>

Visual Studio can cache the old DLL in-process; restart the IDE if the error persists after adding the manifest.

Optional during build. Disabled by default.

Certificate file:

<PropertyGroup>
  <EnableAuthenticodeSigning>true</EnableAuthenticodeSigning>
  <CodeSigningCertificatePath>path\to\your\certificate.pfx</CodeSigningCertificatePath>
  <CodeSigningCertificatePassword>your-password</CodeSigningCertificatePassword>
</PropertyGroup>

Certificate store:

<PropertyGroup>
  <EnableAuthenticodeSigning>true</EnableAuthenticodeSigning>
  <CodeSigningCertificateThumbprint>your-certificate-thumbprint</CodeSigningCertificateThumbprint>
</PropertyGroup>

Requires Windows SDK (SignTool.exe). The build continues with a warning if signing fails. For GitHub Actions, see .github/workflows/README.md (CODESIGN_CERTIFICATE_BASE64, CODESIGN_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD).

• Source/Samples — mix of modernized and legacy demos; prefer samples that reference Source/Current.
• Source/Original — archive of the Microsoft-era sources, tests, and full DirectX.

See CONTRIBUTING.md. Bug reports should include Windows version, TFM, and package version (template).