IStorageProviderHandlerFactory - How to register for CloudFiles

Jöran Malek 76

I found IStorageProviderHandlerFactory which was introduced with Server 2022 and Windows 11 to provide factories for several types of storage provider classes. Thats great for itself, but I can't find any reference for this interface, or IStorageProviderStatusSource for that matter, in the AppX/MSIX-Manifest schema or any other struct.

How am I supposed to use that interface, when there is no documentation?

Roy Li - MSFT 32,051 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-01-18T07:07:14.673+00:00

That's a new API and currently there is no more information about this. I'll ask other engineers to see if there is someone familiar with this API. There might be a time delay. Thank you for your patience in advance.
Roy Li - MSFT 32,051 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-01-19T03:07:33.947+00:00

@Jöran Malek Could you please tell me what do you really wants to get via the API. In other words, what do you think this API could give you. IStorageProviderHandlerFactory is just a interface not a class so it does not have implementation and you can't use it like a normal class. What you need to do is implement the method of it with your own logic. So again, the problem is that what did you want to implement via this interface?
Jöran Malek 76 Reputation points

2022-01-19T07:50:21.517+00:00

I'm creating a cloud storage provider, which has to handle sync errors - which currently only works using some shell item property hackery.

The way I see it: Developers have to expose a COM class, register it somewhere - AppX? while registering the sync root? I don't know, which implements IStorageProviderHandlerFactory. The windows explorer then uses GetSource(String), which my cloud storage provider returns with an implementation of IStorageProviderStatusSource, where I can provide detailed error states for individual files without screwing with shell item properties.

I'm aware that I have to implement both, IStorageProviderHandlerFactory and IStorageProviderStatusSource, but I'm not aware how I can make Windows Explorer aware that my storage provider exposes these interfaces.
Roy Li - MSFT 32,051 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-01-20T06:53:49.897+00:00

@Jöran Malek Got it. I'll ask other engineers about this to see if there are other ways to do it.

2 answers

Limitless Technology 39,376 Reputation points

2022-01-24T13:09:10.237+00:00

Hello @Jöran Malek

I can understand you need some documentation for Windows 2022 storage API.

Please have a look on below documentations which should be helpful in your scenario.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/cfapi/build-a-cloud-file-sync-engine

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/uwp/api/windows.storage.provider?view=winrt-22000

Hope this answers your question

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Jöran Malek 76 Reputation points

2022-01-24T13:31:06.523+00:00

I appreciate your effort, but I already checked all possible locations, and the "How to build a CloudFile sync engine"-guidelines and UWP-api documentation aren't helpful, at all.
The UWP-api pages don't mention how to configure AppX-files to include specific extensions.

Please check this comment for further clarification: https://learn.microsoft.com/answers/comments/700852/view.html
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Roy Li - MSFT 32,051 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-01-28T01:58:53.91+00:00

Hello,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

I've consulted other engineers about this. First, currently, there is no UWP capability available at this time. Based on the document here: Build a Cloud Sync Engine that Supports Placeholder Files, it mentions that The cloud files API does not currently support implementing cloud sync engines in UWP apps. Cloud sync engines must be implemented in desktop apps.. There is a Cloud Mirror sample on Github shows how to get started writing a cloud files provider using the cloud files API and it is in Preview which is not supported. You could submit a feedback on the Github about your interest.

Thank you.

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Jöran Malek 76 Reputation points

2022-01-28T12:23:25.703+00:00

I'm aware of that, I'm using a desktop application packaged with an MSIX.
Doesn't answer how to implement IStorageProviderHandlerFactory.

Jöran Malek 76 Reputation points

2022-01-28T12:26:02.877+00:00

cloud files provider using the cloud files API and it is in Preview which is not supported

Do you want to tell me, that the Cloud Files API available since years is considered Preview?
Then make a strong warning on all sites mentioning Cloud Files that this technology is still not considered stable.

Roy Li - MSFT 32,051 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-02-07T08:55:01.157+00:00

I'm sorry to say that there is no more public resource about IStorageProviderHandlerFactory that we could provide. It is suggested to submit your concerns about this API in the Feedback Hub. You could find the Feedback Hub in the Start Menu.
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