error: 0x8007007b - The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect

[geo-systems]

Hey team,

I've started a project using electron-forge with Node v10.15.1 and I'm trying to build an appx package on Windows. I have configured my package.json with the appropriate values for make_targets.win32 and windowsStoreConfig.

However, I'm getting an error when I try to create an appx file. It says that The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect, but doesn't specify which file is problematic. Below is an excerpt of the output with the error message:

> npm run make

You need at least Node 4.x to run this script

Configuration:
Desktop Converter Location:    false
Expanded Base Image:           false
Publisher:                     CN=<id-number>
Dev Certificate:               C:\Users\...\<id-number>.pfx
Windows Kit Location:          C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\10.0.17763.0\x64

Starting Conversion...
Cleaning pre-appx output folder...
Copying data...
Creating manifest..
Creating appx package...

Processing "\\?\C:\Users\<user>\...\pre-appx\app\resources\app\node_modules\path-parse\test.js" as a payload file.  Its path in the package will be "app\resources\app\node_modules\path-parse\test.js".
... <many more lines about processing files> ...

MakeAppx : error: Package creation failed.
MakeAppx : error: 0x8007007b - The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

Error: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\10.0.17763.0\x64\makeappx.exe exited with code: 1
    at ChildProcess.child.on (C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\electron-windows-store\lib\utils.js:74:23)
    at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:189:13)
    at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:248:12)
Error: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\10.0.17763.0\x64\makeappx.exe exited with code: 1
    at ChildProcess.child.on (C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\electron-windows-store\lib\utils.js:74:23)
    at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:189:13)
    at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:248:12)

I already raised an issue in the electron-windows-store repository. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get any help for over a month :(

Any ideas what's causing this problem and how to debug?

[MarshallOfSound]

@geo-systems Do you have any non-letter symbols in your app name / productName / appx config?

[geo-systems]

Thanks @MarshallOfSound - the app does not have non-letter symbols in the config.

I have created a minimal repository reproducing the issue - https://github.com/geo-systems/FCF

You can also review the whole output and error message here (12MB file)

Any input is welcome!

[geo-systems]

I made a breakthrough on this problem.

It turns out the problem is with the mammoth library. When I remove it from my dependencies the make works! When I put it back in - the make fails.

I assume mammoth has a file which has a special character, but haven't figured out which one yet.

I've updated the minimal sample reproducing the issue (https://github.com/geo-systems/FCF). I'd be interested to learn how exactly mammoth interferes with the build, so I can notify their team or raise a PR?

[MarshallOfSound]

I assume mammoth has a file which has a special character, but haven't figured out which one yet.

You're probably right here, I don't know which one either but they'll be a file in their with an incompatible character 👍