macOS Distributing non-Apps on the Mac App Store

[superscape]

Hi all,

I've got a few apps on the Mac App Store. I create them in Xcode and distribute them through Xcode>Product>Archive etc... Fairly simple.

However, I notice that some folks are distributing things like fonts and template collections (e.g. for Pages) through the app store too. I assume those are not created through Xcode?

Can anyone explain to me how that is done? Or point me at a good tutorial... ;-)

Much appreciated!

Rob

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

They must be apps somehow, even if the focus is on the content instead of the code.

 

[superscape]

Yeah, that's what I suspected. I use a similar method to distribute Automator actions in my Ai Actions app – the app doesn't actually do much other than act as a container for the Automator Actions.

I guess you could have the app behave as an installer, so it would copy Keynote templates (as an example) to the correct location when it's run. I'm not sure how that would work with sandboxing though.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I guess you could have the app behave as an installer, so it would copy Keynote templates (as an example) to the correct location when it's run. I'm not sure how that would work with sandboxing though.

You can add permissions to your app to have it run outside the sandbox. You'll need to explain to the app reviewer why its absolutely necessary for your app to be able to run outside of the sandbox, though.