what is meant by manifest file ?

Question

In windows phone i need to know the usage of Manifest file any one let me update about that

Answer 1

A manifest is a XML file that contains settings that informs Windows how to handle a program when it is started. The manifest can be embedded inside the program file (as a resource) or it can be located in a separate external XML file. If the manifest is placed in a separate file, then the file must be located in the same folder as the executable file and it must have same filename as the program file, but with a ".manifest" filename extension added at the end (e.g "MYAPP.EXE.manifest").

Manifests can also be used with library files (such as DLL files), but in this article we will focus on manifests that are used with program files (EXE files). Manifests that are used with programs are often referred to as application manifests and manifests that are used with DLL files and other library files are often referred to as assembly manifests.
Example

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<Deployment
   xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/windowsphone/2012/deployment"
   AppPlatformVersion="8.0">
  <DefaultLanguage
     xmlns=""
     code="en-US"/>
  <App
     xmlns=""
     ProductID="{31a2f61a-4083-4250-9c0a-2d68740285b3}"
     Title="NewPhoneAppWP8"
     RuntimeType="Silverlight"
     Version="1.0.0.0"
     Genre="apps.normal"
     Author="NewPhoneAppWP8 author"
     Description="Sample description"
     Publisher="NewPhoneAppWP8"
     PublisherID="{73c86a8f-20c1-4e53-a01e-bfc5aee75273}">
    <IconPath
       IsRelative="true"
       IsResource="false">
         Assets\ApplicationIcon.png
    </IconPath>
    <Capabilities>
      <Capability Name="ID_CAP_NETWORKING"/>
      <Capability Name="ID_CAP_MEDIALIB_AUDIO"/>
      <Capability Name="ID_CAP_MEDIALIB_PLAYBACK"/>
      <Capability Name="ID_CAP_SENSORS"/>
      <Capability Name="ID_CAP_WEBBROWSERCOMPONENT"/>
    </Capabilities>
    <Tasks>
      <DefaultTask
         Name ="_default"
         NavigationPage="MainPage.xaml"/>
    </Tasks>
    <Tokens>
      <PrimaryToken
           TokenID="NewPhoneAppWP8Token"
           TaskName="_default">
        <TemplateFlip>
          <SmallImageURI
             IsRelative="true"
             IsResource="false">
               Assets\Tiles\FlipCycleTileSmall.png
          </SmallImageURI>
          <Count>0</Count>
          <BackgroundImageURI
             IsRelative="true"
             IsResource="false">
               Assets\Tiles\FlipCycleTileMedium.png
          </BackgroundImageURI>
          <Title>NewPhoneAppWP8</Title>
          <BackContent></BackContent>
          <BackBackgroundImageURI></BackBackgroundImageURI>
          <BackTitle></BackTitle>
          <DeviceLockImageURI></DeviceLockImageURI>
          <HasLarge></HasLarge>
        </TemplateFlip>
      </PrimaryToken>
    </Tokens>
    <ScreenResolutions>
      <ScreenResolution Name="ID_RESOLUTION_WVGA"/>
      <ScreenResolution Name="ID_RESOLUTION_WXGA"/>
      <ScreenResolution Name="ID_RESOLUTION_HD720P"/>
    </ScreenResolutions>
  </App>
</Deployment>

Answer 2

ManiFest File in Windows Phone application:

Inside the Properties folder you’ll find a file called WMAppManifest.xml.

1. This is a very important file.
2. It is called manifest because it’s used to declare all the capabilities and features of the application.
3. Its role is crucial during the certification process;
4. thanks to this file, the automatic process is able to extract all the needed information about the application, like its title, supported resolutions, features that are used, etc.

Visual Studio 2012 provides a visual editor for the manifest file; simply double-click on the file to open it. It’s important to note that not all use-case scenarios are supported by the visual editor. Sometimes we’ll have to manually edit the XML to extend our application.

The editor is split into four different sections:

1. Application UI
2. Capabilities.
3. Requirements.
4. Packaging.