Install on Windows#

Verify and install the signed Digital Design Studio MSIX, then check first launch, updates and WSL project requirements.

Before you start#

Use Windows 11 x64 (build 22000 or later) with WebView2 available. The current direct signed download is DDS 1.0.85. Its metadata reports installedAcceptance: false; installation, first launch and protected execution still need to be checked on the target machine. This download is separate from Microsoft Store distribution.

Save open work and keep a project backup. Existing Store, development and direct-distribution packages can have different identities. Do not uninstall an existing working package or delete its data to resolve an identity conflict; retain the installer message for support.

Download the package#

  1. Open the DDS download page and choose the Windows signed package.

  2. Open the current metadata. Check available, version, filename in downloadUrl, SHA-256 and publisher.

  3. Save the .msix and its matching metadata together. If the channel is unavailable, return to the official page later.

Verify the MSIX#

In PowerShell, set the exact downloaded path and the SHA-256 from the matching metadata. A successful comparison checks the file bytes; Windows must also accept the package signature and publisher during installation.

Powershell
$DdsPackage = 'C:\Users\YOUR_USER\Downloads\YOUR_DDS_PACKAGE.msix'
$DdsExpectedSha256 = 'PASTE_THE_64_CHARACTER_SHA256_FROM_MATCHING_METADATA'
if ($DdsExpectedSha256 -notmatch '^[0-9a-fA-F]{64}$') { throw 'Set the published SHA-256 first.' }
$DdsActualSha256 = (Get-FileHash -LiteralPath $DdsPackage -Algorithm SHA256).Hash
if ($DdsActualSha256 -ine $DdsExpectedSha256) { throw 'DDS package checksum mismatch.' }
'SHA-256 matches.'

The direct package publisher is Altifigence. Compare the full publisher shown in the metadata with the installation dialog or package signature details. A renamed file, matching display name or checksum alone is insufficient when Windows rejects its signature.

Install and open#

  1. Open the verified .msix with Windows App Installer and review the product and publisher.

  2. Complete the Windows elevation prompt if installation of the packaged service requires it. Run the application normally after installation.

  3. Open Digital Design Studio from Start. Follow First launch for sign-in and the separate local entitlement check.

  4. Open a small project, save a comment-only edit, close and reopen it, and confirm the saved content before using a production project.

Projects with a WSL backend#

WSL-backed projects require an existing x86-64 Ubuntu 24.04 WSL2 distribution and a non-root default user. The app does not install WSL or the distribution for you. Use Windows and WSL projects before opening a Linux workspace. A regular Windows project and a WSL project use different file and execution paths.

Update and recover#

Problem

Next step

Package is in use / 0x80073D02

Save work and close DDS windows, then retry the same verified installer. Deferred registration means the update is waiting.

Publisher, certificate or package identity error

Keep the complete message and package version. Do not change trust or delete the previous profile.

Sign-in works but an engine is unavailable

Check local entitlement and the selected native/WSL runtime. See Diagnostics.

After an update, launch again and repeat the save/reopen check. Keep the previous verified installer and project backup until that check succeeds. Removing an application is not a backup procedure.