Topics




Installing the WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer

  • Download the latest build from the Downloads page
  • Run the installer
  • Click Yes or Allow if your firewall software prompts for a firewall rule (This will allow the WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer to communicate with remote applications)
  • The WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer can now be started from the Desktop (shortcut), the Programs Menu on Start or in Visual Studio (View->Other Windows->WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer)
Note: The Visual Studio integrated WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer requires Visual Studio 2010 (Professional or above) to be installed before running the setup. If Visual Studio is installed later, you must run the WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer setup again to access the integrated client.



Enabling isolated storage operations on your project



Windows Phone applications must reference the IsolatedStorageExplorer assembly and call the Start method to connect to the WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer service in order to perform operations.
This will connect the Windows Phone application to the service and will allow communication with the desktop explorer or Visual Studio integrated explorer.
To enable isolated storage operations the following actions need to be performed:

1. Add a reference to the IsolatedStorageExplorer assembly using the Add Reference dialog and selecting the assembly on the .NET tab
You can also find the assembly at INSTALLDIR\Library\ (INSTALLDIR is the installation directory for the WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer)
Adding a reference to the IsolatedStorageExplorer assembly
2. Add the call to "IsolatedStorageExplorer.Explorer.Start("<hostname>")" in the handler for the Launching event in App.xaml.cs.
Note: Replace <hostname> with the host name or IP of the of the testing or development machine.

Your code should look similar to the following:
Code in App.xaml.cs
3. Add the call to "IsolatedStorageExplorer.Explorer.RestoreFromTombstone()" in the handler for the Activated event in App.xaml.cs

Your code should look similar to the following:
Code in App.xaml.cs
4. The application now supports isolated storage browsing and operations. Run the application and it will show up in the applications list in the WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer on your testing or developement computer.

Note: The WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer supports connections from the emulator or actual devices. For applications running on devices a data connection must be enabled (WiFi or the mobile data connection).
It is not recommended to use the WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer on a device over a mobile data connection due to traffic the application will generate, traffic that might be charged by the mobile carrier.
The development or testing machine's firewall must allow connections to the WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer Service on port 2502.




Browsing the Isolated Storage File and performing operations


Now that the application has isolated storage operations enabled, you can use the desktop explorer or the Visual Studio integrated explorer to perform operations.

Desktop Explorer Visual Studio integrated Explorer
209672 209674


To start the desktop explorer:
  • Use the shortcut on the desktop (WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer) or
  • Open the Start menu. Go to All Programs-> WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer and run "WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer"

To start the Visual Studio integrated client:
  • In Visual Studio open the View menu and under Other Windows click on WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer

The explorer application and VS integrated explorer expose the same operations. To perform an operation, click click an item in the tree view and select the operation.




Parallel operations with multiple devices or applications

The WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer can work with multiple applications running on either the emulator or devices. Connected applications show up in the applications dropdown.
Applications in explorer list
You can also run multiple instances of the explorer (both the desktop version and the Visual Studio integrated version) at the same time on the same computer. The explorer will lock an application while an operation is in progress to prevent conflicts. The application lock will show in all explorer instances while the operation is in progress.

Application Locked






Uninstalling the WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer

To uninstall the WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer go to Control Panel->Programs->Programs and Features, select "WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer" and click Uninstall.



Planned Features




Last edited Feb 20, 2011 at 12:39 PM by winromulus, version 5

Comments

henrik6 Aug 8, 2012 at 1:16 PM 
When using it with the emulator the IsolatedStorageExplorer does only show files that are in the root directory. Files that are contained in folders below the root dir are loaded in my app ( so they definitly exist!) but they are not visible in the explorer. Also, if I choose "Add existing item" in context menu of a folder and add a file, this file is not visible. If I add it in root dir, it is visible.
Any idea ?

GHETTOCHiLD Feb 13, 2012 at 1:20 PM 
i am trying to use this to test local storage for an xna game but i cant seem to get the .Explorer to come up. ive added the using statement and am trying to launch it when i initialize my game. any suggestions? can this even be used with xna?

AName Aug 20, 2011 at 10:13 PM 
@nishantcop: I had the same problem. Here's how you fix it:

"localhost" should only be used for the emulator I believe (since it basically means "this machine"). You are supposed to provide your computer's local IP address in the quotes.

To do this, do the following:
1. Start > Run > cmd > press Enter
2. Type "ipconfig" (no quotes) and press Enter
3. Look for "IP Address" or "IPv4 Address", and then use the IP address to the right.

For me, my IP was "192.168.200.64". Hope this helps!

nishantcop Aug 16, 2011 at 4:24 AM 
Thanks looks like a good tool.. some how I am not able to run it properly. Mostly because of I am not able to set <hostname> properly.
It keep throwing errors like System.ServiceModel.EndpointNotFoundException was unhandled
"Message=There was no endpoint listening at http://localhost:2502/ApplicationSessionService/ApplicationSessionService.svc that could accept the message. This is often caused by an incorrect address or SOAP action. See InnerException, if present, for more details."

it would be gr8 help, if some one may give in detail how to set localhost in our machine

Thanks in advance.

ricknash May 22, 2011 at 9:26 PM 
Excellent work, Thanks

Is it possible to turn the transfer on and off, I was thinking of having check box on the WP7 App so:

public bool EnableFileTransfer
{
get { return this.enableFileTransfer; }
set
{
this.enableFileTransfer = value;
if (value)
{
IsolatedStorageExplorer.Explorer.Start("localhost");
}
else
{
IsolatedStorageExplorer.Explorer.Stop("localhost");
}
}
}

emeimonkey Mar 1, 2011 at 8:50 AM 
very good,thanks!

smithrtp Feb 24, 2011 at 5:41 AM 
Excellent application, worked perfectly even with VS 2010 Express. Thanks...