Convert XAP to CAB

Understanding XAP and CAB file formats

The XAP file format is primarily associated with Windows Phone applications. It is a package format used to distribute and install apps on Windows Phone devices. XAP files contain the app's executable code, resources, and metadata required for installation and execution.

The CAB file format, short for Cabinet, is a compressed archive format used by Microsoft. It is commonly used for distributing software installation files and system components on Windows operating systems. CAB files can contain multiple files and directories, compressed to save space.

Converting XAP to CAB

Converting an XAP file to a CAB file is not a straightforward process, as these formats serve different purposes. However, if you need to extract contents from an XAP file and repackage them into a CAB file, you can manually extract the contents and use a CAB creation tool to repackage them.

Best software for XAP to CAB conversion

To perform this conversion, you can use the following tools:

• WinRAR: Use WinRAR to extract the contents of the XAP file. Simply right-click the XAP file and select Extract Here.
• MakeCAB: This is a command-line tool provided by Microsoft for creating CAB files. After extracting the XAP file, use MakeCAB to package the contents into a CAB file. Open the command prompt and use the command: makecab /f directive_file.ddf, where directive_file.ddf is a directive file specifying the files to include in the CAB.

Steps to convert XAP to CAB

1. Extract the contents of the XAP file using WinRAR or a similar tool.
2. Create a directive file (.ddf) listing the files to include in the CAB.
3. Use the MakeCAB tool to create the CAB file from the extracted contents.