How is the data specified in the application manifest used?

Question

I am updating an unmanaged C ++ application to use general XP / Vista style controls by adding a manifest. According to the MSDN page on the application manifest , you need to specify the name and version in the manifest and, possibly, a description:

<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
  <assemblyIdentity
    version="1.2.3.4"
    processorArchitecture="*"
    name="CompanyName.ApplicationName"
    type="win32"
  />
  <description>Application description here</description>
</assembly>

How is this data used? There is a mention that backward compatibility is implied by having the same major and minor versions for assemblies, but this does not seem to apply to applications. I also could not see the name, version or description specified by the manifest in the application properties in Windows XP.

What impact does change have? Is it worth keeping the version up to date?

Answer 1

XP/Vista ++, (, Visual ++ 6), :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
<assemblyIdentity
 version="1.0.0.0"
 processorArchitecture="X86"
 name="Program Name"
 type="win32"
/>
<description>Description of Program</description>
<dependency>
 <dependentAssembly>
 <assemblyIdentity
   type="win32"
   name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
   version="6.0.0.0"
   processorArchitecture="X86"
   publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
   language="*"
 />
 </dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
</assembly>

Answer 2

, . - , , , . , .., . XP, VERSIONINFO .