title: How to reference Windows.winmd from a .NET Core library?
body: <p>I'm looking to use Windows Runtime types, like <code>Frame</code> or <code>Button</code>, from a .NET Core library. It seemed to be working fine when I was using a traditional PCL, targeted for Windows/Windows Phone 8.1. For some reason, however, it's not compiling after I switched my project to DNX.</p>
  
  <p>Here's my <code>project.json</code>:</p>
  
  <pre><code>{
      "frameworks": {
          // Profile32 == Windows + Windows Phone 8.1
          ".NETPortable,Version=v4.6,Profile=Profile32": { }
      }
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>And here is my sample code:</p>
  
  <pre><code>using System.Linq;
  using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls;
  
  public class Sample
  {
      public void Method()
      {
          Enumerable.Empty&lt;Frame&gt;();
      }
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I was getting a compiler error on <code>Frame</code> in this snippet, saying that the type couldn't be found. So, I did a little detective work on this and hit F12 on it in my regular PCL, to look at its declaring assembly.</p>
  
  <p>It turns out that most of the Windows Runtime types I want live in a single assembly called <code>Windows.winmd</code>, which is found somewhere in Program Files. I'm curious to know, is there any way I can reference this assembly from my .NET Core library?</p>
  
  <p>Thanks!</p>
  
  <p>(Note that I can't just use a regular PCL, since I have needs that are specific to .NET Core.)</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p><strong>meta:</strong> By the way, please don't remove the <code>asp.net-core</code> tag from this question, since this is related to DNX.</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p><strong>edit:</strong> I've just tried this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>".NETPortable,Version=v4.6,Profile=Profile32": {
      "frameworkAssemblies": {
          "Windows": { "type": "build" }
      }
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be working either, although the compiler has no problem resolving assemblies like <code>System.Linq</code> or <code>System.Runtime</code>.</p>