dotnet/wpf · critical · XpsViewerException

SR.XpsViewerRightsManagementException

Error message

SR.XpsViewerRightsManagementException

What it means

RightsManagementManager.SetEncryptedPackage decrypts a rights-managed XPS package; when decryption throws, RightsManagementErrorHandler.HandleOrRethrowException runs first, then the code unconditionally rethrows the exception wrapped in XpsViewerException(SR.XpsViewerRightsManagementException). This is the XPS Viewer's generic wrapper for rights-management failures during package decryption.

Solutions

1. Inspect the InnerException (the original rights-management exception) to find the root cause; fix that underlying RMS condition.
2. Verify RMS service connectivity and that the user can acquire a use license (open the document via a known-good client to test).
3. Re-acquire credentials/use license (re-activate the RMS client, sign in with the entitled account).
4. Catch XpsViewerException around document open and show a friendly 'cannot open protected document' message with inner details for support.

Example fix

// before
xpsViewer.Open(docPath); // throws XpsViewerException wrapping RMS failure
// after
try { xpsViewer.Open(docPath); }
catch (XpsViewerException ex)
{
    ShowRmsError(ex.InnerException); // e.g. license expired / server unreachable
}

// Pre-check: can the current user acquire a use license for this document?
// Open a trial SecureEnvironment / query RM enabler before loading the document.

try { manager.SetEncryptedPackage(packageStream); }
catch (XpsViewerException ex)
{ HandleRmFailure(ex.InnerException); // license/server/credential diagnostics }

When it happens

Trigger: Opening a protected XPS document where SetEncryptedPackage's Decrypt operation fails — missing/invalid use license, unreachable RMS server, corrupt encrypted package, or expired credentials.

Common situations: User without a valid license opens an RM-protected XPS; RMS server unreachable/offline; client machine lacks RMS initialization; document encrypted with keys the current account cannot obtain.

Related errors

• SR.RightsManagementExceptionNoRightsForOperation
• SR.XpsViewerRightsManagementException
• " }} " element found. Expected fixed page element ( }} ).
• ' ' ContentType is not valid.
• ' ' ContentType is not valid.

AI-assisted analysis of dotnet/wpf@81131a70a4 (2026-09-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/93ab61934a5d20c1. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/Microsoft.DotNet.Wpf/src/PresentationUI/MS/Internal/Documents/RightsManagementManager.cs:210

        internal void SetEncryptedPackage(EncryptedPackageEnvelope newPackage)
        {
            bool publishLicenseChanged = true;

            try
            {
                _rmProvider.SetEncryptedPackage(
                    newPackage,
                    out publishLicenseChanged);
            }
            catch (RightsManagementException exception)
            {
                RightsManagementErrorHandler.HandleOrRethrowException(
                    RightsManagementOperation.Decrypt,
                    exception);

                // On an exception here we can't continue; rethrow it in an
                // XPSViewer exception
                throw new XpsViewerException(
                    SR.XpsViewerRightsManagementException,
                    exception);
            }

            if (_rmProvider.IsProtected)
            {
                // Get a use license for the new package
                RightsManagementLicense license = GetUseLicense();

                if (license == null ||
                    !license.HasPermission(RightsManagementPermissions.AllowView))
                {
                    throw new XpsViewerException(
                        SR.RMProviderExceptionNoRightsToDocument);
                }
            }

            if (publishLicenseChanged)

View on GitHub (pinned to 81131a70a4)