Deploying Applications
MFDeploy enables you to create a standard deployment that you can then replicate to multiple devices. A standard deployment contains a copy of all of a device's deployment sectors. You have the option of signing the code you deploy to your device, which is highly advisable in a production environment. The easiest way to sign code is to create a key file containing a public and a private key. For information on creating key files, see Managing Device Keys.
Use the following procedure to create a standard deployment.
- Use Visual Studio to create and deploy the application into the deployment sectors of a device.
- When the deployment sectors are exactly as you want them to be, run MFDeploy, select Target from the main menu, and then choose Application Deployment.
- Click Create Application Deployment.
- In the dialog box that appears, specify the name of your deployment file.
- If you want to digitally sign the deployment file and you have previously stored the key in a file, click the button with the ellipsis to navigate to the key file. Otherwise, click the Create Key button to create a key pair.
- Click Ok.
If you want to sign an existing deployment file, use the steps in the following procedure.
- Select Target from the main MFDeploy menu, and then choose Application Deployment.
- Click Create Application Deployment.
- In the dialog box that appears, specify the name of your deployment file.
- If you have previously stored the key in a file, click the button with the ellipsis to navigate to the key file. Otherwise, click the Create Key button to create a key pair.
- Click Ok.
The deployment file is now ready for use. You can use MFDeploy to copy it to devices that are identical to the device for which it was created.