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.

1. Use Visual Studio to create and deploy the application into the deployment sectors of a device.
2. 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.
3. Click Create Application Deployment.
4. In the dialog box that appears, specify the name of your deployment file.
5. 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.
6. Click Ok.

If you want to sign an existing deployment file, use the steps in the following procedure.

1. Select Target from the main MFDeploy menu, and then choose Application Deployment.
2. Click Create Application Deployment.
3. In the dialog box that appears, specify the name of your deployment file.
4. 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.
5. 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.