Windows Phone 8 Builds

The general process for creating and uploading a build is the following steps.

1. Obtain a Enterprise Mobile Signing Certificate from Symantec, $299/year. This only needs to be done once for the organization, not once for each app.
2. Use this certificate to create an Application Enrollment Token (AETX) file to be uploaded with the build.
3. Package the app for a non App Store deployment.
4. Sign the application with the same key used to create the AETX file.
5. Upload the AETX and Build file to the portal

Other helpful links for understanding Windows Phone distribution:

• How to sign a company app store - https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/jj681686(v=vs.105).aspx
• Company app distribution for windows phone - https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/jj206943(v=vs.105).aspx
• Blog on company hub app - https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dn296515.aspx
• Blog on app signing and installation - http://blogs.msdn.com/b/jdupuy/archive/2013/03/11/windows-phone-8-company-hub-development.aspx
• MSDN article on how to sign apps, what we are doing above - https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/dn168929(v=vs.105).aspx
• Sideload Windows 10 apps: http://www.howtogeek.com/219651/windows-10-allows-you-to-sideload-universal-apps-just-like-android-does/

When using Microsoft Studio, you can package an app for App Store distribution or non App Store distribution. When bundling, or packing for the app store you'll end up creating an appx bundle.

While this is a valid build, it will prevent you from signing it in later steps. You must create an APPX file which then can be signed using the signing tool.

For convenience, configure your project to only create bundles when needed. Although you can choose a different option during the build process, this will make it easier and one less step to forget when building your application.

NOTE: For any of the pictures below, click on them to see a larger, more clear version.

1. Right click on your project and choose Properties. 
2. This will open your project properties view. Click on Package Manifest… 
3. This will open your Application Manifest configuration. Navigate to the Packing tab. 
4. For Generate app bundle, select either If needed or Never. 
5. Click on the Save icon for your project.

Once you are ready to upload your application to the platform, you can use the following steps to create the App Package (APPX) file.

NOTE: For any of the pictures below, click on them to see a larger, more clear version.

1. Right click on your project and select Store, then select Create App Packages… 
2. Select No for the answer to the question Do you want to build packages to upload to the Windows Phone Store?
   
3. Ensure that If needed or Never are selected for Generate app bundle: 
4. Ensure that either ARM or Neutral is selected for the Architecture and release model for that particular architecture is selected.
5. Click on the Create button.
   
6. If successfully completed, you'll see the Package Create Completed screen with the location of the package.
   

NOTE: For any of the pictures below, click on them to see a larger, more clear version.

Once the application is packaged, you must sign the application with the same private key used to create the AETX file in the earlier steps. Use the BuildMDILAPPX.ps1 to sign your application. Assuming your file is located:

powershell.exe –File “%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft SDKs\WindowsPhoneApp\v8.1\Tools\MDILXAPCompile\BuildMDILAPPX.ps1”
    -appxfilename c:\temp\AppPackages\«AppName»\«AppName».appx -pfxfilename C:\temp\«key
    file».p12 -password «password» 

This will create a new updated appx file signed with your private key and certificate. Upload this appx file and your AETX file through the portal.