Hi everyone,

Since the PFI (packager for iPhone) uses a free command line tool, have any of you who have experience creating plugins attempted to do this using FD? You basically need a .p12 file, a provisioning file from Apple, and a swf.

I'd be happy to help with the parts I have experience with if anyone wants to partner on it. I just don't know how to make plugins or what the limitations are there, but I understand the PFI process pretty well.

You don't need a plugin for that, "just" improving the batch files in FD's AIR template.

All these tools are command line applications that need to be carefully studied to understand what parameters to provide. Adobe labs should provide most of the required documentation with the tool.

Thanks, Philippe, can you point me in the right direction with that? I'm not familiar with this part of FD, but I can figure out the batch file stuff. I'd be happy to post my results here if it would make it easier for others.

The right direction is to read all the docs which come with the iPhone package provided by Adobe.

Ok, maybe there's some confusion here. Right now, when you run the PFI from inside CS5, it publishes the swf, then runs the PFI process. That process requires a path to the cerificate, the provisioning file, the app xml, the swf to be converted, and the name of the output file, among other items.

I'm not asking how to do that part. First of all, not everyone here has CS5, but second of all, that process could be made easier with FD. What I'm asking about is whether anyone wants to attempt to make a one step solution wherein we can convert the file from within FD by simply filling in those values. I was offering my help with how that process works (the PFI batch file and arguments, how to make a .p12 file, how to navigate Apple's tools, etc) to anyone who knew more about FD extensions. If it's not possible or I don't understand FD's architecture, that's fine. I'm attempting to learn more. But here's what I'd like to see, if I could build this.

1. FD runs the build command and publishes the swf.
2. FD runs the PFI from that swf,using the supplied values for .p12, provisioning file, output file, etc, possibly incrementing the version #.
3. FD executes the resultant IPA file which opens in iTunes.

Is that clearer?

Adobe is offering a command-line packager in their labs:
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/packagerforiphone/

FlashDevelop is going to nicely support the mobile workflows with ready-to-use templates.

Yes, ok, so this is exactly what I was referring to, using the command line tool from within FD and bypassing the PFI in Flash. For one thing, while you're running the PFI from within Flash, it locks up Flash for sometimes several minutes. Using the command line version instead would be much better. Also, using the command line version would allow people with CS4 and Flex to use it. I've been setting up a batch file to run this, but of course that requires you to make a copy for each project and I'd love to simplify this process.

(I'm sure you know all this)

Another thing that CS5 does that is annoying is that it overwrites your app.xml file whenever you open the iOS dialog. Which complicates doing things like publishing to multiple iOS builds or adjusting Apple's params in that file, since both the path to the swf and that xml file are hard coded and can't be changed.

FlashDevelop AIR templates include a copy of the Batch used to package the AIR app. We are looking into removing this scripts in the future but in the meanwhile this is a relatively clean solution.

I suggest creating a regular AIR project from FD templates and modify this script to match the required additional steps for iPhone.

Of course we are talking of a CS5-free packaging solution, so you can use CS4 and/or Flex SDK.

Here is a solution, not 1-click but close enough once set up.
http://blubl.geoathome.at/2010/09/flash ... or-iphone/
A batch file takes care of the conversion process.

It's in German, and I'm short on time right now for a translation/summary, so try using the translation web service of your choice.

One thing I'd like to add is that the required password (set up at certification creation) must not be empty. My first attempts didn't used a password (I didn't think it'd be necessary for development), and while the certificate creation didn't require it, the compiling process will fail without a proper password.

hello wanzai,

I was doing as written on the german page but still couldn't have the .ipa exported from the FD. the cmd keeps saying

I have certification with a rite password.
My only solution now is to point the document Class in Flash IDE to Main.as & publish from the IDE. Can you help me to publish from the FD?

thanks,
J

ps, the full compiling result here:

Hi Joe,

I'm working (in my spare time) on a quick solution to this using AIR and a batch file. Since I mostly do web stuff, it's taking me a bit to get it all working but once I do I'll post a little app.

for those who got the similar problem above, i just solved by changing the pfi calling command to the full location, i.e:

dude you just need to read this [url="http://blubl.geoathome.at/tag/as3/"]link[/url]

now we can compile to ipa file directly from FlashDevelop!

if u get trouble in following the German link above, you may buzz me at skype:jazzjoe or YM:joelovesmilk

Cheers,
J

I couldn't seem to find some of their files, so I rolled my own...

http://www.makaimedia.com/pfi/PFI_Runner.zip

It uses three files:

PFI_Runner.exe
ipa_config.xml
Create_IPA.bat

The batch file could be changed to use the pfi directly, but I have Windows 7 and it kept complaining about the wrong version of Java. So I installed a 32 bit version of Java ("C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.5.0_22\bin\java.exe") and run it from the jar ("C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Flash CS5\PFI\lib\pfi.jar"). If you have Flash CS5, this will let you compile an ipa file without tying up Flash.

If anyone wants to take this and make it ready for prime time, please have at it.

hey unabogie, it cool but we don't just need to compile into ipa because flash IDE already could do that!