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The user's guide for the Mass Deployment Tool is available from the Brother support website.
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Q. Which file types are supported?
A. Files with the following extensions are supported:
  .json, .dpk, .edpk, .pjl, .prn, .djf
  If you send setting files (.json, .dpk, .edpk), the Mass Deployment Tool 
  will check if the settings are OK before it sends the settings to the device. 
  If you send other files, this tool will just send the file to the device, 
  no verification is performed. 
  This means that if the file is not in the correct format, the device 
  will not behave as you expect it to.


Q. What devices are supported?
A. You can check if your device is supported by looking in the 
  "README.txt" file in the "schema" directory in the Mass Deployment Tool package.


Q. The BRAdmin software can also change device settings, does this mean 
   that Brother is going to discontinue the BRAdmin software?
A. No. However, over time the Mass Deployment Tool will support additional configuration items 
   that BRAdmin may not be able to support.


Q. Why has Brother developed this software? Why not enhance the BRAdmin software to configure more settings?
A. The BRAdmin software was originally designed as a tool to monitor the status of devices and change some settings.
   In order for Brother to enhance BRAdmin's device configuration capabilities it would have required a major 
   re-development of the software. Because of that it was decided to develop the Mass Deployment Tool 
   which focuses on changing device settings for both single and multiple devices.


Q. Will BRAdmin be modified to use JSON files?
A. No.


Q. Where can I get the latest version of the Mass Deployment Tool from?
A. Brother support website (support.brother.com)


Q. What is a "schema" file?
A. A schema file in describes the capability of the target device 
  in a JSON (device-readable) format.


Q. What are the difference between schema A and B?
A. There are two types of devices: schema A has more configuration options than Schema B. 
  To learn which schema file to use, read the "schema/README.txt" file 
  which explains what schema file to use.


Q. What are the advantages and disadvantages of creating a JSON file?
A. Advantages: You can create a JSON file specifying only the settings you wish to change. 
     The JSON files can be read in a standard text editor and do not require 
     a high level of knowledge to understand how they work.
   Disadvantages: You need to create/edit the setting file manually by using a text editor
     or JSON editor (which Brother does not provide).


Q. What are the advantages and disadvantages of re-using a JSON file 
   that I exported using the backup function?
A. Advantages: You can export the settings from your device and restore settings 
     to the same device. You can also edit the setting file inside the exported 
     .dpk/.edpk file if you extract the package using the CLI (command-line interface) tool 
     (see the unpack/pack option of the CLI tool).
   Disadvantages: You may not want to replicate all configuration items such as the nodename.
     In that case, edit the setting file in the package file and remove any 
     unnecessary settings. Then repack it using the CLI tool.


Q. Can I create a setting file with a scan profile or certificate?
A. You can reuse the XML files that are exported by BRAdmin. Put the XML files 
   in the same directory with the JSON file, specify the filename in the field 
   named "xml_*" and then use the CLI tool's pack option to create a package file.


Q. How can I edit the exported .dpk/.edpk file?
A. Use the unpack option you can access using the CLI tool to extract the package file.
   To extract the .edpk file, you need to specify the "password" option which should 
   be the login password of the device's embedded web server.


Q. I received an error saying that the setting file needs to be converted.
A. You may have an incompatible version of a JSON setting file that does not work 
   on the Brother device you're sending it to. Use the CLI tool to convert 
   the setting file using the following command:
    > settingcmd convertsetting --source <src-file> --destination <dest-file>


Q. How can I check if the setting item I want to configure is supported?
A. Check the schema file to see if you can see an option to change the setting 
   you want to change. To do that, open a JSON editor and load the relevant 
   schema file in the JSON editor. If you can find a setting that matches the setting item 
   you want to change, it is possible to change it.  
   If you cannot find the setting in the schema file, then, it is not possible to change 
   that particular setting. However, please note that it is also possible to use XML files 
   with JSON files for some settings. 
   See the FAQ: "Can I create a setting file with a scan profile or certificate?"


Q. Will there be more schema files in the future?
A. As Brother continues to release more devices, schema files that support the capabilities
   of new devices should be available in the future.


