Tools and methods for customizing multi-function devices

A system, comprising:

• a multi-function device comprising a processing circuit and associated memory configured to perform a plurality of functions relating to manipulating a document including printing, the multi-function device having a display configured to display at least one interface tool for facilitating a customization of a function of the multi-function device, the at least one interface tool allowing a user to communicate with the multi-function device to enter information relating to a customized function;
• an interface for receiving and installing a custom application on the multi-function device, the custom application being used to customize the multi-function device;
• and
• a customization engine comprising a custom application creation tool, wherein the customization engine allows the user to create files in a variety of different formats, to zip the files in the variety of different formats, and to upload the files that are zipped to the custom application creation tool, wherein the custom application creation tool performs file validation checks on files of the custom application, the file validation checks including verifying that files are of an allowed type, verification that the files are named according to a specific convention, and verification that the files include any required files, the customization engine further comprising a mechanism for awaiting until after the files pass the file validation checks and then creating the custom application from the files in the variety of different formats created by the user and making the custom application available for installation, wherein the customization of the multi-function device is based on the custom application and includes customization of one or more aesthetics of the multi-function device, the one or more aesthetics including changing a look of a display of the multi-function device and customization of a type of printing for certain types of documents, wherein the custom application is made available in a custom application store accessible by an interface on the multi-function device.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with data, the encoded data interoperable with a machine to cause the machine to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• creating a plurality of files in a variety of different formats that are used for a custom application;
• zipping the plurality of files in the variety of different formats;
• uploading the plurality of files that is zipped to a custom application creation tool for performing file validation checks on the plurality of files, the checks including verifying that the plurality of files are of an allowed type, verifying that the plurality of files are named according to a specific convention, and verifying that the plurality of files include any required files, and further awaiting until after the plurality of files pass the file validation checks and then creating the custom application from the plurality of files in the variety of different formats and making the custom application available for installation, wherein the custom application causes customization of one or more aesthetics of a multi-function device, the one or more aesthetics including changing a look of a display of the multi-function device and customization of a type of printing for certain types of documents, wherein the custom application is made available in a custom application store accessible by an interface on the multi-function device;
• and
• installing the custom application on the multi-function device that is configured to manipulate one or more documents including printing, the custom application being installed on the multi-function device by directly interfacing with the multi-function device, the custom application being used to customize the multi-function device.