CF Application after hard reset

[Bogdan Kot]

Hello,
I have a question about situation with CF applications
after hard reset. Is any possibility to run CF based application
after hard reset. I would like to write an installation software
which can install some libraries and main program.
Because after hard reset also Compact Framework
is lost I need to have possibility to run this program
without CF installed. Can I copy some CF dll to
Application\MySetupProgramDir (it is not cleared during
hard reset) to make program runnable ?


Regards,
Bogdan Kot

 

[Peter Foot [MVP]]

Depending on how much space you have in that folder it shouldn't be too
difficult to place the .NETCF cab file and a very simple native exe here
which will install the cab and then launch your managed .exe afterwards. The
folder you describe is very device specific as various OEMs provide
mechanisms to support automatic installation from a specific folder, check
with the manufacturer of the device that what you want to do is supported.

Peter

 

[Guest]

Are you targeting at least 2003 SE Pocket PC/Smartphone? because if you are
these devices have CF1 in ROM.

Which means you can write a managed autorun.exe which lives on your SD card
which will run whenever the device is cold booted or even soft booted.

 

[Bogdan Kot]

Are you targeting at least 2003 SE Pocket PC/Smartphone? because if you are
these devices have CF1 in ROM.

No, targeting device have Windows CE 5.0

Which means you can write a managed autorun.exe which lives on your SD card
which will run whenever the device is cold booted or even soft booted.

SD cards are not supported because target device is a Symbol WT4070.
It is for industrial use and has not SD card slot.

 

[Bogdan Kot]

Depending on how much space you have in that folder it shouldn't be too
difficult to place the .NETCF cab file and a very simple native exe here
which will install the cab and then launch your managed .exe afterwards. The
folder you describe is very device specific as various OEMs provide
mechanisms to support automatic installation from a specific folder, check
with the manufacturer of the device that what you want to do is supported.

The destination device is Symbol WT4070 based on Windows CE.
I think that it is possible to place necessary files in Application area.

Is any possibility to run non native application from this area before
full installation of .NETCF?

Can I develop native application for SmartDevice using VS2005?

 

[Peter Foot [MVP]]

Well, you could ask Symbol if there is a ROM version with .NETCF built-in.

Peter

 

[Rüdiger Kardel]

Bogdan,

i don't know if all symbol CE devices behave the same?
That's what we do on PPT88xx and MC9xxx devices

Create a file "installCF.cpy" with these 2 lines:

\application\netcf.all.wce4.armv4.cab > \windows\netcf.all.wce4.armv4.cab
\application\roma\wceldcmd.exe > \windows\wceldcmd.exe

and copy it to \Application.

Next create a file "installCF.reg"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Symbol\Startup\Programs\Prog10]
"Name"="\windows\wceldcmd.exe"
"Command"="\Windows\netcf.all.wce4.armv4.cab"
"Continue"=dword:0
"ColdBootOnly"=dword:1

and copy it to \Application as well.
make sure that netcf.all.wce4.armv4.cab and wceldcmd.exe present in
\Application.


Ruediger

 

[Javier Grijalba]

Hi Bogdan,
I think the best is to ask symbol for a ROM with CF 2.0 and update the
flash.

Is any possibility to run non native application from this area before
full installation of .NETCF? I don´t think so.

Can I develop native application for SmartDevice using VS2005?

Managed Code Native Code
Visual Studio 2005 yes yes
Visual Studio 2003 yes no
eVC4 SP4 no yes

Regards
Javier

 

[Bogdan Kot]

I create new key in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Symbol\Startup\Programs
like this:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Symbol\Startup\Programs\Prog10]
"Name"="\windows\wceload.exe"
"Command"="\Windows\NETCFv2.wce5armv4i.cab"
"Continue"=dword:0
"ColdBootOnly"=dword:1

but I have problem because after hardreset this key is deleted
and command is not executed. What I'm doing wrong?

Regards,
Bogdan Kot

 

[Rüdiger Kardel]

Bogdan,

You have to create a registry-file as mentioned above (and a *.cpy file).
These files should be placed in \Application.
The folders \Platform and \Application are persistent and will survive a
cold boot.

After a cold boot the device will perform all copy actions defined in all
*.cpy files
and load all *.reg files found in \Paltform and \Application

This is a very nice and easy way to prepare Symbol devices after a cold
boot.

Regards
Ruediger

 

[Bogdan Kot]

Thanks, it is working excelent !
And I have one more question:
Do you know that other smartdevices, not from Symbol,
have similar possibilities to auto install some programs?

Best reagards,
Bogdan Kot

 

[Rüdiger Kardel]

Bogdan,

Do you know that other smartdevices, not from Symbol,
have similar possibilities to auto install some programs?

sorry, i don't know. I'm sure some others will have similar possibilities.
Maybe someone else can help out with this information.

We are very satisfied with the devices and the support from symbol
(motorola) and as long symbol provides a device which fits in the
requirements for a specific solution we will avoid using a second
manufacturer.


Regards
Ruediger

 

[Paul G. Tobey [eMVP]]

We don't use the same scheme, but have some persistent folders and the
ability to handle REG files dropped there, as well as executables. What's
the real question? There definitely is *not* any standard that everyone or
even a majority of device manufacturers adhere to.

Paul T.

 

[Bogdan Kot]

At this time main was with Symbol devices because we developing
software for about 100 devices of this type and there is a problem with
installing and updating software on each device.
Now i think that this problem is closed.

But our company have some other mobile solutions.
It is also programs for sale representatives and they using PocketPC
devices.
We want to use simillar solution on this devices to auto install our
applications
after cold reset.
Then now I'm trying to get as many information as possible because our
customers
using many types of devices.
PS.
Many our clients using Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket Loox or Mio palmptops.

Bogdan Kot