Customize Pocket PC MSI -> write data to xml

[andreasviklund]

I am developing a WM 5.0 application using Visual Studio 2005.

When the application should be installed on the PDA I want to use a
MSI-file with a wizard. In the wizard I want the user to enter his/her
username, address, password, and so on, and I then want the application
to be installed on the device along with the data above, stored in a
xml-file for example.

Is this possible? I have figured out how to create a msi-file out of a
Pocket PC project, which successfully installs the application using
ActiveSync to my device. I have also found out how to add Dialogs in
the Wizards User Interface. But here it stops.

Anyone know how to do this? or some pages that explains this?
Tutorials, examples.

best regards
Andreas Viklund

 

[Guest]

Well you can create a dialog and code behind it, so that code could
reasonably generate the XML file and if the device is connected copy it down
using RAPI.

-Chris

 

[andreasviklund]

ok. and how do I code behind a dialog?

 

[Wayne Sepega]

First let me say, please respond with what you finally go with, I could use
the same for my future apps. (when I get around to writing installers)

I have a different idea that may suit what you need, and happens to be what
I use currently. When my application starts up I check for the existence of
the settings file, and key values if need be in the settings file. If the
file or some items don't exist I prompt the user with the settings screen
and close if they don't add the required settings. This forces the user to
enter the required settings on start up of the app for the first time.

Wayne

 

[andreasviklund]

What I want is that login-information should be saved on the device,
such as password and username.

My idea was to prompt the user during the installation-wizard to enter
username and password. The application would then be installed on the
device and the data should also be saved down to the PDA in a xml-file
for example, which is decrypted.

So when the user starts the application from the device, the
application compares the data in the xml with the data the user just
entered. Are you with me? Your settings-idea sounds great, but not when
we are talking about passwords/usernames I think.

any suggestions?

 

[andreasviklund]

Wayne:

I found an article at Code Project that I think will be the correct way
to solve my problem.

"A Setup and Deployment project that passes parameters to the
configuration file
By Adi Eduard"

http://www.codeproject.com/dotnet/SetupAndDeployment.asp

He lets the user enter an image path that will be written to an
existing xml-file in the application. I think I will do the same with
username and password, and when the data is written to the xml-file, it
is encrypted.



(e-mail address removed) skrev:

 

[Guest]

Take a look at this article - it shows how to write code to run in the
installer:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnnetcomp/html/deploy_cf2_apps_cab_msi.asp?frame=true

-Chris