URGENT HELP !!. How to Deploy application on Pocket PC

[Ahmed Jewahar]

Hi All,

I have devloped an application VB.NET Pocket PC application (VS .NET
2003). Which is running perfectly from my developemnt machine using
emulator.

Now I have a device (i-mate PDA2k Pocket PC) where I need to install my
application. But, I don't know exactly what are the requiremetns to run
my application on Pocket PC.

Also I need to know how to install ".NET CompactFramework" and SQL CE on
Device. Please help me by step-by-step.

Upon doing this, I'm sure that I should create a setup program to
install my actual application. Appreciate if you could advie me as "How
to create a setup program" and how that can run from Device..

This is very critcal for me kindly help..

 

[Werner Wopienka]

Hi Ahmed!



If you want to deploy your program via Visual Studio, you need to copy some
file on your mobile device.



Firstly you must know your Windows Version (3.0, 4.0 or Smartphone), and
then your CPU type (ARM, MIP or SH). Then enter the correct folder
(C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
2003\CompactFrameworkSDK\ConnectionManager\Target)

and copy all files via ActiveSnyc on your device, directly into your Windows
folder.
After that you can start the conmanclient.exe file which you've just copied.
There you select TCP Accept, click connect.



After that you must set your Visual Studio to the correct port and deploy
mechanism.

You'll find it under ToolsàOptionsàDevice ToolsàDevices



There you must select your device (Smartphone, Windows CE or Pocket PC),
after selecting your device you can decide to deploy via IRDA or TCP, just
pick TCP and as Startup server select ActiveSync.



If you want another port aside 5656 you must change it on your device and in
the Visual Studio setting (use the configure button next to Transport).



The first deploy on your device will fail (I don't know why?!). Just try it
once more, and hopefully it'll work. All the needed files (CAB-Files) for
SQLCE will be copied automatically on your device,

if the references are included in your project.



Hope this guides helps you



Werner

 

[Guest]

Hi Ahmed!!!!

Well, as you may have already noticed, there are many ways to install
your application. Werner mentioned an interesting way of deploying that will
suit your development environment for debugging.

There are many pages in the MSDN site that will also explain how to
deploy an application using ActiveSync, which is a very advance tool to
connect a PDA to a computer.

If you can connect your handheld to your computer using ActiveSync, you
can share a folder in your computer in which you can put the installer
programs. Then you can copy those programs from your computer to the "temp"
folder in your PDA. At the end, you just have to "tap" on them to install
them. Basically, the installation programs that you will need are the Compact
Framework Cab, the SQLCE Cab and your Application Cab (which is created at
compilation time).

As Werner mentioned, the Cab files that you will require depends on
your PDA's processor and operating system (Windows CE or Pocket PC). You have
to choose the right one, or the installation might fail.

About creating an auto installer program, there are many articles in
the MSDN. However, if you want a different approach, you can use the CEUTIL
library that comes with ActiveSync to identify the processor type of the PDA,
and then create at run-time an Ini file for the CEAppMgr.Exe program (also
comes with ActiveSync) to install your application using the right Cab file.
It looks like a lot of work, but its a way that will allow you to install not
only your application but any other cab file that you might need (e.g.: SQLCE
and the Compact Framework - the distributables, of course - ).

Hope it helps!!!

Tarh ik
PS:This post has been posted "AS IS"