I want to distribute my application but although I've done quite some
Googling I'm a little lost how to solve the following issues:

- I want 1 installer for all all WM 5 PPC devices (all processor
architectures)
- I want to detect if the device has .Net CF 2 and if not, install it
automatically

I would be gratefull for pointers to relevant documentation.

> - I want 1 installer for all all WM 5 PPC devices (all processor
> architectures)


All WM devices are ARM architecture, so that's easy.


-- 

Chris Tacke, Embedded MVP
OpenNETCF Consulting
Managed Code in an Embedded World
www.OpenNETCF.com

Hi ctacke,

I'm having similar problem too and I would like to know how can I package my 
windows CE application into CAB files in VS 2005.

Would appreciate if you can provide any kind of helps.

Thanks.

Regards,
Jenson


-- 
:: Vision is Power ::


"<ctacke/>" wrote:


> > - I want 1 installer for all all WM 5 PPC devices (all processor
> > architectures)
> 
> All WM devices are ARM architecture, so that's easy.
> 
> 
> -- 
> 
> Chris Tacke, Embedded MVP
> OpenNETCF Consulting
> Managed Code in an Embedded World
> www.OpenNETCF.com
> 
> 
> 
> 

Hi Jenson,

Here are some basic steps for packing your application to a CAB file in 
Visual Studio 2005.

1. Add a new "Smart Device CAB Project" to your solution
2. Change the properties of the CAB project to describe the manufacturer and 
product name.
3. If you target WinCE 5.0 or higher then change your OSVersionMin to 5.0 
and your OSVersionMax to 6.99
4. Right click on the CAB project and go to View - Filesystem
5. In the File System View, right click on "Application Folder" and go to 
Add - Primary Output
6. Add the primary output of your application
7. Add the Content Files from your application if needed
8. To make a shortcut on the "Programs Folder", you will have to right click 
on "File System on Target Machine" then go to "Add Special Folder" - 
"Programs Folder"
9. Once the Programs Folder is added, go to the "Application Folder", right 
click on the "Primary Output..." from your application then select "Create 
shortcut...."
10. Move the created shortcut to the "Programs Folder"
11. Build the CAB file and test

I normally distribute my applications in a self-extracting zip file. You can 
use the CE Application Manager (comes with ActiveSync / WMDC) to install 
them from the desktop to the device. Lots of documentation on using the 
Application Manager is available on MSDN.

I recently wrote a short article about writting a generic multiple CAB file 
installer for the desktop:
http://christian-helle.blogspot.com/2007/07/generic-multiple-cab-file-installer-for.html


-- 
Regards,
Christian Resma Helle
http://christian-helle.blogspot.com


"Jenson"  wrote in message 
news:4C10E544-8B3B-402F-AA9A-8F58656E9669@microsoft.com...

> Hi ctacke,
>
> I'm having similar problem too and I would like to know how can I package 
> my
> windows CE application into CAB files in VS 2005.
>
> Would appreciate if you can provide any kind of helps.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Regards,
> Jenson
>
>
> -- 
> :: Vision is Power ::
>
>
> "<ctacke/>" wrote:
>
>> > - I want 1 installer for all all WM 5 PPC devices (all processor
>> > architectures)
>>
>> All WM devices are ARM architecture, so that's easy.
>>
>>
>> -- 
>>
>> Chris Tacke, Embedded MVP
>> OpenNETCF Consulting
>> Managed Code in an Embedded World
>> www.OpenNETCF.com
>>
>>
>>
>> 

Hi Christian,

Thanks for the reply. BTW, is it possible to install from within the device 
itself instead of going through the Desktop of our PCs?

Thanks.

Regards,
Jenson
-- 
:: Vision is Power ::


"Christian Resma Helle" wrote:


> Hi Jenson,
> 
> Here are some basic steps for packing your application to a CAB file in 
> Visual Studio 2005.
> 
> 1. Add a new "Smart Device CAB Project" to your solution
> 2. Change the properties of the CAB project to describe the manufacturer and 
> product name.
> 3. If you target WinCE 5.0 or higher then change your OSVersionMin to 5.0 
> and your OSVersionMax to 6.99
> 4. Right click on the CAB project and go to View - Filesystem
> 5. In the File System View, right click on "Application Folder" and go to 
> Add - Primary Output
> 6. Add the primary output of your application
> 7. Add the Content Files from your application if needed
> 8. To make a shortcut on the "Programs Folder", you will have to right click 
> on "File System on Target Machine" then go to "Add Special Folder" - 
> "Programs Folder"
> 9. Once the Programs Folder is added, go to the "Application Folder", right 
> click on the "Primary Output..." from your application then select "Create 
> shortcut...."
> 10. Move the created shortcut to the "Programs Folder"
> 11. Build the CAB file and test
> 
> I normally distribute my applications in a self-extracting zip file. You can 
> use the CE Application Manager (comes with ActiveSync / WMDC) to install 
> them from the desktop to the device. Lots of documentation on using the 
> Application Manager is available on MSDN.
> 
> I recently wrote a short article about writting a generic multiple CAB file 
> installer for the desktop:
> http://christian-helle.blogspot.com/2007/07/generic-multiple-cab-file-installer-for.html
> 
> 
> -- 
> Regards,
> Christian Resma Helle
> http://christian-helle.blogspot.com
> 
> 
> "Jenson"  wrote in message 
> news:4C10E544-8B3B-402F-AA9A-8F58656E9669@microsoft.com...
> > Hi ctacke,
> >
> > I'm having similar problem too and I would like to know how can I package 
> > my
> > windows CE application into CAB files in VS 2005.
> >
> > Would appreciate if you can provide any kind of helps.
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Jenson
> >
> >
> > -- 
> > :: Vision is Power ::
> >
> >
> > "<ctacke/>" wrote:
> >
> >> > - I want 1 installer for all all WM 5 PPC devices (all processor
> >> > architectures)
> >>
> >> All WM devices are ARM architecture, so that's easy.
> >>
> >>
> >> -- 
> >>
> >> Chris Tacke, Embedded MVP
> >> OpenNETCF Consulting
> >> Managed Code in an Embedded World
> >> www.OpenNETCF.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> 
> 
> 
> 

Hi Jensen,

You can publish your CAB file to some publicly accessible web server and 
have it downloaded to the device. Installing it on the device from then on 
is just a matter of clicking on the CAB file in the File Explorer

-- 
Regards,
Christian Resma Helle
http://christian-helle.blogspot.com


"Jenson"  wrote in message 
news:EFDE0B6F-0C81-44CD-B76D-CD42BD6ADB65@microsoft.com...

> Hi Christian,
>
> Thanks for the reply. BTW, is it possible to install from within the 
> device
> itself instead of going through the Desktop of our PCs?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Regards,
> Jenson
> -- 
> :: Vision is Power ::
>
>
> "Christian Resma Helle" wrote:
>
>> Hi Jenson,
>>
>> Here are some basic steps for packing your application to a CAB file in
>> Visual Studio 2005.
>>
>> 1. Add a new "Smart Device CAB Project" to your solution
>> 2. Change the properties of the CAB project to describe the manufacturer 
>> and
>> product name.
>> 3. If you target WinCE 5.0 or higher then change your OSVersionMin to 5.0
>> and your OSVersionMax to 6.99
>> 4. Right click on the CAB project and go to View - Filesystem
>> 5. In the File System View, right click on "Application Folder" and go to
>> Add - Primary Output
>> 6. Add the primary output of your application
>> 7. Add the Content Files from your application if needed
>> 8. To make a shortcut on the "Programs Folder", you will have to right 
>> click
>> on "File System on Target Machine" then go to "Add Special Folder" -
>> "Programs Folder"
>> 9. Once the Programs Folder is added, go to the "Application Folder", 
>> right
>> click on the "Primary Output..." from your application then select 
>> "Create
>> shortcut...."
>> 10. Move the created shortcut to the "Programs Folder"
>> 11. Build the CAB file and test
>>
>> I normally distribute my applications in a self-extracting zip file. You 
>> can
>> use the CE Application Manager (comes with ActiveSync / WMDC) to install
>> them from the desktop to the device. Lots of documentation on using the
>> Application Manager is available on MSDN.
>>
>> I recently wrote a short article about writting a generic multiple CAB 
>> file
>> installer for the desktop:
>> http://christian-helle.blogspot.com/2007/07/generic-multiple-cab-file-installer-for.html
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Regards,
>> Christian Resma Helle
>> http://christian-helle.blogspot.com
>>
>>
>> "Jenson"  wrote in message
>> news:4C10E544-8B3B-402F-AA9A-8F58656E9669@microsoft.com...
>> > Hi ctacke,
>> >
>> > I'm having similar problem too and I would like to know how can I 
>> > package
>> > my
>> > windows CE application into CAB files in VS 2005.
>> >
>> > Would appreciate if you can provide any kind of helps.
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>> >
>> > Regards,
>> > Jenson
>> >
>> >
>> > -- 
>> > :: Vision is Power ::
>> >
>> >
>> > "<ctacke/>" wrote:
>> >
>> >> > - I want 1 installer for all all WM 5 PPC devices (all processor
>> >> > architectures)
>> >>
>> >> All WM devices are ARM architecture, so that's easy.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> -- 
>> >>
>> >> Chris Tacke, Embedded MVP
>> >> OpenNETCF Consulting
>> >> Managed Code in an Embedded World
>> >> www.OpenNETCF.com
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>> 

Hi Christian,

Thanks for the reply. I also just notice that, but never thought of 
connecting to the Internet and download the CAB file from there. It would be 
great for any future updates or amendments for the application. But the 
device that I'm developing on is quite restrictive and debugging only can be 
done on the device, in that sense, the device must be connected to the 
workstation PC or notebook, which is quite troublesome =(

Meanwhile, I also include the database inside the CAB file, but it become 
about 10MB+ which I think would require deletion of file upon completing the 
installation.

Christian, you have been providing great helps to me whenever I need one! 
Thanks a million!!!

Thanks.

Regards,
Jenson
-- 
:: Vision is Power ::


"Christian Resma Helle" wrote:


> Hi Jensen,
> 
> You can publish your CAB file to some publicly accessible web server and 
> have it downloaded to the device. Installing it on the device from then on 
> is just a matter of clicking on the CAB file in the File Explorer
> 
> -- 
> Regards,
> Christian Resma Helle
> http://christian-helle.blogspot.com
> 
> 
> "Jenson"  wrote in message 
> news:EFDE0B6F-0C81-44CD-B76D-CD42BD6ADB65@microsoft.com...
> > Hi Christian,
> >
> > Thanks for the reply. BTW, is it possible to install from within the 
> > device
> > itself instead of going through the Desktop of our PCs?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Jenson
> > -- 
> > :: Vision is Power ::
> >
> >
> > "Christian Resma Helle" wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Jenson,
> >>
> >> Here are some basic steps for packing your application to a CAB file in
> >> Visual Studio 2005.
> >>
> >> 1. Add a new "Smart Device CAB Project" to your solution
> >> 2. Change the properties of the CAB project to describe the manufacturer 
> >> and
> >> product name.
> >> 3. If you target WinCE 5.0 or higher then change your OSVersionMin to 5.0
> >> and your OSVersionMax to 6.99
> >> 4. Right click on the CAB project and go to View - Filesystem
> >> 5. In the File System View, right click on "Application Folder" and go to
> >> Add - Primary Output
> >> 6. Add the primary output of your application
> >> 7. Add the Content Files from your application if needed
> >> 8. To make a shortcut on the "Programs Folder", you will have to right 
> >> click
> >> on "File System on Target Machine" then go to "Add Special Folder" -
> >> "Programs Folder"
> >> 9. Once the Programs Folder is added, go to the "Application Folder", 
> >> right
> >> click on the "Primary Output..." from your application then select 
> >> "Create
> >> shortcut...."
> >> 10. Move the created shortcut to the "Programs Folder"
> >> 11. Build the CAB file and test
> >>
> >> I normally distribute my applications in a self-extracting zip file. You 
> >> can
> >> use the CE Application Manager (comes with ActiveSync / WMDC) to install
> >> them from the desktop to the device. Lots of documentation on using the
> >> Application Manager is available on MSDN.
> >>
> >> I recently wrote a short article about writting a generic multiple CAB 
> >> file
> >> installer for the desktop:
> >> http://christian-helle.blogspot.com/2007/07/generic-multiple-cab-file-installer-for.html
> >>
> >>
> >> -- 
> >> Regards,
> >> Christian Resma Helle
> >> http://christian-helle.blogspot.com
> >>
> >>
> >> "Jenson"  wrote in message
> >> news:4C10E544-8B3B-402F-AA9A-8F58656E9669@microsoft.com...
> >> > Hi ctacke,
> >> >
> >> > I'm having similar problem too and I would like to know how can I 
> >> > package
> >> > my
> >> > windows CE application into CAB files in VS 2005.
> >> >
> >> > Would appreciate if you can provide any kind of helps.
> >> >
> >> > Thanks.
> >> >
> >> > Regards,
> >> > Jenson
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > -- 
> >> > :: Vision is Power ::
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "<ctacke/>" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> > - I want 1 installer for all all WM 5 PPC devices (all processor
> >> >> > architectures)
> >> >>
> >> >> All WM devices are ARM architecture, so that's easy.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> -- 
> >> >>
> >> >> Chris Tacke, Embedded MVP
> >> >> OpenNETCF Consulting
> >> >> Managed Code in an Embedded World
> >> >> www.OpenNETCF.com
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> 
> 
> 
>