Programming the Connection Manager: how do I debug my code?

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This post is somehow related to a previous one (Establishing GPRS Connection on Windows CE and Windows Mobile: Sample Codes), at least for the Windows Mobile-part. On Windows Mobile, Connection Manager is smart enough to the use the less expensive network available at the moment: hence, it'll open a GPRS connection only if the device is not connected through ActiveSync\WMDC's Desktop Passthrough and WiFi is not available. This depends on how you've provisioned the CM_Planner Configuration Service Provider, however that's the usual configuration.

However, how can I debug my code when it invokes ConnMgr APIs? It's simple (when you know it...): just don't use ActiveSync\WMDC. I'm talking about:

  1. Disable USB under ActiveSync\WMDC's Connection Settings (i.e. uncheck "Allow USB connections")
  2. Follow suggestions provided by the VSD Team for Windows CE 5.0 here: they apply to Windows Mobile devices as well - basically you need to manually do what Visual Studio automatically does through ActiveSync\WMDC
  3. Note that you'll need to know the IP address of the device: to do so you can use the Windows Mobile Network Analyzer PowerToy, but if you only need to know the current IP Address, then a very quick solution is to display it within the Home Screen through for example the Today IP 2005 Home plugin (it works even on WM6).

Cheers,

~raffaele