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.cab Files

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.cab files are used to package applications and updates, such as new DLL files, for delivery to Smartphone and Pocket PC.

The .cab file you create can copy files, apply registry settings, or even run custom code during install and uninstall operations by including a SETUP.DLL file with your setup.

For Smartphone, you can provide a more secure method of packaging and delivering applications by signing .cab files with Authenticode certificates. For more information, see .cab Signing (SP Only).

CABWizSP automatically compresses .cab files to make downloads run the most efficiently. These files are compressed by means of the MSZIP compression algorithm. The Smartphone CAB Installer automatically decompresses the .cab files and extracts their contents.

You put a .cab file on the mobile device as follows:

  • Manually copy the .cab file to the device or emulator and execute it through File Manager by tapping the file name icons with the stylus.
  • ActiveSync Application Manager can copy the files to the device.

A single .inf File can contain information to produce multiple .cab files. For example, you could instruct CabWiz to produce .cab files for Pocket PC devices and the Pocket PC emulator through a single .inf file.

For more information about creating setup .cab files, see Creating Setup .cab Files with CabWizSp (SP Only).

See Also

Packaging Ring Tones and Sound Files in .cab Files | Setup XML in .cab and .cpf Files | Revocation of Certificates and .cab Files (SP Only)

Last updated on Friday, April 22, 2005

© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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