.NET Compact Framework and the Smart Device Programming Features of VS.NET

Posted August 17, 2004

Chat Date: June 10, 2004

Please note: Portions of this transcript have been edited for clarity

Introduction

Moderator: mikefos (Microsoft)
Welcome to today's .NET Compact Framework and the Smart Device Programming features of VS.NET chat! Questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome.

Moderator: mikefos (Microsoft)
Let’s introduce our hosts for today.

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Hello, I'm Chris Tacke. I'm co-founder of OpenNETCF.org, Principal Partner for OpenNETCF Consulting, CE Product Manager for Applied Data Systems - basically a busy person.

Host: TimWilson (MVP)
Hello, my name is Tim Wilson and I'm an independent consultant focusing on .Net technologies.

Host: Ginny (MVP)
Hi, I'm Ginny Caughey, President of Carolina Software, Inc. We specialize in software for the solid waste industry.

Host: petevick (eMVP)
Hi - Pete Vickers - MVP and Systems Consultant. VB.Net (and ex-eVB) developer currently doing a lot of work with GPS and Pocket PC

Host: NeilC (MVP)
Hi! I'm Neil Cowburn, Co-Founder of OpenNETCF.org and Principal Partner for OpenNETCF Consulting, LLC

Host: kcchesnut (MVP)
casey chesnut. run www.brains-N-brawn.com and concentrate on cryptography and advanced web services.

Host: PeterFoot (MVP)
Hi I'm Peter Foot of In The Hand and member of OpenNETCF.org

Host: AlexY (MVP)
Hi I am Alex Yakhnin, Program Manager for IntelliProg, Inc and a member of directory board at OpenNETCF.org

Host: BillRyan (MVP)
I'm a senior developer with InfoProGroup in Augusta, GA

Host: Maarten (MVP)
Hi I am Maarten Struys, Program Manager for PTS Software, and a member of OpenNETCF.org

Moderator: mikefos (Microsoft)
Welcome everyone, let’s get started!

Start of Chat

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Q: Can we soon get a Windows Media 9 Player Control for Pocket PC /NetCF?
A: Media Player currently has a COM interface. CF 2.0 will support COM Interop, so with CF 2.0 you'll have the ability to use WMP as a component.

Host: Ginny (MVP)
Q: When will CF 2.0 be RTM?
A: In about a year.

Host: NeilC (MVP)
Q: Ouch on the year!
A: Until then, check out the Smart Device Framework! ;) .

Host: PeterFoot (MVP)
Q: Which Media Player versions support COM? Can we use e.g. CFCOM to bind to it?
A: You can download the ActiveX control for WMP for Pocket PC 2002 devices only

Host: TimWilson (MVP)
Q: I'm interested in learning how to ensure that registry settings are removed from a Pocket PC during uninstall. The .NET Setup in the Registry Setup seems to provide this capability but it just doesn't funtion for me.
A: I believe that you need to create a custom Setup.dll that contains certain function calls (Uninstall_Init, Uninstall_Exit). Search google for "windows ce installation and configuration guide" and that should get you started.

Host: Ginny (MVP)
Q: Will the MAY CTP be the one distributed at TechEd Europe or are we going to get a new one?
A: No new one as far as I know.

Moderator: mikefos (Microsoft)
Q: At last chat it was not known if CF 2.0 on WinCE 5.0 will remain available under CORE license. Is there any more news on that?
A: When .NET CF 2.0 comes, it will be in Core.

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Q: Create Form, with an edit... onScanEvent() QtyBox1.Focus() then QtyBox1.SelectAll()..only works if you manually set focus... what's goin on underneath the hood?
A: Internally the TextBox calls it's base class, which then calls SendMessage with 177 (not sure the #define for that). If it's failing, then it sounds like focus isn't really happening.

Host: PeterFoot (MVP)
Q: Can a backup from a real Pocket PC device like iPAQ 3600 be restored to the Pocket PC emulator and have the applications in the backup run?
A: No it can't. And Device applications won't run on the emulator unless they are recompiled for the X86 architecture (or are .NETCF applications)

Host: AlexY (MVP)
Q: Can a backup from a real Pocket PC device like iPAQ 3600 be restored to the Pocket PC emulator and have the applications in the backup run?
A: No this is not possible.

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Q: Do you think using the sdk post message to set focus would work? on the edit box that is?
A: Absolutely.

Host: PeterFoot (MVP)
Q: I have a SQLCE database on the Pocket PC (created by the application at runtime). How can I get it exported to the desktop and be capable of being opened by Access? The 'Export database tables' in Activesync doesn't list anything.
A: Activesync doesn't have any support for synchronizing SQL Server CE tables.

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Q: Any plans to be able to write ActiveSync providers in .NET? (Hopefully easier than it is today with COM)
A: Nope.

Moderator: mikefos (Microsoft)
Q: There was mention by an MSFT person of an SP3 for CF 1.0. Anything more you can tell us on that please (confirmation/which quarter/major features)?
A: There will be an SP3 for NetCF 1.0. There are a number bug fixes in it and news about the beta will be coming soon.

Host: Ginny (MVP)
Q: I have a SQLCE database on the Pocket PC (created by the application at runtime). How can I get it exported to the desktop and be capable of being opened by Access? The 'Export database tables' in Activesync doesn't list anything.
A: There's no direct method of going from SQLCE to desktop Access. You might consider exporting the data to XML or some other format. This will get easier with the next version of SQLCE.

Host: AlexY (MVP)
Q: Hi. I have successfully extended textbox control and given it designer support (so that it shows up in toolbox). I am now trying to build a EDITABLE combobox and give it designer support. (editing will be with a hidden textbox ?!) How can i do this?
A: The same way you did for TextBox.

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Q: It there any indications whether CE 5.0 and CF 2.0 will fit in a 32M ROM based Pocket PC or will it require 48M or more?
A: From what I've seen it will pretty easily. 5.0 builds actually tend to be smaller than comparable 4.x builds, so 12MB is pretty easy for an image. The CF certainly won't use the remainder.

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Bill - I just realized that you said PPC, so the OEM is a big question here too. Will they even provide a 5.0 build for 32MB devices?

Host: AlexY (MVP)
Q: Has someone already written a editable combobox (combobox+textbox running in tandem) with designer support ? Can you provide me some links? Thanks
A: I haven't seen anyone yet, but if you managed to create one for TextBox I don't see any problems doing the same for ComboBox+TextBox combination

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Q: The CF is included in the OS image (nk.bin) provided by the OEM. IF I want to apply the .NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP2 Redistributable, do I need to get a new nk.bin from my OEM? Is the SP installation persistent through a reboot?
A: No. You can install it after-the-fact and it will overwrite the existing files. The "upgrade" will get lost if you lose all power however.

Host: PeterFoot (MVP)
Q: has anyone else noticed the warning message that comes up when SQLCE 2.0 is installed on WM2003SE?
A: CAB files built prior to WM2003SE will display this warning (Cabs can be marked as supporting Second Edition by changing the MinVersion and MaxBuild properties in the INF file), however SQLCE 2.0 will install and work correctly on Second Edition.

Host: PeterFoot (MVP)
Q: i know how to get OS version info from the .NET framework. Is there a comparable way to determine the SP level?
A: System.Environment.Version will return the version and build of the runtime. You can determine the Service Pack level from the build number. See: https://wiki.opennetcf.org/ow.asp?CompactFrameworkFAQ%2FDeterminingVersion

Host: TimWilson (MVP)
Q. Are registry entries in the AddReg section in an .INF file for a Pocket PC setup added on install and deleted on uninstall?
A: Entries will be added during install but you will have to remove these manually, if you so desire, during uninstall.

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Q: I know how to get OS version info from the .NET framework. Is there a comparable way to determine the SP level?
A: For getting the SP level, see this FAQ item: https://wiki.opennetcf.org/ow.asp?CompactFrameworkFAQ%2FDeterminingVersion

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Q: Will MS require the OEM's to upgrade their OS images, to contain the latest SP of the CF ?
A: I doubt it. It has never been MS policy to force the OEM to upgrade devices after release. Once it has passed PPC certification, it's the OEM's responsibility to determine if/when to upgrade.

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Q: Hello, I need help creating a custom control . . . can anyone here help?
A: Start by searching Google and looking the the stuff at www.opennetcf.org. Follow that up with questions in the public newsgroups. If you need commercial-level help, you might try www.opennetcf.com

Host: TimWilson (MVP)
Q: Is there a way to do that using VB.NET standard ed.?
A: You need VS.Net 2003 Pro or higher: https://wiki.opennetcf.org/ow.asp?CompactFrameworkFAQ%2FNecessaryTools

Host: Ginny (MVP)
A: Here's the link again:

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Q: We have lately been using WebServices on WLAN, despite of being rather stable, the WS also tend to be somewhat sloow on PPC during initiation, and to a certain degree during regular use. Any improvements planned, or any links to tweaks known ?
A: Yep, that's known behavior. THe best I can suggest is to make a "dummy" call from a worker thread at startup to JIT the WS stuff then call it as needed in the app.

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Q: Hello everyone. I want to know - the criteria we should use for dividing a application functionality in number of DLLs in .NET CF.
A: There are no hard and fast rules. It's based largely on how your development process works. You might break it up by dev group, logical function, etc.

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Q: contd: the paint is so slow that the the color change appears to ripple across the buttons rather than blinking all at once. Any ideas how to sycnhronize them?
A: Conceptually it's easy - you need to draw the buttons off-screen then blit them to the screen at once. Implementation won't be so easy. I'd probably create a custom control that contains all of the child buttons.

Moderator: mikefos (Microsoft)
Q: Does SP3 feature only bug fixes or are there newer/updated controls coming up?
A: As I understand it, it contains basically just bug fixes.

Host: ctacke (eMVP)
Q: Problem is that the controls are built at run time, much like an HTML page in a browser.
A: That shouldn't matter. Your control will have to track it's children, you just need the number to be dynamic. It will be very similar to what you're already doing.

Moderator: mikefos (Microsoft)
Q: what are the main bug fixes in SP3?
A: There will be documentation outlining this soon. I don't have all of the specs.

Moderator: mikefos (Microsoft)
Thanks for joining us today and thanks for the questions. It's time for us to officially end now.

Moderator: mikefos (Microsoft)
If you have further questions regarding the Compact Framework, please check out the newsgroup!

Moderator: mikefos (Microsoft)
Please see the chats schedule for upcoming topics.

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