Tools Catalog Items and Sysgen Variables (Compact 2013)

  • Article

3/26/2014

In Windows Embedded Compact, you can implement functionality for Platform Builder for Windows Embedded Compact 2013, an integrated set of tools and UI elements that help you create, test, and refine your OS design.

For more information, see Tools.

For more information about how to add or remove catalog items, see Create Your First OS.

Hardware and Software Requirements

  • Requires a connection from the hardware board to a computer that has Platform Builder installed.

Features

The following table describes the features that have specific SYSGEN requirements and that add support for using tools to create and test your OS.

Feature

Description

Dependencies

Core Connectivity - Native

Windows Embedded Compact supports a unified communications infrastructure called Core Connectivity to enable full-featured connectivity for downloading and debugging. With Core Connectivity support, you can:

  • Download a run-time image to a device.
  • Download an application or a collection of files to a device.
  • Launch an application on the device.
  • Support connectivity streams between a device and a computer that can be used by any application, such as Remote Tools and Visual Studio.
  • Support kernel-level connectivity streams between a device and a computer that can be used by applications such as Platform Builder.
  • Developer custom services that support the needs of varied OEMs. For more information, see Core Connectivity Reference.

Requires the following SYSGENS:

  • SYSGEN_CPP_EH_AND_RTTI
  • SYSGEN_STDIO
  • SYSGEN_STDIOA
  • SYSGEN_OLE

For File System and Registry related calls in ICcConnection, requires:

  • SYSGEN_FSRAMROM
  • SYSGEN_FSREGHIVE

For debugging, requires:

  • SYSGEN_LOCUSA
  • SYSGEN_TOOLHELP

For using KITL bootstrap or transport, requires:

  • SYSGEN_SHELL

For using files in the release directory, requires:

  • SYSGEN_RELFSD

Core Connectivity - Managed

Required for connecting to a device when you use a Remote Tool based on managed code, or when you debug managed (C#) code on the device.

Requires all SYSGENs necessary for Core Connectivity - Native.

Also requires SYSGEN_DOTNETV35_HEADLESS or SYSGEN_DOTNETV35. For more information, see .NET Compact Framework Catalog Items and Sysgen Variables.

Remote Tools Server

Provides an API to integrate a desktop application with Remote Tools Framework without using the Remote Tools Framework Shell. For more information, see Remote Tools Server COM API Reference.

Requires Core Connectivity - Native.

Cabsigntool, Signtool, and Signcode

Provides tools that digitally sign code or .cab files.

Requires SYSGEN_LVMOD. For more information, see Security Loader Catalog Items and Sysgen Variables.

CAB Wizard

Creates cabinet (.cab) files.

Requires SYSGEN_WCELOAD.

Createmui

Creates resource files for a multilingual user interface (MUI).

Requires SYSGEN_MULTIUI and two or more National/Regional Language Support (NLS) catalog items. For more information, see National/Regional Language Support (NLS) Catalog Items and Sysgen Variables.

Requires hardware support for a reboot, such as a Reset button.

Windows Embedded Compact Test Kit (CTK)

Provides various tests for aspects of an embedded application.

Requires inclusion of the following SYSGENS in the image in order for the CTK to connect to the device:

For full power management: SYSGEN_PM (do not use SYSGEN_PMSTUBS)

For standard I/O ASCII (STDIOA): SYSGEN_STDIOA

For C++ runtime support for exception handling and runtime type information: SYSGEN_CPP_EH_AND_RTTI

For English (U.S.) National/Regional Language support only: SYSGEN_LOCUSA

Catalog Items and Sysgen Variables

The following table describes the catalog items and associated SYSGEN variables that you can use to add support for using tools to create and test your OS.

Catalog item

SYSGEN variable

Description

Dependencies

CAB File Installer/Uninstaller

SYSGEN_WCELOAD

Provides the Cabinet (.cab) file installer that installs or uninstalls applications on a Windows Embedded Compact powered device without using a Configuration Service Provider.

None.

Release Directory File System

SYSGEN_RELFSD

Provides the device with access to files in %_FLATRELEASEDIR%.

Requires that the run-time image supports Kernel Independent Transport Layer (KITL).

Target Control Support (Shell.exe)

SYSGEN_SHELL

Transfers files to the device, accesses files on the computer from the device, and helps you debug device applications. For more information, see Target Control Debugging.

Requires an Ethernet port or serial port on the hardware board.

See Also

Reference

Tools

Other Resources

C Libraries and Runtimes Catalog Items and Sysgen Variables