[Example] Visual Studio PDA Test Application

[AlexMandel]

Here's a link to the example(proof of concept) application I built using Visual Studio .Net CF2 and SQL Server CE.
http://ftp.dfg.ca.gov/Public/RAP/Software/VS-PDA_example.zip

The application is a file backup program, specifically it copies the /My Documents/RADB/RADB.cdb file to 2 destinations, configurable by the end user in the interface. The default options(drop down list) are stored in a SQL Server CE table in an sdf file. The output filename is based on a date/time stamp.

In order to get it to work on a handheld right now (Pocket PC) it needs .NET compact framework 2 and SQL Server CE. Most of the older Dells (WM 2002, 2003 and 2003 SE) dont' have these installed. To install them you need to move the CAB files in the top directory to the handheld and then on the handheld in the File Explorer click on them to install.
My application can be installed using the PDA_Backup_Utility.exe
I'd like to get the Microsoft CABs into an easier to install format but haven't been able to figure out how and Microsoft seems to imply that they don't want you to be able to as they're more interested in selling you a newer device.

If you want to look at the code, the project files for Visual Studio 2005 are included in the PDABackup folder.

Have Fun,

Alex


PS: I was able to build the application based on my Visual Basic knowledge, and the MSDN help files. The PDA installation CAB was easy to make following a tutorial that comes with visual studio.
Estimated total hours to make the application and installer before getting stuck on the CAB issue = 6

[Chris Ball-7]

Great, thanks Alex I'll check it out next week.  I'm interested in the CAB tutorial for other applications as well, I'll look into that as soon as I have time.

Is SQL server CE a free package, like SQL Express?





>>> "Alex Mandel" <amandel@...> 12/21/2007 4:11 PM >>>
Here's a link to the example(proof of concept) application I built using Visual Studio .Net CF2 and SQL Server CE.
http://ftp.dfg.ca.gov/Public/RAP/Software/VS-PDA_example.zip 

The application is a file backup program, specifically it copies the /My Documents/RADB/RADB.cdb file to 2 destinations, configurable by the end user in the interface. The default options(drop down list) are stored in a SQL Server CE table in an sdf file. The output filename is based on a date/time stamp.

In order to get it to work on a handheld right now (Pocket PC) it needs .NET compact framework 2 and SQL Server CE. Most of the older Dells (WM 2002, 2003 and 2003 SE) dont' have these installed. To install them you need to move the CAB files in the top directory to the handheld and then on the handheld in the File Explorer click on them to install.
My application can be installed using the PDA_Backup_Utility.exe
I'd like to get the Microsoft CABs into an easier to install format but haven't been able to figure out how and Microsoft seems to imply that they don't want you to be able to as they're more interested in selling you a newer device.

If you want to look at the code, the project files for Visual Studio 2005 are included in the PDABackup folder.

Have Fun,

Alex


PS: I was able to build the application based on my Visual Basic knowledge, and the MSDN help files. The PDA installation CAB was easy to make following a tutorial that comes with visual studio.
Estimated total hours to make the application and installer before getting stuck on the CAB issue = 6

[Douglas Burch]

Hi Chris,

Everything is free except for Visual Studio. I posted a bunch of links earlier in the month, but now they're so embedded in the threads that it was hard to find them so I'm posting them again here:

Information and free downloads at:

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/editions/compact/default.mspx

Below, are some mobile development sites Steve Hemenez sent. He quickly created
a .Net PDA app using information from the "Hands on Lab page," however he wasn't
able to find that page again so it's not included below. He asked that we let
him know if we find any good sites on this subject. -Doug

Main Developer Site
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/developers/default.mspx

Windows Mobile 5 Developer Kit
http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/downloads/resourcekit/default.aspx

Windows Mobile 6 Developer Kit
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=06111a3a-a651-4745-88ef\
-3d48091a390b&DisplayLang=en

Good Resource
http://channel9.msdn.com/wiki/default.aspx/MobileDeveloper.HomePage

Some Starter Apps
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsmobile/bb264330.aspx

Here is one of the locations I found useful these are Hands on Labs
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsmobile/bb264328.aspx

Doug

>>> "Chris Ball" <cball@...> 12/21/2007 5:22 PM >>>

Great, thanks Alex I'll check it out next week. I'm interested in the CAB tutorial for other applications as well, I'll look into that as soon as I have time.

Is SQL server CE a free package, like SQL Express?

>>> "Alex Mandel" <amandel@...> 12/21/2007 4:11 PM >>>
Here's a link to the example(proof of concept) application I built using Visual Studio .Net CF2 and SQL Server CE.
http://ftp.dfg.ca.gov/Public/RAP/Software/VS-PDA_example.zip 

The application is a file backup program, specifically it copies the /My Documents/RADB/RADB.cdb file to 2 destinations, configurable by the end user in the interface. The default options(drop down list) are stored in a SQL Server CE table in an sdf file. The output filename is based on a date/time stamp.

In order to get it to work on a handheld right now (Pocket PC) it needs .NET compact framework 2 and SQL Server CE. Most of the older Dells (WM 2002, 2003 and 2003 SE) dont' have these installed. To install them you need to move the CAB files in the top directory to the handheld and then on the handheld in the File Explorer click on them to install.
My application can be installed using the PDA_Backup_Utility.exe
I'd like to get the Microsoft CABs into an easier to install format but haven't been able to figure out how and Microsoft seems to imply that they don't want you to be able to as they're more interested in selling you a newer device.

If you want to look at the code, the project files for Visual Studio 2005 are included in the PDABackup folder.

Have Fun,

Alex

PS: I was able to build the application based on my Visual Basic knowledge, and the MSDN help files. The PDA installation CAB was easy to make following a tutorial that comes with visual studio.
Estimated total hours to make the application and installer before getting stuck on the CAB issue = 6


 

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[Chris Ball-7]

great thanks Doug

Chris



>>> "Doug Burch" <dburch@...> 12/24/2007 9:06 AM >>>
Hi Chris,

Everything is free except for Visual Studio. I posted a bunch of links earlier in the month, but now they're so embedded in the threads that it was hard to find them so I'm posting them again here:

Information and free downloads at:

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/editions/compact/default.mspx 

Below, are some mobile development sites Steve Hemenez sent. He quickly created
a .Net PDA app using information from the "Hands on Lab page," however he wasn't
able to find that page again so it's not included below. He asked that we let
him know if we find any good sites on this subject. -Doug

Main Developer Site
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/developers/default.mspx 

Windows Mobile 5 Developer Kit
http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/downloads/resourcekit/default.aspx 

Windows Mobile 6 Developer Kit
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=06111a3a-a651-4745-88ef\
-3d48091a390b&DisplayLang=en

Good Resource
http://channel9.msdn.com/wiki/default.aspx/MobileDeveloper.HomePage 

Some Starter Apps
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsmobile/bb264330.aspx 

Here is one of the locations I found useful these are Hands on Labs
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsmobile/bb264328.aspx 

Doug

>>> "Chris Ball" <cball@...> 12/21/2007 5:22 PM >>>

Great, thanks Alex I'll check it out next week. I'm interested in the CAB tutorial for other applications as well, I'll look into that as soon as I have time.

Is SQL server CE a free package, like SQL Express?

>>> "Alex Mandel" <amandel@...> 12/21/2007 4:11 PM >>>
Here's a link to the example(proof of concept) application I built using Visual Studio .Net CF2 and SQL Server CE.
http://ftp.dfg.ca.gov/Public/RAP/Software/VS-PDA_example.zip 

The application is a file backup program, specifically it copies the /My Documents/RADB/RADB.cdb file to 2 destinations, configurable by the end user in the interface. The default options(drop down list) are stored in a SQL Server CE table in an sdf file. The output filename is based on a date/time stamp.

In order to get it to work on a handheld right now (Pocket PC) it needs .NET compact framework 2 and SQL Server CE. Most of the older Dells (WM 2002, 2003 and 2003 SE) dont' have these installed. To install them you need to move the CAB files in the top directory to the handheld and then on the handheld in the File Explorer click on them to install.
My application can be installed using the PDA_Backup_Utility.exe
I'd like to get the Microsoft CABs into an easier to install format but haven't been able to figure out how and Microsoft seems to imply that they don't want you to be able to as they're more interested in selling you a newer device.

If you want to look at the code, the project files for Visual Studio 2005 are included in the PDABackup folder.

Have Fun,

Alex

PS: I was able to build the application based on my Visual Basic knowledge, and the MSDN help files. The PDA installation CAB was easy to make following a tutorial that comes with visual studio.
Estimated total hours to make the application and installer before getting stuck on the CAB issue = 6


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]