Modify your OS and download the update (Compact 2013)

9/29/2014

Now that the OS Design Wizard has created an OS with a specific set of features defined by the design template, you'll now use Catalog Items View in Visual Studio to change the graphical shell to your OS. To show the Catalog Items View tab, open your OS project, and then go to View>Other Windows>Catalog Items View.

After you complete the change to your OS, you will then connect your device and download the new run-time image to your test device.

Use Catalog Items View to change your OS

Catalog items provide functionality or support for a specific feature when they are added to your OS. You can add or remove a catalog item by selecting the check box beside it. When you select a catalog item, you'll see green check mark in the box beside it.

Each catalog item is associated with a Sysgen variable that instructs the build system to include that functionality when you build your OS. In Catalog Items View, when you point to a catalog item, you'll see a pop-up window with the catalog item name, the Sysgen variable name in parentheses, and a brief description of the catalog item.

Many catalog items have dependencies on other items that are required for the feature to work properly. When you select a catalog item, Platform Builder automatically selects any dependencies for that catalog item. When Platform Builder selects a catalog item, you'll see a green square in the box.

Some catalog items prevent you from including other items. If you see a red X in the box beside a catalog item, that item will be excluded from the run-time image.

• To see all of the dependencies for a catalog item, right-click the catalog item, and then click Show Dependencies> Depends On.
• To learn why a dependency is included, right-click the dependency, and then select Reasons for Inclusion of Item. Before you can remove a dependency, you must remove the catalog item that requires it.
• To learn why an item can't be included, right-click the item, and then select Reasons for Exclusion of Item. Before you can include that catalog item, you must remove the catalog item that caused the exclusion.

The following exercise shows you how to change the graphical shell of your OS. You'll need to include a Sample Home Screen, select a Screen Configuration, and then add Themes.

To change catalog items

1. Open your project in Platform Builder.

   If you don't see the Catalog Items View tab, click View>Other Windows>Catalog Items View.

2. Expand Core OS>**Windows Embedded Compact **>Shell and User Interface>Graphical Shell.

   

3. Expand Sample Home Screen, and then select the Sample Home Screen catalog item.

   If you see a red X beside Sample Home Screen, clear the Minimal Shell check box, and then re-select Sample Home Screen.

4. Expand Themes, and then select a theme. You can place the cursor on each theme catalog item to see a description of that theme. The example uses Default Theme.

5. Expand Screen configuration, and then select one of the screen sizes. The example shows 640 x 480 Portrait selected.

6. Detach your test device. Go to Target>Detach Device to remove the device.

7. Save the OS design, then go to Build>Rebuild solution to rebuild the run-time image.

Update the OS run-time image on the device

Now that you have a new OS and an updated run-time image, you need to connect your device and download the new run-time image to your test device. Attach the device in Platform Builder, and then start the virtual device as described in the procedure in Download the OS to the Device.

When the device finishes rebooting, it changes from the Minimal Shell to the Sample Home Screen with the theme you selected.

Learn more about

• Catalog items and sysgen variables
  For general information about catalog items, see Catalog Files and Catalog Items. For information about catalog items and Sysgen variables for specific OS features, see the documentation regarding the feature. For example, for information about catalog items and Sysgen variables for keyboard support, see Keyboard Catalog Items and Sysgen Variables.

• Shell and user interface options
  For detailed information, see Shell and UI.

See Also

Concepts

Create Your First OS