How to Develop an Application for a CEPC (Windows Embedded CE 6.0)

1/5/2010

By using Platform Builder, you can develop custom applications and include them in your run-time image. Typically, you add an application to a run-time image towards the end of the operating system (OS) design development process. The features, modules, and components in your run-time image determine the APIs that you can use in your application.

The following steps show you how to develop a Hello World application for a CEPC. However, you can apply these steps to all hardware platforms and types of applications.

Hardware and Software Assumptions

• You have set up a CEPC. For more information, see How to Set Up a CEPC.
• You have configured the run-time image for running on a CEPC.
  For more information, see How to Configure and Build a Run-Time Image for a CEPC.
• You have configured the CEPC for downloading a run-time image.
  For more information, see How to Configure and Download a Run-Time Image to a CEPC.
• You have decided on the type of application that you want to develop, and the basic functionality that it will provide. Based on the planned functionality, you can determine which modules and components must be included in the run-time image to support the application functionality. For more information, see Windows Embedded CE Features.

Steps

Step	Topic
1. Use the Windows Embedded CE OS Design Wizard to select a design template and the initial components for the OS design. On the BSP page, choose CEPC: x86. Choose a design template that includes the features that your application requires. Or, add these features explicitly while proceeding through the wizard. For example, you may have to add a Command Processor, a Console Window, a Graphical Shell, and so on. Choose application development features for your OS design, such as Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 2.0 or Active Template Library (ATL), and then complete the wizard.	Creating an OS Design with the Windows Embedded CE OS Design Wizard
2. Choose a Debug or Release configuration to create when Platform Builder builds the OS design into a run-time image. To use the kernel debugger, add support for the kernel debugger.	Levels of Debugging Support Building a Run-Time Image From a Debug Configuration Building a Run-Time Image From a Release Configuration Using the Kernel Debugger with a Run-Time Image Built From a Release Configuration
3. If you expect the size of either the debug or the release run-time image to exceed 32 MB, enable support for a large run-time image in the settings for the OS design. Note: Debug run-time images are typically larger than release run-time images. If you choose a debug configuration and the OS design contains many features, it is likely that the size of the run-time image will exceed 32 MB.	Enabling a Run-Time Image Size Larger Than 32 MB
4. Build the OS design into a run-time image to generate the Windows Embedded CE header files and DLLs.	Building a Run-Time Image
5. In the Output window, on the Output tab, verify that the build contains no errors.	Build Error Debugging Process
6. Develop an application which uses APIs that your run-time image supports. For information about the APIs that your run-time image supports, see Windows Embedded CE Features and view the documentation for the features in your run-time image.	Configuring a Hello World Application
7. Build the application. To build subproject code, in Solution Explorer, right-click <Subproject name> and choose Build. <Subprojectname>.exe is the executable for your application project.	Not applicable
8. Rebuild the run-time image.	Building a Run-Time Image
9. Turn on the CEPC so that it becomes active on the Ethernet network or over the serial connection and Platform Builder can discover it.	Not applicable
10. Download the run-time image through the connection that you configured when you configured the CEPC. Wait until all modules are loaded on the CEPC.	Downloading a Run-Time Image to a CEPC
11. Run the application on the CEPC. In Platform Builder, on the Target menu, choose Run Programs, choose <Subproject name>.exe, and then choose OK.	Not applicable
12. (Optional) Test your application by using the Application Verifier tool.	Application Verifier Tool Running the Application Verifier Tool

See Also

Concepts

CEPC-based SDBs

Other Resources

Creating a Subproject
Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Security Model