How to Customize the Shell (Windows CE 5.0)
This topic provides you with a stable starting point for fully customizing the shell.
The shell provides the fundamental infrastructure for all applications and user interactions on a run-time image. Windows CE provides the source code for the entire shell. You can modify this code to achieve a unique look and user experience.
Use the following steps to customize the shell. Select the check box next to each step to track your progress.
| Step | Topic | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Organize your shell source files by copying them into another directory and then editing the build files. | Setting Up the Source Files for a Custom Shell | |
| 2. Create an empty, display-based OS. | Creating an Empty Display-Based OS | |
| 3. To provide the shell with something to display and manipulate, add an application to your OS design from the Catalog.
For example, choose Catalog\Core OS\Applications - End User\Games\Freecell. |
Adding an Item from the Catalog | |
| 4. Set up Platform Builder to build your customized shell code instead of the default shell code. | Setting up Platform Builder to Build Modified Code in a Public Directory | |
| 5. (Optional) Add the shell source code to one or more excluded projects so it can be modified using the Platform Builder IDE.
You can edit the source code for your shell in any development environment. It is always compiled during the run-time image build. |
Creating Excluded Projects to Host Shell Source Code in the IDE | |
| 6. Modify the source code for your shell. | Simple Shell Modifications | |
| 7. Set Platform Builder to build the type of run-time image you want. | Levels of Debugging Support | |
8. Build your run-time image The following list shows the choices to make:
|
Building a Run-Time Image | |
| 9. Configure your download and debugging connections. | Configuring a Connection for Downloading and Debugging | |
| 10. Download the run-time image to the CEPC and evaluate your shell. | Downloading a Run-Time Image |
See Also
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