Start Menu Links

4/8/2010

You can add links to the Start Menu for Windows Mobile devices. You can use the following three ways to place links onto the Start Menu:

Make changes to the .dat files
The .dat files get integrated with Microsoft content at makeimg. The .dat files reside in ROM and are processed on boot.
To add links to the Start Menu you would need to edit the project.dat and platform.dat files as follows:
1. Replace entries in the project.dat file that copy links to the start menu folder with entries that copy the same links to the programs folder.
2. Add entries to the platform.dat file that copy your own links to the start menu.
  The following platform.dat code example shows how to add DemoPlayer.lnk, and JpegViewer.lnk to your Start Menu.
```
IF IMGDRM
Directory("\Windows\Start Menu"):-File("DemoPlayer.lnk","\Windows\DemoPlayer.lnk")
Directory("\Windows\Start Menu"):-File("JpegViewer.lnk","\Windows\JpegViewer.lnk")
ENDIF
```
Use provisioning XML.
The provisioning XML resides in ROM and is processed on cold boot. The XML code could also be sent down during provisioning.
Use CAB files built from .inf files. The CAB file solution is primarily designed for a separate installation instead of links and applications that are originally delivered on the device.
CAB files are usually not in ROM, but could be. They are usually not processed on cold boot, but could. The CAB file installation is not transparent to the user. The user will always get UI for the installation.

See Also