Tools by Category (Compact 7)
3/12/2014
The following resources are common tools for Windows Embedded Compact 7, categorized by the task you use them for. For additional information, see Tools.
Application Development
When you write applications for a Windows Embedded Compact device, these are the tools that you use the most. For more information, see Application Development.
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
Design a GUI for your application. |
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Windows Embedded Silverlight Tools |
Convert a Silverlight project that you built in Expression Blend into a native (C++) Windows Embedded Compact application. For more information, including a complete walkthrough, visit Silverlight for Windows Embedded Application Development |
Create and build your native (C++) Windows Embedded Compact application. If you did not build your GUI by using XAML, you can work directly in Visual Studio without Expression Blend and Windows Embedded Silverlight Tools. |
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Scan a .dll or.exe file for deprecated APIs. |
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Create a new GUID. |
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Remove a program from a device. |
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Remove an application from a device. |
Build
You build your OS by using either Platform Builder or command-line tools. For more information, see Build an OS.
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
Build the source code using Platform Builder. For more information, see Build Menu Options. |
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Build the source code in a directory and in specified subdirectories. |
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Specify which Windows Embedded Compact OS modules and functionality to install on the target device. |
Debugging
Debugging is an important part of developing your OS or application. For more information, see Debugging.
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
Convert the output from the kernel tracker from CeLog (.clg) format to text (.txt) format. |
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Display information about a run-time image. |
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Test the functionality and performance of device drivers and related hardware for a Windows Embedded Compact powered device. |
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Evaluate performance, obtain diagnostic information, configure and work with the .NET Compact Framework. The most commonly used tools are Remote Performance Viewer, which provides real-time counter data on a running .NET Compact Framework application, and NETCF CLR Profiler, an instrumenting allocation profiler for .NET Compact Framework applications. |
Deployment
After you build your OS or application, you use the following tools to deploy your OS or application to a device. For more information, see Application Deployment.
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
Compress or decompress run-time images for use with the x86 BIOS boot loader. |
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Package or update an application in a cabinet (.cab) file. |
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Convert ROM files from binary (.bin) format to Motorola 32-bit (.sre) format or absolute binary (.abx) format. |
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Remove a program from a device. You use this tool for headless and primitive devices. |
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Remove an application from a device by using a file that you generated from Wceload Tool. |
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Install or remove a .cab file from a location that you specify. You use this tool for headless and primitive devices. . |
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Install a .cab file to a location that you select on the device. |
Localization
Use these tools to create resource files so that end users can choose from multiple languages and keyboard layouts on their devices.
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
Create resource files for a multilingual UI (MUI), which allows an end user to change the language of the UI. |
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Produce input language and device layout source files from a keyboard layout DLL. |
OS Development
Use these tools to help create your OS. For more information, see OS Development.
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
Extract files from a run-time image and optionally replace files in a run-time image. |
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Backup and restore OS-specific .lib files that Microsoft provides. |
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Simplify converting different types of graphic files into a compressed .bmx file that is used for splash screens in Windows Embedded Compact. |
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Create a stream driver subproject with various options that provides some tests for the driver. |
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Create a subproject that collects resources and copies them to the release directory when the subproject is built, as well as creating a catalog item for the subproject and its resources. |
Security
Use these tools to help secure your applications and files.
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
Sign a .cab file and all its executable content (.exe and .dll files) with the specified certificate(s). |
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Sign a portable executable (PE) file (.dll or .exe file) with an Authenticode digital signature. You can sign either an assembly or an individual file contained in a multiple file assembly. |
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Digitally sign files with an embedded signature, verify signatures in files, or timestamp files. |