Having an icon linked to my program

Hi, I'm making an application with several parts to it. I have the main application finished, so that you can execute it and access all the different aspects of the program. However, is there a way to have several other programs (or just icons) calling the main program with an argument or something that would allow the main application to open up to one specific section. For example, the application is a database, I would like to have one icon in Windows to open the application and have it load category A, have another icon to load B, and another C. How would I be able to link these icons to the main application so that I have icons A, B, C, and also the Main Application icon (where you can access everything)? Is there a way to do this on the Pocket PC with VB 2003 or 2005? Thanks

Hi,
just create a new shortcut to the file, although it would be the same icon.
A shortcut just consists of the number of characters in the short cut, a # sign, and the string so...

52#\Program Files\PocketWaiterPro\Waiter Enquiry.exe

If you use a command line option you could have for example...
55#\Program Files\PocketWaiterPro\Waiter Enquiry.exe -C

etc

HTH

Pete

Ok sorry I'm trying to distribute the program, so would it be possible for the setup program to do this for me? Thanks

We use a scripting program to install, but take a look a the 'inf' file, and see if it shows you. There are a couple of articles on deploying CF apps on MSDN.

If not, try out one of the 3rd party setup programs

Pete

Now... is it possible to create mini applications to call the main program? Because on second thought, these icons are not as flexible as if a tiny gateway program. If so, what is the command for calling up another application on the PPC? If that's not possible, how would I write such an application in C?
Thanks a lot, I appreciate the help!

Hi,
yes - you can use the opennet (www.opennetcf.org) diagnostics, as in the full framework (opennetcf.diagnostics.processtart), or you can use p/invoke and call 'createprocess'


OpenNETCF is the more flexible approach

Pete