Deploying on Pocket PC

[AFish]

Hi Guys,

I have an application that runs on a Pocket PC, I'm curently deploying to the device using .Net, the problem is if the the client requires updates then deploying would be a problem(we cant give them .Net or the source code).

How can I create a package that would install on the device?
Any 1 have any experience and suggestions deploying on Pocket Pc's - need advice.

Thanks

[masqazi]

either we can copy cab file and run it on device or create a msi file for self deployment/installation.

Beware: when you want to copy cab files, you need to select appropriate CAB file for you device precessor...its important

[AFish]

How can I create an msi file that would allow me to deploy on the device?

[masqazi]

there are few links for help

1. http://www.pocketpcdn.com/articles/ezsetup.html
2. http://www.codeproject.com/netcf/Pac...ployingPPC.asp
3. there is one article in MSDN website... search site for pocket pc setup file

[AFish]

Thanks alot, i'm going to look into these apps...will let you know if it works.

[Strider]

if you use opennetcf's desktop.communction you can create your own application that will copy the cab to the device and launch the cab file then all the user has to do is hit ok on the device and the application will be installed..... check it out

[AFish]

Hi

I've tried the apps, the 1 from codeproject - cant get it to work, I got very far with the ezsetup,its very easy to use but I cant get it to include other files - have you used it?

My project requires sqlce.ppc3.arm.CAB, I included it in the ini file but it still doesnt install any idea how I can do this

Thanks for all the help

[AFish]

opennetcf's desktop.communction seems complicated - really strapped for time, theres not much help on it - How do you use it?

[nswan]

Hi,
I've just created my first pocket pc application and created an .msi installation file for it. I also had to include an extra file, and so add the necessary lines to the ini file. What lines did you add?

I stumbled through quite a few problems with the creation of the .msi file so am pretty confident I can help

Cheers
Nick

[AFish]

This is the Cabfiles section from my install.ini file

CabFiles = MyApp_PPC.ARM.CAB,OpenNETCF.SDF.PPC3.ARM.CAB,symbol.all.arm.cab,sqlce.ppc3.arm.CAB

MyApp_PPC.ARM.CAB is the only file that installs, after that the installation(PocketPc) tells me that the remainder of the files are required.

My understanding is that all cab files specified in that section will be installed - am i right?

So what do you think?

Thanks

[nswan]

no it's not that simple i don't think.

unfortunately my .net cf work is at home. I'll have a look at it later and let you know.

[Strider]

i wrote a nice application that allows the user to select a folder on a server where the cab files are...then its copies these to the device and launches the installer for each cab

[nswan]

when i came round to creating the .msi i was suprised and disappointed how difficult it seemed, and how little info there was out there. As MS are pushing Smart Clients and CF a bit now, hopefully they will come up with an easier way to install the applications on devices soon.

[AFish]

I found a piece of sofware call NSIS, its available free from null soft, it uses a scripting language to build an installer. Seems to be doing the job for now.

I also want to know if its possible to combine multiple cab files into 1 cab file?

Thanks

[AFish]

Now it does'nt work anymore! got really far with it.

Is there anything out there that will work?