Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003

29 Mar 2005

In order to run and debug a .NET software application written in Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 on the Allegro CX or CE (Archer requires Visual Studio 2005, and Allegro CE/DOS does not support .NET software), you need to complete the following steps:

Note- If you are developing an eVB or eVC++ (not C#or VB .NET) application, please use Microsoft Embedded Visual Tools 3.0 or Microsoft Embedded Visual C++ 4.0 instead.

Detailed instructions for each step are given below. After you have completed Steps 1 through 3, you will be able to run and debug .NET software written in Visual Studio .NET 2003 on the Allegro CX or CE.

Additional Microsoft .NET software application development information is available after Step 3 below. This information includes:

Step 1: Confirm that the Operating System on the Allegro CE is Windows CE .NET 4.1

The Allegro CE comes with Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 as the standard operating system, which does not run Visual Studio .NET 2003 software applications. Microsoft Windows CE .NET 4.1 operating system is available for the Allegro CE from Juniper Systems, Inc. The price for Microsoft Windows CE .NET 4.1 is $55 US per unit license.

The Allegro CX comes with Windows CE .NET 4.2 as the standard operating system, which already supports the .NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP3.

Step 2: Download Microsoft .NET Compact Framework and Install onto the Allegro

Each Allegro CX or CE needs the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP3 installed first. To download and install Microsoft .NET Compact Framework, complete the following steps:

  1. Go to the Microsoft website and select ".NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP3 Redistributable" to download the install program to the desktop PC.
  2. Follow the download instructions presented by Microsoft. (Note: Save the downloaded program to the desktop PC.)
  3. Establish an ActiveSync connection between the Allegro and desktop PC.
  4. Double-click on the downloaded file to run the install program.
  5. Follow the install prompts until Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP3 is installed on your Allegro.
  6. Save the Allegro's file system by tapping on the Start Menu | Programs | Utilities | Save System.

     

Step 3: Download Microsoft Windows CE Utilities for Visual Studio .NET 2003 Add-on Pack 1.1

Before being able to deploy and debug a Visual Studio 2003 software applications on the Allegro, you need to download and install the "Windows CE Utilities for Visual Studio .NET 2003 Add-on Pack 1.1" into Visual Studio .NET 2003 on the desktop PC. Make sure you have Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 installed properly before you begin. To install the add-on pack, complete the following steps:

  1. Go to the Microsoft website and scroll down the website until you can click on the downloadable install file.
  2. Follow the download instructions presented by Microsoft. (Note: Save the downloaded program to the desktop PC.)
  3. Double-click on the downloaded file to run the install program.
  4. Follow the install prompts until Windows CE Utilities for Visual Studio .NET 2003 Add-on Pack 1.1 is installed on your desktop PC.
  5. Create a new or open your existing Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 smart device application on the desktop PC.
  6. In the Devices toolbar at the top of the Visual Studio 2003 window, select "Windows CE Device" from the Deployment Device drop-down list. This allows you to compile and then immediately deploy your application to the Allegro if connected to ActiveSync.
  7. In the Visual Studio 2003 window, click on the Tools menu. If the Add-On Pack 1.1 was successfully installed, a new option for "Select Windows CE Device CPU" will be available under the Tools menu.
  8. Use the "Select Windows CE Device CPU" option, select the "ARMV4" processor type, and then click OK.
  9. Exit Visual Studio .NET 2003.
  10. Restart your desktop PC to complete the add-on pack installation.
  11. Once your desktop PC has completed restarting, open your Visual Studio .NET 2003 project. Make sure the deployment device is still "Windows CE Device" and the Tools menu Windows CE Device CPU is still set to ARMV4.
  12. Connect the Allegro to ActiveSync, and then in your VS 2003 smart device project, click on the Debug menu, and then Start. Your application should now compile, download through ActiveSync to the Allegro, and then run immediately on the Allegros display.

Latest Allegro CX Operating System release

If you are debugging a Visual Studio .NET 2003 application using an Allegro CX with OS release version 1.04 or earlier, you will be missing the toolhelp.dll file on the Allegro CX which is normally contained in the Windows folder. This will prevent you from debugging to the Allegro CX through ActiveSync. Please download the latest Allegro CX Operating System release from the

Download section of this website. The password to extract this file on your desktop PC is similar to the latest release version without the decimal (example: "106").

Microsoft Windows CE Programming References

If you need additional information on programming for Microsoft Windows CE, please refer to the following:

  1. Visual Studio .NET 2003 Online Help (accessed by opening Visual Studios, and then clicking on the Help menu).
  2. Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN) Internet support and forums.
  3. Microsoft certified published textbooks. Some recommended books include:

.NET Compact Framework Programming with Visual Basic .NET, Paul Yao, and David Durant, Addison-Wesley Professional, 2004

Programming Microsoft Windows CE .NET, Third Edition, Douglas Boling, Author, Microsoft Press, 2003

Microsoft .NET Compact Framework (Core Reference), Andy Wigley, Mark Sutton, Rory MacLoed, Robert Burbidge, and Stephen Wheelwright, Microsoft Press, 2003

Building Solutions with the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework: Architecture and Best Practices for Mobile Development, Dan Fox, and Jon Box, Addison-Wesley Professional, 2003

Windows CE Software Development Support on the Allegro

The Allegro support program is designed to help those who are interested in developing their own applications to work with the Windows CE operating system on the Allegro. We offer programming support for software developers that provide the most efficient use of Software Development Kits (SDK), and gives access to our most experienced support analysts.

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