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How To use different platform targets for PocketPC applications
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How To use different platform targets for PocketPC applications
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Problem: How To use different platform targets for PocketPC applications.
Q: There are several PocketPC platform targets available in Satellite Forms 6.1, including PocketPC 2002, pocketPC 2003, WinMobile 5, WinMobile5 Square, and WinCE.NET. Which target(s) should I include in my application?
This article is updated December 3, 2007 with new recommendations due to improvements in Satellite Forms 7.1. Older information is archived below for previous versions of Satellite Forms.
Solution: In many cases, you need only include a single PocketPC target in your project to create an application that will run on many different PocketPC target devices. This is the case whether you are upgrading an application created with an earlier version of Satellite Forms, or are creating a new application from scratch. The following guidelines apply:
1. Generally speaking, you can handle most PocketPC devices with a single PocketPC target. This target will use the Palm DB (PDB) device database format by default. DO NOT change it to use the obsolete Microsoft Pocket PC DB (CDB) database format.
You may use the PocketPC target for use on PocketPC 2002, PocketPC 2003, 2003SE, WinMobile 5, and WinMobile 6 Classic and Professional devices. You do not need to create separate targets for all of those platforms. The device application and database files created for the PocketPC target can be used on all of those devices.
2. Creating new applications
For new applications, you should use the PocketPC target. Most PocketPC target platforms are really not different except for the name, and are kept solely to maintain compatibility with projects written in an older version. There is no real difference between these targets, aside from the name. There is no need to add more than one of these targets to your application, since they are all compatible with each other.
3. WinMobile 5 Square target
The WinMobile 5 Square target is designed for the Windows Mobile devices that use a square 240x240 screen instead of the regular PPC 240x320 screen, like the Palm Windows Mobile Treo 700W/WX.
If you have a device that requires a different screen dimension (for example a device with a 320x320 square screen), contact Satellite Forms Support for help in building a specific target support file for that device.
The older KB article information applicable to Satellite Forms 6.x is archived below.
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1. Generally speaking, you can handle most PocketPC devices with a single PocketPC 2003 target.
2. Supporting PocketPC 2002 devices
The only PocketPC devices that require a dedicated target are PocketPC 2002 devices. If you want to support PocketPC 2002 devices with your application, you will need to build a separate PocketPC 2002 target for your application. The device database (CDB) files for this target are not compatible with the CDB files created for other PocketPC targets. If you do not need to support PocketPC 2002 devices with your application, ignore this target altogether.
3. Upgrading an application created with an earlier version of Satellite Forms
You may continue to use the PocketPC2003 target for use on PocketPC 2003, 2003SE, WinMobile 5 and WinCE.NET devices. You do not need to create separate targets for all of those platforms. The device application and database files created for the PocketPC 2003 target can be used on all of those devices (but not on PocketPC 2002 devices).
4. Creating new applications
For new applications, you could consider using the PocketPC 2003 target or the WinMobile 5 target. They are really not different except for the name. WinMobile 5 targets will work on PocketPC 2003 devices as well. The WinCE.NET target is also the same: it is included for developers writing new WinCE.NET applications so they can select that target instead of asking "why do I use the PPC 2003 target for WinCE.NET?". There is no real difference between these targets, aside from the name. There is no need to add more than one of these targets to your application, since they are all compatible with each other.
5. WinMobile 5 Square target
The WinMobile 5 Square target is designed for the forthcoming Palm Windows Mobile Treo, which is expected to use a square 240x240 screen instead of the regular PPC 240x320 screen. If you have a device that requires a different screen dimension (for example a WinCE.NET device with a 320x320 square screen), contact Satellite Forms Support for help in building a specific target support file for that device.
Keywords: target, platform, PocketPC, 2002, 2003, WinMobile 5, WinCE.NET
KB ID: 10024
Updated: 2007-12-03
Satellite Forms KnowledgeBase Online