hi
any one know how to code my own Today Screen Plugin?
i m a programmer.
i want to create my own usefull Today Screen Plugin like Clock.
short cuts. and timer..
i can only develop application for O2, but i dont know how to make
Today Screen
Hi tinkyawoo!
I assume you program in c++?
Today plug-in is basically a DLL that exports two functions with fixed ordinals.
InitCustomItem - the important one, and another (don't remember the name) for options dialog (if you want one).
There is an article on this at www.pocketpcdn.com.
You can also use my code published here for reference:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=45084
Good luck!
thanks. i will check it
tinkyawoo: if you're a programmer, I suggest checking out the SDK; it has a good example framework for a plugin, although watch out for the repainting bug in the sample.
Otherwise, read levenum's source code as well. It's excellent. You can learn a lot.
V
Would it not be possible....
Would it not be possible to write a small dll which can be controlled from VB.NET or C#.net to display certain things?
If this was released (under BSD or another permissive licence) then we could all use it to develop stuff, which would help those of us who's first language is Basic
Today Plugin
Unfortunately you can't write today screen DLLs in .Net.
There is a lot of info on the microsoft web site - if u care to search.
They do - however - give you a means of writing a EVC DLL that calls a .net application for the today screen info , but I haven't tried it.
Charlie Grillo
Re: Would it not be possible....
What do you mean by "controlled from". Do you want a .NET app to be able to effect the plug in somehow? If so, it is possible...since .NET is managed code and the plug-in is a native dll, the simplest way to have the two communicate is via windows messages.
You can do the following:
-Register a custom Message that your .NET app will broadcast to your plug-in(s)
-in your DLL WndProc procedure, listen for that message and act accordingly
Alternatively, you can have the dll do the same thing, but ofcourse, your .net app would have to be running to recieve that message (unless you have the dll launch it directly).
JonTheNiceGuy said:
Would it not be possible to write a small dll which can be controlled from VB.NET or C#.net to display certain things?
If this was released (under BSD or another permissive licence) then we could all use it to develop stuff, which would help those of us who's first language is Basic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is it possible ?
there's an example on the MSDN how to achieve this.
It's a tutorial to make a Today Screen plugin with the .NETCF Framework. SInce it's impossible to make a TodayScreen with .NET they use a c++ host which enables you to create an HTML container on the Today Screen. I think that's what you want
activetoday?
Interesting, can you point out what is the title of the example?
So I can search in msdn.
Rhapsody said:
there's an example on the MSDN how to achieve this.
It's a tutorial to make a Today Screen plugin with the .NETCF Framework. SInce it's impossible to make a TodayScreen with .NET they use a c++ host which enables you to create an HTML container on the Today Screen. I think that's what you want
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had to search for a while but here it is:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms839442.aspx
I tried it a long time ago, but couldn't get it to work. (but I think that's because of me and not because of the article)
Modaco wrote a plugin for Modaco Plus users to do this.
Also the Plugin app SideX does this, probably others to!
Not so hard to write from scratch if you wanted to.
V
vijay555 said:
Modaco wrote a plugin for Modaco Plus users to do this.
Also the Plugin app SideX does this, probably others to!
Not so hard to write from scratch if you wanted to.
V
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're not familiar with C++ it can be hard
I am interested in dabbling a little in programming for my Kaiser. I have programming experience, mainly php / mysql, though I have done some C and lots of scripting in my time. My biggest project so far though was an open source google maps mod to put on your website - thousands of lines of php / js code, mysql backend and AJAX tieing it together, some graphics routines etc, so I am no drooling n00b when it comes to coding.
How easy is it to develop basic stuff in WM?
I have access to MSDN, so I can get Visual Studio (2005 for sure, maybe later versions), so I think I have access to the apps I would need. I just ordered some books to help me along, but was wondering if I would likely face a steep learning curve.
All the stuff I want to do is today screen plugins - was thinking of having a bash at writing my own quick contacts plugin - *very* basic - just a vertically scrolling list of names over a transparent PNG button with maybe photos from the address book - I want it to be able to scroll by vertical gesture within an ultimatelaunch tab - is this likely to be quite easy and quite a good "first app" to program?
I was also looking at writing a lite repacement for phoneweaver as the only feature I use is to turn on BT when it detects power but no activesync (ie auto turn on BlueTooth when I am in the car and the device is cradled) - maybe a hack to force the keyboard backlight on in the same situation.
I have bought:
Microsoft® Visual C#® 2005 Step by Step (Microsoft)
Microsoft® Mobile Development Handbook [Paperback] by A. Wigley; Daniel... (Microsoft)
Comments / suggestions?
I would also be very interested in a thread or good reference on how to start to program app for mobile gadgets. Actually i'm a Delphi coder, and i would like to implement some applications on WM platform, but when i search over internet there's plenty of information, but no usefull information with "real-life" recomendations.
depend on the platform and language one wish to use really
there is c#.net, vb.net c++.net
c++ miniMFC, c++ PureWin32 sdk
oldVB
...
here are some other posts asking pretty much the same thing from the forum
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=225405&highlight=programming
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=237932&highlight=programming
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=241670&highlight=programming
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=245426&highlight=programming
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=228043&highlight=programming
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=317913&highlight=programming
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=302548&highlight=programming
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=327164&highlight=programming
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=305926&highlight=programming
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=336251&highlight=programming
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=226412&highlight=programming
codeguru.com got examples of various windows mobile programs too today items and such
about delphi i dont know if anybody got some info i would say borlands site
Thanks rud. I was aware of various other posts, but my question was more of a "How steep is the learning curve?" rather than "How do you do it?".
There was also an element of "How do you do it?" insofar as there seem to be better or worse ways of going about various kinds of app (eg today apps with gesture support) which I am finding a bit of a minefield, but I feel that the new post was valid because I am giving an indication of my experience level and what I am trying to acheive - none of the posts you listed cover the combination of stuff I am trying to do. Reqs like pulling from outlook db and allowing gesture scrolling in a today plugin, I dunno, I may waste ages with C#, for example, only to realise it is a breeze with C++... I also note that a google search for wm programming gesture scroll today screen currently ranks this very thread #5. By tomorrow that'll be a googlewhack then.
Yes, there are various posts about how to get started, but I think maybe a sticky would be in order with a bit of info on the various paths - the vb/c++/c# options are quite bewildering - stuff like
levenum said:
Your question is mainly a matter of personal preference.
Here is my opinion on C++ vs. C#:
C++ advantages:
- Native code is faster than .NET
- Easier access to Win32 APIs
- Ability to write system components like keyboards and today plugins.
C# advantages:
- Saves on coding time
- Allows use of many .NET CF components to quickly accomplish complex tasks.
Please note that I am bias. I hate .NET and want nothing to o with it. Specially on mobile devices that do not have the processing power to spare for the .NET overhead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is really useful, maybe if it were expanded upon, info such as for this route you need visual studio, etc, etc it would make a really good sticky for the dev section.
evilc said:
I am interested in dabbling a little in programming for my Kaiser. I have programming experience, mainly php / mysql, though I have done some C and lots of scripting in my time. My biggest project so far though was an open source google maps mod to put on your website - thousands of lines of php / js code, mysql backend and AJAX tieing it together, some graphics routines etc, so I am no drooling n00b when it comes to coding.
How easy is it to develop basic stuff in WM?
I have access to MSDN, so I can get Visual Studio (2005 for sure, maybe later versions), so I think I have access to the apps I would need. I just ordered some books to help me along, but was wondering if I would likely face a steep learning curve.
All the stuff I want to do is today screen plugins - was thinking of having a bash at writing my own quick contacts plugin - *very* basic - just a vertically scrolling list of names over a transparent PNG button with maybe photos from the address book - I want it to be able to scroll by vertical gesture within an ultimatelaunch tab - is this likely to be quite easy and quite a good "first app" to program?
I was also looking at writing a lite repacement for phoneweaver as the only feature I use is to turn on BT when it detects power but no activesync (ie auto turn on BlueTooth when I am in the car and the device is cradled) - maybe a hack to force the keyboard backlight on in the same situation.
I have bought:
Microsoft® Visual C#® 2005 Step by Step (Microsoft)
Microsoft® Mobile Development Handbook [Paperback] by A. Wigley; Daniel... (Microsoft)
Comments / suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey!
Congrats on getting your hands on with Windows Mobile...
The easiest way is to download Visual Studio 2005(2008 You have it on MSDN) - and create a new application with it.
It's sooo easy if you know your object oriented programming, as long as you want to create ordinary "office" applications... But if you want to do more advanced things(like creating a today-plugin) you need to go over to c++(even though you can download a .net home-plugin-container which acts like a "loader" for your plugin written in c++) - and also, if you want to create good GUIs, I think you are better off with c++... But then again, I think you need a bit more effort in learning c++ then using c#...
Hope this helps...
Still slogging my way thru this...
I got hold of an MSDN disc, first off I installed visual studio 6 - bad move.
Had to uninstall before trying to install VS 2005, now I think it has screwed something up, every time I try and create a "Smart Device Win32" project, I get a "Project creation failed" error. I may have to re-GHOST my OS to get rid of it
So much time just finding out what apps I need and what options to choose to start a project...
I found http://channel9.msdn.com/wiki/default.aspx/MobileDeveloper.HomePage which seems helpful
Thanks for responses!
Evilc, you link of msdn is excellent point, many thanks!
I have also just started programming in C++ ..i dnt have any knowledge of any type of codes..i learned every thing frm MSDN libraries ( i have many many of them caz i have VS 2006 VS 2005 and VS 2008 )..i recommend you to work with C++ because it uses less system resources and is fast..hope this helps..check out my Kitchen coded in C++ ( link in signature )
Yeah, I think C++ is definately more what I am looking for from what I have learned thus far.
Re-Ghosted OS - totally fresh XP SP2, installed Visual Studio 2005, still the same error. GRRR!
Visual C++ --> Smart Device --> Win32 Smart Device Project == "Project Creation Failed"
Other Languages --> Visual C# --> Smart Device --> Windows CE 5.0 --> Device Application == Project created OK.
Some posts I have found on the net say it is an IE7 issue, I may try uninstalling that or flashing back to an OS image with IE6 only, but this is really winding me up and taking a *lot* of my time...
I uninstalled IE7 and the problem went away. Woohoo!!
starting programming windows mobile
hello
1. see my web site.
2. see my book recommendations, especially the 'programming windows ce' by douglas boling. It has an example for many things and a today sample too. Most is based on visual c++ 3.0/4.0. Embedded Visual C 4 can be loaded free of charge at ms.
regards
josef
Nice site, thanks.
The windows mobile 6 sdk actually has a today screen sample, along with samples of most of the things I need to do.
neofix said:
It's sooo easy if you know your object oriented programming, as long as you want to create ordinary "office" applications... But if you want to do more advanced things(like creating a today-plugin) you need to go over to c++(even though you can download a .net home-plugin-container which acts like a "loader" for your plugin written in c++) - and also, if you want to create good GUIs, I think you are better off with c++... But then again, I think you need a bit more effort in learning c++ then using c#...
Hope this helps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are we using the same language?? Cos this (C++ Win32 for Mobile Devices) is by far and above the most difficult programming language to get into that I have ever tried. Yes, worse than ASM.
Trying to code an app that prints "Hello World" has taken me over 5 hours with no success yet - most languages I have a go at it's 5 minutes.
From http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms901121.aspx :
Code:
int DrawText(
HDC hDC,
LPCTSTR lpString,
int nCount,
LPRECT lpRect,
UNIT uFormat
);
It gives a brief description of what the parameters are, but absolutely no examples and no explanation of what all the parameters do or how to initialize them, so even browsing an example is no use to me.
u can simply try
MessageBox::Show(" your message ");
ather90 said:
u can simply try
MessageBox::Show(" your message ");
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't that .NET ?
I thought the consensus was that Native Win32 or whatever it is called was the better way to go?
This is part of the problem. I cannot even work out what to put in a search engine to pull out info on the right "flavour" of C and for the pocketpc. It's *so* bewildering.
Hello evilc.
First I noticed you have some trouble with VS 2005. It probably won't be easy now, but if you ever get to format your machine again don't install it (unless you absolutely need some other features).
For C / C++ programming for WM device I strongly recommend eVC 4 as it is much lighter and responds quicker. (It's a free download as well)
Second, though you can program for WM in C# and VB .NET which are both .NET Object based languages and are probably much closer in form to PHP and Java then C, you can not write system components such as today plugins in those languages.
You need native code so C / C++ is the only way to go.
(Actually, there is a trick to combine C# and C++ DLLs to create a today plugin where C# will do the main stuff, but its pretty complicated)
What you need is to learn basic Win32 programming and using the windows API. They are almost identical for Windows Mobile and Desktop windows versions so any book on Win32 should teach you the basics.
(Personally I started with MS book on MFC and studio 6 but I would not recommend it)
Finally:
I would gladly explain the parameters of DrawText but I am not quite clear on how much familiarity you have with the Win32 mechanics, since the languages you are used to obscure them unlike C which gives you extra power but also makes you work much harder to get anything done.
Do you know how to handle messages, and how windows manages all abjects using handles? Any familiarity with GDI?
If not, it will be pretty difficult to explain.
levenum said:
Hello evilc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello! <waves>
First I noticed you have some trouble with VS 2005. It probably won't be easy now, but if you ever get to format your machine again don't install it (unless you absolutely need some other features).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tracked down the problem when I got home and installed on my desktop. When doing it on the laptop, whilst installing SP1 for studio 2005, I had hit "Not Now" to a reboot request and it had said installation failed. When I installed SP1 on my desktop and said "Yes" to the reboot request, the problem went away, so I guess it was fixed in SP1 but the installer is a bit picky.
For C / C++ programming for WM device I strongly recommend eVC 4 as it is much lighter and responds quicker. (It's a free download as well)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wish I had that advice before as I wasted a day messing around with an MSDN CD, trying to work out what to install and what not. So does the eVC 4 download include an IDE? If not, what do you use?
Second, though you can program for WM in C# and VB .NET which are both .NET Object based languages and are probably much closer in form to PHP and Java then C, you can not write system components such as today plugins in those languages.
You need native code so C / C++ is the only way to go.
(Actually, there is a trick to combine C# and C++ DLLs to create a today plugin where C# will do the main stuff, but its pretty complicated)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have to tell me twice to avoid the bloatware ****e
What you need is to learn basic Win32 programming and using the windows API. They are almost identical for Windows Mobile and Desktop windows versions so any book on Win32 should teach you the basics.
(Personally I started with MS book on MFC and studio 6 but I would not recommend it)
Finally:
I would gladly explain the parameters of DrawText but I am not quite clear on how much familiarity you have with the Win32 mechanics, since the languages you are used to obscure them unlike C which gives you extra power but also makes you work much harder to get anything done.
Do you know how to handle messages, and how windows manages all abjects using handles? Any familiarity with GDI?
If not, it will be pretty difficult to explain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No GDI Experience. I take it this would be the library of choice for drawing the screen of a today screen app? Stuff like the HTC Home clock or the new Face Contacts - they would likely use Native C++ and GDI? Doesnt strike me as something you would do with a form.
Also, anyone got the skinny on vertically scrolling by click-and-drag inside a today screen app? Just a case of enabling a parameter? Has to be coded manually? Best way to do it smoothly? If you have seen the Conduits Pocket Player 3.x browse list - how it "eases in" and "eases out" at the ends of the list, has inertia so you can "flick" down the list, the alphabetical bar instead of the regular scroll bar - is that all coded manually or is there an api or something that can help?
Thanks for the help!
I just noticed your apps in your sig - checked out LVM time - noticed there was source - wooohoo! I generally pick these things up by example.
All that code just for a (configurable) clock on one line - wow. Great though, a really good example of a today app - minimal enough in functions so it is easier to suss how it all slots together, but full featured enough (implimented example of an options screen - yay!) to show how to do various things.
And Gnu as well! Nice, this will be the basis of my first test project too I think - at least now I have a framework to test out what I want to do and how to go about it without having to work out how to code the basis of the application.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart sir.
I tried to build it in VS2005, but I got a
fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'todaycmn.h': No such file or directory
A quick google search showed todaycmn.h was part of the SDK, I found the file, dropped it into the headers section of the project, but no joy. I will probs just try eVC.
Oh, and having developed a today plugin, maybe you can answer this one:
As far as I can tell so far, debugging isn't very easy with a today app - something to do with the fact that the dll is not releasable? Is this an issue I will come up against? I hope its not a case of "reinstalling" the app each time you want to test... I was thinking maybe along the lines of have it as a normal app for debugging, then make it a today plugin when you want to build to use it?
I dunno, probably trying to run before I can walk, my books shoulda been here today, oh well. Sorry for all the questions...
@evilc:
Are you using standard Win32 or MFC?
You may want to try using MFC since you get the flexibility of native development but with some nice class libraries that make your life easier.
As for click and drag behavior, that is usually implemented by handling the WM_LBUTTONDOWN, WM_LBUTTONUP and WM_MOUSEMOVE.
When you get wm_lbuttondown you set a flag that says the user is dragging. You use wm_mousemove to update the stylus position as long as this flag is set, then you unset it on wm_lbuttonup.
That's the basic idea anyway. Someone made a post about gesture recognition in this forum a few weeks ago with sample code. You should see if you can find that.
Managed Today Screen plugins
See:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms839442.aspx
for some background on the concept.
And:
http://www.christec.co.nz/blog/archives/279
Outlines what I think is a very ingenius technique for managed today screen plugins.
For those of you that want an easy way to make a today screen app in c#. Chris did all the C++ work for you.
Also I forgot to mention that the SDK samples cover all most every application type you can think of. Most of the good ones are Win32 though.
Also, keep in mind that you can use P/Invoke from your C# apps to call native APIs. So don't let people tell you you need to use C++ just because you can access more api's. I will say that you should use C++ for games, or other apps that require high speed or advanced GUI's (it is VERY hard to do interesting gui techniques with C# and interop, trust me).
And finally, I would highly recommend using the most recent version of visual studio you can get (especially if you're using vista), unless your machine can't handle a newer version. I say so because visual studio gets more and more powerful as an editor with each new iteration and I personally can't go back after I get used to the new features they introduce. And the new versions are almost necessary if you're going to do .net development.
Hi guys,
I need a vs2005 compilable version of c++ unmanaged code to use on a today plugin.
I have a few classes that I found somewhere but they're quite heavy on the dll...
Problem is I only find mfc classes and since today plugins are a mfc "no go" i'm left empty handed...
Thanks
philocritus said:
Hi guys,
I need a vs2005 compilable version of c++ unmanaged code to use on a today plugin.
I have a few classes that I found somewhere but they're quite heavy on the dll...
Problem is I only find mfc classes and since today plugins are a mfc "no go" i'm left empty handed...
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check here:
http://www.xdp.it/cximage.htm
It's a wide imaging API in aC++ (look for the PocketPC port in downloads section). There will be a lot of things that you may not use... but it includes gif support may be you can extract it from there....
Hope this helps.
APBilbo said:
Check here:
http://www.xdp.it/cximage.htm
It's a wide imaging API in aC++ (look for the PocketPC port in downloads section). There will be a lot of things that you may not use... but it includes gif support may be you can extract it from there....
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick reply apbilbo!
I'm using that one for now. Yesterday I ripped the code down to gif-bmp support only, but still the final dll was about 400kb... too large!
I'll still be trying to rip extra-funtions since i ripped only the classes and includes for now..
Do you use it on throttle?
philocritus said:
Thanks for the quick reply apbilbo!
I'm using that one for now. Yesterday I ripped the code down to gif-bmp support only, but still the final dll was about 400kb... too large!
I'll still be trying to rip extra-funtions since i ripped only the classes and includes for now..
Do you use it on throttle?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Throttle code is MFC . Also it doesn't have gif support (other than the one provided by the IImagin api).... for now .
APBilbo said:
Throttle code is MFC . Also it doesn't have gif support (other than the one provided by the IImagin api).... for now .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your right... should have remembered that when I saw the .exe on the today plugin version..
Do you happen to know a sweet simple template for .net today plugin programming?
the one on the msdn site is pretty crappy :S
philocritus said:
your right... should have remembered that when I saw the .exe on the today plugin version..
Do you happen to know a sweet simple template for .net today plugin programming?
the one on the msdn site is pretty crappy :S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope sorry... that's the only one I know
Hello everybody. I am a programmer experienced in various languages. I want to create a very simple today-plugin, a launcher. It should be touch-responsive, to gestures to be more accurate. Target platform is Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro. I don't want to use wrappers and user-made frameworks and stuff for this, I want to write a professional app. .NET Framework is okay but I don't want to use technologies that are not made by Microsoft. Period. Okay now what I need to know is how do I do this? First I need to know which apps to get. I suppose I will need Visual Studio? Which Version? I'm downloading "Windows Mobile 6 SDK Refresh Kit" at this time. How do I proceed? Is there any sample code? I'm not looking for a huge file. I would like a quick success. Maybe I'll go into some more detail: Basically I want a fully transparent plugin, 480 x 480 px. Users should be able to move their finger from the center in 8 directions and the plugin will then launch the program associated with that direction. That's it. I hope you can help me with this. By the way, I have used the search function and I have found some threads and followed most links I encountered but it's not up to date or not what I want, so frogive me for posting another thread.
hi,
First of all, you can't use .NET Compact Framework for Today Plugin development. It has to be C++ native code AFAIK because it's a .dll - you can't have managed code DLLs.
You need Visual Studio with Smart Device Project support. I'm using VS 2008 Professional, because that's the only version that has it. Standard, Express etc doesn't have that.
You'll need that WM 6 SDK you're already downloading.
Visual Studio has a very nice Device Emulator if you don't have a device to use, but you need to download device emulator images with windows mobile 6. It's somewhere on MSDN in separate package.
I don't have any experience in today plugin development, but I'm sure you'll find a lot of resources and articles about it on:
- http://msdn.microsoft.com
- http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/smartdevicedevelopment
- http://codeproject.com
You could start off by reading the sticky!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=445396
ather90 said:
You could start off by reading the sticky!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=445396
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I DID see this thread, but I don't want to search download install and configure 20 apps out of which I only need 2 for my purpose. Thanks to grzegorzaksamit for the information. I will organize VS 2008 then. Any other help regarding the actual development is highly appreciated!
Firefall! said:
I DID see this thread, but I don't want to search download install and configure 20 apps out of which I only need 2 for my purpose. Thanks to grzegorzaksamit for the information. I will organize VS 2008 then. Any other help regarding the actual development is highly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is an example in either the WM5 or WM6 SDK.