Compiling help for CF application?

[PeterB]

Using C# and OpenNetCF's WinAPI I succesfully create some helpfiles with
images for my applications. But I want to put all helpfiles and images into
a single file (executable, dll?), is there an easy way of doing this?

thanks in advance,

Peter

 

[Peter Foot [MVP]]

If you are using standard Windows CE help with the peghelp.exe you cannot do
this - a help file is a single htm document and images must be stored as
bitmaps (and because the help engine does not handle relative paths for
links it is usual for the help file and all images to be placed in the
\Windows folder.
You can build all the required files into a single CAB installer for
distribution however.

Peter

 

[PeterB]

That will most likely be good enough, thanks for the idea!

A second question. Using VS .NET 2003 while I am creating my helpfiles, is
there a easy way to copy the files to a certain location on the device when
debugging? I am using [destinationpath] in my .inf file when creating my
..msi/cabs but I can't figure out how to send them to the correct place when
debugging... It's quite a hassel to copy the files to \Windows all the time
:-(

br,

Peter

 

[Peter Foot [MVP]]

Unfortunately when debugging VS.NET can only deploy files within a project
to the application directory on the device/emulator. One trick you can use
is to create an additional project in your Solution - e.g. ProjectContent
and set the OutputFile Folder property to \Windows or wherever you want the
files, and add your content files to this project. They will be deployed to
the device when you debug the project.

Peter

--
Peter Foot
Windows Embedded MVP
www.inthehand.com | www.opennetcf.org

That will most likely be good enough, thanks for the idea!

A second question. Using VS .NET 2003 while I am creating my helpfiles, is
there a easy way to copy the files to a certain location on the device when
debugging? I am using [destinationpath] in my .inf file when creating my
.msi/cabs but I can't figure out how to send them to the correct place when
debugging... It's quite a hassel to copy the files to \Windows all the time
:-(

br,

Peter

If you are using standard Windows CE help with the peghelp.exe you

cannot

do
this - a help file is a single htm document and images must be stored as
bitmaps (and because the help engine does not handle relative paths for
links it is usual for the help file and all images to be placed in the
\Windows folder.
You can build all the required files into a single CAB installer for
distribution however.

Peter

 

[PeterB]

You are close to hero status here now ;-)

Unfortunately when debugging VS.NET can only deploy files within a project
to the application directory on the device/emulator. One trick you can use
is to create an additional project in your Solution - e.g. ProjectContent
and set the OutputFile Folder property to \Windows or wherever you want the
files, and add your content files to this project. They will be deployed to
the device when you debug the project.

Peter

--
Peter Foot
Windows Embedded MVP
www.inthehand.com | www.opennetcf.org

That will most likely be good enough, thanks for the idea!

A second question. Using VS .NET 2003 while I am creating my helpfiles, is
there a easy way to copy the files to a certain location on the device when
debugging? I am using [destinationpath] in my .inf file when creating my
.msi/cabs but I can't figure out how to send them to the correct place when
debugging... It's quite a hassel to copy the files to \Windows all the time
:-(

br,

Peter

If you are using standard Windows CE help with the peghelp.exe you

cannot

do
this - a help file is a single htm document and images must be stored as
bitmaps (and because the help engine does not handle relative paths for
links it is usual for the help file and all images to be placed in the
\Windows folder.
You can build all the required files into a single CAB installer for
distribution however.

Peter

--
Peter Foot
Windows Embedded MVP
www.inthehand.com | www.opennetcf.org

Using C# and OpenNetCF's WinAPI I succesfully create some helpfiles with
images for my applications. But I want to put all helpfiles and images
into
a single file (executable, dll?), is there an easy way of doing this?

thanks in advance,

Peter

 

[PeterB]

Hmm, I can't get the new "empty" project to copy it's files to the
device/emulator. I created a Smart Device Application as an Empty Project
and added the files as content. Output directory is \Windows and I have
tried to check build, deploy and none in Config Manager without any success,
and I can't set the project as "Startup project" since there is no entry
point, how do I solve this? What kind of project do you add, I can't find a
suitable one :-(

thank in advance,

Peter

Unfortunately when debugging VS.NET can only deploy files within a project
to the application directory on the device/emulator. One trick you can use
is to create an additional project in your Solution - e.g. ProjectContent
and set the OutputFile Folder property to \Windows or wherever you want the
files, and add your content files to this project. They will be deployed to
the device when you debug the project.

Peter

--
Peter Foot
Windows Embedded MVP
www.inthehand.com | www.opennetcf.org

That will most likely be good enough, thanks for the idea!

A second question. Using VS .NET 2003 while I am creating my helpfiles, is
there a easy way to copy the files to a certain location on the device when
debugging? I am using [destinationpath] in my .inf file when creating my
.msi/cabs but I can't figure out how to send them to the correct place when
debugging... It's quite a hassel to copy the files to \Windows all the time
:-(

br,

Peter

If you are using standard Windows CE help with the peghelp.exe you

cannot

do
this - a help file is a single htm document and images must be stored as
bitmaps (and because the help engine does not handle relative paths for
links it is usual for the help file and all images to be placed in the
\Windows folder.
You can build all the required files into a single CAB installer for
distribution however.

Peter

--
Peter Foot
Windows Embedded MVP
www.inthehand.com | www.opennetcf.org

Using C# and OpenNetCF's WinAPI I succesfully create some helpfiles with
images for my applications. But I want to put all helpfiles and images
into
a single file (executable, dll?), is there an easy way of doing this?

thanks in advance,

Peter

 

[Peter Foot [MVP]]

Apologies for not adding more detail. The project I added was another smart
device project of type class library - this was added to my existing
solution. I then deleted the code file Class1.cs and AssemblyInfo.cs from
the project and added my content files with Build Action set to Content.
Then change the device path for the project to \Windows. When you
deploy/debug the main project these files will be deployed at the same
time - don't set this project as the Startup Project - leave that to your
existing application project.
This was done with a C# project, I have not tried it with VB.NET but I
assume the same approach can be used.
I will try to put a more detailed walkthrough of the process up at
www.OpenNETCF.org soon.

Peter

--
Peter Foot
Windows Embedded MVP
OpenNETCF.org Senior Advisor
www.inthehand.com | www.opennetcf.org

Hmm, I can't get the new "empty" project to copy it's files to the
device/emulator. I created a Smart Device Application as an Empty Project
and added the files as content. Output directory is \Windows and I have
tried to check build, deploy and none in Config Manager without any success,
and I can't set the project as "Startup project" since there is no entry
point, how do I solve this? What kind of project do you add, I can't find a
suitable one :-(

thank in advance,

Peter

Unfortunately when debugging VS.NET can only deploy files within a project
to the application directory on the device/emulator. One trick you can use
is to create an additional project in your Solution - e.g. ProjectContent
and set the OutputFile Folder property to \Windows or wherever you want the
files, and add your content files to this project. They will be deployed to
the device when you debug the project.

Peter

helpfiles,

is

there a easy way to copy the files to a certain location on the device when
debugging? I am using [destinationpath] in my .inf file when creating my
.msi/cabs but I can't figure out how to send them to the correct place when
debugging... It's quite a hassel to copy the files to \Windows all the time
:-(

br,

Peter

If you are using standard Windows CE help with the peghelp.exe you cannot
do
this - a help file is a single htm document and images must be

stored

as helpfiles
with

 

[PeterB]

Argh! Despite your good and simple instructions below Peter, I still can't
get it to work... I have done what you said, twice. Added a new Smart Device
Project, Class Library type. Removed Class1.cs and AssemblyInfo.cs. Changed
Output File Folder to \Windows and set the files to Content (build action)

The name of the project is SIBHelp

Nothing in my newly created project is copied. In Configuration Manager
Build and Deploy is checked for the project.

Under the projects properties I have:
Assembly Name = SIBHelp,
Default Namespace = SIBHelp (also tried changing those to main project
name..),
OutPutFile = SIBHelp.dll
Output File Folder = \Windows

I also tried adding a reference to SIBHelp in my main project but this
didn't work either. I did this because it seems to me that there is a link
missing between the main project and the subproject.

In my last desperate attempt I also added a dependency from the main project
to the subproject. Still no success... :-(

There must have been something else you did apart from what you explained
before, or am I just missing something obvious here?

regards,

/ Peter

Apologies for not adding more detail. The project I added was another smart
device project of type class library - this was added to my existing
solution. I then deleted the code file Class1.cs and AssemblyInfo.cs from
the project and added my content files with Build Action set to Content.
Then change the device path for the project to \Windows. When you
deploy/debug the main project these files will be deployed at the same
time - don't set this project as the Startup Project - leave that to your
existing application project.
This was done with a C# project, I have not tried it with VB.NET but I
assume the same approach can be used.
I will try to put a more detailed walkthrough of the process up at
www.OpenNETCF.org soon.

Peter

--
Peter Foot
Windows Embedded MVP
OpenNETCF.org Senior Advisor
www.inthehand.com | www.opennetcf.org

Hmm, I can't get the new "empty" project to copy it's files to the
device/emulator. I created a Smart Device Application as an Empty Project
and added the files as content. Output directory is \Windows and I have
tried to check build, deploy and none in Config Manager without any success,
and I can't set the project as "Startup project" since there is no entry
point, how do I solve this? What kind of project do you add, I can't

find

a
suitable one :-(

thank in advance,

Peter

Unfortunately when debugging VS.NET can only deploy files within a project
to the application directory on the device/emulator. One trick you can use
is to create an additional project in your Solution - e.g. ProjectContent
and set the OutputFile Folder property to \Windows or wherever you

want
the

files, and add your content files to this project. They will be

deployed
to

the device when you debug the project.

Peter

--
Peter Foot
Windows Embedded MVP
www.inthehand.com | www.opennetcf.org

That will most likely be good enough, thanks for the idea!

A second question. Using VS .NET 2003 while I am creating my

helpfiles,

is
there a easy way to copy the files to a certain location on the device
when
debugging? I am using [destinationpath] in my .inf file when

creating

my stored paths
for