| COMSpeed | ||
| Type | REG_DWORD | REG_DWORD |
|---|---|---|
| Default Value | None | 19600 |
| Description | Defines which serial port the command processor shell uses for input and output. | Specifies the data transfer rate of the serial port in bits per second (bps). |
| ¦ Setting this value to -1 will redirect input and output to a debug port. | ||
| ¦ Setting this value to zero specifies no redirection. | ||
| ¦ Setting this value to a number greater than zero and less than 10 will redirect input and output to a serial port. |
Windows Embedded CE Standard Shell
The standard shell provides a graphical user interface (GUI) similar to the Windows XP desktop. The primary purpose of the standard shell is to start and run user applications on the target device. This shell includes a desktop with Start menu and taskbar that enables the user to switch between applications, from one window to another. The standard shell also includes a system notification area to display additional information, such as the status of network interfaces and the current system time.
Windows Embedded CE Standard Shell is a required catalog item if you select the Enterprise Terminal design template when creating an OS design project in Visual Studio by using the OS Design Wizard. If you want to clone and customize this shell, you can find the source code in the %_WINCEROOTPublicShellOAKHPC folder. Chapter 1 explains how to clone catalog items and add them to an OS design.
Thin Client Shell
The thin client shell, also called the Windows-based Terminal (WBT) shell in the product documentation, is a GUI shell for thin-client devices that do not run user applications locally. You can add Internet Explorer to a thin- client OS design, yet all other user applications must run on a Terminal server in the network. The thin client shell uses the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to connect to the server and display the remote Windows desktop. By default, the thin client shell displays the remote desktop in full-screen mode.
Taskman
You can also implement your own shell by cloning and customizing the Windows Task Manager (TaskMan) shell application. The source code in the %_WINCEROOT%PublicWceshellfeOakTaskman folder is a good starting point.
Windows Embedded CE Control Panel
The Control Panel is a special repository for central access to system and application configuration tools. The product documentation refers to these configuration tools as applets, to indicate the fact that they are embedded in the Control Panel. Each applet serves a specific and targeted purpose and does not depend on other applets. You can customize the content of the Control Panel by adding your own applets or by removing existing Control Panel applets included with Windows Embedded CE.
Control Panel Components
The Control Panel is a configuration system that relies on the following three key components:
¦ Front-End (Control.exe) This application displays the user interface and facilitates starting Control Panel applets.
¦ Host Application (Ctlpnl.exe) This application loads and runs the Control Panel applets.
¦ Applets These are the individual configuration tools, implemented in form of .cpl files listed with icon and name in the Control Panel user interface.
For details regarding the implementation of the Windows Embedded CE Control Panel, check out the source code in the %_WINCEROOT%PublicWceshellfeOakCtlpnl folder. You can clone the Control Panel code and customize it to implement your own Control Panel version
Implementing Control Panel Applets
As mentioned, a Control Panel applet is a configuration tool for a system component or user application implemented in form of a .cpl file and located in the Windows folder on the target device. Essentially, a .cpl file is a DLL that implements the CPlApplet API. A single .cpl file can contain multiple Control Panel applications, yet a single applet cannot span multiple .cpl files. Because all .cpl files implement the CPlApplet API, it is a straightforward process for Control.exe to obtain detailed info about the implemented applets at startup in order to display the set
