Re: Replacing Explorer shell with custom application...

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I don't quite see the point of creating a new shell to do what you describe.
Here's what I'd do in your situation:

Since you want a managed code application launched on startup, you have a
problem. The managed code run-time assumes that everything that it might
need to run will be ready when the application is launched. Therefore, you
need to be sure that everything *is*, in fact, ready by the time the program
is launched. The only way to do this is with a native code "launcher",
which will wait for the right stuff to be ready, then use CreateProcess() to
launch the managed code program. So, we'll assume that you've created this
native code application.

Next, we need to get our launcher program to run on startup of the system.
There are several ways to do this. Since you are building the device, you
might arrange for a shortcut to the native code application to be in the
\Windows\Startup folder and allow the default shell to launch it. Of
course, on startup, the user is going to see the default shell briefly until
the program is launched. Another possibility is to use some special keys in
the registry to do launch the launcher. You can look up "Init" in the help
to see the Init keys in the registry. It would be possible to launch your
launcher program before the default shell and make an effort to keep it
hidden during startup. In either case, the launcher can look for your new
files and do whatever it wants with them, once the filesystem has started
(you need to be sure that the APIs that you want are ready before trying to
use them, exactly what the managed code run-time does not do correctly).

You can, of course, build your own shell and you can also implement the
various shell APIs in the same way the default shell does it, if you want.
This seems like more of an effort to me than it's worth, however, as you
don't seem to be particularly concerned about the user only ever seeing your
managed application.

Paul T.

"Thomas Johansen" <thomasS.N.A.B.E.L.A.cybermaxD.O.T.dk> wrote in message
news:O5KPckd$GHA.4568@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yes, if you're going to really be the shell, in the sense of allowing
other
programs to execute, etc., you have to provide some of the
implementations
for API functions. If that's the case, C# isn't going to work for you.

My idea was, that the shell application just do some simple task when
launched. Checking for new files in a folder and copy those to the
storage.
then i launces the main application which is a C# application with
forms...

Is that gonna be a problem launching if the custom shell doesnt implement
some API functions ???

Since we don't know anything about the OS on your device or your
application
needs, we can't tell you what you'll miss. You'll have to test...

Paul T.

"Thomas Johansen" <thomasS.N.A.B.E.L.A.cybermaxD.O.T.dk> wrote in message
news:OPL1Z0X$GHA.4292@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hey NG

I whant to replace the explorer shell with a custom one.
But I havnt found an answer to one of my qustions...

Does my custom application nedd to implement some nedded functions for
WindowsCE to run normal ???

Its a C# application that is run... The application is a GUI
application
thats control units connected to a CAN bus and serial ports..

When replacing the explorer shell which functionality am i loosing
(Besides
the Start button and taskbar)????

/Thomas








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