Develop Bugs

How to create CAB for WM5/WM6

Hi all, what's the best software to use if I want to create .cab file for installing apps or chaing registry etc on the Universal's WM5/WM6?
I have tried "WinCE CAB Manager" but the cab file failed to be installed on my Windows Mobile emulator for some reason. I know you can use Visual Studio .NET 2005 something like that, but is there any lighter program in addition to VS .NET?
Thanks in advance!

kevin.jiang said:
Hi all, what's the best software to use if I want to create .cab file for installing apps or chaing registry etc on the Universal's WM5/WM6?
I have tried "WinCE CAB Manager" but the cab file failed to be installed on my Windows Mobile emulator for some reason. I know you can use Visual Studio .NET 2005 something like that, but is there any lighter program in addition to VS .NET?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"WinCE CAB Manager" but the cab file failed to be installed on my Windows Mobile emulator for some reason -> u maybe set the wrong version variables?
check it! ;-) i think it workz!!!

I have set it to support all CPUs and on the OS type I have set it to support Pocket PC 2005. I will give it some more go later and see how it does.

Hi, it is still not working, I have attached the screenshot of the configurations in the cab and the error messsage I get. I tried it with my Universal and the Windows Mobile Device emulator and I got the same error.
Can anyone tell me what I have set wrong in this CAB? Thanks!
BTW, I was only trying to add a small .txt file by using this .cab as a test.

I have just got it working now! I installed WinCE CAB Manager on another PC and it is working fine!! For some reason the cab file it makes on my laptop doesn't work.
Anyway, I will use the other PCs to create the cab file then.

Wrong thread... Sorry

Kavana WM6.1, Esmertec JBed, and Opera Mini: A Complete Solution

Hello everybody,
I've figured a few things out regarding JBed and Opera Mini on Kavana's latest WM6.1 ROM, and I thought I'd share them with you.
Introduction
First off, a quick introduction: Opera Mini 4, a Java MIDlet web browser, is arguably the best browser available for Windows Mobile. It routes traffic through Opera servers, so it doesn't take as much data (or time) to browse the Web, and it has small-screen rendering like iPhone's. Slashdot, for example, loads in seconds under OM, as opposed to half an hour in Pocket IE. Esmertec JBed respects the system's network settings, so it works with the T-Zones $5.99 internet trick.
JBed isn't perfect, though. It has a few glaring issues: network access permissions, inability to use a MIDlet as a systemwide default browser, and ugly fonts. I haven't figured out the last one yet, but the first two are solvable, and here's how.
Network Access Permissions
Most tutorials for fixing this problem refer to the file \Windows\AppDB\Selector.utf; editing this file and replacing the text
Code:
domain=untrusted, \
with
Code:
domain=tckmax , \
fixes the problem under Cloudyfa's JBed. The version of JBed in Kavana's WM6.1 stores its data in \Application Data\JavaDB, and the selector.utf trick doesn't work. The culprit is a missing file named policy.utf, which defines tckmax. I've attached a copy of this file; just move it to your \Application Data\JavaDB directory and the selector.utf trick will work as usual.
Systemwide Default Browser
First off, you can make it easier to access Opera Mini by changing the short_IE.lnk file to open OM instead of PIE. I've attached a version of that file for your convenience; copy it to your \Windows directory and the IE (or T-Zones) button will open a usable browser for a change. This only works if OM is the first MIDlet you've installed; if you have installed other MIDlets you'll have to edit the shortcut (Notepad works nicely) to reflect the change. If OM is your second MIDlet, change s0_ to s1_; third, s2_; and so on.
Also, various MortScript scripts have been floating around that attempt to automate the process of copying a clicked link to the system clipboard, opening OM, and pasting the link into the address bar. I haven't found one that works, but a much better solution is available. The linked post contains a CAB file (which I've reposted here for convenience) that installs an actual application that works well under WM6.1. This one is hardcoded with the assumption that Opera Mini is the first MIDlet that you've installed.
One Other Thing
I recommend backing up your \Application Data\JavaDB directory once you get everything working; you can simply copy it back from your backup after a cold boot to get everything working again. I don't know how to make a CAB file myself, but if someone is up to the challenge, I'd suggest making a single file that installs Opera Mini and the Opera Mini Default Browser application, and optionally replaces the PIE button with OM. Or maybe Kavana can add this to his next ROM
Hope you find this useful!
EDIT: The application I've attached only works if Opera Mini is the first application ever installed under JBed. If you uninstall it and reinstall it, it will get a new suite number. You can look at your selector.utf file and figure out your suite number (e.g., s1_), but I would recommend clearing out your \Application Data\JavaDB folder to reset your suite numbers. Also, it may be a bad idea to edit your selector.utf file in Notepad; a hex editor should avoid corruption issues.
~truggl

awesome! thanks!

very useful, thanks!

Great Job!!

How do you tell what the s number is for the OM midlet?
When I press the short key cut key I get a "Could not find suite s0_" error message. When I dismiss the message I get the jbed midlet manager window which list Opera Mini and it's the only applet listed. I click on that and Opera Mini opens up.

Perfect, the policy.utf file did the trick. I'm not so sure that I want to replace the iexplore shortcut to OM because there are still some limits to the OM applet over PIE. OM can't launch youtube for example.
Thank you ... thank you - Tim

truggl said:
Hello everybody,
I've figured a few things out regarding JBed and Opera Mini on Kavana's latest WM6.1 ROM, and I thought I'd share them with you.
Introduction
First off, a quick introduction: Opera Mini 4, a Java MIDlet web browser, is arguably the best browser available for Windows Mobile. It routes traffic through Opera servers, so it doesn't take as much data (or time) to browse the Web, and it has small-screen rendering like iPhone's. Slashdot, for example, loads in seconds under OM, as opposed to half an hour in Pocket IE. Esmertec JBed respects the system's network settings, so it works with the T-Zones $5.99 internet trick.
JBed isn't perfect, though. It has a few glaring issues: network access permissions, inability to use a MIDlet as a systemwide default browser, and ugly fonts. I haven't figured out the last one yet, but the first two are solvable, and here's how.
Network Access Permissions
Most tutorials for fixing this problem refer to the file \Windows\AppDB\Selector.utf; editing this file and replacing the text
Code:
domain=untrusted, \
with
Code:
domain=tckmax , \
fixes the problem under Cloudyfa's JBed. The version of JBed in Kavana's WM6.1 stores its data in \Application Data\JavaDB, and the selector.utf trick doesn't work. The culprit is a missing file named policy.utf, which defines tckmax. I've attached a copy of this file; just move it to your \Application Data\JavaDB directory and the selector.utf trick will work as usual.
Systemwide Default Browser
First off, you can make it easier to access Opera Mini by changing the short_IE.lnk file to open OM instead of PIE. I've attached a version of that file for your convenience; copy it to your \Windows directory and the IE (or T-Zones) button will open a usable browser for a change. This only works if OM is the first MIDlet you've installed; if you have installed other MIDlets you'll have to edit the shortcut (Notepad works nicely) to reflect the change. If OM is your second MIDlet, change s0_ to s1_; third, s2_; and so on.
Also, various MortScript scripts have been floating around that attempt to automate the process of copying a clicked link to the system clipboard, opening OM, and pasting the link into the address bar. I haven't found one that works, but a much better solution is available. The linked post contains a CAB file (which I've reposted here for convenience) that installs an actual application that works well under WM6.1. This one is hardcoded with the assumption that Opera Mini is the first MIDlet that you've installed.
One Other Thing
I recommend backing up your \Application Data\JavaDB directory once you get everything working; you can simply copy it back from your backup after a cold boot to get everything working again. I don't know how to make a CAB file myself, but if someone is up to the challenge, I'd suggest making a single file that installs Opera Mini and the Opera Mini Default Browser application, and optionally replaces the PIE button with OM. Or maybe Kavana can add this to his next ROM
Hope you find this useful!
~truggl
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kinda bummed.... I cant seem to get this to work. Everytime I edit selector.utf with the new code, my opera midlet dissappears. I have policy.utf in the directory so I am at a loss. ???

Works great on my system - many thanks for this!

Poser said:
Kinda bummed.... I cant seem to get this to work. Everytime I edit selector.utf with the new code, my opera midlet dissappears. I have policy.utf in the directory so I am at a loss. ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem. I was using notepad to edit selector.utf which I guess is bad. Try using a hex editor or run this script. http://treo.discussion.treocentral.com/tcforum/showthread.php?t=152078

socal1 said:
How do you tell what the s number is for the OM midlet?
When I press the short key cut key I get a "Could not find suite s0_" error message. When I dismiss the message I get the jbed midlet manager window which list Opera Mini and it's the only applet listed. I click on that and Opera Mini opens up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think i figured this issue out. Edit the Opera Mini.lnk file from run s0_ to run s4_

pudgedaddy said:
I think i figured this issue out. Edit the Opera Mini.lnk file from run s0_ to run s4_
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it will depend on how many java programs you installed before so that you can get an accurate count.

socal1 said:
I had the same problem. I was using notepad to edit selector.utf which I guess is bad. Try using a hex editor or run this script. http://treo.discussion.treocentral.com/tcforum/showthread.php?t=152078
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worked a charm , thanks much mate

removed: dbl post

DaMilky said:
Yes, it will depend on how many java programs you installed before so that you can get an accurate count.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Opera is the only java app that I have installed and I still get the error, however, I have installed and uninstalled a few times... so I think there may be .db remnants that force it further down the "install list" e.g. s2_
edit: just had to clean up \\application data\javaDB, works fine

Hi all,
Glad I was able to help. I added a bit of information to my original post; I recommend starting with a blank slate, so to speak, because OperaDefault.cab is programmed with that assumption. When in doubt about your suite number, and if you don't care about OperaDefault, then you can look in (or post) your selector.utf file and get it from there.
~truggl

Esmertec jbed
Can someone point me to forum where i can get esmertec jbed?
I'm looking for a couple of hours already.
Please help....

Having a very strange problem with Opera Mini 4. I'm using Ricky's Rom V5 with my Dash and Opera will not display fonts correctly. They all seem to have horizontal lines going through them and appear to be slightly stretched (that could be my imagination though). I checked the Jbed version and it appears to be the latest one (I never changed it) and I'm not sure where to go from here. Opera boots and runs fast but it's not legible at all. Any suggestions as to what I can try? I searched XDA but couldn't come up with anything. Thanks,

kasim1 said:
Can someone point me to forum where i can get esmertec jbed?
I'm looking for a couple of hours already.
Please help....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NM, I found Esmertec.

ItsDon said:
Having a very strange problem with Opera Mini 4. I'm using Ricky's Rom V5 with my Dash and Opera will not display fonts correctly. They all seem to have horizontal lines going through them and appear to be slightly stretched (that could be my imagination though). I checked the Jbed version and it appears to be the latest one (I never changed it) and I'm not sure where to go from here. Opera boots and runs fast but it's not legible at all. Any suggestions as to what I can try? I searched XDA but couldn't come up with anything. Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am having this same problem. Does anyone know how to change the font in Opera Mini?

DaMilky said:
Yes, it will depend on how many java programs you installed before so that you can get an accurate count.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NOT TRUE.
I tried to use from s0_ to s4_, nothing worked....
Untill i opened my selector.utf(windows\appdb) and seen that gMail is "root=s-1_", so i've change my shortcut to point to "s-1_", this did the trick.
Thanx.

Java Development on Touch HD

I've been studying Java with the Open University and would like to put into practice some of my newfound knowledge on the mobile side of things.
Can anybody help me get started by telling me which configuration I should be using with regard to CLDC/CDC-MIDP, are there any JDK's for the Touch HD etc?
I have tried searching but to no avail so far so would appreciated your help.
Also, is there a decent Java compiler that operates under WM6. As that would be novel to play around with too! I currently use NetBeans on my pc.
Regards
Gary

Java on a mobile device = J2ME

There are plenty of Java VM for Pocket PC (check this thread). I think JBed (found in most blackstone ROM's including stock ones) is the best. It has severe limits but it is the best you can get on blackstone. For developement you can use your PC with Sun WTK 2.5.2 (it is supported by Netbeans).
There are no decent java compilers that run directly on PocketPC.

As your first app can you create a D-Pad in java to run skymobile????

garyainsworth said:
Can anybody help me get started by telling me which configuration I should be using with regard to CLDC/CDC-MIDP, are there any JDK's for the Touch HD etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Java ME : JBed or JBlend, choose one of them, both work great.
Java SE (Yes Desktop-class Java): MySaifu - http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~dat/java/project/jvm/index_en.html
As for the JDK part (I mean the javac compiler and other tools), I do not know such a package yet. However, you can make javac work with MySaifu with a tools.jar file copied from standard JDK (1.3 or older probably).
Hope this helps

Java development with JVM for CDC
Thanks for your help guys.
I've managed to ge set up and have managed to create my first Midlet and run it on my Blackstone via JBed. I've used NetBeans 6.7
However, that is CLDC/MIDP, but when I try and install CDC creations JBed will not install it because a Midlet name is missing. Is this because the stock JBed does not support CDC. I have tried to find out but it is not perfectly clear and I will have to pay for a JVM to test my theory out if nobody can advise!
Thanks for help
Gazza

MOD EDIT
Moved to Themes, Applications and Software forum (?) as not related to rom development

I'd seriously look at JavaFX, sun released a beta of it the other day.
I really like it, it works well on the HD from my limited testing
http://javafx.com/downloads/windows.jsp
One slight flaw with the current version is that it wants to get network address even when try to search for local jar/jad on storage.
but setting it as default file association gets around that one..

JavaFX
Downloading as I write....
Thanks for your advice I appreciate it. As you may know, as a newcomer to development of JME it is so complicated to get started due to all the configurations so any pointers at this stage are very much appreciated.
Thanks
Gaz

OK, I have JavaFX installed on my HD and it works and I particularly like the calculator example app included with it. However, I still cannot get my CDC app to install. It says "Cannot install application because critical information is missing from the application file (.jad). I thought CDC used xml files and not JAD for descriptions. Am I wrong or is something to do with my platform/deployment configuration?
I cant see a jad file in the deploy folder either. Is this an error.
Thanks
Gaz

Nope, you still need the JAD descriptor file.
It's plain text file, just find some on the internet, open it with text editor and alter some of the properties in there, it's really easy.
Don't forget to change the path to your JAR archive - the best way is to put there just simple JAR name and copy the JAD to the same directory as JAR.

Thanks Pepcza,
I'll try that, just a thought though, if you still need a descriptor file (in this case .jad) why does'nt the Netbeans deployment process create it along with everything else? It does when creating CLDC platform apps!
Gaz

JavaFX
I think we should concentrate on this one. Youtube videos are working in bolt browser using Javafx. If only it would be a bit faster, It'll throw Jbed out of the window.

[APP][v2009-09-23] ai Cab Explorer utility: new way to explore cab files on your disk

***CHANGE LOG START
2009-09-23
- New:file preview (please note that cou can even preview manila encoded images inside cab file, since they are converter internaly!)
- in preview you can choose to extract manila file or PNG image.
- bug fixes, cosmetic changes... new bugs ...
- you probably realized that I publish versions I got at the moment - raw, not too much tested, relative big changes from day to day, version is detected by the pub date... so expect new staf soon...
- !!! IMPORTANT !!! Please download cfc.exe and put it at c:\windows\ "c:\windows\cfc.exe" !!! Download last version from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=2798441&postcount=1 !!!
(without cfc.exe app won't be able to decode mailla images)
2009-09-22
**IF YOU HEVE BEEN HERE PLEASE READ THE WHOLE POST SINCE IT IS ALL UPDATED!!!
- "Cab Album" support:
A Cab Album is collected information about many Cab files in one place.
Application will here "create" a new Cab Album by scaning folder. (It is possible to include subfolders in search path.)
Since creating a "Cab album" could be time consuming (depends on how many files it has to scan),
collected information - an "Album" can be saved (in xml structured file).
So next time, you can just use the same information by "loading" a saved album from disk (without scaning again).
Creating album is the process that will
a) detact all *.cab files in scaning folder (and subfolders)
b) for each found cab, program will try to locate "_setup.xml" within .cab file and extract information about real / target file names and paths
c) all information will be collected to memory
After that you will be able to
a) browse an album by cab files (from the tree)
b) browse an album by target file names (also from the tree where these files are grouped an counted)
c) search / filter the album by target file names
Also you can
a) click on "save" icon to save the album.
b) double click on cab file (lef side - tree) to open separate window tith that cab info
c) double click on file on the right side to extract it on disk
2009-09-21
- new version suports drag & drop files (from windows explorer)
- small cosmetic changes
2009-09-19
- first published version
***CHANGE LOG END
DID you ever try to find some fine resource (manila file, bmp for phone skin ... or whatever), which you know you have seen somewhere. And you are sure you got it somewhere on your hard or stick or ....
DID you ever wanted to create a new skin based on a few existing skins in some cab files.
DID you ever ask yourself - what will that XY.cab install on my device? Will it remove parst of my customization that I don't want to be changed?
In case you didn't this app is probably NOT for you.
But if you DID then you probably know that
a) most cab extractors will NOT extract files with the correct filenames on your hard disk.
Instead of some "5acc5861_manila" that will be installed on your device, what you get on your pc is some file named "0CABA635.001".
The real target file name "5acc5861_manila" is actually set in _setup,xml which is part of cab file for mobile device.
b) it is hard to find all "5acc5861_manila" resources on your hard disk without decompression of all cab files, and fixing a problem described before - see a
What do you think about a new point of view - an "Album" view.
Album view will help you to "scan" your hard disk folders, searching for cab files, extacting information from them (without extracting cab files on disk), and collecting all important information in one Album list.
That's not all.
Since "scanning" or building an album could be time consuming, you can "save" the album (xml file structure) so next time you just open existing album and you got all information very quick.
You can search albums - for example "Assets*.bmp" will find all files located in album containing dialer skins.
With another few clicks you can extract found files on disk and use you favourite tools to view or edit them.
Prease note tha this application is extended version of
"[APP][v2009-09-17] Cab utility - RENAME cab content/files to normal target names" located at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=561533
Requirements: .NET framework 3.5 on your PC
BTW: If someone know some good .NET library for converting / previewing or updating _manila files please do let me know.
Also if someone would like to use some of functionality of this app in other projects ... I will be glad if I can help providing details about my libraries.
I hope you'll like it...

Weeeeeeeeeeell

Awesome thank you!

UPDATE
Missing drag & drop support was anoying, so I add it to v2009-09-21.
You can find / download new version in fist post

cablib error
I get an error when opening a cab-file:
FileLoadExeption
Could not load file or assembly 'Cablib, version 10.3.0.0 ... or one of its dependencies. This application has failed to star because the application configuration is incorrect. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem. (Exception from HRESULT:0x800736B1)

cc62 said:
I get an error when opening a cab-file:
FileLoadExeption
Could not load file or assembly 'Cablib, version 10.3.0.0 ... or one of its dependencies. This application has failed to star because the application configuration is incorrect. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem. (Exception from HRESULT:0x800736B1)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes in some systems you can get this error. On my laptop I have no problems but on my home PC I had exat the same error.
What I did to solve this problem is to replace version of CabLib, and also I put 2 dlls in the same folder where is application.
You can find CabLibFix in additional attachment in first post. Just put those files in the same directory (replace existing CabLib + additional 2 new files).
Please do let me know if that helps

Could not load file or assembly 'Cablib
Please note that v2009-09-22 should fix problems with error "Could not load file or assembly 'Cablib.." on some systems.
"FIx files" are included in that version, so I removed "fix..." archive.
However if you still have problems please do let me know,
thanks

v2009-09-22
v2009-09-22 works like a charm.
Thank you again

v2009-09-23 now has image / text preview + info about manila type of file (xml, SQLite, Lua_Script, Mode_9 ...)
Also you preview manila IMAGE files (decoded using cfc.exe to png)
The only inconvinience is that I manage to hardcode path to cfc.exe ( "c:\windows\cfc.exe").
Sory!

Error on win64 with an 'any CPU' build
Hi
We are using your CabLib.dll v2009-09-23 to load cab files inside our c# application. It works really well, except for one case.
When we build the application for target 'any cpu' and then install on a windows xp64 machine, we get an error message:
System.BadImageFormatException: Could not load file or assembly 'CabLib, Version=10.3.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=5c838b77b53f84a0' or one of its dependencies. An attempt was made to load a program with an incorrect format.
File name: 'CabLib, Version=10.3.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=5c838b77b53f84a0'
Everything works fine when we change the target to 'x86', but that then causes problems with our test suite. The 'Any CPU' build only fails in x64 machines.
I was wondering how you build your DLL and if you have any ideas to help us fix this problem.
Here's my config:
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008
Version 9.0.30729.1 SP
Microsoft .NET Framework
Version 3.5 SP1
The build and test is on an xp64 SP2 machine.
-- update --
I've also found that aiCabExplorer.exe has the same problem on my win64 machine. I see you are including the 32 bit C run time DLL's which you provide in the release - that appears to be the problem, as the OS is trying to dynamically link against the 64 bit version of MSCOREE.DLL, KERNEL32.DLL, OLE32.DLL and OLEAUT32.DLL and doesn't like mixing them up.
So the solution, I think, is for you to build without explicit dependencies on the 32 bit libraries. Is there any chance of getting a version like that?
Thanks,
Mark

Hi,
I use this app all the time.
Super duper.
Thank you very much.
Keith

Seems great Gonna try it

Lookin for a free cab maker

ive got wince 3.0 but it goin to expirer and a friend on here gave me wince the portable one, but cant get it to work with my win7 64bit even after changin to run in winxp service pack3 and run as admin. if anybody could help me find one u can pm me thanks..

LiquidXed said:
ive got wince 3.0 but it goin to expirer and a friend on here gave me wince the portable one, but cant get it to work with my win7 64bit even after changin to run in winxp service pack3 and run as admin. if anybody could help me find one u can pm me thanks..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try QuickCab v2.0 free!

I initially also used QuickCab but since it lacked some features (for one the ability to use a custom setup.dll was removed in version 2.0) and IABovine apparently stopped development I searched for alternatives:
Pocket PC Setup Creator - free for non commercial usage
Phone Setup Creator - not as much featured but author seems open to suggestions
Extendir Cabs - a cabarc GUI made for creating cabs for extendir
MSCEInf - excelent cab setup extractor (it preserves the file names and setup structure)
There's however no free cab setup "editor" that I know other than WinCe Cab Manager...
PS: QuickCab version 1.0 is not in the original thread so I attached it bellow.

thanks man, ive got a hex edited version of wince 3.0. does that Pocket pc creator have an expire. ?

No expiration date, nag screens or anything else... You get the complete version (almost since you can't use a custom setup.dll) not just a trial.