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Update to the .NET Compact Framework FAQ
Nov. 11, 2003

Microsoft .NET Compact Framework team has updated its .NET Compact Framework Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. The FAQ is compiled, in part, from questions and answers posted to the public .NET Compact Framework newsgroup.

Topics currently covered in the FAQ, which can be accessed here, include the following:

1. Development
    1.1. What is the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework?
    1.2. What tools do I need to develop a .NET Compact Framework application?
    1.3. Where can I download the latest tools and software?
    1.4. What devices are supported by the .NET Compact Framework?
    1.5. What devices will be supported by the .NET Compact Framework in the future?
    1.6. Why does the debugger fail to establish a connection to the emulator (error launching application)?
    1.7. What are the differences between the .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework?
    1.8. What is new in .NET Compact Framework SP1?
    1.9. What are the differences in Microsoft .NET Compact Framework development between the Pocket PC and Windows CE .NET?
    1.10. Where can I find more information about how to create .NET Compact Framework-based applications?
    1.11. Where is the documentation for the .NET Compact Framework?
    1.12. How do I specify not to copy a dependant file every time the debugger runs?
    1.13. How do I set the emulator properties?
    1.14. How do I debug a Microsoft .NET Compact Framework application?
    1.15. How do I get started using Visual Basic .NET to develop applications for devices?
    1.16. How do I install .NET Compact Framework Assemblies into the Global Assembly Cache (GAC)?
    1.17. How can I work around "Sharing Violation" when deploying a Smart Device application from Visual Studio .NET 2003?
    1.18. What is the common language runtime (CLR)?
    1.19. What is the Global Assembly Cache (GAC)?
    1.20. How is memory managed in the .NET Compact Framework?
    1.21. Why can't I deploy to my device when the number of network protocols exceeds 50?
    1.22. Why are there cross-platform binaries?
    1.23. What are all of these ARM binaries?
    1.24. How do I write to the registry on a device?
2. Graphics
    2.1. How do I create a Graphics object?
    2.2. What can I do to optimize GDI+ rendering?
    2.3. How do I draw an image on a form?
    2.4. How do I draw an image with transparency?
    2.5. Why does CreateGraphics fail when I call it on a TextBox?
    2.6. How can I determine the screen size of text?
3. Deployment
    3.1. How do I create a PocketPC setup application?
    3.2. Which redistributables can I include with my application install?
    3.3. How can I create an install program that does not require the .NET Framework on the desktop?
    3.4. How do I create a Pocket PC platform independent CAB file?
    3.5. Why are there different CAB files for each processor type?
4. Graphical User Interface (GUI): Forms
    4.1. How do I create a full screen form?
    4.2. When should I use the form constructor vs. the Load function?
    4.3. How do I replace the smart minimize button with a close button?
    4.4. How do I create a Multiple Form Application Framework for the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework?
    4.5. How can I improve Microsoft .NET Compact Framework-based application Form load performance?
    4.6. How do I modify Form styles at runtime?
    4.7. How do I scroll From contents?
    4.8. How do I make a floating form? It looks like forms are always fullscreen.
    4.9. How do I force a form to stay minimized?
    4.10. I have a Smart Device form with a lot of controls. Why do I get a "NotSupportedException" at runtime?
    4.11. What is the proper method to close a form: Application.Exit or Form.Close?
5. Graphical User Interface (GUI): General
    5.1. How do I create an image or multi-line text button?
    5.2. How does TextBox.AcceptsReturn work in the .NET Compact Framework?
    5.3. Why is the SelectedIndexChanged event not triggered when data is loaded into a ComboBox?
    5.4. What is the difference between Show and ShowDialog?
    5.5. Why can't I create a ContextMenu separator?
    5.6. Why do images not show up when I assign an ImageList to a ToolBar at run-time?
    5.7. How do I set the waiting cursor?
    5.8. How do I display an ampersand (&) in a menu item?
    5.9. How do I create a Microsoft .NET Compact Framework-based Animation Control?
    5.10. How do I create Custom Controls for the .NET Compact Framework?
    5.11. How do I create a Microsoft .NET Compact Framework-based image button?
    5.12. How do I use the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework MessageWindow class?
    5.13. How do I add rows and columns to a DataGrid?
    5.14. How do implement cell editing in a DataGrid?
    5.15. How do I set the DataSource of a DataGrid?
    5.16. How do I sort the columns of a DataGrid?
    5.17. How do I sort ListView items?
    5.18. How do I use the InputPanel Component (SIP)?
    5.19. How do I create custom events?
    5.20. How do I create an owner-drawn List Box?
    5.21. How do I create a true/false check box?
    5.22. Why do I get an exception when I set InputPanel.Enabled = true?
    5.23. Why doesn't my custom control inherit its parent's font automatically?
    5.24. Why don't the NumericUpDown and DomainUpDown controls fire their ValueChanged and SelectedItemChanged events when I manually enter new text?
    5.25. Why does the NumericUpDown control increment its value by something other than the set Increment value?
    5.26. Why can't I place the StatusBar control anywhere on a form? It seems to always go to the bottom?
    5.27. Why doesn't my custom control inherit its parent's background color automatically?
    5.28. Why does the NumericUpDown control not seem to use any numbers greater than 2^16, even though it accepts a decimal Value?
    5.29. Why can't I enter text into a DomainUpDown control and have it select the associated item?
    5.30. Why is the OpenFileDialog restricted to the "My Documents" folder?
6. Interoperability and Native Code
    6.1. How do I call a function that is in a native DLL?
    6.2. How do I use dumpbin.exe as an aid for declaring P/Invokes?
    6.3. How do I write unmanaged functions for Microsoft .NET Compact Framework-based applications?
    6.4. How do I P/Invoke GetTickCount?
    6.5. How do I determine how much memory a device has available?
    6.6. How do I force a form to stay minimized?
    6.7. How do I marshal types during Platform Invoke (P/Invoke) on the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework?
    6.8. How do I get a handle (HWND) of a control or form?
    6.9. How do I use the performance counter functions?
    6.10. What are the limitations on marshalling types via P/Invoke?
    6.11. Why do I get odd return codes when I P/Invoke to GetLastError?
    6.12. Is there a limit on the number of arguments I can pass to a native function?
    6.13. Why do I get a "NotSupportedException" when I P/Invoke to a native function?
    6.14. How do I convert a byte[] to an IntPtr?
7. General
    7.1. How do I determine the application's root directory?
    7.2. How can I calculate an accurate time interval?
    7.3. How do I access an embedded resource as a stream?
    7.4. Why am I getting the message: "An unhandled exception of type 'System.Net.Sockets.SocketException' occurred in System.dll?"
    7.5. How do I use the performance monitor?
    7.6. How do I stop an application from closing?
    7.7. How do I launch another application from within my application?
    7.8. What threads are created by a .NET Compact Framework application?
    7.9. How do I convert a byte array to a structure?
    7.10. Can I create a custom delegate to pass to invoke?
    7.11. How do I access the Phone APIs from the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework?
    7.12. How do I generate GUIDs on the Pocket PC?
    7.13. How can I incorporate Pocket Outlook data into my Microsoft .NET Compact Framework-based applications?
    7.14. Can I determine the version of a file in the .NET Compact Framework?
    7.15. What are some techniques for Microsoft .NET Compact Framework background processing?
    7.16. What are some tips for Microsoft .NET Compact Framework Multithreading?
    7.17. How do I use obfuscation in Smart Device Applications?
    7.18. How do encrypt and decrypt data using the cryptography services?
    7.19. How do I retrieve a unique Windows CE Device ID with the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework?
    7.20. How do I send SMSs from my Microsoft .NET Compact Framework-based Applications?
    7.21. How can I determine the Sender of an Event without using the Control.Name property?
    7.22. How do I invoke method parameters on a thread?
    7.23. How do I create notifications and timed applications?
    7.24. How do I play a sound?
    7.25. How do I use command line arguments?
    7.26. Why do I get an exception when using properties or methods on a disposed object?
    7.27. How do I get the "Enter", "TAB", and "Arrow" key press events?
    7.28. How do I delete a read-only file?
8. Communications and Web services
    8.1. How do I send data over TCP sockets to a desktop server?
    8.2. Why can't I access a Web service on localhost?
    8.3. How do I consume Web services with the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework?
    8.4. How do I submit an HTTP GET Request with Proxy?
    8.5. How do I use an Web service?
    8.6. How do I get a map with MapPoint 3.0?
    8.7. How do I get a map and directions with MapPoint 3.0?
9. SQL CE and Data
    9.1. What are some development considerations for developing applications with the .NET Compact Framework, SQL Server CE, and Replication?
    9.2. How do I use Merge Replication with the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework?
    9.3. How do I use ADO.NET Data Binding with XML?
    9.4. How do I create an SQL Server CE Database?
    9.5. How do I submit an SQL Server CE parameterized query?
10. Additional Information
    10.1. Pocket TaskVision Application.
    10.2. Create a Microsoft .NET Compact Framework-based Process Manager.
    10.3. Developing mobile games using the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework.
    10.4. Create a Microsoft .NET Compact Framework-based DateTimePicker control.
    10.5. Write a Pocket PC signature capture application.
    10.6. Are there any non-Microsoft web sites that have information about developing .NET Compact Framework-based applications?
11. Connectivity
    11.1. Why am I unable to deploy to Windows CE devices through ActiveSync?
    11.2. Why am I unable to debug CEPC or any other x86 based Windows CE devices through ActiveSync?
    11.3. Why does debugging fail when Toolhelp.dll is missing on the device?
    11.4. Why am I unable to deploy to devices when the number of network protocols exceeds 50?
    11.5. Why am I unable to deploy to devices through ActiveSync after uninstalling ActiveSync?
    11.6. How come localized machine names or user names may cause failure of deployment to devices?
    11.7. Why does deployment to devices fail if the logon user is not in the Administrators group?
    11.8. Why does deployment to a Pocket PC device or Emulator fail with a sharing violation error?
    11.9. Why do I get a Security Alert message when the Emulator is used for the first time on a .NET Server machine?
    11.10. Why do I get an error message about missing files when the Emulator is being started?
    11.11. Why does the first Emulator deployment attempt sometimes fails?
    11.12. How come after the Emulator is started with the Connect to Device button, the first deployment attempt fails?
    11.13. Why does Emulator debugging fail if the machine does not have a network connection?
    11.14. How come the Emulator won't boot (black screen) if it uses a COM port?
    11.15. Why does the Visual Studio .NET 2003 Emulator not work with eMbedded Visual Tools Emulator at the same time?
    11.16. Why am I unable to deploy to a device with a TCP connection but no ActiveSync connection?

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