Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 Technical Articles  

Designing a Custom UI Shell for Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 Embedded Systems

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Microsoft Corporation

June 1999

Summary:This article describes the shell support components included in Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 and explains how to develop a customized shell. (8 printed pages)

Contents

Introduction
Windows CE Shells
Developing and Installing a Custom Shell
Shell Design Issues
Building a Custom Configuration
For More Information

Introduction

Microsoft Windows CE is a compact, scalable operating system (OS) that is fast becoming the OS of choice for many embedded-systems developers. Its modular design allows for full customization, requiring that a developer select only the modules and components necessary for an embedded application.

Components are provided to support the development of custom shells. A platform developer can select from a set of components that support shell-related API functionality.

These shell support components offer flexibility by enabling a wide variety of shells. They are designed to make it as easy as possible for embedded-systems developers to create and use whatever shell they want. These components should be thought of as providing underlying system support only. Sample code is provided to help better understand system integration and to reduce development time.

This article describes the shell support components offered in Windows CE 3.0 and explains how to develop a customized shell. The components include: