CodeProject: A comprehensive CE class library to replace ATL and MFC. Free source code and programming help

Report Article

Discuss

Send to a friend

45 votes for this Article.

Popularity: 7.67 Rating: 4.64 out of 5

Download source files - 383 Kb

Introduction

CeLib is a collection of classes that are a cross between ATL and MFC Window classes with some additional functionality thrown in to get some of the functionality you get from MFC (string, network and UI).

I first started programming for Windows CE version 2.0 for HPC and 2.01 for Palm-sized PC. The only tools, available were a Visual Studio 5.0 plugin for C++ and a Visual Basic plugin for 5.0. MFC was avialble for the 2.0 HPC platform, but not for 2.01 Palm-sized PC, in addition it was a 300+ K additional installation and wasn't yet included on most ROMs. I needed to write applications that would run on both so MFC and ATL were out. So I looked at the source for MFC and ATL and some other window class library and stole the ideas and wrote my own.

An application with significant functionality can be created in 20k. The database browser that is included is about 50k and requires no DLLs that aren't already installed.

Version Information

These libraries will build for operating system versions 2.0, 2.01 and 2.11. They have been tested and work on HPC 2.0, Palm-sized PC 1.0, Palm-sized PC 1.2, HPC Pro 3.0, and PocketPC in compatibilty mode.

Some important files

CePlatform.h	Compile time defines to make life easier for version differences in library includes all libraries required for COM and normal Window functionality. Library names are different across different version of CE as well as between the emulator and non-emulator versions, this header hides those differences. Also note that in Windows CE, many library functions from Windows 95/NT like WINSOCK and TAPI are included in the standard libraries, NOT in a special libraries.
CeDebug.h	Debug support such as `TRACE`, `ASSERT`
CeMisc.h	Miscellaneous helper classes

Class Descriptions

String

CeString reference counted string class, CString plus numeric conversion

User Interface

`CeBaseWnd`	A wrapper around `HWND` that provides for windows calls, but does not handle messages at all.
`CeMsgWnd`	Message Handling for any class through multiple inheritance.
`CeWnd`	Derived from both `CeBaseWnd` and `CeMsgWnd` to create the functionality of `CWindowImpl` (ATL) or `CWnd` (MFC), a basic Window wrapper
`CeCmdBar`	Wrapper class for CE command bars
`CeCombo`	Wrapper class for comboboxes
`CeSplitFrame`	Frame Splitter class
`CeTabCtrl`	Tab control wrapper
`CDialogScroll`	Dialog with scroll bars
`CeStatic`	Static control wrapper
`CeChildMgr`	A class for managing child window positioning within a common parent
`CePropertySheet`	Property sheet wrapper
`CePropertyPage`	Property page wrapper
`CeDialog`	Dialog wrapper class
`CeFontDlg`	Font chooser dialog wrapper
`CeStaticGroup`	Group box class

Modules, Control and Threads

`CeCriticalSection`	`CRITICALSECTION` wrapper
`CeWaitableHandle`	`HANDLE` wrapper with `WaitForXXXXObject`() support
`CeManualEvent`	Manual Reset `EVENT` class
`CeAutoEvent`	Auto Reset `EVENT` class
`CeWaitObjects`	A class for constructing a list of object that can be waited for in concert (`WaitforMultipleObjects`, `MsgWaitforMultipleObjects`, etc)
`CeWorkerThread`	Thread wrapper class
`CeAppModule`	wrapper for an application's instance

Network

`CeSocket`	Socket wrapper classes
`CeSockAddr`	Socket Address (`SOCKADDR`) wrapper
`CeFtpClient`	FTP client class, a native implementation on the `CeSocket` class

Operating System

`CeFindFile`	`FindFile` wrapper
`CeRegKey`	Registry API wrapper
`CeResource`	Simple Resource access
`CeVersionInfo`	Version info extraction

Utility

`CeArray`	Simple array class
`CeSimpleMap`	Simple map (hashtable) class
`CeRect`	`RECT` wrapper class
`CePoint`	`POINT` wrapper class

Database

CeDb CE native database support

Experimental

`CeInkCtrl`	Wraps the Ink control
`CeRichInkCtrl`	Wraps the Rich Ink control
`CeRas`	RAS API wrapper
`CeToolTip`	Tooltip class

History

Oct 5 2000 - Updated with both functional and PocketPC support changes.

License

This article has no explicit license attached to it but may contain usage terms in the article text or the download files themselves. If in doubt please contact the author via the discussion board below.

A list of licenses authors might use can be found here

About the Author

Kenny G

Location:

United States

Other popular Mobile Development articles:

Writing Your Own GPS Applications: Part 2
In part two of the series, the author of "GPS.NET" teaches developers how to write GPS applications suitable for the real world by mastering GPS precision concepts. Source code includes a working NMEA interpreter and sample high-precision application in C# and VB.NET.
Pocket 1945 - A C# .NET CF Shooter
An article on Pocket PC game development
Pocket PC TV Remote Control
An article describing how to use the IR port on a pocket PC to control a TV.
Infrared Communication with your Mobile Phone
Learn how to make your Pocket PC speak with your mobile phone.
C# Remote Control using the Audio Port
This article describes the development of C# code that allows you to send consumer IR codes from your mobile device using the audio port.

Article Top

You must Sign In to use this message board.

Msgs 1 to 25 of 42 (Total in Forum: 42) (Refresh)

FirstPrevNext

Subject

Author

Date

How about support for Windows Mobile 5

panachepitts

11:38 17 Nov '06

I too have spent all morning trying to port the library to Windows Mobile 5. I can get it to compile and link. And I can link it into another project. But when I start including the celib.h file - then I get several unresolved external symbol errors for CeAssert. Any suggestions? panachepitts
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.67/5 (2 votes)

VS 2005 support

hojjat_rele

0:30 24 Jul '06

Does this library work in visual studio 2005?
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.29/5 (4 votes)

WaitForMultipleObject

ammasramesha

21:14 29 Jul '05

Can i use WaitForMultipleObject for pocketpc2003 in embedded vc4.0 i tried but it returns WAIT_FAILED the code i have tried is HANDLE hEvents[1]; WaitForMultipleObjects(1, hEvents, FALSE, INFINITE); -------Thank You Friends-------- By Ramesh A -------------------------------- ------Succcess is our moto------
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.00/5 (1 vote)

eVC++ 4.0 support

Stober

6:20 23 Mar '05

It would be nice if you would update this article to support newer versions of eVC++ compilers, such as eVC++ 4.0 for PocketPC 2003. I've been trying all morning and have hundreds of porting problems. I created a whole new DLL without MFC support and copied the source files into that project.
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.87/5 (8 votes)

Write behind stack buffer in CCeSocket::GetHostByName()

Christoph Weber

23:05 21 Oct '04

Just stumbled over a small bug: `char szBuf[128]; for (int ii = 0; ii < 128 && pchName != _T('0'); pchName++, ii++) szBuf[ii] = (char) pchName; szBuf[ii] = 0;` After the for-loop ii is 128, meaning you are writing zero to the 129th element on the stack. -> either change szBuf[128] to [129] or ii<128 to ii<128-1 or something. Just wanted to let you know.
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink

I don't want to use ADOCE in my PocketPC.

Gopabandhu

23:01 26 Apr '04

Hi I don't want to use ADOCE in my pocketPc. Is there any way handle SQL query and databse manipulation in PocketPC. Regards Gopa
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	2.00/5 (1 vote)

Re: I don't want to use ADOCE in my PocketPC.

Heng cao

8:55 5 Jun '04

You can try .NET Compact Framework, It's in Visual Studio 2003 .NET
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink

FTP app and sorting

Amit Dey

13:06 26 Dec '03

I'd like to know how to sort an array of files returned from an ftp server?

CeFileAttrArray attr;

GetFileList(attr,_T("*.zip"));

//now how do I sort attr?
//next line is problemmatic
//qsort(.......) causes access violation ?

has anyone here used the FTP classes here?

Hush,hush...
thought I heard you call my name now.

Kula Shaker.

Amit Dey
Latest articles at CP -
Writing Word addins
Office addin

Ftp class

Simone1976

6:09 18 Dec '03

Hi, I tryed to use the Ftp class, for implementing in my app (on PocketPC 2002) the ftp getfile, but don't work. Any suggestion? Thanks
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.00/5 (3 votes)

How can use it in evc++ 3?

Simone Sanfilippo

0:50 14 Nov '03

Hi, I try use it on evC++ 3, but the workspace is for VC++ 6 ... how can convert this workspace? Thanks Simone Sanfilippo
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink

Re: How can use it in evc++ 3?

Andreas Muegge

21:52 1 Dec '03

Just add the files you need to your workspace, most .h files have a corresponding .cpp file which must be included as well.
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink

Re: How can use it in evc++ 3?

Simone Sanfilippo

23:59 1 Dec '03

I had already try this way but I had a much error. Simone Sanfilippo Development software Win32 and WinCE
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink

How to use CeVersioninfo class?

Mark Findlay

14:01 7 Sep '03

Can you provide a working sample of the use of the CeVersionInfo class?
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink

PocketPC tapi problem HELP !!!

thitoune

1:04 24 Mar '03

Who knows how to start phone (when totally closed) on PocketPc ?
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink

Re: PocketPC tapi problem HELP !!!

Anonymous

10:59 15 May '03

He! What you mean? :?
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.00/5 (1 vote)

wireless transfer

ronaldo83

17:45 13 Mar '03

Anyone knows how to transfer files(e.g. jpeg files, gif files, word doc, etc) using wireless communication? <marquee>Thank you to those who can solve my problem!</marquee>
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.33/5 (3 votes)

ATL for SmartPhone

NickBln

5:50 13 Feb '03

Hi, I want to create an ActiveX control for SmartPhone device and I don't have the ALT libs,incs. I installed the SDK for SmartPhone and they are not included. Could somebody help me? Thanks in advance Nick
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink

Re: ATL for SmartPhone

Anonymous

22:31 11 Mar '03

Hi, here mr Denis Chelle from france I have the same trouble that you. Did you have any response about it? Thanks in advance. denis.
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	2.00/5 (1 vote)

Wireless comm and TAPI

Tushar_Zaware

1:38 30 Sep '02

1. How to achive the wireless communication on Pocket PC Device? 2. can we have a Prototype which will make a call from the PPC emulation to some phone no. using External modem and TAPI?
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	2.00/5 (2 votes)

can't add items to Tree view in evc++ ??

giancarlo Molina

7:58 31 May '02

i have problems working with tree viw control en evc++, can't add item for this control and can't handle events such as double click or else... help me please
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.33/5 (3 votes)

CeDbRecord::AddProp is broken

Anonymous

23:32 10 Apr '02

CeDbRecord doesn't properly copy over existing CEVT_LPWSTR and CEVT_BLOB values. After copying the properties array, it just shuffles up the data pointed to by the pProps[ii].val.blob.lpb or pProps[ii].val.lpwstr members. These still point to addresses in the old buffer. The pointer arithmetic for LPWSTR's is also not right.

For the LPWSTR case, replace the


if (0 != dwLen)
	pProps[ii].val.lpwstr = (WCHAR*) memmove(...)

with something like


if (0 != dwLen)
{
	//get offset of data into props structure
	long offs = ((LPBYTE)m_pProps[ii].val.lpwstr) - (LPBYTE) m_pProps;

	pProps[ii].val.lpwstr = (WCHAR*) memcpy( ((LPBYTE)pProps) + offs + sizeof CEPROPVAL, pProps[ii].val.lpwstr, dwLen);
}

cheers
matt

Some Problems

Anonymous

6:51 20 Mar '02

I've only used CeArray and CeString, but there are problems in each that might nip you in the butt.

CeString: Format() is not safe! I replaced it with the Format() from MFC CString which calculates the size of the buffer needed before doing a vsprintf.

CeArray: The destructor does not call the destructors for all the elements it contains. This is done in MFC classes with a DestructElements() call. I simply made a new function for CeArray called RemoveAll().

2.00/5 (2 votes)

Send To IrDA printer in Pocket PC

Mesut

5:14 3 Mar '02

I have a problem in WinCE.. I could not send document or text to printer in Embedded MFC . I want to print japanese and arabic character at IrDA printer.. MFC
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.00/5 (2 votes)

CeFtp and File not existing

Greg Berlin

7:40 7 Oct '01

I am having trouble with doing a FileInfo, and the file not existing. Basically the program appears to go into a wait, and does not come back with false. I have set my timeouts to 5 seconds, but it does not seem to help. Anyone have any ideas? Greg Berlin
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	2.00/5 (1 vote)

embedded c++ database app

Anonymous

4:31 29 Jun '01

i am unable to connect to a database using embedded c++ however it works in embedded vb. can anyone help? thanks in advance
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.67/5 (3 votes)

Last Visit: Saturday, May 17, 2008 11:29 AM Last Update:Saturday, May 17, 2008 11:29 AM

1 Next »

General News Question Answer Joke Rant Admin