This book explores the differences between the standard framework and the CF, shows how to use the Win32 API, and explains specialized tools for particular machines and functions. It is a practical, code-rich tutorial for experienced students wishing to transfer their skills to smart devices. Covers topics not found in other books, such as controls, data handling, graphics, and ActiveSync.

Foreword. Preface. Acknowledgments. About the Authors. I: Foundations. 1. .NET Compact Framework Architecture. Windows CE Overview. What Is .NET? The .NET Compact Framework. Conclusion. 2. What Is a .NET Compact Framework Program? The Essence of a .NET Compact Framework Program. Using Visual Studio .NET 2003. The Cistern Sample Program. Adding Classes. Conclusion. 3. The .NET Type System. Using Type Information: Namespace References and Assembly References. Standard Types. Strings. Type Conversion. Memory Management. Conclusion. 4. Platform Invoke. Overview of P/Invoke. Creating P/Invoke Declarations. Supported P/Invoke Function Parameters. A Sample Program: CallWin32. Writing Win32 Dynamic Link Libraries. Manual P/Invoke Parameter Passing. Communicating between Unmanaged and Managed Code. Comparing P/Invoke Support. Conclusion. II: Building the User Interface. 5. Creating Forms. What Are Forms? Manipulating Forms. Inheritance and Visual Inheritance. Conclusion. 6. Mouse and Keyboard Input. Overview of Input. Programming for Mouse Input. Programming for Keyboard Input. Conclusion. 7. Inside Controls. What Are Controls? Categories of Controls. Properties, Methods, and Events. The Core Events. The Core Properties. The Core Methods. Working with Control Type Information. Five Commonly Used Controls. A Sample Program: TimeTracker. The Label Control. The TextBox Control. The ListBox and ComboBox Controls. The Button Control. The RadioButton and CheckBox Controls. Conclusion. 8. Data Binding to Controls. Data Binding. Complex Data Binding. Simple Data Binding. The DataGrid Control. Conclusion. 9. Inside More Controls. Detecting Support for Properties, Methods, and Events. Menus. Grabbing Events. The ToolBar and ImageList Controls. Dialog Boxes. Conclusion. 10. Building Custom Controls. Custom Controls. Controls as Objects. Deriving Custom Controls from an Existing .NET Control. Creating Composite Controls. Creating New Controls. Adding Animation to a Custom Control. Authoring Custom Controls for the Multithreaded Environment. Adding a Custom Control to the Visual Studio .NET Toolbox. Conclusion. III: Managing Device Data. 11. Storage. Smart-Device Data Storage. File I/O. Registry Access. Conclusion. 12. ADO.NET Programming. Examining ADO.NET. Working with Data Sets. Microsoft SQL Server CE. Microsoft SQL Server. Web Services. Conclusion. 13. Synchronizing Mobile Data. Understanding Remote Data Applications. Installing Remote Data Connectivity. Using RDA. Using Merge Replication. Choosing between Merge Replication and RDA. Conclusion. 14. The Remote API. What Is ActiveSync?. RAPI Fundamentals. Accessing the Object Store. Detecting Changes in Device Connection State. Loading Programs and DLLs. Conclusion. IV: Creating Graphical Output. 15. .NET Compact Framework Graphics. An Introduction to .NET Compact Framework Graphics. Drawing on the Display Screen. Raster Graphics. Vector Graphics. Conclusion. 16. Text and Fonts. Drawing Text. Font Selection. Placing Text. Text Color. Conclusion. 17. Printing. The Printing Pipeline. Programming for Printed Output. Direct Printing. Rendering with GDI. HP Mobile Printing. Rendering with PrinterCE. Conclusion. V: Appendixes. Appendix A: Hungarian Notation for .NET Programs. Goals and Objectives. Guidelines. .NET Naming Guidelines. Hungarian Notation. Appendix B: Supported PMEs for .NET Compact Framework Controls. Appendix C: Data Synchronization Wizards. The Virtual Directory Creation Wizard. The Create Publication Wizard. Appendix D: Windows API Allocation and Cleanup Functions. Glossary. Index.