Windows Installer Editor Reference
220
Advanced Installations
Mobile device .CAB files are generated by the CabWiz program from an information file
(.INF). The .INF is a text file that specifies directories, files, settings, and configurations
that are used to install a mobile device application.
(Pocket PC applications only.) A single .INF file can contain information to produce
multiple .CAB files. Example: An application supports the Windows Mobile and Pocket PC
2002 platforms, but several of the application files are platform-dependent. When you
create the installation, you assign the files to the device that supports that platform.
When you compile, the Windows Mobile-specific files are placed in the Windows Mobile
.CAB file, and the Pocket PC 2002-specific files are placed in the Pocket PC 2002 .CAB
file.
A mobile device application can be installed in the following ways:
z
The .CAB file and an .INI file that describes the .CAB are included in an installation
that runs on the desktop computer. The desktop computer contains Application
Manager (CeAppMgr.exe), which is installed with ActiveSync. Application Manager
installs the mobile device application on the device.
z
The end user copies the .CAB file to the mobile device and opens it. The .CAB file
extracts its contents to the directories that were specified in the .INF file.
Uninstall of the mobile device application is controlled by the mobile device and
ActiveSync. Uninstalling the mobile device installation from the desktop computer does
not affect the application that is installed on the mobile device.
To add Windows Mobile .CAB files to a desktop installation, use Installation Expert >
Mobile Devices page.
See
Adding Windows Mobile Files
.
See also:
About the Mobile Devices Page
on page 218
Process for Adding Mobile Device Support to an Installation
on page 219
Adding Windows Mobile Files
To add Windows Mobile .CAB files to a desktop installation, use the Windows Mobile
wizard.
To access the wizard:
Do one of the following:
z
Select Installation Expert > Mobile Devices. Do this to add the mobile device
installation to an existing installation.
a. From Current Feature, select a feature or condition. (Because any item you
add must be assigned to a specific feature, you cannot add an item when All
Features is selected.)
Items that you add to a feature are installed on the destination computer only if
the feature is installed.
b. Click Add at the right of the page and select Windows Mobile.
If the Mobile Devices page is not visible, select All or Windows Mobile
Application from the Page Views drop-down list in Installation Expert.