Tools by Category (Compact 2013)

Article
11/09/2017

3/26/2014

The following resources are common tools for Windows Embedded Compact 2013, categorized by the task you use them for. For additional information, see the reference section for Tools.

Application Development

When you write applications for a Windows Embedded Compact device, these are the tools that you use the most. For more information, see Application Development.

Tool	Use
Expression Blend and XAML for Windows Embedded	Design a GUI for your application.
Windows Embedded XAML Tools	Convert a XAML project that you built in Expression Blend into a native (C++) Windows Embedded Compact application.
Visual Studio	Create and build your native (C++) Windows Embedded Compact application. If you did not build your GUI by using XAML, you can work directly in Visual Studio without Expression Blend and Windows Embedded XAML Tools.
Application Compatibility Tool	Scan a .dll or.exe file for deprecated APIs.
Guidgen Tool	Create a new GUID.
Unldcmd Tool	Remove a program from a device.
Unload Tool	Remove an application from a device.

Build

You build your OS by using either Platform Builder or command-line tools.

Tool	Use
Platform Builder User Interface	Build the source code using Platform Builder.
Build Tool (Build.exe)	Build the source code in a directory and in specified subdirectories.
Cesysgen Batch File (Cesysgen.bat)	Specify which Windows Embedded Compact OS modules and functionality to install on the target device.

Debugging

Debugging is an important part of developing your OS or application.

Tool	Use
Readlog Tool	Convert the output from the kernel tracker from CeLog (.clg) format to text (.txt) format.
Viewbin Tool	Display information about a run-time image.
Compact Test Kit (CTK)	Test the functionality and performance of device drivers and related hardware for a Windows Embedded Compact powered device.

Remote Tools

You can use the remote tools to diagnose and test Windows Embedded Compact-based devices.

Tool	Use
Remote File Viewer	You can copy a file from a computer that has Platform Builder installed to a Windows Embedded Compact powered device by using the File Viewer remote tool.
Remote Registry Editor	Using this tool you can view and modify the registry on a device.
Remote Resource Consumer	You use this tool to adjust the available CPU, memory, storage, and process resources that are available on the device to see the resulting effect on device performance.
Remote Resource Leak Detector	Helps you track handle usage, detect memory leaks, and detect heap corruption conditions in application and drivers.
Remote System Information	Displays information about the properties and system settings of devices.
Remote Timeline Viewer	Includes the Performance Monitor and the Kernel Tracker.
Remote Tools Profiler	Collects information that you can use to assess the performance of an OS, drivers, and applications on a device.
Remote Tools Shell	Allows you to call Remote Tools and to see properties of the tools.

Deployment

After you build your OS or application, you use the following tools to deploy your OS or application to a device.

Tool	Use
BinCompress Tool	Compress or decompress run-time images for use with the x86 BIOS boot loader.
CAB Wizard	Package or update an application in a cabinet (.cab) file.
Cvrtbin Tool	Convert ROM files from binary (.bin) format to Motorola 32-bit (.sre) format or absolute binary (.abx) format.
Unldcmd Tool	Remove a program from a device. You use this tool for headless and primitive devices.
Unload Tool	Remove an application from a device by using a file that you generated from Wceload Tool.
Wceldcmd Tool	Install or remove a .cab file from a location that you specify. You use this tool for headless and primitive devices. .
Wceload Tool	Install a .cab file to a location that you select on the device.

Localization

Use these tools to create resource files so that end users can choose from multiple languages and keyboard layouts on their devices.

Tool	Use
Createmui Tool	Create resource files for a multilingual UI (MUI), which allows an end user to change the language of the UI.
Keyboard Layout Generator Tool	Produce input language and device layout source files from a keyboard layout DLL.

OS Development

Use these tools to help create your OS. For more information, see OS Development.

Tool	Use
BinMod Tool	Extract files from a run-time image and optionally replace files in a run-time image.
CeBackup Tool	Backup and restore OS-specific .lib files that Microsoft provides.
Windows CE Splash Screen Generator	Simplify converting different types of graphic files into a compressed .bmx file that is used for splash screens in Windows Embedded Compact.
CEDriverWiz	Create a stream driver subproject with various options that provides some tests for the driver.
CEComponentWiz	Create a subproject that collects resources and copies them to the release directory when the subproject is built, as well as creating a catalog item for the subproject and its resources.

Security

Use these tools to help secure your applications and files.

Tool	Use
Cabsigntool Tool	Sign a .cab file and all its executable content (.exe and .dll files) with the specified certificate(s).
Signcode Tool	Sign a portable executable (PE) file (.dll or .exe file) with an Authenticode digital signature. You can sign either an assembly or an individual file contained in a multiple file assembly.
Signtool Tool	Digitally sign files with an embedded signature, verify signatures in files, or timestamp files.