INFO: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About VBCE
ID: Q192618
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The information in this article applies to:
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Microsoft Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic 5.0, version 1.0
SUMMARY
This article covers some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs)
about the Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic 5.0 (VBCE).
MORE INFORMATION
The following questions are answered in this FAQ:
- Can I develop VBCE applications for use on Palm-size PCs?
- Does VBCE provide database programmability?
- Are ActiveX controls supported in VBCE? Where can I get them?
- Can I use Windows 95 or Windows 98 to develop VBCE applications?
- Will VBCE work with Visual Basic 6.0?
- Can existing Visual Basic applications be ported to VBCE?
- Are the same Visual Basic controls supported in VBCE?
- How do I debug VBCE applications?
- Can I call APIs in VBCE applications?
- Do I need a handheld device to run VBCE?
- Are there any third-party controls available for VBCE?
- How much does VBCE cost?
- What other products do I need to purchase to use VBCE?
- Where can I obtain VBCE?
Questions and Answers
- Q: Can I develop VBCE applications for use on Palm-size PCs?
A: Currently, applications targeting Palm-size PCs cannot be developed
using VBCE. The implementation of the Windows CE operating system on
the Palm-size PC devices does not currently include sufficient COM
support for VBCE applications. For additional information, please see
the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q191478 INFO: Palm-Size PC Does Not Support VBCE Applications
- Q. Does VBCE provide database programmability?
A. Yes. Microsoft has released the ActiveX Data Objects 1.0 SDK for
Windows CE (ADOCE 1.0) that provides advanced database
programmability for VBCE developers. ADOCE 1.0 can be downloaded from
the following location:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/downloads/pccompanions/adosdk.asp
For additional information, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q192531 INFO: Overview of ActiveX Data Objects SDK for Windows CE
- Q: Are ActiveX controls supported in VBCE? Where can I get them?
A: Yes. ActiveX is supported in Windows CE, and you can use ActiveX
controls in your VBCE applications. Microsoft has released to the Web
the Windows CE ActiveX Control Pack 1.0, which includes the Grid,
TabStrip, TreeView, ListView, ImageList, and CommonDialog controls.
These controls can be downloaded from the following Web address:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/downloads/pccompanions/actxconpak1.asp
However, you cannot develop ActiveX controls using VBCE. Instead,
you must use the Windows CE Toolkit for Visual C++ (VCCE) for ActiveX
control development.
- Q. Can I use Windows 95 or Windows 98 to develop VBCE applications?
A: No. Due to the requirement for Unicode support and emulation
capabilities, VBCE currently requires Windows NT version 4.0 (with
Service Pack 3). For additional information, please see the following
articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q184851 INFO: VBCE Does Not Run on Windows 95 or Windows 98
Q181943 INFO: System Requirements for Windows CE Toolkit for VB 5.0
- Q: Will VBCE work with Visual Basic 6.0?
A: No. VBCE was developed to work specifically with Visual Basic 5.0.
Microsoft is actively investigating how to best bring VBCE to Visual
Basic 6.0. Information will be posted at the following location when
it becomes available:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/default.asp
- Q: Can existing Visual Basic applications be ported to VBCE?
A: You cannot directly port an existing Visual Basic application into
VBCE due to some limitations and unsupported features in VBCE. The
amount of work required to "port" an existing Visual Basic desktop
application to VBCE will depend on many factors, including the
complexity of the application and whether it uses features not
supported in VBCE. It may be significantly easier to create a VBCE
application from scratch than to port an existing Visual Basic
application. For additional information, please see the following
articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q186266 INFO: What Is Handled Differently in Windows CE and VBCE
Q184650 INFO: What Does Visual Basic 5.0 Have That VBCE Doesn't Have?
Q192459 INFO: Unsupported Controls, Properties, Methods and Events
- Q: Are the same Visual Basic controls supported in VBCE?
A: Most Visual Basic intrinsic controls (such as CheckBoxes, TextBoxes,
CommandButtons) are supported in VBCE. There are some differences in
control appearance and behavior corresponding to differences in the
Windows CE user interface model, however, and there are also
differences in the Visual Basic built-in functions corresponding to
differences in operating system features. For the most part, you will
find that creating VBCE applications is very similar to creating
Visual Basic applications on Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT.
- Q: How do I debug VBCE applications?
A: There are two methods of debugging available for VBCE users. The
first is to use the H/PC emulator (provided with VBCE) to debug your
application right on your Windows NT development workstation. This
method is fast and convenient, and is ideal for applications that are
being developed for hand-held PCs. The second is to use the remote
debugging tools provided with the Toolkit. These tools let you
execute your VBCE application remotely on your Windows CE device,
while at the same time monitoring and controlling its execution from
your Windows NT development workstation.
For additional information, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q192549 INFO: VBCE: Overview of Debugging VBCE Applications
- Q: Can I call APIs in VBCE applications?
A: The current version of VBCE does not allow you to call API functions
directly. Instead, you may use the Windows CE Toolkit for Visual C++
(VCCE) to create an ActiveX control wrapping the API call and host
the control in VBCE.
- Q: Do I need a handheld device to run VBCE?
A: You do not need a handheld device to begin developing VBCE
applications. You can create and debug Windows CE-based applications
from your desktop. Built-in emulation technology provides the look
and function of a device, right on your PC.
- Q: Are there any third-party controls available for VBCE?
A: A growing number of third-party companies are looking into developing
controls for use in VBCE. See Microsoft's Windows CE Web site for the
most current information:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce
- Q: How much does VBCE cost?
A: The retail price of VBCE is $199, and it is available now.
- Q: What other products do I need to purchase to use VBCE?
A: You will need to obtain a copy of Visual Basic version 5.0, and you
will need to be running the software on Microsoft Windows NT, version
4.0 with Service Pack 3 or later.
- Q: Where can I obtain VBCE?
A: VBCE is available from retail channels, including mail order software
retailers.
Additional query words:
vbce vbce5 vbce6 wince
Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:1.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo
Last Reviewed: April 13, 1999