Help with WinCE CAB Manager Please

[Guest yoos]

This app SEEMS simple enough, however it isn't working when I try to install the cab on my smartphone. I get the error "XXXX.cab failed to install on your device.". Is there anything special I need to do that I'm not aware?? All I did was add the files and registry values into specific directories, saved the cab on my pc, copied the cab to the phone and tried to install it...

I have an audiovox SMT5600 and here are some specifics:

- I chose SmartPhone in the beginning when it asked me to Select Cabinet Type (Original, SmartPhone or Pocket PC 2003).

- I chose the Processor 'All/CEF'

- Tried it where all files have the attribute 'archive' and I also tried it with no attributes selected.

- I DON'T have the 'Hard-coded path' checkbox selected for the directory of any file.

- I'm trying to copy files to a few different directories and modify two existing registry values (for skinning). I'm not trying to do anything with shortcuts, dll's, or pre/post xml.

Thanks!!

Edited July 21, 2005 by yoos

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

Some tips:

1. Choose 'Do not allow user to select installation directory' when using the wizard.

2. When adding files to your package, do not use the predefined folder of the program instead manually specify your target folders by creating 'New Folder'.

3. Pack your files all at once. Once the CAB was already saved, adding files to your existing package may result to zero-byte file size. Have all your source files in one folder. That way you won't forget which files to include.

4. You can verify file size by exporting your CAB into INF then check the output directory (C:\My CE Installations). Compare source files to the dumped files, pay attention to the file sizes. If there is a mismatch, your CAB will not install properly, it will surely fail.

5. Registry keys with 'Default' values shoud be specified as 'Default' and not '(Default)'. The latter will result to a 'null' registry key. Cab files won't install when there are null data.

6. If all else fails, do things using cabwizsp. You may use the INF file generated by the 'Export to INF' function of the program but there is a trick in doing so. If you post your INF here for some examination, then that will help.

[Guest yoos]

Thanks PZEE!! Great tips! Only problem is, I still can't get it to work?! looks like I'll have to try and learn/give cabwizsp a try...

I posted the following on their support site:

I'm creating a cab and the program seems very intuitive... Although, I've NOT yet been able to create a successful cab?! :) I'm only adding 9 files and two registry changes. When I add the files I can right click them and hit view and EVERY file is perfectly ok and looks fine. The problem is as SOON as I hit save in WinCE CAB Manager the files become corrupted!!??? What I mean by corrupted is the graphics files aren't viewable, or if they are they look messed up, and the xml and html docs are either not viewable or there is a bunch of garbaged text in their. It's a shame that I can't get this program working as it seems like it would be cool if it did work (I tried it on 2 different computers and got the same results. One with XP Home and one with XP Pro).

One thing that's kind of strange maybe is that when I try to delete and re-import the files and then view them (before I hit save) it says the following with each file:

"Are you sure you want to overwrite "C:\DOCUME~1\yoosm\LOCALS~1\Temp\CeCabMgr\(file name)"

Not sure what that's all about or if that helps you in understanding the issue...

If I delete and re-add all the files I can again view all the files by right clicking and everything seems fine. I can export in INF and view all the files on my PC and they all look fine their too! But as SOON as I hit save and then export to INF the files are corrupted (some say 0 kb)?? :D

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

Ahh I thought I was the only one having that 0 byte bug. WinCE Cab Manager program is indeed cool if everything runs well.

You could always give cabwiz a try. Its easy once you get to know how to write your INF (and you can use the INF generated by the program for cabwiz)

Let me know how I could extend further assistance regarding this matter. :)

[Guest yoos]

Thanks again PZEE, I'll let you know... I was actually JUST reading the How to create a cab in the FAQ section...

Here's an update on my communication with the software company that makes WinCE Cab Manager...

They sent me an updated version of the software and below is the email I sent them after trying to use it...

Thanks for the updated version. It looks like I was able to get farther, but it's still not working. You're right that I'm creating a cab for a smartphone. I can now see that all the files appear to be ok after I save the cab in your program. I can export it to an INF and all files seem ok too. Now the only problem is that when I try to install it on the phone it doesn't work. It does the following after I click on the cab to run it on the phone:

1. The phone says the following for a quick split second "Download of xxxx.cab completed successfully. Installation in progress."

2. Then it says "xxxx.cab failed to install on your device."

I'm using an Audiovox SMT5600 smartphone with the 2003 SE OS. Attached is the cab file I'm trying to install... I've created a few different cabs where one was restricting all OS's except smartphone and was also messing with the OS versions to see if I could get it to work, but each time I either get this problem or nothing at all happens when I click on the cab file on the phone.

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

The version Im using right now is 1.1. Anyway, here is a sample INF generated by the program:

[SOURCE FILE]

Name=GPC Capture 10th.cab

Path=C:\MY TWEAKS\SmartSS\GPC Capture 10th.cab

Type=SmartPhone

AllowUninstall=TRUE


[Version]

Signature="$Chicago$"

CESignature="$Windows CE$"

Provider="GPC"


[CEStrings]

AppName="Capture 10th"

InstallDir=""


[CEDevice]

ProcessorType=0


[SourceDisksNames]

1=,Source1,,"IPSM\Program Files\AutoSmartphone\Scripts"

2=,Source2,,"IPSM\Windows\Start Menu\Capture"

3=,Source3,,"IPSM\Program Files\Smart SS"


[SourceDisksFiles]

"sss10.shk"=1

"caponten.exe"=1

"Capture on 10.lnk"=2

"smartss.exe"=3


[CopyFiles1]

"sss10.shk",,,0x00000000

"caponten.exe",,,0x00000000


[CopyFiles2]

"Capture on 10.lnk",,,0x00000000


[CopyFiles3]

"smartss.exe",,,0x00000001


[DestinationDirs]

CopyFiles1=0,"\IPSM\Program Files\AutoSmartphone\Scripts"

CopyFiles2=0,"\IPSM\Windows\Start Menu\Capture"

CopyFiles3=0,"\IPSM\Program Files\Smart SS"


[DefaultInstall]

CopyFiles=CopyFiles1,CopyFiles2,CopyFiles3

If I recompile it using the import function, it will not install on my device (Tanager and Typhoon) but if I change the code to:

[Version]

Signature="$Chicago$"

CESignature="$Windows CE$"

Provider="GPC"


[CEStrings]

AppName="Capture 10th"


[CEDevice]

ProcessorType=0


[SourceDisksNames]

1=,Source1,,"IPSM\Program Files\AutoSmartphone\Scripts"

2=,Source2,,"IPSM\Windows\Start Menu\Capture"

3=,Source3,,"IPSM\Program Files\Smart SS"


[SourceDisksFiles]

"sss10.shk"=1

"caponten.exe"=1

"Capture on 10.lnk"=2

"smartss.exe"=3


[CopyFiles1]

"sss10.shk",,,0x00000000

"caponten.exe",,,0x00000000


[CopyFiles2]

"Capture on 10.lnk",,,0x00000000


[CopyFiles3]

"smartss.exe",,,0x00000001


[DestinationDirs]

CopyFiles1=0,"\IPSM\Program Files\AutoSmartphone\Scripts"

CopyFiles2=0,"\IPSM\Windows\Start Menu\Capture"

CopyFiles3=0,"\IPSM\Program Files\Smart SS"


[DefaultInstall]

CopyFiles=CopyFiles1,CopyFiles2,CopyFiles3

...and use cabwizsp, installation works fine.

Do you notice the difference between the two INFs? You need to have the source files (the non-buggy ones) at the target folder/s ( under [sourceDiskNames] ) then just drag the INF to cabwizsp.exe :)

Cabwizsp is included in the 2002/2003 Smartphone SDK available at the Microsoft site.

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

A sample section of INF which performs registry modifications on the phone:

[AddRegistry]

HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Shell\StartMRU","InitialOrder",0x00010000,"TCPMP.lnk","Inbox.lnk","Settings.lnk","Calendar.lnk","Compose New.lnk","Keypad Lock.lnk","Task Manager.lnk","Accessories\Calculator.lnk"


[DefaultInstall]

CopyFiles=CopyFiles1

AddReg=AddRegistry