Windows CE .NET Emulator

[iainforums]

Hi,

I've just started some work for a handheld system that runs "Windows CE .NET" as the OS.

I'm trying to get the Emulator that vs.net uses, set-up to match the actual handhelds. The physical handheld has 64048KB of memory, but the emulator only has 17468KB.

Can anyone please tell me what I need to do to get the emulator more memory?

Thanks
Iain

 

[Nelviticus]

The manufacturer may have an SDK that includes an emulator for their device - there's certainly one available for the ViewSonic AirPanel, I've just been playing with it.

If not, then I don't know the answer I'm afraid.

Nelviticus

 

[Nelviticus]

I've just found out how to do this. In VS.Net go to Tools/Options then select Device Tools/Devices. Select the device you want - either the WinCE emulator or the PocketPC one - then click the 'configure' button next to the 'startup server' drop-down. On the 'system' tab you can select the memory size.

I'm using VS.Net 2003, if you're using something different then I have no idea what the answer is!

Nelviticus

 

[iainforums]

Hi Nelviticus,

Thanks for your replies.

I am using vs.net 2003, and i did manage to find the setting you found, however when i change it, it doesn't appear to change the emulator?!?
When i check the memory, i'm looking at the system utility in the control panel on the emulator, i take it i'm looking in the right place?
Does it change for you, when you try it?

Thanks
Iain

 

[Nelviticus]

You need to run the emulator then turn it off without saving its state, otherwise it just reads its configuration from the last state save file which was created before you increased the memory. When you run it again it will take longer to start but it should have your new configuration.

Nelviticus

 

[iainforums]

Hi,

That's great... silly me.
There seems to be a ceiling level of 50mb, but it's a lot closer to the 64mb of the actual device.

Thanks
Iain

 

[Nelviticus]

The operating system and all the files take a chunk out of the available memory. Because there's no hard drive everything gets stored in memory so that 50MB is probably 64MB minus OS and files.

Nelviticus

 

[iainforums]

It's a good point, but it still says 50mb even if i configure it to say 128mb :-(

 

[Nelviticus]

Hmm, you're right. Well, the help for the configuration tool says "the footprint of the operating system imaged in the emulator reduces available memory, and the operating system may place its own limitations on memory", so I guess that Win CE for the Pocket PC has a limit of 64MB main memory. Part of that will be used to store all the info that gets read when you do a hard reset - essentially a backup of the base system installation - and the rest is what you see as "total memory" in the control panel utility.

I guess that either the hand-held you're using has a tiny cut-down OS or I'm wrong about the 64MB limit. Hopefully you can work with 50MB - my first computer only had 1k!

Nelviticus