Now just like .exe files are used to install Applications, settings, etc in Windows PCs, .Cab files are used to install Applications or Settings in a Windows Mobile Phone Device. Now how to create an installable .cab for a Pocket PC is a very easy task if you have the tools. The tool that we’ll be using here called OCP WinCeCab Manager is the only complete tool to do this process.
This is going to be a huge image based step by step tutorial which will explain every important aspect while creating a .Cab installation file.
Steps:
1. Select the OEM/EXT Folder of an application for which you want to create a .Cab file. You can create a .Cab file containing files, shortcuts, registries, setup.dll, combination of these. We have chosen an EXT Folder of Youtube. Here all the files are included in files folder. App.reg contains the reg entries and App.dat contains the location where there files are supposed to be installed, i.e. to decide the location of these files.
2. Open WinCeCab Manager and click on Files/New. A window will open to enter the Company name and the Application name. Fill as you prefer.
3. Click next and you’ll be asked that which all platforms should the application support so select all of them, click next where then you’ll be asked on which processor specifically should the application run, sect all again and click next as below. The last window will just be a summary of your choices so then click on Finish.
4. Now the Main Playground will be available to you with 4sections on the right called – 1. Cab Information, 2. Files, 3. Shortcuts and 4. Registry. Click on the Cab Information and Edit the Information as you like. For example change the installation folder location. You can also click on Allow install and Disable it so that one the .Cab file is installed on the device, it cannot be disabled. Do this on your own risk cause if the application file s corrupt and crashes the device, you wont be able to uninstall it.
5. Next you need to Add files so move to Section 2. Files and add all the files from the files Folder. You can Select the installation path of all the files together or even individually of specific files as mentioned in the App.dat. Another Important thing you need to mention is the properties of the files, whether they are supposed to be hidden or system files, or archives, etc.
6. Next you need to create shortcut file and its location. First click on add shortcut. Then you’ll be asked to name the shortcut. After naming select the application file for which you are creating the shortcut. For example you need to create the shortcut of youtube.exe so select it from the list. Next you’ll be asked to select the location where you want to place the shortcut. So remember the shortcuts are only visible in Start Menu if you put them in \windows\start menu\programs\ folder (programs folder is of no in windows phone os 6.5 and above). You can create folder within the start menu as well.
7. Now comes the part to install registry setting related to the application. just go to files-import-from Reg and select App.reg. This will install the relevant registry files. If you want to just create a cab with only registry setting then its not necessary to do the above steps and just import registry entries and save the file.
8. Sometimes its required to include a setup.dll file with the application. To do so just go to Cabinet-Setup Dll-Add and select the setup.dll file. After this just save the file and install it you your Device.
