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Developing full screen applications using STFullScreen library

Vassili Philippov (vasja@spbteam.com), July 01, 2001.

Introduction

The typical screen of Pocket PC is 240x320. It is much less than screen of a desktop computer. That is why developers don't want to spend area for the task and the command bars. One of the most frequently asked question in the developer news groups is how to make a full screen application. Although Pocket PC provides a special function called SHFullScreen there are still many untrivial aspects of using it. In this article I will describe an easy way of creating full screen applications for Pocket PC using STFullScreen library and wizard.

What You Need

Usability

A full screen mode is useful when a user is concetrated on the application and all other elements are not necessary for him. Nevertheless sometimes it is needed to switch between applications and we should provide an interface for that. I suggest using a small icon in the bottom left corner to switch the full screen state on/off.

STFullScreen Library

STFullScreen library consists of C++ classes and a wizard for Microsoft eMbedded Visual C++. The ibrary encapsulates all necessary functionality for easy creating a full screen application.

Using classes of STFullScreen library

The library consists of 6 classes. Four main classes are:

  1. STFullScreen
    This class is a set of functions to provide the full screen mode. The functions get access to Pocket PC screen size, switch the full screen state on/off, etc.
  2. CSTFullScreenDialog
    Use this class in your dialog based application. Just change the super class of your main dialog class from CDialog to CSTFullScreenDialog and your application will support the full screen mode.
  3. CSTFullScreenView
    Use this class in your document/view based applications. Just change the super class of your view from standard CView to CSTFullScreenView and your will get a full screen application.
  4. CSTFullScreenIcon
    This is a technical class that is used by both CSTFulllScreenDialog and CSTFulllScreenView classes to show a switch state icon in the full screen state.

There are also 2 classes CSTFullScreenViewLite and CSTFullScreenDialogLite that are used to create a dialog and a view supporting the full screen mode without the state switch icon.

In simple use it's enough to change the base class from CView or CDialog to the corresponding full screen class. In that case your program will be full-screen by default. In full screen mode the application icon will be shown in the left bottom corner to switch on/off the full screen mode. You can change either the default mode, full screen icon and its location.

Using wizards of STFullScreen library

The simplest way of creating full screen applications is using a wizard of STFullScreen library. After installation you will find a new wizard that is called "WCE Pocket PC MFC Full Screen App Wizard (exe)". Create you program using this wizard. It's similar to standard "Pocket PC Application" wizard but creates applications that automatically support the full screen mode.

To install STFullScreen wizard you need:

  1. To download STFullScreen wizard files ( STFullScreen.awx and STFullScreen.hlp, or both packed by zip )
  2. To copy them into <Microsoft eMbedded Tools path>\Common\EVC\Template folder.
  3. To restart your eMbedded Visual C++.
After that you can use a new wizard that is called "WCE Pocket PC MFC Full Screen App Wizard (exe)".

Conclusion

To create a full screen dialog based application you need to change the base class of your main dialog from CDialog to CSTFullScreenDialog.

To create a full screen document/view based application you need to change the base class of your view from CView to CSTFullScreenView.

Or you can use "Pocket PC Full Screen Application" wizard to create full screen applications.

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