Summary | C++Builder 5 Developers Guide

Deploying a Mobile Application

At some point you'll eventually want to deploy your application to a mobile device. After an application has been developed and tested using an emulator (or simulator), it's ready to go through the process of being deployed to a mobile device.

PKG and SIS Files

For an application to be installed and loaded on a mobile device, a Symbian Installation System (SIS) file needs to be generated representing the mobile application. This is accomplished through the creation of a Package Description (PKG) file that identifies the installation information for the mobile application. It contains a unique identifier (UID) for the mobile application that must be included to differentiate one app from another. Again, this PKG file is used to build the SIS file, which calls the deployment tool (for example, epocinst.exe , the EPOC install program).

There are several ways to create a PKG file using C++Builder:

Use the standard editor to create a PKG file by hand.
Use the Mobile Editor provided by the C++ Mobile Edition.
Use the Nokia Developer's Suite (NDS) utilities.

The most promising method identified is using the NDS utilities. NDS is geared to automate the process of creating the SIS file. This includes configuring a package, generating a package, and deploying a package to a mobile device. At the time of this writing, Borland is working out the issues for providing the NDS utilities as a wizard that can be accessed from the Tools menu in the C++Builder IDE. Borland is hopeful that the NDS wizard will be available for the first release of C++ Mobile Edition, although it might not appear until a later release.

Tools and Methods

An application can be deployed to the target device in two ways. Either the SIS file can be copied to the device, and then installed locally, or the installation can be done remotely using the connection software (for example, PC Suite for Nokia 7650). Two items are required to accomplish either one of these activities:

Symbian OS-based mobile device
Connectivity tool such as Nokia 7650 PC Suite

The connectivity tool is a software application that will enable you to download your mobile application to your mobile device, usually via infrared (IrDA), Bluetooth, or even RS-232. The Nokia 7650 PC Suite is a programming interface between your PC and Nokia GSM mobile phones. Specifically, the SDK enables communication with Nokia GSM phones and development of PC applications that utilize the features supported by the phones.

The NDS utilities, described earlier, can be used to leverage this connectivity tool and deploy the SIS file to the host using IrDA, RS232, or Bluetooth.

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