CABIntegr Main UI

INTRODUCTION

SKKV Software, authors of Windows Mobile software including SKTooks, SKTracker and SKSchema introduced CABIntegr into the wild late last fall.  I’ve been fortunate enough to have been provided with a review copy to experiment with, and since having recently created my first offering for Windows Mobile development, a method for creating a CAB file was needed.  CABIntegr fit the bill, sitting quietly on the microSD card in my HTC Touch Pro, waiting for me to create a project and create the installer.  Grab yourself a glass of iced tea and join me, as we see how CABIntegr demystifies creating CAB files.

FEATURES

SKKV Software has incorporated just about every aspect of making a CAB file into CABIntegr that a user could want.  A user can create a traditional CAB file that installs exe’s, dll’s, user files and shortcuts to various directories of the Windows Mobile operating system, effectively installing a program.  The whole process is very straight forward:

1.  Define a project.
2.  Add files to the project.
3.  Build CAB file.

The screen below illustrates the defining of CAB properties:

CABIntegr Project Properties

The screen below illustrates files to be added to the CAB file:

CABIntegr CAB Files

It’s really that simple.  The whole process takes no prior knowledge, as some of the desktop builders requires.  The user interface is very straight forward and when you do run into a question, detailed on board help and a comprehensive help manual help you out.

A user can also create an “installer”, that when launched, installs several different CAB files.  While I haven’t personally tested this feature, there’s no doubt it could be very useful for those of you out there that suffer from the very addictive disease of ROM flashing.

Additionally, CABIntegr intelligently allows you to create CAB files from registry keys.  This is extremely useful for when you either find a tweak that you want to distribute to end users or want to remember for yourself, so you can re-apply the edit after changing ROM’s or machines.  This is a very worthwhile and useful little trick of CABIntegr’s.  There are several small tweaks that I’ve applied to my Touch Pro’s registry and instead of having to remember the details, I can add them to a CAB file for easy application should I ever need to hard reset or migrate to a similar device.

WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT CABIntegr

At first, CABIntegr might seem like a product aimed at a certain niche of Windows Mobile users.  But, let’s be honest.  If you are using Windows Mobile you have more than likely started either offering up some sort of development, are tweaking the registry or are installing third party software.  If you fall into any or all of these categories, then CABIntegr offers something for you.  Download it and give it a try.

SUGGESTIONS FOR REFINING THE PROGRAM

My only suggestion for improving CABIntegr revolves around the file selector that appears when choosing files to add to the CAB file.  To open a folder, you need to quickly double tap on the name.  If you tap once, then pause and tap again, the folder name becomes editable.  You can actually change the folder name by doing this and mistakenly typing on the on screen keyboard, so be a bit careful.

CONCLUSION

CABIntegr is a great program, extending the functionality of a Windows Mobile phone.  As I noted, at first it may seem that this is a niche program intended for developers, but once you dive it and find out the usefulness of creating your own custom installers, you might find that CABIntegr is worth adding to your application arsenal.

DETAILS

A 7 day trial of CABIntegr can be downloaded from here:
http://skkvsoftware.com/index.html?cabintegr/m_feat.html

CABIntegr can be registered for $14.99.
CABIntegr works on Windows Mobile devices that utilize a touch screen.

SKKV Software Web Site:
http://skkvsoftware.com/

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