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Developers
This page contains some interesting resources for developers.
- Some papers about Symbian OS C++ design and programming.
- auto_ptr<> contains an implementation of the Standard C++ auto_ptr<> template.
- tstcol.exe is a small C++ program that installs colour variants of .aif and .mbm files.
- RunMime.opx is an OPX that starts the application that can display a given file according to it's MIME type.
Papers
mBrain Software has authored a number of papers about various aspects of designing for and programming in Symbian OS C++.
- A paper describing the implementation of the Standard C++
utility auto_ptr<> is available at the Symbian developer website.
Download the implementation. - A series of three papers explaining how to design and write
the user interface part of a Symbian OS application in such a way that it is largely portable between different Symbian OS UI
platforms is also available at the Symbian website.
- The first paper focuses on how to create a dialog interface that completely hides its implementation and, as a result, is portable across multiple UIs.
- The second paper describes how we can extend this idea to create an even larger platform-independent UI-layer, using a Controller (in the MVC sense).
- The third and final paper elaborates further on the Controller idea by looking at a number of refinements that will enhance both reuse and portability of the code in a Controller.
auto_ptr<>
This is an implementation of the Standard C++ auto_ptr<> template for the Symbian OS, versions 6.0 and higher, including Symbian OS 9.1 and higher. Full details are available in the accompanying paper, which is published on the Symbian developer website.
Download auto_ptr [.zip file, 21 Kb].
tstcol.exe
tstcol.exe is a small C++ program for Psion and compatible PDAs that installs the colour .aif and .mbm files instead of the normal black-and-white files. It is possible to write an OPL program to do the same, but OPL programs don't run on ER3 machines during installation. The disadvantage is that the current version needs to be adapted for each different application.
You get the full source, instructions for installation and instructions for deployment in your own .sis files.
tstcol.exe has a Berkeley style license, so you can reuse it in your programs without releasing the source, if you wish to do so. You need to acknowledge the use of it in your documentation, though.
Download tstcol.exe [.zip file, 5 Kb].
Known issues
tstcol.exe needs to be adapted for each application. You'll see that it's parent currently is Pdf+. It also means that you need to have access to the EPOC GNU C++ compiler to recompile, making it less useful to OPL developers.
It doesn't work for EPOC version 1.05 (254) - English (USA) - ASCII (Build 156). for the netBook. Details are in the accompanying documentation.
The RunMime OPX
RunMime.opx for Psion and compatibles starts the application that can display a given file according to it's Mime type, or failing to find the corresponding Mime type (on ER3 machines for instance), according to a file recognizer.
You get the full C++ source, instructions for installation, .sis files for the PDA and WINS deb and rel variants, and instructions on how to add it to your own .sis files.
RunMime.opx has a Berkeley style license, so you can reuse it in your programs without releasing the source, if you wish to do so. You need to acknowledge the use of it in your documentation, though.
Download RunMime.opx [.zip file, 26 Kb].