Installing Windows Mobile SDK without Visual Studio

Is it possible to install the Windows Mobile SDK without having Visual Studio? I am using SharpDevelop to write a Windows Mobile application, but I need to use an assembly in the Windows Mobile 6.0 SDK. When I try to install the SDK I get a message that says Visual Studio is a prerequisite, and I am un able to install it.

Is there a way to trick it in to thinking Visual Studio is installed; maybe a registry entry that can be added or something, or am I just hosed? Is there a reason I need to pay for Microsoft's IDE, or is this just a way for Microsoft to make some extra money?

Thanks,

Tester101

Posted 2010-01-26T02:31:43.377

Reputation: 648

Answers

I am assuming you are writing an application that targets the .NET Compact Framework. If that is true, you should able to get all of the assemblies in the CF from the .NET Framework SDK, which includes the CF command-line development tools.

heavyd

Posted 2010-01-26T02:31:43.377

Reputation: 54 755

I only need one assembly Miscrosoft.WindowsMobile.PocketOutlook.dll. The application I am writing relies on it to intercept incoming text messages, unless there is another way to intercept incoming messages that fit a particular criteria? – Tester101 – 2010-02-06T23:21:35.037

You should be able to unpack the contents of the SDK installer using a tool like 7-Zip. After you have extracted the DLL's from the SDK, you should be able to manually add them as a project reference.

Greg Buehler

Posted 2010-01-26T02:31:43.377

Reputation: 1 150

How do I unpack the installer? – Tester101 – 2010-10-18T12:16:18.547

msiexec /a "MSI File.msi" /qb TARGETDIR="Full path to target directory" to unpack MSI files. 7-Zip to unpack any associated binary or compressed files. Its been a while since I did this myself, but you should only need msiexec and there is a second msi file within the first. – Greg Buehler – 2010-10-18T15:46:03.587