Application Note

AN_319

Windows CE Driver Catalog Item

Usage

Version 1.0

Issue Date: 2014-07-01

FTDI offer two driver variants to support their USB chipset on WinCE:- VCP
(Virtual Com Port) and D2xx (Direct Bus driver). This guide documents how
to install and use the Catalog Items for installing both the VCP and D2XX
drivers on Windows Compact Embedded 6.0 and Windows Embedded
Compact 7 platforms.

Use of FTDI devices in life support and/or safety applications is entirely at the user’s risk, and the
user agrees to defend, indemnify and hold FTDI harmless from any and all damages, claims, suits
or expense resulting from such use.

Future Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI)

Unit 1, 2 Seaward Place, Glasgow G41 1HH, United Kingdom
Tel.: +44 (0) 141 429 2777 Fax: + 44 (0) 141 429 2758
Web Site: http://ftdichip.com
Copyright © 2014 Future Technology Devices International Limited
 Application Note
AN_319 Windows CE Driver Catalog Item Usage
Version 1.0

Document Reference No.: FT_001031 Clearance No.: FTDI# 396

Table of Contents
1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 2
1.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................. 2
1.2 Scope ....................................................................................................................................... 2
2 Installation ...................................................................................................................................... 3
3 Driver Integration............................................................................................................................ 5
3.1 Adding the Driver(s) ................................................................................................................ 5
3.2 Using Both Drivers .................................................................................................................. 6
4 Contact Information........................................................................................................................ 7
Appendix A – References ........................................................................................................................ 8
Document References......................................................................................................................... 8
Acronyms and Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. 8
Appendix B – List of Tables & Figures ..................................................................................................... 9
List of Tables ....................................................................................................................................... 9
List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................... 9
Appendix C – Revision History .............................................................................................................. 10

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 Application Note
AN_319 Windows CE Driver Catalog Item Usage
Version 1.0

Document Reference No.: FT_001031 Clearance No.: FTDI# 396

1 Introduction
FTDI offer two driver variants to support their USB chipset on WinCE:- VCP (Virtual Com Port) and
D2xx (Direct Bus driver). This guide documents how to install and use the Catalog Items for
installing both the VCP and D2XX drivers on Windows Compact Embedded 6.0 and Windows
Embedded Compact 7 platforms.

1.1 Overview
System builders of WinCE devices are able to add third party drivers to their system image that
are not part of the original Platform Builder catalog items. There are a few ways in which the
system builder can add the FTDI drivers to their image; the simplest way, but not conducive to
creating a mass produced product, is to manually copy the files into the Windows directory of the
system and then the driver will add the contents of the INF file to the registry the first time a FTDI
based device is connected to the system. A more elegant method is to create a Subproject that
contains the DLL(s), BIB, REG, DAT, etc. files so that when the system is built the driver is added
to the image. To make this method simpler a catalog file is used, this allows the developer to add
the driver from the catalog items list.

1.2 Scope
This document is intended for developers of WinCE systems who wish to add the FTDI VCP and/or
D2XX driver(s) to their system.

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 Application Note
AN_319 Windows CE Driver Catalog Item Usage
Version 1.0

Document Reference No.: FT_001031 Clearance No.: FTDI# 396

2 Installation
The compilation tool required for WinCE 6.0 is Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Platform Builder which
is a Visual Studio 2005 plug in. For WinCE 7 the Windows Embedded Compact 7 Platform Builder
plug in for Visual Studio 2008 is required.

Once the relevant Visual Studio and Platform Builder have been configured it is possible to add the
FTDI catalog items. FTDI provide eight catalog items in total, see Table 2.1 FTDI Catalog Items,
they add both VCP and D2XX functionality for ARM and x86 architecture devices.

WinCE Version Processor Functionality Catalog Item Name

6.0 ARM VCP FTDI_VCP_ARM_CE600

6.0 X86 VCP FTDI_VCP_x86_CE600

6.0 ARM D2XX FTDI_D2XX_ARM_CE600

6.0 X86 D2XX FTDI_D2XX_x86_CE600

7 ARM VCP FTDI_VCP_ARM_CE700

7 X86 VCP FTDI_VCP_x86_CE700

7 ARM D2XX FTDI_D2XX_ARM_CE700

7 X86 D2XX FTDI_D2XX_x86_CE700

Table 2.1 FTDI Catalog Items

Unzip the folder structure from the relevant catalog item package into the C:\WINCE600 or
C:\WINCE700 directory. For the WinCE 6.0 ARM VCP Catalog Item the resulting directory should
be C:\WINCE600\3rdParty\FTDI_VCP_ARM_CE600.

Figure 2.1

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AN_319 Windows CE Driver Catalog Item Usage
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Document Reference No.: FT_001031 Clearance No.: FTDI# 396

Once all of the catalog item packages that are going to be used have been unzipped into the
C:\WINCE600\3rdParty directory open Visual Studio and either create a new OSDesign or open an
existing one. Go to the Catalog Items View and click the Refresh catalog tree button, shown in
Figure 2.2. The list should update to include all of the Catalog Items that have been copied into
the C:\WINCE600\3rdParty directory, as shown in Figure 2.3.

Figure 2.2

Figure 2.3

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AN_319 Windows CE Driver Catalog Item Usage
Version 1.0

Document Reference No.: FT_001031 Clearance No.: FTDI# 396

3 Driver Integration

3.1 Adding the Driver(s)

To add the VCP and D2XX drivers to an OSDesign select the required drivers for the processor
architecture being used.

Figure 3.1

This will automatically cause a Subproject(s) to be added to the solution and can be seen in the
Solution Explorer.

Figure 3.2

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AN_319 Windows CE Driver Catalog Item Usage
Version 1.0

Document Reference No.: FT_001031 Clearance No.: FTDI# 396

3.2 Using Both Drivers

When using both drivers in the same OSDesign the REG file for each driver will have to be altered
to remove the entry(ies) that will conflict with each other, as it is not possible for the system to
use different drivers for devices with the same VID & PID. Therefore to use two devices with the
same VID & PID with the two drivers at least one of the devices will need to be reconfigured with a
custom VID & PID.
It should be noted that editing the REG file overwrites the file within the Subproject for that
catalog item and therefore any subsequent OSDesign that uses the catalog item will have the
same registry settings.

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4 Contact Information

Head Office – Glasgow, UK Branch Office – Tigard, Oregon, USA

Future Technology Devices International Limited Future Technology Devices International Limited (USA)
Unit 1, 2 Seaward Place, Centurion Business Park 7130 SW Fir Loop
Glasgow G41 1HH Tigard, OR 97223-8160
United Kingdom USA
Tel: +44 (0) 141 429 2777 Tel: +1 (503) 547 0988
Fax: +44 (0) 141 429 2758 Fax: +1 (503) 547 0987

E-mail (Sales) sales1@ftdichip.com E-Mail (Sales) us.sales@ftdichip.com

E-mail (Support) support1@ftdichip.com E-Mail (Support) us.support@ftdichip.com
E-mail (General Enquiries) admin1@ftdichip.com E-Mail (General Enquiries) us.admin@ftdichip.com

Branch Office – Taipei, Taiwan Branch Office – Shanghai, China

Future Technology Devices International Limited Future Technology Devices International Limited
(Taiwan) (China)
2F, No. 516, Sec. 1, NeiHu Road Room 1103, No. 666 West Huaihai Road,
Taipei 114 Shanghai, 200052
Taiwan , R.O.C. China
Tel: +886 (0) 2 8791 3570 Tel: +86 21 62351596
Fax: +886 (0) 2 8791 3576 Fax: +86 21 62351595

E-mail (Sales) tw.sales1@ftdichip.com E-mail (Sales) cn.sales@ftdichip.com

E-mail (Support) tw.support1@ftdichip.com E-mail (Support) cn.support@ftdichip.com
E-mail (General Enquiries) tw.admin1@ftdichip.com E-mail (General Enquiries) cn.admin@ftdichip.com

Web Site

http://ftdichip.com

System and equipment manufacturers and designers are responsible to ensure that their systems, and any Future Technology
Devices International Ltd (FTDI) devices incorporated in their systems, meet all applicable safety, regulatory and system-level
performance requirements. All application-related information in this document (including application descriptions, suggested
FTDI devices and other materials) is provided for reference only. While FTDI has taken care to assure it is accurate, this
information is subject to customer confirmation, and FTDI disclaims all liability for system designs and for any applications
assistance provided by FTDI. Use of FTDI devices in life support and/or safety applications is entirely at the user’s risk, and the
user agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless FTDI from any and all damages, claims, suits or expense resulting from
such use. This document is subject to change without notice. No freedom to use patents or other intellectual property rights is
implied by the publication of this document. Neither the whole nor any part of the information contained in, or the product
described in this document, may be adapted or reproduced in any material or electronic form without the prior written consent
of the copyright holder. Future Technology Devices International Ltd, Unit 1, 2 Seaward Place, Centurion Business Park,
Glasgow G41 1HH, United Kingdom. Scotland Registered Company Number: SC136640

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Document Reference No.: FT_001031 Clearance No.: FTDI# 396

Appendix A – References

Document References

AN_124 User Guide For FT_PROG

TN_100 USB VID-PID Guidelines

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Terms Description

USB Universal Serial Bus

USB-IF USB Implementers Forum

WinCE Windows Compact Embedded

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Appendix B – List of Tables & Figures

List of Tables
Table 2.1 FTDI Catalog Items ............................................................................................... 3

List of Figures
Figure 2.1 .......................................................................................................................... 3
Figure 2.2 .......................................................................................................................... 4
Figure 2.3 .......................................................................................................................... 4
Figure 3.1 .......................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 3.2 .......................................................................................................................... 5

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 Application Note
AN_319 Windows CE Driver Catalog Item Usage
Version 1.0

Document Reference No.: FT_001031 Clearance No.: FTDI# 396

Appendix C – Revision History

Document Title: AN_319 Windows CE Driver Catalog Item Usage
Document Reference No.: FT_001031
Clearance No.: FTDI# 396
Product Page: http://www.ftdichip.com/FTProducts.htm
Document Feedback: Send Feedback

Revision Changes Date

1.0 Initial Release 2014-07-01

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