Graphics, Windowing and Events (Windows CE 5.0)

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Microsoft® Windows® CE combines the Microsoft Win32® application programming interface (API), user interface (UI), and graphics device interface (GDI) libraries into the Graphics, Windowing, and Events Subsystem (GWES) module (Gwes.exe). GWES is the interface between the user, your application, and the operating system (OS).

GWES supports all the windows, dialog boxes, controls, menus, and resources that make up the Windows CE user interface (UI), which enables users to control applications. GWES also provides information to the user in the form of bitmaps, carets, cursors, text, and icons.

Even Windows CE–based devices that lack a graphical UI use GWES basic windowing and messaging capabilities and power management functions.

In This Section

  • GWES OS Design Development
    Provides information that OS design developers can use to customize the look and behavior of many aspects of their OS design's user interface.
  • GWES Application Development
    Provides information about how to use the GWES component set to develop user applications.
  • GWES Registry Settings
    Describes the registry settings that are necessary to configure this functionality in your device.
  • GWES Security
    Provides security information regarding GWES and best practices for implementation.
  • GWES Migration
    Provides information that you need to know to migrate this functionality from one version of Windows CE to another.
  • GWES Samples
    Provides samples that use the GWES programming elements in applications.
  • GWES Reference
    Provides reference information for OS design developers and application developers.
  • Shell
    Provides information about the shell architecture in Windows CE, implementing a wide variety of shells, and how to customize the shell.

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