How to: Use Skins with the Device Emulator

The Microsoft Device Emulator provides a dialog box for selecting a Skin Definition File, and also provides skin options if you choose to launch the emulator from the command line.

The graphical interface for selecting a Skin Definition File for the emulator is available from the Display tab in the Emulator Properties dialog box.

Some options are available only when you launch the Device Emulator from the command line. For more information, click Help in the Device Emulator.

Note

Your computer might show different names or locations for some of the Visual Studio user interface elements in the following instructions. The Visual Studio edition that you have and the settings that you use determine these elements. For more information, see Visual Studio Settings.

To open the Device Emulator

  1. On the Visual Studio Tools menu, click Connect to Device.

  2. In the Connect to Device dialog box, select an emulator, and then click Connect.

To open the Emulator Properties dialog box from the Device Emulator

  • On the Device Emulator File menu, click Configure, and then click the Display tab.

To open the Emulator Properties dialog box from Visual Studio

  1. On the Visual Studio Tools menu, click Options.

  2. Expand the Device Tools node, and then click Devices.

  3. In the Devices box, select an emulator, and then click Properties.

  4. In the <EmulatorName> Emulator Properties dialog box, click Emulator Options, and then click the Display tab.

To apply a skin to the Device Emulator

  • Use the Skin box on the Display tab in the Emulator Properties dialog box.

    -or-

  • Use the /skin switch when you launch the emulator from the command line.

    -or-

  • Apply a skin that you previously saved with an emulator OS image by launching from the command line with the /s switch.

To save a skin file with an emulator OS image

  • On the File menu of the Device Emulator, click Save State and Exit.

    A saved-state file, including the skin, is generated and saved. For more information, look for Saved-State Files in the emulator's Help system.

To show or hide ToolTips

  • On the Display tab of the Emulator Properties dialog box, select or clear Enable tooltips.

    Note

    Showing ToolTips is available only when ToolTips have been specified in the Skin Definition File.

See Also

Other Resources

Customizing Skins (Devices)