Application Note
AN_319Windows CE Driver Catalog Item
Usage
Version 1.0Issue 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 theuser 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 ....................................................................................................................................... 22Installation ...................................................................................................................................... 33

Driver Integration............................................................................................................................ 543.1Adding the Driver(s) ................................................................................................................ 5

3.2

Using Both Drivers .................................................................................................................. 6

Contact Information........................................................................................................................ 7Appendix A – References ........................................................................................................................ 8
Document References......................................................................................................................... 8Acronyms 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) andD2xx (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 thatare not part of the original Platform Builder catalog items. There are a few ways in which thesystem builder can add the FTDI drivers to their image; the simplest way, but not conducive tocreating a mass produced product, is to manually copy the files into the Windows directory of thesystem 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 ScopeThis 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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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 theFTDI 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

7ARM

VCP

FTDI_VCP_ARM_CE700

7X86

VCP

FTDI_VCP_x86_CE700

7ARM

D2XXFTDI_D2XX_ARM_CE700

7X86

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 shouldbe C:\WINCE600\3rdParty\FTDI_VCP_ARM_CE600.

Figure 2.1

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AN_319 Windows CE Driver Catalog Item Usage

Version 1.0Document Reference No.: FT_001031

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Once all of the catalog item packages that are going to be used have been unzipped into theC:\WINCE600\3rdParty directory open Visual Studio and either create a new OSDesign or open anexisting one. Go to the Catalog Items View and click the Refresh catalog tree button, shown inFigure 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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Application Note

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 theSolution 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 touse different drivers for devices with the same VID & PID. Therefore to use two devices with thesame VID & PID with the two drivers at least one of the devices will need to be reconfigured with acustom VID & PID.
It should be noted that editing the REG file overwrites the file within the Subproject for thatcatalog item and therefore any subsequent OSDesign that uses the catalog item will have thesame registry settings.

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4 Contact Information
Head Office – Glasgow, UK

Branch Office – Tigard, Oregon, USA

Future Technology Devices International Limited
Unit 1, 2 Seaward Place, Centurion Business ParkGlasgow G41 1HHUnited Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 141 429 2777
Fax: +44 (0) 141 429 2758

Future Technology Devices International Limited (USA)7130 SW Fir Loop
Tigard, OR 97223-8160
USA
Tel: +1 (503) 547 0988
Fax: +1 (503) 547 0987

E-mail (Sales)
E-mail (Support)
E-mail (General Enquiries)

E-Mail (Sales)
E-Mail (Support)
E-Mail (General Enquiries)

sales1@ftdichip.com
support1@ftdichip.com
admin1@ftdichip.com

us.sales@ftdichip.com
us.support@ftdichip.com
us.admin@ftdichip.com

Branch Office – Taipei, Taiwan

Branch Office – Shanghai, China

Future Technology Devices International Limited(Taiwan)
2F, No. 516, Sec. 1, NeiHu RoadTaipei 114
Taiwan , R.O.C.
Tel: +886 (0) 2 8791 3570
Fax: +886 (0) 2 8791 3576

Future Technology Devices International Limited(China)
Room 1103, No. 666 West Huaihai Road,Shanghai, 200052
China
Tel: +86 21 62351596
Fax: +86 21 62351595

E-mail (Sales)
E-mail (Support)
E-mail (General Enquiries)

E-mail (Sales)
E-mail (Support)
E-mail (General Enquiries)

tw.sales1@ftdichip.com
tw.support1@ftdichip.com
tw.admin1@ftdichip.com

cn.sales@ftdichip.com
cn.support@ftdichip.com
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, thisinformation 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 theuser agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless FTDI from any and all damages, claims, suits or expense resulting fromsuch use. This document is subject to change without notice. No freedom to use patents or other intellectual property rights isimplied by the publication of this document. Neither the whole nor any part of the information contained in, or the productdescribed 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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AN_319 Windows CE Driver Catalog Item Usage

Version 1.0

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

DescriptionUSBUniversal Serial BusUSB-IF

USB Implementers Forum

WinCE

Windows Compact Embedded

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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

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

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http://www.ftdichip.com/FTProducts.htm

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