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Creating a Custom Shell Component

You can create a custom shell component that displays the program you specify when the device boots, instead of the Explorer shell, Command shell, or Task Manager shell.

To create a custom shell component

  1. In Component Designer, from the File menu, choose New to create a new .sld file.

  2. Expand the platform node, right-click Components, and then choose Add Component.

  3. In the details pane, type or choose the following properties for your shell component:

    • Name
    • Description
    • Prototype component. To select the prototype component, choose Browse. In the Select Prototype Component dialog box, search for Shell prototype component, and then choose OK.

  4. In the details pane, choose Advanced.

  5. In the AdvancedProperties dialog box, choose Add.

  6. In the Extended Property dialog box, provide the following information:

    Name: cmiShellPath

    Format: String

    Value: Name and path of your shell application. Use predefined system environment variables.

    For example, %SystemRoot%\System32\cmd.exe

    For a list of common predefined system environment variables, see Predefined System Environment Variables.

  7. Choose OK.

    The properties you typed appear in the Advanced Properties dialog box.

  8. Choose OK.

  9. To add your shell component to a dependency group, in the SLD browser, under your component, right-click Group Memberships, and then choose Add Group Membership.

  10. In the Add Component Group Memberships dialog box, expand the Dependencies node, and choose the Shell group, and then choose OK.

  11. To add your shell component to a category, in the SLD browser, under your component, right-click Group Memberships, and then choose Add Group Membership.

  12. In the Add Component Group Memberships dialog box, expand the Categories node, navigate to Software\System\User Interface\Shells, and then choose OK.

  13. Save the .sld file.

See Also

Shell Customization | How to Create a Customized Shell

Last updated on Wednesday, October 18, 2006

© 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.