Using WCF in Windows Mobile Application

Let's see how to use WCF in Windows mobile application.

Create Sample WCF service

• Open Visual studio 2008
  
  
• Create new project from File --> New --> Project
  
  
  
  
• Create WCF service Application
  
  
• Select Web project types under project type section
  
  
• Select WCF Service Application to create the WCF service project
  
  
• Save the application in your local drive
  
  
  
  
• After creating the project the following files will be created in the solution.
  
  
  
  
• Open service interface file (IService1) and delete the automatically created code.
  
  
• Copy below mentioned code in IService1 file.
  
  namespace WcfService1
  {
      [ServiceContract]
      public interface IService1
      {
          [OperationContract]
          int GetAddResult(int value1,int value2);
      }
  }
  
  
  
  
• Open service svc file (Service1.svc.cs) and delete the automatically created code.
  
  
• Copy below mentioned code in Service1.svc.cs file.
  
  namespace WcfService1
  {
      public class Service1 : IService1
      {
          public int GetData(int value1,int value2)
          {
              return value1 + value2;
          }
      }
  }
  
  
  
  
• Browse the WCF service application in internet explore
  
  
• Create service methods will appear in the internet explorer as shown in the below screen capture
  
  
• Note down the WCF service URL to add the web reference in mobile application.
  
  
  

Create Sample Mobile application

• Open Visual studio 2008
  
  
• Create new project from File --> New --> Project
  
  
• Select Smart Device project type and Template is Smart Device Project
  
  
  
  
• Select Target platform as per requirement. In the target platform dropdown select suitable mobile platform.
  
  
  
  
• Select Device Application Template and click ok.
  
  
  
  
• Creates the mobile window form to develop the mobile application
  
  
• Add two text boxes and one button controls to test the service as shown in the below screen shot.
  
  
  

To Consume WCF service in Windows 7 Mobile application

• Download NETCv35PowerToys.msi from following link.
  
  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=c8174c14-a27d-4148-bf01-86c2e0953eab&displaylang=en
  
  
• After installing above msi file it will copy the NetCFSvcUtil.exe, but this will work for Windows 7.
  
  
• To work in windows 7 we need to down load updated NetCFSvcUtil.exe file from following link.
  
  http://blogs.msdn.com/b/habibh/archive/2009/06/26/netcfsvcutil-exe-and-windows-7.aspx
  
  
• Copy the downloaded file to the following location
  
  C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\bin\
  
  
• Open WCF service web.conig file and change the binding mode in endpoint section as mentioned below
  
  <endpoint address="" binding="wsHttpBinding" contract="WcfService1.IService1">
  
  To
  
  <endpoint address="" binding="basicHttpBinding" contract="WcfService1.IService1">
  
  
• Open command prompt and run the following command
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
• It generates two files as shown in the above screen shot (Service1.cs and CFClientBase.cs).
  
  
• Add he created two files into mobile application project.
  
  
  
  
• Add following code in link event
  
  private void linkLabel1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
  {
      Service1Client proxy = new Service1Client();
      int resutl = proxy.GetAddResult(Convert.ToInt32(textBox1.Text), Convert.ToInt32(textBox2.Text));
      MessageBox.Show(resutl.ToString());
  }
  
  
• Open Device Emulator Manager and Windows Mobile Device Center.
  
  
• Select the Emulator which is our running application.
  
  
• Click on Cradle to connect to the Windows Mobile Device Center.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Once connected to the Windows Mobile Device Center Run the out mobile application.
  
  
• Once started the application will open Deploy SmartDeviceProject1 dialog box to chose the Emulator
  
  
  
  
• Click on Deploy button in the dialog box.
  
  
• After deploying it will open the mobile window with our added controls.
  
  
  

Note: - Before running the application

• Check properly Cradle.
• Check Windows Mobile Device Center connected or not.
• Check our service is running or not.

Contributors 

Kalyan Yerranagu
Indra Bushan Prasad