Glossary
tab control
A control that is analogous to a set of dividers in a notebook or labels in a file cabinet. A tab control is used in a property sheet to provide a way for a user to move from one property page to another.
tag
A component of markup used to delineate element beginnings and endings. For example, the tag, <A> is the start tag for the A element, </A> is the end-tag for the A element, and <B/> is an empty tag representing the B element.
tagged regular expression
A search string used to replace specific expressions. Each occurrence of a tagged regular expression is numbered according to its order in the Find What text box, and its replacement expression is \n, where 1 corresponds to the first tagged expression, 2 to the second tagged expression, and so on. You can have up to nine tagged expressions.
target device
In Platform Builder, hardware that runs a Platform Builder custom platform. A target device is the hardware for which you are creating a platform and the hardware that is accessed by remote tools.
target platform
The system for which Windows CE is being adapted.
target-side component
An OEM's desktop computer that includes the target-side transport layer files, as well as hooks for the Windows CE tools to access. Platform Builder uses target-side components to communicate through the appropriate hardware connection from a desktop computer to a device. Platform Builder builds the target-side component into the operating system during the build phase.
Task Manager
An element of the Platform Builder Sample shell and the Minshell configuration. The Task Manager displays a window that lists all of the running top-level windows and enables you to switch to or stop an application. The shortcut keys ALT+TAB, CTRL+ESC, and CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE invoke the window.
tearing
A visual artifact produced when the screen refresh rate is out of sync with an application's frame rate. The top portion of one frame is displayed at the same time as the bottom portion of another frame, with a discernible tear between the two partial images.
Telecator Alphanumeric Protocol (TAP)
TAP is the currently most common communication protocol for short messages besides UCP. It is mainly used with public modem- and ISDN-access (e.g. D1 or E-Plus).
telephony
Telephone technology; the conversion of sound into electrical signals, its transmission to another location, and its reconversion to sound, with or without the use of connecting wires.
Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI)
A set of functions in the Win32 API that lets a computer communicate directly with telephone systems. Windows CE supports TAPI version 2.0. It provides the basic functions, structures, and messages for establishing outgoing calls and controlling modems from a Windows CE-based device.
Telephony Service Provider (TSP)
A modem driver that enables access to vendor-specific equipment through a standard device driver interface.
Telephony Service Provider Interface (TSPI)
The external interface of a service provider to be implemented by vendors of telephony equipment. A telephony service provider accesses vendor-specific equipment through a standard device driver interface. Installing a service provider allows Windows CE–based applications that use elements of telephony to access the corresponding telephony equipment.
template
A markup language construct associated with controls and created with the <DeviceSpecific> and <Choice> tags. It is used to customize output for specific types of hardware devices
template set
A collection of templates associated with a templated control.
templated control
A control that supports one or more templates. A single templated control can refer to multiple sets of templates, where each template set is defined through device-specific criteria.
tessellate
Breaking an image into small, square regions for processing or output.
test architecture
A description of the overall structure, logical components, and logical interrelationships that define a framework for testing. A test architecture allows you to construct multiple testing approaches based on one consistent description.
texel
A single element in a texture. When a texture has been applied to an object, the texels rarely correspond to pixels on the screen. Applications can use texture filtering to control how texels are sampled and interpolated to pixels.
TEXT
A Win32 macro that exists so that code can be compiled either as American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) text or as Unicode. For Windows CE, which supports only Unicode, the macro forces the compiler to convert ASCII characters to Unicode characters. For example, passing the ASCII string "Hello Windows CE!'' through the TEXT macro converts all characters in the string to 16-bit wide characters.
text normalization
Changing how words are pronounced based on their context.
text writer
A mechanism that allows device adapters to write their output through an object. A text writer object is instantiated from the TextWriter base class.
Text-To-Speech (TTS)
The conversion of text-based data into voice output by speech synthesis devices. Text-to-speech allows users to gain access to information audibly.
texture
A rectangular array of pixels that is applied to a visual object in Direct3D.
texture blending
The technique of combining the colors of a texture with the colors of the surface to which the texture is applied.
texture coordinates
The coordinates that determine which texel in each texture is assigned to each vertex in an object.
texture filtering
The process of mapping texel colors from one or more textures onto the pixels that make up the image of a 3-D primitive.
texture mapping
The application of a texture to an object. Because a texture is a flat image and the object is often not, the texture must be mapped to the surface of the object using texture coordinates and wrapping flags.
theme
A collection of properties, styles, and bitmaps that together describe the appearance and behavior of each UI control on a system. A theme determines the common appearance and layout of UI controls in an application, and all applications share a common theme. A system may have many themes and switch between them frequently.
theme compiler
A desktop tool that uses the output generated by the theme compositor to construct a theme (.thm) file for storing the elements of a theme (i.e. bitmaps, properties) as resources.
theme compositor
A desktop tool that is used to create an ACC-extended XML file and build composite bitmaps for a theme.
theme file
A resource-only file that contains a small compiled binary structure representing design-time data (such as enumerations of possible property values) and another small compiled binary structure representing run-time data (such as theme properties and XML values). It also contains references to composite bitmaps and other resources, such as an XML layer file for an SIP control.
theme manager control
A UI element that is used by the application developer to perform theme switching at runtime.
theme switching
The activity of changing the active theme without resetting or rebooting the device.
themes directory
A subdirectory in the AAK that contains all the subfolders, bitmaps, and ACC XML files necessary to package and use the sample UI themes for a WCEfA device.
Thin Film Transistor (TFT)
A type of LCD flat-panel display screen, in which each pixel is controlled by from one to four transistors. The TFT technology provides the best resolution of all the flat-panel techniques, but it is also the most expensive. TFT screens are sometimes called active-matrix LCDs.
Third Generation Wireless (3G)
Refers to planned developments in mobile communications. Increased Bandwidth, from 128 Kbps while moving at high speeds to 2Mbps for fixed stations, will enable multimedia applications and advanced roaming features.
thread
A process that is part of a larger process or application. A thread can execute any part of an application's code, including code that is currently being executed by another thread. All threads share the virtual address space, global variables, and operating-system resources of their respective processes.
thread identifier
The unique identifier associated with a specific thread. Note that thread identification numbers are reused; they identify a thread only for the lifetime of that thread.
Thread Local Storage (TLS)
A Win32 mechanism that allows multiple threads of a process to store data that is unique for each thread. For example, a spreadsheet application can create a new instance of the same thread each time the user opens a new spreadsheet. A dynamic-link library that provides the functions for various spreadsheet operations can use thread local storage to save information about the current state of each spreadsheet.
thread synchronization
The method used to coordinate the execution of two or more threads. There are two states in synchronization: signaled and nonsignaled. Threads can either modify the state of the synchronization object or wait for the object to reach a signaled state.
thunk
A small section of code that performs a translation or conversion during a call or indirection. For example, a thunk is used to change the size or type of function parameters when calling between 16-bit and 32-bit code.
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)
Divides cellular channels into three time slots, increasing data capacity. This lets multiple users or conversations to be carried on the same channel.
Time to Live
A header field for a packet sent over the Internet indicating how long the packet should be held.
time-out value
A specified time interval used by a timer. Each time the time-out value elapses, Windows CE sends a WM_TIMER message to the window associated with the timer.
timer
An internal routine that causes the system to send a WM_TIMER message whenever a specified interval elapses.
timer event
A notification event that indicates a specified time has arrived, such as an appointment or meeting.
timestamping
The process of attaching the date and time to a message.
title control
A graphical element that displays information for an application such as an image or a caption.
to do list
A program that lets you tracks tasks. You can set deadlines and even give yourself reminders of things you need to do each day.
toolbar
A row, column, or block of on-screen buttons or icons. When these buttons or icons are depressed, macros or certain functions of the application are activated.
toolbar editor
A resource editor that allows you to create toolbar resources and convert bitmaps into toolbar resources.
tooltip
A small rectangular pop-up window that displays a brief description of a command bar button's purpose.
top-level project
A project that is not a dependent of any other project. A workspace has at least one top-level project.
top-level window
A window that has no parent window.
topmost window
A window with the WS_EX_TOPMOST style. A topmost window overlaps all other non-topmost windows.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
A calculation that considers all costs associated with investment in a technology.
touch panel
A computer screen on which the user selects options, such as from a menu, by touching the screen. The touch screen is composed of an LCD and a resistive touch panel.
touch screen
A computer screen on which the user selects options, such as from a menu, by touching the screen. The touch screen is composed of an LCD and a resistive touch panel.
touchpad
An input device that functions like a mouse to control cursor movements.
trackbar
A common control, also known as a slider control, that consists of a bar with tick marks on it and a slider, also known as a thumb. When a user drags the slider or clicks on either side of it, the slider moves in the appropriate direction, tick by tick.
traffic
The load carried by a communications link or channel.
transient grammar
A grammar with a short lifetime, such as for the duration of a question.
transistor
A device composed of semiconductor material that amplifies a signal or opens or closes a circuit. Invented in 1947 at Bell Labs, transistors have become the key ingredient of all digital circuits, including computers. Today's microprocessors contains tens of millions of microscopic transistors. Prior to the invention of transistors, digital circuits were composed of vacuum tubes, which had many disadvantages. They were much larger, required more energy, dissipated more heat, and were more prone to failures. It's safe to say that without the invention of transistors, computing as we know it today would not be possible.
Translation Look-aside Buffer (TLB)
A table used in a virtual memory system that lists the physical address page number associated with each virtual address page number. A TLB is used in conjunction with a cache whose tags are based on virtual addresses. The virtual address is presented simultaneously to the TLB and to the cache so that cache access and virtual-to-physical address translation can occur simultaneously.
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
A protocol developed by the Department of Defense for communications between computers. It is built into the UNIX system and has become the de facto standard for data transmission over networks, including the Internet. TCP and IP are transport and address protocols; TCP is used to establish a connection for data transmission, and IP defines the method for sending the data in packets.
transport component
A communication protocol, such as TCP/IP or Windows CE Services, that is used by Platform Manager to connect to a target device or a remote tool.
transport functions
A set of functions, exported by a mail transport service dynamic-link library, that are used to transfer mail messages from one location to another.
transport layer
A set of functions, structures, and interfaces that provide the link between Windows CE and the communications hardware on a target device.
tree-view control
A hierarchical display of labeled items. The top item in the hierarchy is called the root. If an item has other items below it in the hierarchy, it is also referred to as a parent. Items subordinate to parents are called children. Child items, when displayed, are indented below their parent item. The hierarchy may be expanded or collapsed at any level to display or hide child items.
Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP)
A formal set of format, timing, sequencing, and error control rules for transferring files to and from a remote computer system running the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) service. The protocol can only be used for unidirectional transfer of files. It does not provide user authentication, although files do require read/write UNIX permissions.
True Flash File System for Windows CE (TrueFFS/CE)
A technology from M-Systems, Inc. that allows flash memory components to emulate magnetic disks and provides Windows CE compatibility. TrueFFS/CE makes either removable flash cards or on-board flash media work as a standard storage object. TrueFFS is the DOS and Windows version.
TrueType
A scalable outline font whose glyphs are stored as a collection of line and curve commands, plus a collection of hints.
trusted application
Only an application or module that is identified by an OEM as "trusted" is granted open access to the entire registry. Applications that are not trusted and attempt to write or change a portion of the registry will fail.
turn
An utterance by either the system or user during an interaction. A turn is an element of the WCEfA speech system.
two-way messaging
Sending and receiving data over the Web, via the paging network.
two-way paging
Sending and receiving data over the Web, via the paging network.
type
In Platform Builder, a type defines a general type of feature without specifying a specific implementation. A type cannot be resolved until functionality is specified by selecting an implementation.