D

database synchronization: The process of bringing two separate copies of a database into agreement.
database system application programming interface: A set of functions that enable you to create and manipulate Windows CE databases. Each database consists of an arbitrary number of records, and each record consists of at least one property.
data link: A connection that passes values between two objects or locations.
date and time picker control: A control that displays information about dates and times, and provides users with an easy way to modify this information.
DCC: See direct cable connection.
DDB: See device-dependent bitmap.
DDE: See dynamic data exchange.
DDI: See device driver interface.
DDK: See device driver kit.
dead key: A key used with another key to create an accented character. A dead key, when pressed, produces no visible character, but indicates that the accent mark it represents is to be combined with the character produced by the next letter key pressed.
demonstration project: A set of directories, code, and environment variables that help users to understand the OAK tools.
deserialize: The process of converting a series of bytes back into an object. See serialize.
desktop: An on-screen work area that uses icons and menus to simulate the top of a desk. Its intent is to make a computer easier to use by enabling users to move pictures of objects and to start and stop tasks in much the same way as they would if they were working on a physical desktop.
desktop connectivity: The services required to connect a Windows CE-based device to a desktop computer.
development workstation: The computer workstation running the OAK development tools.
device: 1. A generic term for a computer subsystem. Printers, serial ports, and disk drives are often referred to as devices; such subsystems frequently require their own controlling software, called device drivers. 2. A hardware feature that can — or must — be part of the target platform. For example, a built-in device could be a low-battery notification LED, while a PC Card modem is an installable device.
device context: A GDI structure containing information that governs the display of text and graphics on a particular output device. A device context stores, retrieves, and modifies the attributes of graphic objects and specifies graphic modes. The graphic objects stored in a device context include a pen for line drawing, a brush for painting and filling, a font for text output, a bitmap for copying or scrolling, a palette for defining the available colors, and a region for clipping.
device-dependent bitmap (DDB): An array of bits that can only be used with a particular display or printer.
device driver: Software that provides control over hardware devices. Device drivers are treated like applications. In the Windows CE environment, they are simply user-level dynamic-link libraries.
device driver interface (DDI): 1. The interface between applications and the device drivers. 2. A set of functions implemented in the model device driver and called by the Graphics, Windowing, and Events Subsystem (GWES).
device driver kit (DDK): A set of tools and libraries that enable programmers to write Windows-based software used to run hardware devices such as printers.
device driver test kit (DDTK): A set of tools and libraries that enable you to test the porting of your device drivers to the Windows CE operating system.
device-independent bitmap (DIB): An array of bits combined with several structures that specify the width and height of the bitmap image (in pixels), the color format of the device where the image was created, and the resolution of the device used to create that image. A DIB generally has its own color table, and can therefore be displayed on a variety of devices.
device manager: A program, included on all Windows CE-based platforms, that manages installable device drivers. The device manager handles loading and unloading installable device drivers, identifying the correct driver for plug-and-play devices, managing running device drivers, and notifying installable device drivers of power-up and power-down events.
DHCP: See Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.
dialog box: A temporary window that contains controls. You can use it to display status information and to get user input.
dialog box procedure: An application-defined callback function that the system calls when it has input for a dialog box or has tasks for a dialog box to carry out.
dialog box template: A binary description of a dialog box and the controls it contains. You can create this template as a resource to be loaded from the application's executable file, or created in memory while the application runs.
DIB: See device-independent bitmap.
direct cable connection (DCC): A RAS networking connection between two computers or between a computer and a Windows CE-based device, which uses a serial or parallel cable directly connected between the systems instead of a modem and a phone line.
direct memory access (DMA): Memory access that does not involve the microprocessor and is frequently used for data transfer directly between memory and an "intelligent" peripheral device, such as a disk drive.
DLL: See dynamic-link library.
drag-and-drop: A technique for moving or copying data between applications, between windows within an application, or within a single window in an application. The user selects the data to be transferred and drags the data to the desired destination. Windows CE supports drag-and-drop operations. However, non-default drag-and-drop operations, equivalent to right mouse button drag-and-drop operations, are not supported.
drop-down menu: A menu that drops from the menu bar when requested and remains open without further action until the user closes it or chooses a menu item.
dummy file filter: A means for transferring files of nonstandard or possibly unknown extensions for which no translation is necessary. Passing the file through the dummy filter keeps the No Convertor Selected dialog box from being issued to the user.
dynamic data exchange (DDE): An interprocess communication method that allows two or more programs running simultaneously to exchange data and commands.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP): A Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) that enables a network connected to the Internet to automatically assign a temporary Internet protocol (IP) address to a host when the host connects to the network.
dynamic-link library (DLL): A set of autonomous functions that any application can use. DLLs are a set of source code modules with each module containing a set of functions.