S

scan code

A code number transmitted to a computer whenever a key is pressed or released. Each key on the keyboard has a unique scan code. This code is not the same as the ASCII code for the letter, number, or symbol shown on the key; it is a special identifier for the key itself and is always the same for a particular key. When a key is pressed, the scan code is transmitted to the computer, where a portion of the read-only memory basic input/output system (ROM BIOS) dedicated to the keyboard translates the scan code into its ASCII equivalent. Because a single key can generate more than one character (lowercase "a" and uppercase "A," for example), the ROM BIOS also keeps track of the status of keys that change the keyboard state, such as the SHIFT key, and takes them into account when translating a scan code.

script

A program consisting of a set of instructions to an application or utility program. The instructions usually use the rules and syntax of the application or utility.

scripting language

A simple programming language designed to perform special or limited tasks, sometimes associated with a particular application or function. An example of a scripting language is Visual Basic Script.

scroll bar

In some graphical user interfaces, a vertical or horizontal bar at the side or bottom of a display area that can be used with a mouse for moving around in that area. Scroll bars often have four active areas: two scroll arrows for moving line by line, a sliding scroll box for moving to an arbitrary location in the display area, and the gray areas in the scroll bar for moving in of one-window increments.

scrolling menu

A menu with top arrows used to scroll menu items up and down.

SDK

See Software Development Kit.

secure socket layer (SSL)

A proposed open standard developed by Netscape Communications for establishing a secure communication channel to prevent the interception of critical information, such as credit card numbers. The primary purpose of the SSL is to enable secure electronic financial transactions on the Web, although it is designed to work with other Internet services as well.

Serial Infrared (SIR)

Part of the basic Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication protocol, a Serial Infrared physical layer provides for serial infrared links.

serial cable

A cable that connects to a serial port. It is used to transfer information between two devices. See serial port.

serial input/output (serial I/O)

A communications channel that transmits data one bit at a time.

serialize

The process of converting an object to a series of bytes for transmission to another device. See deserialize.

serial line Internet protocol (SLIP)

A data link protocol that allows transmission of Internet Protocol (IP) data packets over dial-up telephone connections, thus enabling a computer or a local area network to be connected to the Internet or some other network.

serial port

An input/output location (channel) that sends and receives data to and from a computer's central processing unit or a communications device one bit at a time. Serial ports are used for serial data communication and as interfaces to peripheral devices, such as mice and printers.

server

1. On a local area network (LAN), a computer running administrative software that controls access to the network and its resources, such as printers and disk drives, and provides resources to computers functioning as workstations on the network. 2. A program that responds to requests from another program or task. See client.

service identifier (service ID)

An identifier used by a service to uniquely identify messages. This value should be changed only by the service library.

session identifier (session ID)

An identifier generated by a mail transport service. Each time a Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) connection is made to the server, the server looks at all of the currently stored messages and assigns a session ID to each message, numbered 1 through the total number of messages. This makes it easier to reference a particular message without having to use its long unique ID. The session ID can be trusted only during a single connection to the mail server.

SGML

See Standard Generalized Markup Language.

shared directory

On a local area network, a directory on a disk that is located on a computer other than the one the user is operating. A shared directory differs from a network drive in that the user has access to only that directory.

shared library

Any code module that can be accessed and used by many programs. Shared libraries are used primarily for sharing common code between different executable files or for breaking an application into separate components, thus allowing easy upgrades. In Windows CE, shared libraries are usually referred to as dynamic-link libraries (DLLs).

shell

A program that enables the user to connect with the kernel and, thus, the system, usually providing some basic services in addition to facilitating the loading and executing of programs.

sibling window

A child window that has the same parent window as one or more other child windows.

signaled

See synchronization object.

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)

A standard Internet Protocol (IP) for sending e-mail documents, discussed in RFC821. The format of SMTP messages is discussed in RFC822.

single threading model

A model in which all objects are executed on a single thread. Contrast multithreaded application; see free threading model, apartment model threading.

SIR

See Serial Infrared.

SLIP

See serial line Internet protocol.

SMTP

See Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.

spin button

A control containing a pair of arrow buttons that a user can tap with the stylus to increment or decrement a value. A spin button control is most often used with a companion control, called a buddy window, in which a current value is displayed. Also called up-down control.

socket

An object that represents an endpoint for communication between processes across a network transport. Sockets have a datagram or stream type and can be bound to a specific network address. Windows Sockets provides an application programming interface (API) for handling all types of socket connections in Windows.

Software Development Kit (SDK)

A set of tools and libraries for creating software applications for Windows operating systems.

sort order

The order in which a set of records or other data objects are to be sorted, or the function that defines this order. Possible sort orders for an array of strings, for example, could include alphabetical order or ascending order by length.

SSL

See secure socket layer.

stack

A region of reserved memory in which programs store status data such as procedure and function call addresses, passed parameters, and sometimes local variables.

Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML)

An information-management standard adopted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1986 as a means of providing platform- and application-independent documents that retain formatting, indexing, and linked information. SGML provides a grammar-like mechanism for users to define the structure of their documents, and the tags they will use to denote the structure in individual documents.

static control

A control used to display text, to draw frames or lines separating other controls, or to display icons. A static control does not accept user input.

status bar

A horizontal window positioned at the bottom of a parent window. A status bar, also known as a status window, displays status information defined by the application.

storage memory

Storage memory is similar to a RAM disk on a desktop computer. It is used to store data and non-system applications.

stream mode

An asynchronous method of calling CeRapiInvoke by using an IStream type interface to exchange arbitrary-sized data in any order and direction.

stylus

A pointing device used on a touch-sensitive surface.

subfolder

A directory, or logical grouping of related files, within another directory.

submenu

A menu that appears as the result of the selection of an item on another higher-level menu.

symbol

A name that represents a register, an absolute value, or a memory address (relative or absolute).

sysgen phase

Refers to the process of defining and building the selected modules and components, as governed by the Makefile located in the directory %_PUBLICROOT%\Common\Cesysgen.

system-defined message

A message the system uses to control the operations of an application and to provide input and other information for an application to process. An application can also send or post a system-defined message. An application generally uses this message to control the operation of control windows created by using preregistered window classes.

system registry functions

The functions used to manipulate keys and values in the registry. A Windows CE-based application uses the standard Win32 registry functions.

synchronization

The process of updating information between the desktop computer and a Windows CE-based device to ensure that data is the same on both computers.

synchronization object

An object whose handle can be specified in one of the wait functions to coordinate the execution of multiple threads. A synchronization object will be a member of one of the synchronization classes. Synchronization classes are used when access to a resource must be controlled to ensure integrity of the resource. The state of a synchronization object is either signaled, which can allow the wait function to return, or nonsignaled, which can prevent the function from returning. More than one process can have a handle of the same synchronization object, making interprocess synchronization possible. There are four types of synchronization objects: mutex, semaphore, event and critical section. Of these, Windows CE supports only event and critical section.

synchronous operation

1. Two or more processes that depend upon the occurrences of specific events such as common timing signals. 2. Data transmission method in which there is constant time between successive bits, characters, or events. The timing is achieved by the sharing of a single clock. Each end of the transmission synchronizes itself with the use of clocks and information sent along with the transmitted data. Characters are spaced by time, not by start and stop bits. 3. A function call that blocks execution of a process until it returns. Compare asynchronous operation.