Flash Storage; Ffs Partitions; Working With Ffs Partitions - Symbol PPT 8800 Product Reference Manual

Flash Storage

Programs pre-installed on your terminal are stored in read-only memory (ROM). You
cannot remove, modify, or accidentally lose this software. You may add programs and data
files to random access memory (RAM).
In addition to the RAM-based storage standard on Windows CE terminals, the terminal is
also equipped with a non-volatile Flash-based storage area which can store data
(partitions) that can not be corrupted by a hard reset. This Flash area is divided into two
categories: Flash File System (FFS) Partitions and Non-FFS Partitions.

FFS Partitions

The terminal includes two FFS partitions. These partitions appear to the terminal as a hard
drive that the OS file system can write files to and read files from. Data is retained even if
power is removed.
The two FFS partitions appear as two separate folders in the Windows CE file system and
are as follows:
• Platform: The Platform FFS partition contains Symbol-supplied programs and
Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs). This FFS is configured to include DLLs that control
system operation. Since these drivers are required for basic terminal operation,
only experienced users should modify the content of this partition.
• Application: The Application FFS partition is used to store application programs
needed to operate the terminal.

Working with FFS Partitions

Because the FFS partitions appear as folders under the Windows CE file system, they can
be written to and read like any other folder. For example, an application program can write
data to a file located in the Application folder just as it would to the Windows folder.
However, the file in the Application folder is in non-volatile storage and is not lost on a hard
reset (e.g., when power is removed for a long period of time).
Standard tools such as ActiveSync can be used to copy files to and from the FFS partitions.
They appear as the "Application," and "Platform" folders to the ActiveSync explorer. This is
useful when installing applications on the terminal. Applications stored in the Application
folder are retained even when the terminal is hard reseted, just as the PPT 8800 Demo
program is retained in memory.
Configuring the Terminal
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