Windows automatically maps COM1-COM9 ports to the right device name. COM ports with higher numbers should be opened as \\.\COMxxx, where xxx is a port number.

Example for C/C++/C#:
hPort = CreateFile("\\\\.\\COM15", ...);

Example for VB:
hPort = CreateFile("\\.\COM15", ...);

Example for Delphi:
hPort := CreateFile('\\.\COM15', ...);

Some serial to USB adapters or expansion cards do not allow users to change the serial port number they create. For example, they have created COM9 port but your application supports only COM1..COM4. In this case you can use Advanced Virtual COM Port to map COM9 to COM1 (or COM2..COM4).
After the mapping your application can open COM2, but it will actually use COM9.

 

To create the mapping:

1. Share physical port COM9 (see How to Share Physical COM Port)
2. On the same machine create a virtual port COM2 and connect it to shared port COM9 using 127.0.0.1 as a remote address (see How to Connect to Shared Physical COM Port).

1. Create a pair of local virtual COM ports on the "Local ports" tab of the Advanced Virtual COM Port (for example COM2-COM3).
2. Ensure that the following registry key is set (COM# can equal COM1-COM4):
   

   [HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows CE Services]
   "SerialPort"="COM#"

3. If a Pocket PC device is connected to the workstation, remove the device from its cradle and disconnect the cradle from the workstation.
4. In the ActiveSync application, on the File menu, click Connection Settings.
5. Ensure that the Allow serial cable or infrared connection to this COM port check box is selected.
6. Set the communications (COM) port in the drop-down list box to COM2 (or one of the COM ports created in Step 1).
7. Click OK to close the Connection Settings dialog box.
8. If you are using eMbedded Visual C++, do the following:
   1. On the Tools menu, click Configure Platform Manager.
   2. In the device list, click Pocket PC Emulator, and then click Properties.
   3. Click the Configure button to the right of the Startup Server drop-down list box.
   4. In the drop-down list box next to Serial Port 1, click COM3 (or the other COM port created in Step 1).
   5. Click OK to close the Emulation Configuration Settings dialog box.
   6. Click Test.
9. If you are using Visual Studio .NET 2003, do the following:
   1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
   2. Click Devices Tools, and then click Devices.
   3. In the Show devices for platform drop-down list box, click Pocket PC.
   4. In the Devices box, click Pocket PC 2003 Emulator.
   5. Click the Configure button to the right of the Startup server drop-down list.
   6. Click Hardware, and then click the second COM port created in Step 1 in the Serial Port 1 drop-down list box (COM3).
   7. Click OK twice to save the configuration.
   8. Click Test.
10. When the emulator image is loaded and Platform Manager has completed its test, press and hold CTRL (equivalent to the Action key on the device) and then click and hold the clock in the upper right of the title bar. When the shortcut menu appears, click Run.
11. In the Run dialog box, type repllog and then click OK.
12. ActiveSync on the desktop computer side of the development workstation detects when a client is trying to connect without an established partnership, causing the New Partnership Wizard to be displayed. (The same wizard appears when a new or cold-booted device is connected to a desktop computer.) In this wizard, first choose whether to establish a partnership or to connect as a guest.
13. Type a name to be used to identify the partnership and to set the device name of the emulator image.
14. Select the types of information to be synchronized with the emulator.
    After a partnership is established, use the Save Emulator State option when exiting the emulator. This option preserves the partnership and data for future use in the emulator.