What version of DirectX do you run? - Page 2

Jim Sachs · 02-23-2002, 07:19 PM

It still does. If you can find a D3D application which brings up a dialog box in front of their screen, please let me know.

Socrates · 02-24-2002, 03:16 AM

Many DX apps that I have used for like 3 years use their own "painted" input boxes rather than dialogs. Or you have to do the settings while DX isn't running.

Couldn't you create a 3D object as the dialog box and then just let a custom mouse cursor interact with it? This would seemingly solve any compatability issues.

James · 02-24-2002, 06:31 AM

Yes...I'm totally agree with Socrates...
Jim...maybe this could solve the problem?

feldon34 · 02-24-2002, 09:06 AM

Instead of being able to throw up a settings panel and have Windows deal with how buttons work, if you did it all DirectDraw, then you'd have to basically reinvent the wheel on dialog boxes.

I had the same thought and it might end up having to go there, but not if Jim has to program it himself.

Jim Sachs · 02-24-2002, 10:28 AM

That's what I did with the CompuTrainer software. Each dialog box took weeks to create, instead of a couple of hours to do a Windows box. Changes were incredibly time consuming - just making a simple checkbox means creaing graphics for the box and the checkmark, writing a program to find them in memory and display them next to some text on the screen in exactly the right place in every possible resolution.

You also lose hundreds of Windows functions which are taken for granted, like pull-down menus, alphabetization of lists, clicking on a link to take you to a web site, etc.

Socrates · 02-24-2002, 11:16 AM

Then I wonder if something as simple as self-minimizing the aquarium while a dialog box is showing and then puting it backup as it disappears would work?

Spyder · 02-24-2002, 11:34 AM

Ok..why bother with a dialog box at all while the screensaver is running? If it can be accessed through the Display control panel, that'd be good enough for me.

feldon34 · 02-24-2002, 11:39 AM

Spyder,

People are used to instant gratification. Losing the ability to tune the fish or change the resolution and see it immediately is too high a price to pay.

Spyder · 02-24-2002, 11:48 AM

You might have to give a little to get a little, thats all i'm saying.

my view of this aquarium is that its like a rock and will NOT change for anything. well it might have to be a little flexible after all..

i could live without the settings panel while the screensaver is running...i wonder how many other people are the same

The_Thrill · 02-24-2002, 11:50 AM

Besides the effect with the dialog boxes, what are the other differences between DX8 nad lower DX's. I am running 8 but is my experience any different than one with a lower DX? Thanks

feldon34 · 02-24-2002, 12:37 PM

DirectX 8 won't wash your car or make magic mushroom colors.

What it does is talk to video cards better (with the right drivers) and support things like multiple monitors, passthrough cards, and has much better support for power management.

The_Thrill · 02-24-2002, 01:08 PM

Thanks for the reply I understand it all much better.

Jim Sachs · 02-24-2002, 01:08 PM

Socrates -

What Microsoft does in their DX8 screensaver example code is to completely shut down the Direct3D part of the application, bring up a dialog box, then recreate the app after it's done with the dialog, hoping to remember where everything was is it's previous life. This can get extremely ugly, especially if the app is in a different resolution or refresh rate from the desktop.

All previous versions of D3D kept track of which buffer was being displayed. We have no idea why they took this out.

Prolific-Matt · 02-25-2002, 12:18 PM

OK, so the poll results are pretty much exactly as I predicted.

The main reason for the poll was to find out if Tech-Savvy, super-users like the forum members seem to be, actually ran earlier versions of DirectX than 8.

Morgan, I'd love to see a poll on your front page, but better yet, I will try to get a poll on the front page of SereneScreen.com.

Thanks everyone.

Shinsa · 02-25-2002, 08:28 PM

In response to not being able to find the latest version of DirectX.

Why not bundle it on the same CD as the Aquarium? Or at the very least include a link to Microsofts web site where this should be found? Granted, M$ has a habbit of changing links, but it would at least point the end user in the general direction.

Yellow Tang · 02-26-2002, 09:10 AM

No, I think this is not the point here. People won't change anything on ther systems ("Don't touch a running system!"), and why should Jim switch to another directX version? Everything runs fine with directX 6 now. I don't think Jim has plans to imlement some of of the high-tech-features of directX 8. Or am I wrong? Multi texturing, volume atmospheric effects sounds really cool.

feldon34 · 02-26-2002, 12:37 PM

The boxed version comes with DirectX 6.

Tiny Turtle · 02-26-2002, 12:56 PM

YellowTang, the thing isn't DirectX 8, it's DixectX 8 Screen Saver libraries. Check one of Feldon23's post earlier in this thread out (or the FAQ).

/Tiny

Jim Sachs · 02-26-2002, 05:31 PM

Ha, Ha - Shinsa's picture is now Wolfric the Wild, one of the characters I drew for Defender of the Crown. (Though a little squashed vertically. The Amiga's aspect ratio was 320x200)

feldon34 · 02-26-2002, 06:37 PM

I've adjusted the aspect ratio...

View Poll Results: What version of DirectX do you run?
DirectX 6	2	2.78%
DirectX 7	4	5.56%
DirectX8	65	90.28%
I don't know	1	1.39%
Voters: 72. You may not vote on this poll

02-23-2002, 07:19 PM	#21
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,775	It still does. If you can find a D3D application which brings up a dialog box in front of their screen, please let me know. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

02-24-2002, 03:16 AM	#22
Socrates Sage Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 1,529	Many DX apps that I have used for like 3 years use their own "painted" input boxes rather than dialogs. Or you have to do the settings while DX isn't running. Couldn't you create a 3D object as the dialog box and then just let a custom mouse cursor interact with it? This would seemingly solve any compatability issues. Bat rays? We don't need no stinking bat rays! Last edited by Socrates; 02-24-2002 at 03:53 AM.

02-24-2002, 09:06 AM	#24
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,938	Instead of being able to throw up a settings panel and have Windows deal with how buttons work, if you did it all DirectDraw, then you'd have to basically reinvent the wheel on dialog boxes. I had the same thought and it might end up having to go there, but not if Jim has to program it himself. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

02-24-2002, 10:28 AM	#25
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,775	That's what I did with the CompuTrainer software. Each dialog box took weeks to create, instead of a couple of hours to do a Windows box. Changes were incredibly time consuming - just making a simple checkbox means creaing graphics for the box and the checkmark, writing a program to find them in memory and display them next to some text on the screen in exactly the right place in every possible resolution. You also lose hundreds of Windows functions which are taken for granted, like pull-down menus, alphabetization of lists, clicking on a link to take you to a web site, etc. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

02-24-2002, 06:31 AM	#23
James Principal Engineer as SDET Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Was in Auckland, New Zealand, Now in Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 1,406	Yes...I'm totally agree with Socrates... Jim...maybe this could solve the problem?

02-24-2002, 11:16 AM	#26
Socrates Sage Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 1,529	Then I wonder if something as simple as self-minimizing the aquarium while a dialog box is showing and then puting it backup as it disappears would work? Bat rays? We don't need no stinking bat rays!

02-24-2002, 11:34 AM	#27
Spyder Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 36	Ok..why bother with a dialog box at all while the screensaver is running? If it can be accessed through the Display control panel, that'd be good enough for me.

02-24-2002, 11:39 AM	#28
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,938	Spyder, People are used to instant gratification. Losing the ability to tune the fish or change the resolution and see it immediately is too high a price to pay. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

02-24-2002, 11:48 AM	#29
Spyder Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 36	You might have to give a little to get a little, thats all i'm saying. my view of this aquarium is that its like a rock and will NOT change for anything. well it might have to be a little flexible after all.. i could live without the settings panel while the screensaver is running...i wonder how many other people are the same

02-24-2002, 11:50 AM	#30
The_Thrill Nittany Lion Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: State College Posts: 49	Besides the effect with the dialog boxes, what are the other differences between DX8 nad lower DX's. I am running 8 but is my experience any different than one with a lower DX? Thanks Thrill

02-24-2002, 12:37 PM	#31
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,938	DirectX 8 won't wash your car or make magic mushroom colors. What it does is talk to video cards better (with the right drivers) and support things like multiple monitors, passthrough cards, and has much better support for power management. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

02-24-2002, 01:08 PM	#32
The_Thrill Nittany Lion Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: State College Posts: 49	Thanks for the reply I understand it all much better. Thrill

02-25-2002, 12:18 PM	#34
Prolific-Matt Developer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 11	OK, so the poll results are pretty much exactly as I predicted. The main reason for the poll was to find out if Tech-Savvy, super-users like the forum members seem to be, actually ran earlier versions of DirectX than 8. Morgan, I'd love to see a poll on your front page, but better yet, I will try to get a poll on the front page of SereneScreen.com. Thanks everyone. -Matt Miller

02-25-2002, 08:28 PM	#35
Shinsa Registered Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 407	In response to not being able to find the latest version of DirectX. Why not bundle it on the same CD as the Aquarium? Or at the very least include a link to Microsofts web site where this should be found? Granted, M$ has a habbit of changing links, but it would at least point the end user in the general direction. Bob "When you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." _______________________________________________

02-26-2002, 09:10 AM	#36
Yellow Tang YT Join Date: Jan 2002 Tournaments Won: 1 Location: Germany Posts: 729	No, I think this is not the point here. People won't change anything on ther systems ("Don't touch a running system!"), and why should Jim switch to another directX version? Everything runs fine with directX 6 now. I don't think Jim has plans to imlement some of of the high-tech-features of directX 8. Or am I wrong? Multi texturing, volume atmospheric effects sounds really cool.

02-26-2002, 12:37 PM	#37
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,938	The boxed version comes with DirectX 6. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

02-26-2002, 12:56 PM	#38
Tiny Turtle is pleased Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 7,365	YellowTang, the thing isn't DirectX 8, it's DixectX 8 Screen Saver libraries. Check one of Feldon23's post earlier in this thread out (or the FAQ). /Tiny

02-26-2002, 05:31 PM	#39
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,775	Ha, Ha - Shinsa's picture is now Wolfric the Wild, one of the characters I drew for Defender of the Crown. (Though a little squashed vertically. The Amiga's aspect ratio was 320x200) Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium Last edited by Jim Sachs; 02-26-2002 at 05:33 PM.