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Hi,

I've posted a few questions on this list lately without response.

Is it still active?

Is there anybody there?

:)

Simon

Hi,

Is it possible to use d3d.getDevice() to pass the created 
IDirect3DDevice9 to a c++ function?

Using boost::python, I have an extension module function with this 
signature:

// c++
void TestClass::Init( IDirect3DDevice9* device );

I am trying to call this function with:

#python, called after device is created:
from testClass import TestClass
test = TestClass()
test.Init( d3d.getDevice() )

Here's the error I get:
##################
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "client.py", line 31, in __init__
    test.Init(d3d.getDevice())
Boost.Python.ArgumentError: Python argument types in
    TestClass.Init(TestClass, long)
did not match C++ signature:
    Init(class TestClass {lvalue}, struct IDirect3DDevice9 *)
##################

See how I have a type mismatch? How come d3d.getDevice() returns a long?

Do I need to use COM to get this sort of functionality? Ie, get a device 
to pass to c++?

Thanks

Simon

Hello DirectPythonistas!

As an experienced c++, python and dx programming, I'm really enjoying 
DirectPython so far....

Here's my first question:

How can I specify the image file to use for the GUI widgets?

Also, I am not sure having the paths to textures/icons etc in the source 
code is a good idea, I'd rather specify them in a project .py file.

Thanks

Simon

hello


i have a problem with all the samples that are using animated meshes
they make python crash when i run samples from dos window it says 
that mesh does not hava animations or parse error!

 

and some more api for armatures could be usefull like moving 
rotating and scaling or modifiing their matrix for bones...

2008/11/27 Aleksandar Kordic <ale...@gm...>:
> Hi,
>
> My project is simple simulation of robot movement on rectangular
> board. I used Frame from d3dx and StaticMesh from d3d module. So far
> only one model is presented in scene.
> Problem is that textures from .x file are not shown in scene. Am I
> doing something wrong in onRender() method ?
>
>        def onRender(self):
>                d3d.setView(self.eye, self.lookat, 6000.0, 0.7853)
>                d3d.setState(RS.LIGHTING, True)
>                d3d.setState(RS.AMBIENT, 0xffffffff)
>                d3d.setState(RS.SPECULARENABLE, True)
>
>                d3d.setLight(0, LIGHT.DIRECTIONAL, 0xffffffff, 500.0, (0.0, 100.0,
> 0.0), (0.3, -1.0, 0.3), 0.4, 0.4)
>                d3d.setLight(1, LIGHT.DIRECTIONAL, 0xffffffff, 500.0, (200.0,
> -300.0, 0.0), (0.5, 0.5, 0.1), 0.4, 0.4)
>                d3d.setState(RS.FILLMODE, RS.FILL.SOLID)
>
>                d3d.setTransform( element.translation, element.rotation, element.scaling )
>                d3d.setState(RS.USEMESHMATERIALS, True)
>                element.mesh.render()     #time_passed) - not for static mesh
>
>                d3d.setState(RS.FILLMODE, RS.FILL.SOLID)
>                self.manager.render(self.elapsedtime)
>
> Strange thing is that same model opened with 'MeshViewer.py' sample
> does not show textures, while DXViewer.exe (from directx sdk) loads
> textures properly.
>
> Textures in .x file are referenced as files
> example :
> Material Wood_OSB1{
> 0.392156862745098;1.0;0.392156862745098;1.0;;
> 3.2;
> 0.000000;0.000000;0.000000;;
> 0.000000;0.000000;0.000000;;
>   TextureFilename { "teren.xWood_OSB.jpg";   }
> }
>
> Is it possible that d3d.StaticMesh does not load properly from '.x'
> file ? If so how can I contribute to fix this ?
>
> Best Regards,
> Alex
>

As you noticed, StaticMesh does not load any textures. Internally the
mesh object uses basic D3DX-functions and interfaces which don't
support it. The more complex interfaces (ID3DXFile etc.) require much
more processing which is not usually needed. Actually, it is almost
easier to write a simple .x-parser in Python than to create fully
supported C++-loader with those interfaces. They are flexible, but
also quite complex.

It is quite common  to use .x-files to only store geometry (etc.) data
and use some other file format to store other information. For example
a simple text file could specify information about an object, like
it's physical abilities textures and approriate .x-files (if it is a
composite shape or something). When you need to load an object you
just process this file and load all needed resources.

--
Heikki Salo

Hi,

My project is simple simulation of robot movement on rectangular
board. I used Frame from d3dx and StaticMesh from d3d module. So far
only one model is presented in scene.
Problem is that textures from .x file are not shown in scene. Am I
doing something wrong in onRender() method ?

	def onRender(self):
		d3d.setView(self.eye, self.lookat, 6000.0, 0.7853)
		d3d.setState(RS.LIGHTING, True)
		d3d.setState(RS.AMBIENT, 0xffffffff)
		d3d.setState(RS.SPECULARENABLE, True)
		
		d3d.setLight(0, LIGHT.DIRECTIONAL, 0xffffffff, 500.0, (0.0, 100.0,
0.0), (0.3, -1.0, 0.3), 0.4, 0.4)
		d3d.setLight(1, LIGHT.DIRECTIONAL, 0xffffffff, 500.0, (200.0,
-300.0, 0.0), (0.5, 0.5, 0.1), 0.4, 0.4)
		d3d.setState(RS.FILLMODE, RS.FILL.SOLID)

		d3d.setTransform( element.translation, element.rotation, element.scaling )
		d3d.setState(RS.USEMESHMATERIALS, True)
		element.mesh.render()     #time_passed) - not for static mesh
		
		d3d.setState(RS.FILLMODE, RS.FILL.SOLID)
		self.manager.render(self.elapsedtime)

Strange thing is that same model opened with 'MeshViewer.py' sample
does not show textures, while DXViewer.exe (from directx sdk) loads
textures properly.

Textures in .x file are referenced as files
example :
Material Wood_OSB1{
0.392156862745098;1.0;0.392156862745098;1.0;;
3.2;
0.000000;0.000000;0.000000;;
0.000000;0.000000;0.000000;;
   TextureFilename { "teren.xWood_OSB.jpg";   }
}

Is it possible that d3d.StaticMesh does not load properly from '.x'
file ? If so how can I contribute to fix this ?

Best Regards,
Alex

2008/11/18 Caleb Crome <Cal...@lo...>:
> Hello,
>   I'm working on an application that uses a logitech force feedback steering
> wheel.  I'm totally new to directpython, so sorry if this is a silly
> question.
> I was able to get information from the wheel, but I don't see any function
> calls to set Force Feedback parameters from the GameController object.
> My code so far is simple enough (below).  How do I set forces and springs?
> Thanks so much,
>   -Caleb
>
> #!/c/Python25/python25.exe
> import d3d
> import d3dx
> from d3dc import *
> class Turntable(d3dx.Frame):
>     def onCreate(self):
>         print "Creating..."
>         self.joystick = d3dx.GameController(1)
>         print self.joystick.hasForceFeedback()
>         return
>     def onUpdate(self):
>         pass
> frame = Turntable(u"Turntable");
> frame.mainloop()
>

Unfortunately DirectPython does not support force feedback. Currently
you need to interact directly with DirectInput or maybe use some other
library to do force feedback. The C/C++-interface is exposed through
IDirectInputEffect and .dll's, so it is possible to use it through
comtypes, alotough that is not trivial.

DirectInput API itself is no longer updated by Microsoft (altough it
still works well and is widely supported) so I never really saw much
need to add support and testing for it.

--
Heikki Salo

Hello,  I'm working on an application that uses a logitech force feedback
steering wheel.  I'm totally new to directpython, so sorry if this is a
silly question.

I was able to get information from the wheel, but I don't see any function
calls to set Force Feedback parameters from the GameController object.

My code so far is simple enough (below).  How do I set forces and springs?

Thanks so much,
  -Caleb


#!/c/Python25/python25.exe
import d3d
import d3dx
from d3dc import *

class Turntable(d3dx.Frame):
    def onCreate(self):
        print "Creating..."
        self.joystick = d3dx.GameController(1)
        print self.joystick.hasForceFeedback()
        return

    def onUpdate(self):
        pass
frame = Turntable(u"Turntable");
frame.mainloop()

2008/7/16 Gudmundur Gunnarsson <the...@ho...>:
> Hi
>
> I'm new to DirectPython and have been testing it for the last few days. I'm
> running into problems with d3d.setTransform where the rotation of a model
> around the axises is not happening in the order that I want. Looks like it's
> XZY or ZXY but I want YZX or YXZ, putting the Y-axis rotation first. Each
> setTransform overwrites the last one so I can't stack them up. Is there a
> way to change the order or circumvent this somehow?
>
> Also, I wanted roll the eye/camera but couldn't find out how to do it. I can
> put it somewhere and aim it somewhere but I can't seem to manipulate an
> up-vector or roll it somehow. Is there a way to do this?
>
> Thanks!
>

You should be able to combine matrix operations by using the
d3d.Matrix-class and then feeding the final result to the
d3d.setMatrix()-function. Basically d3d.setTransform() is just a quick
shortcut for these operations.

The same also applies to the camera. d3d.setView() does some matrix
operations and creates the view- and projection matrices. You can
create these two matrices manually and the set them using
d3d.setMatrix(). However, this might be little tricky if you are not
familiar with matrices as the C-support functions are not currently
exposed. You could use ctypes and call D3DXMatrixPerspectiveFovLH()
and friends from the DirectX support .dll, but it is not a very good
solution. Some of these matrix functions will be added for the next
version, which should be (hopefully) released during this summer.

--
Heikki Salo

Hi
 
I'm new to DirectPython and have been testing it for the last few days. I'm running into problems with d3d.setTransform where the rotation of a model around the axises is not happening in the order that I want. Looks like it's XZY or ZXY but I want YZX or YXZ, putting the Y-axis rotation first. Each setTransform overwrites the last one so I can't stack them up. Is there a way to change the order or circumvent this somehow?
 
Also, I wanted roll the eye/camera but couldn't find out how to do it. I can put it somewhere and aim it somewhere but I can't seem to manipulate an up-vector or roll it somehow. Is there a way to do this?
 
Thanks!
 
_________________________________________________________________
Invite your Facebook friends to chat on Messenger
http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/101719649/direct/01/

Hi,
How I can transform a Vertices?
I was trying to *drawVertices + **setTransform in samplewx.py but no luck :(

A little example will help me.
Thanks.
*

On 5/13/08, Mikhail Arefiev <m.a...@gm...> wrote:
> Hello!  I have a few d3d.Media instances (videos) in my little program
>  and they are to be rendered into a texture sequentially, and it works
>  fine until I try to resize the window.  In this case, all Media
>  objects start to play simultaneously and it freezes everything.  In
>  MEDIA.WINDOW mode, however, they don't, but getScreenshot() is
>  painfully slow (it should be, if I understand correctly).
>
>  Is it possible to avoid such behavior?
>
>  Is it possible to render videos into a window using MEDIA.WINDOW mode
>  and then draw some overlay (sprites and text) over them?
>
>  Thanks in advance!
>

Hi,

d3d.Media and its  render-to-texture mode is currently quite fragile
and experimental. The coordination between DirectShow, drivers, codecs
and applications can be quite complex and error prone.

There are some known issues with the object, especially some codecs
don't support certain features correctly. For example when you resize
the DirectPython window, the internal D3D device which is used to
render the videos is reset. This also requires reloading the video and
setting it's position, but things can go wrong just like you
described. There are also some bugs in DirectPython side which can
affect this. You could try to track the videos and their state
manually, and when the window is resized set the state (is it running,
postition etc) yourself.

If you use the WINDOW-mode with a video, you should not be drawing
anything else as the DirectShow updates the window and can mess up
your your present() calls. Getting a screenshot of the video in this
mode is slow (by design) as you noticed, so using this method with
your scene graphics is not very solid. There are other ways to get
data from video using DirectShow and VMR9, but most of them are not
very solid (SampleGrabber-way could be one, but I havent implemented
it).

Hopefully most of the issues should be fixed for DirectPython 1.0, but
the VMR9 renderless mode is quite tricky to get right in all
configurations. So I am afraid you have to wait until the next
realease. Fortunately I will have some spare time during the summer,
so it should not take that long (month or slightly more).

--
Heikki Salo

Hello!  I have a few d3d.Media instances (videos) in my little program
and they are to be rendered into a texture sequentially, and it works
fine until I try to resize the window.  In this case, all Media
objects start to play simultaneously and it freezes everything.  In
MEDIA.WINDOW mode, however, they don't, but getScreenshot() is
painfully slow (it should be, if I understand correctly).

Is it possible to avoid such behavior?

Is it possible to render videos into a window using MEDIA.WINDOW mode
and then draw some overlay (sprites and text) over them?

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

I don't know if I'm wrong, but remember that you're running DirectPython
(which is an extension for python) and you haven't any 3D accelerator. The
SDK examples are written in lenguages such as C/C++, C# and other (die! VB!
die!) who were planned to run multimedia applications. Maybe you can use
psyco to optimize DP.

BTW, with my GeForce XFX 7300 I didn't have any problems running the
examples from DP.

Regards,

On Sun, Jan 20, 2008 at 5:52 PM, Heikki Salo <ho...@gm...> wrote:

>
>
>  ------------------------------
> *From:* dir...@li... [mailto:
> dir...@li...] *On Behalf Of *
> Question
> *Sent:* 19. tammikuuta 2008 4:55
> *To:* dir...@li...
> *Subject:* Re: [DirectPython] No HW acceleration supports?
>
>  Samples for the DirectX SDK works fine on my computer, while DirectPython
> runs very slow (actually slide show).
> I don't know what's the problem.
>
>
>
> It is difficult to say what is wrong without additional information, but I
> can try to make some educated guesses. You could try to force software by
> adding "d3dx.Frame.deviceoverride = CREATE.SOFTWARE" to samples before the
> device is created. The driver might be trying to emulate some states or
> choke on non-supported ones, which kills performance. You could also check
> the DirectX diagnostics tool and see if it reports anything odd. Running
> some other Direct3D 9.0c applications for reference might help to figure out
> what is wrong. And update drivers, if possible.
>
> --
> Heikki Salo
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft
> Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2008.
> http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse0120000070mrt/direct/01/
> _______________________________________________
> directpython-general mailing list
> dir...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/directpython-general
>
>


-- 
█║▌│█│║▌║││█║▌│║
Sebastian Javier Lucas
Programmer & Guitar Hero
working@: gameloft

 


  _____  

From: dir...@li...
[mailto:dir...@li...] On Behalf Of
Question
Sent: 19. tammikuuta 2008 4:55
To: dir...@li...
Subject: Re: [DirectPython] No HW acceleration supports?


Samples for the DirectX SDK works fine on my computer, while DirectPython
runs very slow (actually slide show).
I don't know what's the problem.

 

It is difficult to say what is wrong without additional information, but I
can try to make some educated guesses. You could try to force software by
adding "d3dx.Frame.deviceoverride = CREATE.SOFTWARE" to samples before the
device is created. The driver might be trying to emulate some states or
choke on non-supported ones, which kills performance. You could also check
the DirectX diagnostics tool and see if it reports anything odd. Running
some other Direct3D 9.0c applications for reference might help to figure out
what is wrong. And update drivers, if possible.
 
--
Heikki Salo

Samples for the DirectX SDK works fine on my computer, while DirectPython
runs very slow (actually slide show).
I don't know what's the problem.

On Jan 18, 2008 10:57 PM, Heikki Salo <ho...@gm...> wrote:

>
>
>  ------------------------------
> *From:* dir...@li... [mailto:
> dir...@li...] *On Behalf Of *
> Question
> *Sent:* 16. tammikuuta 2008 7:44
> *To:* dir...@li...
> *Subject:* [DirectPython] No HW acceleration supports?
>
>  Hi,
>
>    I'm using Intel 82945G Express Chipset, and It's said to be DX9
> supported. And I have not problem to run those samples in the DirectX SDK,
> so I think HW acceleration is just not turned on here.
>    Anyone can help me?
>    Thanks!
>
> --
> >: ~
>
>
> Hi,
>
> I am not really sure what you are asking. Intel 82945G seem to use
> 945-chipset, which does not support harware transform & lightning. With
> these cards it is often best to ask explicitly for software rendering so you
> can use vertex shaders. Otherwise you get "hardware" rendering, which can be
> worse than true software.
>
> --
> Heikki Salo
>



-- 
>: ~

 


  _____  

From: dir...@li...
[mailto:dir...@li...] On Behalf Of
Question
Sent: 16. tammikuuta 2008 7:44
To: dir...@li...
Subject: [DirectPython] No HW acceleration supports?


Hi,

   I'm using Intel 82945G Express Chipset, and It's said to be DX9
supported. And I have not problem to run those samples in the DirectX SDK,
so I think HW acceleration is just not turned on here.
   Anyone can help me? 
   Thanks!

-- 
>: ~  
 

Hi,
 
I am not really sure what you are asking. Intel 82945G seem to use
945-chipset, which does not support harware transform & lightning. With
these cards it is often best to ask explicitly for software rendering so you
can use vertex shaders. Otherwise you get "hardware" rendering, which can be
worse than true software.
 
--
Heikki Salo

Hi,

   I'm using Intel 82945G Express Chipset, and It's said to be DX9
supported. And I have not problem to run those samples in the DirectX SDK,
so I think HW acceleration is just not turned on here.
   Anyone can help me?
   Thanks!

-- 
>: ~

 


  _____  

From: dir...@li...
[mailto:dir...@li...] On Behalf Of ??
Sent: 25. joulukuuta 2007 13:44
To: dir...@li...
Subject: [DirectPython] sampleTk.py


Dear Sirs,
 
Modified program of tk.py is attached. It works on my notePC.
 
BR, sugi

 
Great work. I always tought that it was somethings simple. The solution was
easy when I saw your code: width and height for d3d.createDevice() must not
be zero. wxPython sample behaves little differently (zero arguments are
correctly fixed), so the issue was not that obvious, especially when it was
buried deep in C++ code. But it works now.
 
--
Heikki Salo

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  _____  

From: dir...@li...
[mailto:dir...@li...] On Behalf Of
Alec Bennett
Sent: 19. joulukuuta 2007 10:08
To: dir...@li...
Subject: [DirectPython] directinput and MAME?


I'm trying to send keystrokes from Python to MAME. In case anyone's
interested and doesn't know, MAME is an emulator to play classic arcade
games (mamedev.org). I'm sending keystrokes from Python on Win32 like this: 

import win32api
import win32com.client

shell=win32com.client.Dispatch("WScript.Shell")
shell.SendKeys("1")

This works in everything but MAME which, as I've just learned, uses
DirectInput. 

Can anyone think of a way to send keystrokes under this environment? I know
it's possible, since there's a program called joykeys
(http://members.aol.com/bretjohn/  <http://members.aol.com/bretjohn/> ) that
translates joystick motion to keystrokes and works in Mame. 

Thanks for any help.


 

Hi,
 
You should be able to send keyboard events with win32api.keybd_event() (
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms646304.aspx ). These should work
with applications using DirectInput for keyboard events too (at least with
more recent OS versions, I think DirectInput used some more direct approach
in older systems but I am not 100% sure about it). Just remeber that only
the focus window will receive these events. Also note that SendInput() has
superseded this function, but keybd_event() still works and is somewhat
easier to use.
 
--
Heikki Salo

I'm trying to send keystrokes from Python to MAME. In case anyone's
interested and doesn't know, MAME is an emulator to play classic arcade
games (mamedev.org). I'm sending keystrokes from Python on Win32 like this:

import win32api
import win32com.client

shell=win32com.client.Dispatch("WScript.Shell")
shell.SendKeys("1")

This works in everything but MAME which, as I've just learned, uses
DirectInput.

Can anyone think of a way to send keystrokes under this environment? I know
it's possible, since there's a program called joykeys (
http://members.aol.com/bretjohn/) that translates joystick motion to
keystrokes and works in Mame.

Thanks for any help.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Skepsis [mailto:sk...@bl...] 
> Sent: 30. marraskuuta 2007 22:28
> To: ho...@gm...
> Subject: Re: [DirectPython] Sending keys
> 
> Sorry forthe direct mail ... I can not seem to reply tothe 
> discussion board?
> 
> Thanks for the mail. I will check them out but the problem is 
> that the normal methods of sending input like win32 send 
> message / keyboard_event mouse_event even
> the neat Sendkeys module,  only work   for 'normal' windows.  
> I need to
> control game program windows and these are not affected by 
> the normal methods.
> 
> I have yet to try post message and the sendInput you pointed 
> me to once I understand it some :) and you are right I dont 
> know C or C++.
> 
> Thanks again
> Adrian
> 

I added the mailing list to receivers, just in case someone else is
interested about this. 

As you have noticed, keyboard_event() and others only work with native
Windows controls. Most games don't use them because they usually need some
special styles or effects. Games running in fullscreen can't use them even
if they wanted (with some minor exceptions).

So the usual solution is to implement "windowless" controls. They create
custom windows which are specific to the application. Windows (the operating
system, that is) does not know anything about them. The d3dgui module which
comes with DirectPython is one example. Some normal applications also use
windowless controls (like Internet Explorer).

So how do they expose themself to the user? Normally they don't have to do
much. When a user moves the mouse (or presses a key etc.), the main window
receives the event and the application then figures out what widget should
receive it. Everything works fine as long as the user is conserned. Problems
arise when you need to use these things without normal (mouse and keyboard)
methods.

For example testing, usability support and in you case voice control are
harder with windowless applications. There are several ways in which you can
dig information about these controls that are normally invisible to the
operating system. These are some common ways in which windowless
applications expose their "internals":

-Implement Windows Active accessibility API. Implement IAccessible
COM-object that provides information about the custom controls. This is a
normal way to support screen readers and other accessibility applications.

-Implement custom COM/OLE support. Microsoft Office, Internet explorer and
some other applications can be controlled programmatically and information
can be asked about their contents.

-Implement some other accessibility protocol.

-No support, use OCR and other methods to dig info about the application.

-No support, you must reverse engineer the data structures used by the
program. This is difficult and dangerous, but sometimes there are no
alternatives if you have to do it. 

If you only need to support windowless applications created using Python and
they use open-source windowless GUI-libraries, there is another way. It
might sound weird or difficult, but it should usually work quite well. Not
for the faint of heart, though! It also requires some C-experience, altough
it is be possible to write dll's with other langueages.

Suppose you want to get information about the process A, which uses
d3dgui-library (or it can use some pygame GUI, it does not matter much) for
it's controls. No normal method works, so you have to get creative. Your
voice control application is process B.

Create a very basic .dll which is then injected into procees A. The dll uses
Python C-API to find the module d3dgui and overrides (for example)
Manager.render() class method or adds a property which just monitors the
custom controls and notifies process B about the existing controls (like
position and text). Different GUI-libraries require different approaches,
but the principle is same. You can also use a debugger to figure out how the
application works internally. 

You could also try to modify the application before it starts (especially if
it is done by py2exe or some similar method), but it can cause some
problems. However, that could be easier than doing it on the fly. Without
knowing more accurately what your application does, I can't give much more
hints. It's up to you to decide what you need are how much work are you
willing to do for it.

--
Heikki Salo