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I am currently designing my first serious windows application, and I'm wondering whether it's worth using the DirectX libraries.
The application is going to be 2D (although I may implement some 3D elements at a later date), but I don't want it to look like a standard windows application. I'd like to use bitmap images to define the look of the program elements. I don't want the normal title bar on every window and sub-window, I don't want it to be color schemed like typical Windows forms, and there's a good chance that not every element is going to be a uniform shape. The program will need to handle lots of bitmap images simultaneously, with alpha channel support for formats like PNG. I'll also be making use of sound files like mp3s or ogg vorbis.
Just to clarify. This is not technically a game that I'm making. It's a table-top simulator, for playing games like Dungeons&Dragons. So animations and such are not really a priority.
With that in mind, I am wondering...
A) Can the standard Windows libraries handle what I'd like to do?
B) What if any benefits would I gain by using Managed DirectX in this primarily 2D application?
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As a personal opinion I would go for WPF[^] instead of using Forms or DirectX directly.
WPF allows you to use the potential of DirectX but at a higher level.
The need to optimize rises from a bad design.
My articles[ ^]
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I second that. Sounds like a great fit for WPF.
Generico300 wrote: A) Can the standard Windows libraries handle what I'd like to do?
The 2D stuff, yes - and any 3D stuff you want to write yourself.
Generico300 wrote: B) What if any benefits would I gain by using Managed DirectX in this primarily 2D application?
Is managed DirectX even supported anymore?
Mark
Mark Salsbery
Microsoft MVP - Visual C++
![Java | [Coffee]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/coffee.gif)
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Managed DirectX has been effectively superceded by XNA. Unfortunately XNA is geared to pushing cross platform development to console, so it misses a whole bunch of features. New development for DirectX should either use the unmanaged API directly thru C++/CLI, or SlimDX (an open source wrapper) if XNA won't cut it.
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Mark Churchill wrote: Managed DirectX has been effectively superceded by XNA.
That's been my understanding for quite a while,
since it was dropped from the SDK.
It still gets asked about often 
Thanks!
Mark
Mark Salsbery
Microsoft MVP - Visual C++
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I have a databound gridview on a form in which two columns are formatted numerically to two decimal places. If either of these columns has the value edited and left null, the default error dialog appears. I am having difficulty finding an event that fires before the formatting is attempted, that will allow me to display a custom error message or set a default value in the appropriate cell. I have tried setting the default null value of the column to 0 but that hasn't helped.
Thank you in advance!
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You may be able to trap and prevent the DataGridView error from displaying via the grid's DataError event. You can definitely Cancel grid errors via that event. You may also want to take a look at the CellFormatting event of the DataGridView to see if you can use that to override numeric nulls.
Just a couple of thoughts. Good luck...
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The situation is that I have utility libraries that are used by both ASP.NET and WinForm/console applications. Occasionally these libraries need to reach into the environment to get information. Since the environments are so different I was looking for suggestions on how to hide those differences in the libraries. Suggestions?
Haven't just been bitten by concurrency issues surrounding static variables in ASP.NET applications the specific problem at hand is storing session variables. In ASP.NET you need to store them in HttpContext.Current.Session and in winform/console apps you would simply use a static variable. How do I provide a storage mechanism that is transparent to which environment it is running in?
I suspect I could write a class that determines the environment (how do I do that?) and either stores the data in Session or a private hashtable for winforms. I'm not that familiar with the class loader. Would I avoid dragging in the Web assemblies if I use fully qualified names surrounded by environment if statements (rather than using statements)?
eg:
if (isAsp){
HttpContext.Current.Session["xxx"] = value;
} else {
winSession["xxx"] = value;
}
Help, suggestions appreciated.
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I dropped using session altogether in favor of writing stateless apps. It works fairly well when done with restraint and loading only appropriate data when necessary. I was actually surprised at how much performance I could actually squeeze out of a system with no cache whatsoever.
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego.
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If you check for the existence of session and if it doesn't exist use static such as checking System.Web.HttpContext.Current
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego.
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How can I check for the existence of System.Web.HttpContext.Current without draggin the System.Web assemblies into my windows apps?
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I wouldn't call it dragging since the assembly is already installed in the GAC. I don't know how to use reflection to check to see if an Assembly is loaded but that would be the other method.
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego.
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Would something like the following be useful:
System.Reflection.Assembly.GetEntryAssembly().GetLoadedModules()
The need to optimize rises from a bad design.
My articles[ ^]
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Hay,
Im new to these forums a friend recommended them!
I have created a Game Of Life in C#,
and the only thing to make it complete is a open and save secton,
the full game code is below:
[code]using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
namespace WindowsApplication1
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
private int SQsize = 25;
private int[,] paintSQ = new int[50, 50];
private int shape = 1;
private int gridLines = 1;
private int maxRow = 20;
private int maxCol = 20;
private int gridSize = 500;
private int speed = 100;
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void pictureBox1_Paint(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)
{
//Paint grid
if (gridLines == 1)
{
Graphics grid = e.Graphics;
Pen myPen = new Pen(Color.Black, 1); //create a pen object
for (int a = 0; a <= this.gridSize; a += this.SQsize)
{
grid.DrawLine(myPen, 0, a, gridSize, a); //use the DrawLine Horizontal
grid.DrawLine(myPen, a, 0, a, gridSize); //use the DrawLine Vertical
}
myPen.Dispose();
}
Graphics paint = e.Graphics;
SolidBrush myBrush = new SolidBrush(colorDialog1.Color);
if (gridSize == 500 && SQsize == 10)
{
this.maxCol = 50;
this.maxRow = 50;
toolStripStatusLabel1.Text = "Grid Size: Large 50x50";
}
if (gridSize == 500 && SQsize == 25)
{
this.maxCol = 20;
this.maxRow = 20;
toolStripStatusLabel1.Text = "Grid Size: Large 20x20";
}
if (gridSize == 500 && SQsize == 50)
{
this.maxCol = 10;
this.maxRow = 10;
toolStripStatusLabel1.Text = "Grid Size: Large 10x10";
}
if (gridSize == 250 && SQsize == 10)
{
this.maxCol = 25;
this.maxRow = 25;
toolStripStatusLabel1.Text = "Grid Size: Medium 25x25";
}
if (gridSize == 250 && SQsize == 25)
{
this.maxCol = 10;
this.maxRow = 10;
toolStripStatusLabel1.Text = "Grid Size: Medium 10x10";
}
if (gridSize == 250 && SQsize == 50)
{
this.maxCol = 5;
this.maxRow = 5;
toolStripStatusLabel1.Text = "Grid Size: Medium 5x5";
}
if (gridSize == 200 && SQsize == 10)
{
this.maxCol = 20;
this.maxRow = 20;
toolStripStatusLabel1.Text = "Grid Size: Small 20x20";
}
if (gridSize == 200 && SQsize == 25)
{
this.maxCol = 8;
this.maxRow = 8;
toolStripStatusLabel1.Text = "Grid Size: Small 8x8";
}
if (gridSize == 200 && SQsize == 50)
{
this.maxCol = 4;
this.maxRow = 4;
toolStripStatusLabel1.Text = "Grid Size: Small 4x4";
}
int cellRow = 0;
while (cellRow < maxRow)
{
int cellCol = 0;
while (cellCol < maxCol)
{
if (shape == 1)
{
if (paintSQ[cellCol, cellRow] == 1)
{
paint.FillRectangle(myBrush, (cellCol * this.SQsize) + 1, (cellRow * this.SQsize) + 1, this.SQsize - 1, this.SQsize - 1);
}
}
if (shape == 0)
{
if (paintSQ[cellCol, cellRow] == 1)
{
paint.SmoothingMode = SmoothingMode.HighQuality;
paint.FillEllipse(myBrush, new Rectangle((cellCol * this.SQsize), (cellRow * this.SQsize), this.SQsize, this.SQsize));
}
}
cellCol++;
}
cellRow++;
}
myBrush.Dispose();
}
private void pictureBox1_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
if (e.X < pictureBox1.Width && e.Y < pictureBox1.Height && e.X > 0 && e.Y > 0 && e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
{
int xMouse = 0;
int yMouse = 0;
double xMouse1 = (e.X - 1) / SQsize;
double yMouse1 = (e.Y - 1) / SQsize;
xMouse = (int)System.Math.Ceiling(xMouse1);
yMouse = (int)System.Math.Ceiling(yMouse1);
this.paintSQ[xMouse, yMouse] = 1;
pictureBox1.Refresh();
}
}
private void pictureBox1_MouseMove(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
if (e.X < pictureBox1.Width && e.Y < pictureBox1.Height && e.X > 0 && e.Y > 0 && e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
{
int xMouse = 0;
int yMouse = 0;
double xMouse1 = (e.X - 1) / SQsize;
double yMouse1 = (e.Y - 1) / SQsize;
xMouse = (int)System.Math.Ceiling(xMouse1);
yMouse = (int)System.Math.Ceiling(yMouse1);
this.paintSQ[xMouse, yMouse] = 1;
pictureBox1.Refresh();
}
}
private void exitToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Close();
}
private void colourToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
colorDialog1.ShowDialog();
}
private void smallToolStripMenuItem_Click_1(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
maxRow = 10;
maxCol = 10;
gridSize = 200;
Refresh();
}
private void mediumToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
gridSize = 250;
maxRow = 25;
maxCol = 25;
Refresh();
}
private void largeToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
gridSize = 500;
maxRow = 50;
maxCol = 50;
Refresh();
}
private void exitToolStripMenuItem_Click_1(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Close();
}
private void helpToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
}
private void timer1_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
int[,] tempPaintSQ = new int[50, 50];
int cellRow = 0;
while (cellRow < maxRow)
{
int cellCol = 0;
while (cellCol < maxCol)
{
int cellAlive = 0;
if (cellCol - 1 >= 0 && cellRow - 1 >= 0 && cellCol - 1 < this.maxCol && cellRow - 1 < this.maxRow)
{
if (paintSQ[cellCol - 1, cellRow - 1] == 1)
{
cellAlive++;
}
}
if (cellCol - 1 >= 0 && cellRow >= 0 && cellCol - 1 < this.maxCol && cellRow < this.maxRow)
{
if (paintSQ[cellCol - 1, cellRow] == 1)
{
cellAlive++;
}
}
if (cellCol - 1 >= 0 && cellRow + 1 >= 0 && cellCol - 1 < this.maxCol && cellRow + 1 < this.maxRow)
{
if (paintSQ[cellCol - 1, cellRow + 1] == 1)
{
cellAlive++;
}
}
if (cellCol >= 0 && cellRow - 1 >= 0 && cellCol < this.maxCol && cellRow - 1 < this.maxRow)
{
if (paintSQ[cellCol, cellRow - 1] == 1)
{
cellAlive++;
}
}
if (cellCol >= 0 && cellRow + 1 >= 0 && cellCol < this.maxCol && cellRow + 1 < this.maxRow)
{
if (paintSQ[cellCol, cellRow + 1] == 1)
{
cellAlive++;
}
}
if (cellCol >= +1 && cellRow - 1 >= 0 && cellCol + 1 < this.maxCol && cellRow - 1 < this.maxRow)
{
if (paintSQ[cellCol + 1, cellRow - 1] == 1)
{
cellAlive++;
}
}
if (cellCol + 1 >= 0 && cellRow >= 0 && cellCol + 1 < this.maxCol && cellRow < this.maxRow)
{
if (paintSQ[cellCol + 1, cellRow] == 1)
{
cellAlive++;
}
}
if (cellCol + 1 >= 0 && cellRow + 1 >= 0 && cellCol + 1 < this.maxCol && cellRow + 1 < this.maxRow)
{
if (paintSQ[cellCol + 1, cellRow + 1] == 1)
{
cellAlive++;
}
}
if (paintSQ[cellCol, cellRow] == 1)
{
if (cellAlive < 2)
{
tempPaintSQ[cellCol, cellRow] = 0;
}
if (cellAlive == 2 || cellAlive == 3)
{
tempPaintSQ[cellCol, cellRow] = 1;
}
if (cellAlive > 3)
{
tempPaintSQ[cellCol, cellRow] = 0;
}
}
else
{
if (cellAlive == 3)
{ tempPaintSQ[cellCol, cellRow] = 1; }
else
{ tempPaintSQ[cellCol, cellRow] = 0; }
}
cellCol++;
}
cellRow++;
}
this.paintSQ = tempPaintSQ;
speedBarMove();
cellcountAliveDead();
pictureBox1.Refresh();
}
private void speedBarMove()
{
if (speedBar.Value == 0)
{
timer1.Interval = 400;
}
if (speedBar.Value == 1)
{
timer1.Interval = 200;
}
if (speedBar.Value == 2)
{
timer1.Interval = 100;
}
if (speedBar.Value == 3)
{
timer1.Interval = 50;
}
if (speedBar.Value == 4)
{
timer1.Interval = 5;
}
}
private void start_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
timer1.Enabled = true;
}
private void stop_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
timer1.Enabled = false;
}
private void Clear_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
int cellRow = 0;
while (cellRow < maxRow)
{
int cellCol = 0;
while (cellCol < maxCol)
{
paintSQ[cellCol, cellRow] = 0;
cellCol++;
}
cellRow++;
}
pictureBox1.Refresh();
}
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
colorDialog1.ShowDialog();
}
private void onToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
gridLines = 1;
pictureBox1.Refresh();
}
private void squareToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
shape = 1;
pictureBox1.Refresh();
}
private void circleToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
shape = 0;
pictureBox1.Refresh();
}
private void offToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
gridLines = 0;
pictureBox1.Refresh();
}
private void toolStripMenuItem2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
SQsize = 10;
pictureBox1.Refresh();
}
private void mediumToolStripMenuItem1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
SQsize = 25;
pictureBox1.Refresh();
}
private void largeToolStripMenuItem1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
SQsize = 50;
pictureBox1.Refresh();
}
private void slowToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
timer1.Interval = 400;
speed = 400;
if (speed == 400)
{
speedBar.Value = 0;
}
}
private void slowToolStripMenuItem1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
timer1.Interval = 200;
speed = 200;
if (speed == 200)
{
speedBar.Value = 1;
}
}
private void mediumToolStripMenuItem2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
timer1.Interval = 100;
speed = 100;
if (speed == 100)
{
speedBar.Value = 2;
}
}
private void fastToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
timer1.Interval = 50;
speed = 50;
if (speed == 50)
{
speedBar.Value = 3;
}
}
private void lightSpeedToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
timer1.Interval = 5;
speed = 5;
if (speed == 5)
{
speedBar.Value = 4;
}
}
private void cellcountAliveDead()
{
int currentAlive = 0;
int currentDead = 0;
int cellRow = 0;
while (cellRow < maxRow)
{
int cellCol = 0;
while (cellCol < maxCol)
{
if (paintSQ[cellCol, cellRow] == 1)
{
currentAlive++;
}
if (paintSQ[cellCol, cellRow] == 0)
{
currentDead++;
}
cellCol++;
}
cellRow++;
}
toolStripStatusLabel2.Text = "Cells Alive: " + currentAlive;
toolStripStatusLabel3.Text = "Dead Cells: " + currentDead;
}
private void openToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
}
private void saveToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
}
}
}
[/code]
I know there is a lot of code there sorry. Im trying to save using the following processes and open in the revers
[code]void saveMyData()
{
Stream outputStream = File.OpenWrite(@"C:\myData.dat");
for (int x = 0; x < myData.Length; x++ )
{
outputStream.WriteByte( myData[x] );
}
outputStream.Close();
}
[/code]
This is the example ive found but i cant figure out how to edit it to work with my code so it will save the current live cells and the current dead cells.
Thanks
b3rt!
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No one is going to go through all the code.
Blog link to be reinstated at a later date.
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Hi There.
I have an app with a Datagridview control showing an overview of jobs. Each job has a status from 0-100%.
What my boss wants me to do is set all jobs at 100% in the datagridview to strike through font. Does anybody have any idea how I can do this? Is it possible?
I have been able to locate the 100% rows and can colour the foreground and background etc, but still cannot set the Strikethrough Property. Anybody know how to do it???
Here is my code to locating the required rows...
private void OverViewColourCoding(DataGridView dg)
{
foreach (DataGridViewRow dgr in dg.Rows)
{
foreach (DataGridViewCell dgc in dgr.Cells)
{
if (Convert.ToString(dgc.Value) == "100%")
{
dgr.DefaultCellStyle.ForeColor = System.Drawing.Color.Gray;
dgr.DefaultCellStyle.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.LightGray;
}
}
}
}
(I'm sorry if this is a simple question. I'm new to C#)
Thanks 
modified on Monday, November 10, 2008 11:36 AM
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Not absolutely sure about this, but DefaultCellStyle has property Font which again has property StrikeOut.
The need to optimize rises from a bad design.
My articles[ ^]
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Hi Mika.
Thank you, but I have tried that. For some crazy reason, all the properties under DefaultCellStyle.Font are read only, which really sucks!!!
I think the only way I will be able to do this is by creating a custom class and inheriting the DataGridView class, and allowing the strikethrough this way. BUT, I am new in C# and don't have a clue on how I could do this. (I know how to inherit another class, but not how to modify properties like DefaultCellStyle.Font)
Any help would be great... Thanks...
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Strikeout is read only so you cannot modify it on the fly. Instead create a new font and place it in DataGridViewCellStyle.Font. Something like (I'm not near VisualStudio right now so this may contain several typos):
dgr.DefaultCellStyle.Font = new Font(dgr.DefaultCellStyle.Font, FontStyle.Strikeout);
The need to optimize rises from a bad design.
My articles[ ^]
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I had a go at this, but couldnt quite get it to work, and I've ran out of time. I'll spend a bit more time on it tomorrow.
It looks like the right lines. I'll give it more attention in the morning and let you know.
Thanks very much for your time on this.
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No problem
If you get stuck tomorrow, send a post on this and let's see if we can help.
The need to optimize rises from a bad design.
My articles[ ^]
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Hi
Just to let let you know, you got me on the right lines.
The exact code I used was:
dgr.DefaultCellStyle.Font = new Font(new FontFamily("Microsoft Sans Serif"), 8.25F, FontStyle.Strikeout);
Thank you again for your help.
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You're welcome
The need to optimize rises from a bad design.
My articles[ ^]
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Hi there
Let's say I have a txt file with 100.000 words which I'll load into memory. I need to manage this file as a database in order to provide a character prediction application. What method can I use in order to have a fast response, even on embedded devices?
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Speed of search comes through complexity of code. The more indexes you build, the faster it will be, but the more memory it will use.
Christian Graus
Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.
"Iam doing the browsing center project in vb.net using c# coding" - this is why I don't answer questions much anymore. Oh, and Microsoft doesn't want me to.
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