Loading a surface from a custom file format *RESOLVED*

In the past I've always used API calls like SetPixelV to draw my graphics, but I've decided its time to upgrade to DirectX. What I'm doing right now is trying to convert one of my old programs that uses SetPixelV into a new one that draws the same stuff with DirectX7. I'm fairly new to DX, and I've read a few tutorials on drawing surfaces, and basic stuff, but I've run into a problem: The images I display are stored in a binary file with pixel information in it instead of a normal bitmap file. I was told that in order to display the image using DirectX, I would have to create a surface and draw directly to its pixel data. Since I am new to DirectX, I have no idea how to do this.

Are there any tutorials out there that would show me how to load a DirectX surface from a custom file format that stores pixel data, instead of a simple jpeg, bitmap, etc. (preferably in Visual Basic)

Thanks

Check here - http://rookscape.com/vbgaming/tutAX.php

If you're still interested, post here again. I have some code to create an empty surface and another code chunk to access the surface pixels directly as an array :)

Thanks, I got it to work using StretchDIBits

I'd like to try to access the pixels as an array too, to see what's easier. I'd appreciate it if you showed me how :)

Ok... this is the code I use to load an empty surface:

VB Code:

Public Type KSurface
    SURF As DirectDrawSurface7
    DESC As DDSURFACEDESC2
    Width As Long
    Height As Long
End Type
 
'Loads an empty surface, based on width/height
Sub LoadEmptySurface(Width As Long, Height As Long, Dest As KSurface, Optional SpecialEffect As Boolean = False)
    'Set the surface's width and height
    Dest.Width = Width
    Dest.Height = Height
    
    'Set the flags
    Dest.DESC.lFlags = DDSD_CAPS Or DDSD_HEIGHT Or DDSD_WIDTH
    
    If Not SpecialEffect Then
        'Load it as a regular surface
        Dest.DESC.ddsCaps.lCaps = DDSCAPS_OFFSCREENPLAIN
    Else
        'System memory is faster when it comes to special effects :)
        Dest.DESC.ddsCaps.lCaps = DDSCAPS_OFFSCREENPLAIN Or DDSCAPS_SYSTEMMEMORY
    End If
    
    'Width/height of the image...
    Dest.DESC.lWidth = Width
    Dest.DESC.lHeight = Height
    
    'Create it...
    Set Dest.SURF = DDraw.CreateSurface(Dest.DESC)
    
    'Set the color key to black
    Dim Key As DDCOLORKEY
    Key.low = 0
    Key.high = Key.low
    Dest.SURF.SetColorKey DDCKEY_SRCBLT, Key
End Sub

And this one to manipulate it as an array:

VB Code:

Dim EmptyRect As RECT
    Dim DestArray() As Byte
    Backbuffer.SURF.Lock EmptyRect, Backbuffer.DESC, DDLOCK_NOSYSLOCK Or DDLOCK_WAIT, 0
    Backbuffer.SURF.GetLockedArray DestArray()
 
    'Manipulate it here... I assume you already know how the array is organized :) (BGR-BGR-BGR...)
 
    Backbuffer.SURF.Unlock EmptyRect

Hope that helps :)

You can remove the NOSYSLOCK flag to speed up your app, but that means that windows won't be running while the surface is locked so you can't use any Windows APIs and NO errors can occur or your computer will crash :p

Okay, I have an array of RGB values for the image I want to paint. What I was doing before was SetLockedPixel, but for some reason the RGB values do not work with it and the colors get all messed up. I think it's because the SetLockedPixel color needs to be 16-Bit, and I have no clue how to convert my RGB colors to this format, and I haven't had luck with GetLockedArray either.

How can I change my RGB value to the proper 16-bit format used for SetLockedPixel??

There's a conversion in one of the horribly-named DirectX4VB apps... You'll need to look. Like I said, you can't find out what one of them means!

And Jotaf, why are you using a type to hold your surface? Oh well, its only a matter of opinion, but seriously. Drop the width/height from that, you can get it from the DDSurfaceDesc.

Just so you know, Satch, system memory is RAM, therefore if you're putting large surfaces in it your system's going to SLOW DOWN. Also, if you don't delete these surfaces at the end, you'll be cursing yourself while you lose many megs of memory even after your program's finished :)

Just to let you know :p

:D

(PS. and one more thing, DirectDraw is pretty much depricated. Microsoft wants everyone to jump onto the 3D bandwagon. Though Directdraw is a starting point, you may want to look into DirectGraphics (8) when developing final applications due for release.)

Okay, I found it :D

Everything works perfectly now! Thanks a lot guys.

Heh you're welcome :)

Sas what do you mean with that? Ok I'll drop the Width/Height thing (it's faster to type :p ) but what's wrong with using a UDT?

Not much... like I said, coding style. If you like it, go with it. I merely said it for.... actually, I had no reason to say it :D

:p

:rolleyes: :D