D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile() does not exist under C#!

[Nick]

This is really starting to piss me off. Someone please prove me wrong.

Here is a link to the function in DX 9 sdk.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...facetofile.asp

Following dll's are referenced in my program.
Microsoft.DirectX.dll
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.dll
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3DX.dll

The code:

using Microsoft.DirectX;
using Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D;
..
..
//here trying to call D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile
//the parameters are wrong but thats not the problem
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile();

The eror I get: "The name does not exist in MainFrom..." bla bla

In other words, I cannot locate the function. Where is it?
Please help.

If it helps, here is the link to what I am trying to do. The only
problem the link is in C++.
http://www.codeproject.com/dialog/sc...doing%20it%20:

Thanks in advance.

[TT \(Tom Tempelaere\)]

"Nick" <pa*****@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:QA*****************@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net.. .

This is really starting to piss me off. Someone please prove me wrong.

Here is a link to the function in DX 9 sdk.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...facetofile.asp
Following dll's are referenced in my program.
Microsoft.DirectX.dll
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.dll
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3DX.dll

The code:

using Microsoft.DirectX;
using Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D;
.
.
//here trying to call D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile
//the parameters are wrong but thats not the problem
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile();

The eror I get: "The name does not exist in MainFrom..." bla bla

In other words, I cannot locate the function. Where is it?
Please help.

If it helps, here is the link to what I am trying to do. The only
problem the link is in C++.

http://www.codeproject.com/dialog/sc...doing%20it%20:

You will have to use interop to call API methods in the dll. There are
plenty of examples on the net, I suggest you check google or codeproject.
The idea is to map the entries in the dll (the ones you need) to a C#
equivalent method, and call the mapped methods.

HTH,
---
Tom Tempelaere

[Nick]

TT (Tom Tempelaere) wrote:

"Nick" <pa*****@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:QA*****************@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net.. .

This is really starting to piss me off. Someone please prove me wrong.

Here is a link to the function in DX 9 sdk.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...facetofile.asp

Following dll's are referenced in my program.
Microsoft.DirectX.dll
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.dll
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3DX.dll

The code:

using Microsoft.DirectX;
using Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D;
.
.
//here trying to call D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile
//the parameters are wrong but thats not the problem
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile();

The eror I get: "The name does not exist in MainFrom..." bla bla

In other words, I cannot locate the function. Where is it?
Please help.

If it helps, here is the link to what I am trying to do. The only
problem the link is in C++.

http://www.codeproject.com/dialog/sc...doing%20it%20:

You will have to use interop to call API methods in the dll. There are
plenty of examples on the net, I suggest you check google or codeproject.
The idea is to map the entries in the dll (the ones you need) to a C#
equivalent method, and call the mapped methods.

HTH,
---
Tom Tempelaere

I'm sorry if I am missing something, but how do I know the C# equivalent
method? The only documentation of the method that I found is in C++.

The following is from the header file d3dx9tex.h, which is part of dx 9 sdk.

//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile:
// ----------------------
// Save a surface to a image file.
//
// Parameters:
// pDestFile
// File name of the destination file
// DestFormat
// D3DXIMAGE_FILEFORMAT specifying file format to use when saving.
// pSrcSurface
// Source surface, containing the image to be saved
// pSrcPalette
// Source palette of 256 colors, or NULL
// pSrcRect
// Source rectangle, or NULL for the entire image
//
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------

HRESULT WINAPI
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFileA(
LPCSTR pDestFile,
D3DXIMAGE_FILEFORMAT DestFormat,
LPDIRECT3DSURFACE9 pSrcSurface,
CONST PALETTEENTRY* pSrcPalette,
CONST RECT* pSrcRect);

HRESULT WINAPI
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFileW(
LPCWSTR pDestFile,
D3DXIMAGE_FILEFORMAT DestFormat,
LPDIRECT3DSURFACE9 pSrcSurface,
CONST PALETTEENTRY* pSrcPalette,
CONST RECT* pSrcRect);

#ifdef UNICODE
#define D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile D3DXSaveSurfaceToFileW
#else
#define D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile D3DXSaveSurfaceToFileA
#endif

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I would really apreciate it if you could help me get this function to work.

This is what I have so far.

[DllImport("Direct3DX.dll",EntryPoint="D3DXSaveSurf aceToFile")]
//I have no clue about the last two arguments so I left them out, they
//can be null, but I still need a C# equivalent.
//ImageFileFormat I basically guessed, so dont know if thats the right
//equivalent to D3DXIMAGE_FILEFORMAT
//I'm pretty sure that HRESULT in C# is Int32
//and LPCSTR is String
static extern Int32 D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile(String
pDestFile,ImageFileFormat DestFormat,Surface pSrcSurface);

//and then use it as
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile("2.bmp",ImageFileFormat.Bmp, mySurface);

The program doesn't crash or anything, but 2.bmp is not there. =(

Also, I tried running "tdump Direct3DX.dll" and the funtions were not
listed.

Thank you for the help.

[TT \(Tom Tempelaere\)]

"Nick" <pa*****@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:_f*******************@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net ...

TT (Tom Tempelaere) wrote:

"Nick" <pa*****@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:QA*****************@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net.. .

This is really starting to piss me off. Someone please prove me wrong.

Here is a link to the function in DX 9 sdk.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...facetofile.asp

Following dll's are referenced in my program.
Microsoft.DirectX.dll
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.dll
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3DX.dll

The code:

using Microsoft.DirectX;
using Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D;
.
.
//here trying to call D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile
//the parameters are wrong but thats not the problem
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile();

The eror I get: "The name does not exist in MainFrom..." bla bla

In other words, I cannot locate the function. Where is it?
Please help.

If it helps, here is the link to what I am trying to do. The only
problem the link is in C++.

http://www.codeproject.com/dialog/sc...doing%20it%20:
You will have to use interop to call API methods in the dll. There are
plenty of examples on the net, I suggest you check google or codeproject. The idea is to map the entries in the dll (the ones you need) to a C#
equivalent method, and call the mapped methods.

HTH,
---
Tom Tempelaere

I'm sorry if I am missing something, but how do I know the C# equivalent
method? The only documentation of the method that I found is in C++.

The following is from the header file d3dx9tex.h, which is part of dx 9

sdk.
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- // D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile:
// ----------------------
// Save a surface to a image file.
//
// Parameters:
// pDestFile
// File name of the destination file
// DestFormat
// D3DXIMAGE_FILEFORMAT specifying file format to use when saving.
// pSrcSurface
// Source surface, containing the image to be saved
// pSrcPalette
// Source palette of 256 colors, or NULL
// pSrcRect
// Source rectangle, or NULL for the entire image
//
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
HRESULT WINAPI
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFileA(
LPCSTR pDestFile,
D3DXIMAGE_FILEFORMAT DestFormat,
LPDIRECT3DSURFACE9 pSrcSurface,
CONST PALETTEENTRY* pSrcPalette,
CONST RECT* pSrcRect);

HRESULT WINAPI
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFileW(
LPCWSTR pDestFile,
D3DXIMAGE_FILEFORMAT DestFormat,
LPDIRECT3DSURFACE9 pSrcSurface,
CONST PALETTEENTRY* pSrcPalette,
CONST RECT* pSrcRect);

#ifdef UNICODE
#define D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile D3DXSaveSurfaceToFileW
#else
#define D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile D3DXSaveSurfaceToFileA
#endif

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----
I would really apreciate it if you could help me get this function to work.
This is what I have so far.

[DllImport("Direct3DX.dll",EntryPoint="D3DXSaveSurf aceToFile")]
//I have no clue about the last two arguments so I left them out, they
//can be null, but I still need a C# equivalent.
//ImageFileFormat I basically guessed, so dont know if thats the right
//equivalent to D3DXIMAGE_FILEFORMAT
//I'm pretty sure that HRESULT in C# is Int32
//and LPCSTR is String
static extern Int32 D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile(String
pDestFile,ImageFileFormat DestFormat,Surface pSrcSurface);

//and then use it as
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile("2.bmp",ImageFileFormat.Bmp, mySurface);

The program doesn't crash or anything, but 2.bmp is not there. =(

Also, I tried running "tdump Direct3DX.dll" and the funtions were not
listed.

Thank you for the help.

You will have to map the functions you use from the API, which includes
mapping of parameters & return values (aka marshalling). Also structs used
in the API should be mapped, which involves memory-layout and packing
specifications. The problem is that the dll you use is not written for .NET
or C# (If I Read Correctly) but for C/C++. Then there is no choice but to
use interoperability features in .NET if you want to use the dll. Check for
articles on the net, e.g. google, or http://www.codeproject.com or
http://www.codeguru.com. There are plenty.

Otherwise, try to find a .NET assembly which does the same. I don't make
programs that use DirectX directly, so I can't help you with that.

HTH,
---
Tom Tempelaere

[TT \(Tom Tempelaere\)]

"Nick" <pa*****@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:_f*******************@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net ...

TT (Tom Tempelaere) wrote: [...] Also, I tried running "tdump Direct3DX.dll" and the funtions were not
listed.

You could use Dependeny Walker to check the API signature. But that doesn't
reveal packing...

---
Tom Tempelaere

[TT \(Tom Tempelaere\)]

Version 2.1.3623 of dependency walker allows to view C++ mangling
undecorated which might come in handy. But I suspect the dll is targeted for
C.

---
Tom Tempelaere
"TT (Tom Tempelaere)" <_|\|_0§P@|/\|titi____AThotmail.com|/\|@P§0_|\|_>
wrote in message news:YD**********************@phobos.telenet-ops.be...

"Nick" <pa*****@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:_f*******************@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net ...

TT (Tom Tempelaere) wrote: [...]

Also, I tried running "tdump Direct3DX.dll" and the funtions were not
listed.

You could use Dependeny Walker to check the API signature. But that

doesn't reveal packing...

---
Tom Tempelaere

[Nick]

TT (Tom Tempelaere) wrote:

"Nick" <pa*****@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:QA*****************@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net.. .

This is really starting to piss me off. Someone please prove me wrong.

Here is a link to the function in DX 9 sdk.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...facetofile.asp

Following dll's are referenced in my program.
Microsoft.DirectX.dll
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.dll
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3DX.dll

The code:

using Microsoft.DirectX;
using Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D;
.
.
//here trying to call D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile
//the parameters are wrong but thats not the problem
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile();

The eror I get: "The name does not exist in MainFrom..." bla bla

In other words, I cannot locate the function. Where is it?
Please help.

If it helps, here is the link to what I am trying to do. The only
problem the link is in C++.

http://www.codeproject.com/dialog/sc...doing%20it%20:

You will have to use interop to call API methods in the dll. There are
plenty of examples on the net, I suggest you check google or codeproject.
The idea is to map the entries in the dll (the ones you need) to a C#
equivalent method, and call the mapped methods.

HTH,
---
Tom Tempelaere

I found a workaround for that funtion.
Here is the code:

try
}
//seting up a D3D device
PresentParameters presentParams = new PresentParameters();
presentParams.Windowed=true;
presentParams.SwapEffect = SwapEffect.Discard;

Device myDevice = new
Device(0,DeviceType.Hardware,this,CreateFlags.Soft wareVertexProcessing,
presentParams);

//creating a Surface the size of screen
Surface mySurface =
myDevice.CreateOffscreenPlainSurface(SystemInforma tion.PrimaryMonitorSize.Width,SystemInformation.Pr imaryMonitorSize.Height,Format.A8R8G8B8,Pool.Defau lt);

//this is where the runtime error occurs, not necessarily the real
//problem. Not sure about first parameter.
myDevice.GetFrontBufferData(0,mySurface);

//from this point on works
//with GetFrontBufferData commented out this saves a bitmap with random
//noise. I guess whatever the Surface object had in memory at its
//location gets translated into noise.
GraphicsStream myGraphicsStream = mySurface.LockRectangle(LockFlags.None);

Bitmap dxWholeScreenBitmap = new
Bitmap(SystemInformation.PrimaryMonitorSize.Width, SystemInformation.PrimaryMonitorSize.Height,System Information.PrimaryMonitorSize.Width,PixelFormat.F ormat32bppArgb,myGraphicsStream.InternalData);

dxWholeScreenBitmap.Save("2.bmp");

}
catch(Exception ex){MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString());}

So instead of letting DirectX do the file saving, which I would need
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile for, I am copying the data from Surface to bitmap
directly. This parameter in bitmap constructor is the stride of the
bitmap. I'm not sure how to get it yet but thats not the problem so far.
So if you know whats wrong with this code, please let me know.

Also, I tried opening Direct3DX.dll in Dependency Walker (nice program)
and unfortunately no functions are being listed in it. When I open some
other dll, like user32.dll, it has several functions. I guess that means
that direct3dx.dll is for C, right?

You've been tremendous help. Thank you.

[TT \(Tom Tempelaere\)]

"Nick" <pa*****@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:Rx********************@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.ne t...
[...]

So instead of letting DirectX do the file saving, which I would need
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile for, I am copying the data from Surface to bitmap
directly. This parameter in bitmap constructor is the stride of the
bitmap. I'm not sure how to get it yet but thats not the problem so far.
So if you know whats wrong with this code, please let me know.
If you have new problems, I suggest you start a new thread. I don't know too
much of what you're doing.
Also, I tried opening Direct3DX.dll in Dependency Walker (nice program)
and unfortunately no functions are being listed in it. When I open some
other dll, like user32.dll, it has several functions. I guess that means
that direct3dx.dll is for C, right?
I don't really know.
You've been tremendous help. Thank you.

No probs,
---
Tom Tempelaere

[TT \(Tom Tempelaere\)]

"TT (Tom Tempelaere)" <_|\|_0§P@|/\|titi____AThotmail.com|/\|@P§0_|\|_>
wrote in message news:A7**********************@phobos.telenet-ops.be...

"Nick" <pa*****@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:Rx********************@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.ne t...
[...]

Also, I tried opening Direct3DX.dll in Dependency Walker (nice program)
and unfortunately no functions are being listed in it. When I open some
other dll, like user32.dll, it has several functions. I guess that means
that direct3dx.dll is for C, right?

I don't really know.

Actually I know that it is targeted towards C compilers, but you can't
deduce that from dependency walker. But if yuo the entries then normally you
should be able to use interoperability and map the function to a .NET
callable syntax.

Cheers,
---
Tom Tempelaere

[TT \(Tom Tempelaere\)]

"TT (Tom Tempelaere)" <_|\|_0§P@|/\|titi____AThotmail.com|/\|@P§0_|\|_>
wrote in message news:e9**********************@phobos.telenet-ops.be...

"TT (Tom Tempelaere)" <_|\|_0§P@|/\|titi____AThotmail.com|/\|@P§0_|\|_>
wrote in message news:A7**********************@phobos.telenet-ops.be...

"Nick" <pa*****@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:Rx********************@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.ne t...

[...] Actually I know that it is targeted towards C compilers, but you can't
deduce that from dependency walker. But if yuo the entries then normally you

But if you know the API entries ...
should be able to use interoperability and map the function to a .NET
callable syntax.

Tom T.

[Nick]

Nick wrote:

This is really starting to piss me off. Someone please prove me wrong.

Here is a link to the function in DX 9 sdk.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...facetofile.asp
Following dll's are referenced in my program.
Microsoft.DirectX.dll
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.dll
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3DX.dll

The code:

using Microsoft.DirectX;
using Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D;
.
.
//here trying to call D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile
//the parameters are wrong but thats not the problem
D3DXSaveSurfaceToFile();

The eror I get: "The name does not exist in MainFrom..." bla bla

In other words, I cannot locate the function. Where is it?
Please help.

If it helps, here is the link to what I am trying to do. The only
problem the link is in C++.
http://www.codeproject.com/dialog/sc...doing%20it%20:
Thanks in advance.

Finally got it to work. Here is the code.

try
{

//basic D3D device initialization
PresentParameters presentParams = new PresentParameters();
presentParams.Windowed = true;
presentParams.SwapEffect = SwapEffect.Discard;
Device myDevice = new
Device(0,DeviceType.Hardware,this,CreateFlags.Soft wareVertexProcessing,presentParams);

//create a surface the size of screen (has to be the size of screen)
//format had to be A8R8G8B8, because that is what GetFrontBufferData returns
//last argument has to be either Pool.Scratch or Pool.System memory
Surface mySurface =
myDevice.CreateOffscreenPlainSurface(SystemInforma tion.PrimaryMonitorSize.Width,SystemInformation.Pr imaryMonitorSize.Height,Format.A8R8G8B8,Pool.Syste mMemory);

//Get the front buffer.
//Getting backbuffer or rendertarget does not work when capturing
//the desctop. I assume these are good if you are doing some rendering
//in your application. When used here file is saved as ~320x20 pixel noise.
myDevice.GetFrontBufferData(0,mySurface);

//this is the function I was looking for and it saves any surface to file
SurfaceLoader.Save("1.bmp",ImageFileFormat.Bmp,myS urface);

}
catch{}
Some interesting bits of info:
-If you want to know what kind of functions are included in lets say
Direct3DX.dll go to *your windows dir*\Microsoft.NET\Managed
DirectX\v9.00.1126(*version of dx*)\.
Here are located the directx dll's that you reference in your program
along with .xml files with corresponding file names. The xml files list
all functions and their arguments, as well as short descriptions, inside
the dll's in managed code.
-The front buffer that GetFrontBufferData returns surprisingly is *NOT*
the stuff you see on the screen. For most applications it would
work, but when, for example, I run a divx video and take a screenshot,
an interesting thing happens. Lets suppose the video is still playing, I
open the resulting screenshot and in the place where the video was
running there is either blackness or the video continues running (yes
video running inside an image, I'm sure). Once you close the video the
place in the image stays permanently black.
Workarounds:
-display properties, settings, advanced, trobleshoot, set acceleration
to none and take the screen shot.
-Programmatically this is the only feasable thing I came across.
http://www.codeproject.com/audio/capvidscrn.asp (c++)
-Another way but not quite relable. Disabling video acceleration
through registry.
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...phx.gbl&rnum=9
(also c++)

Sorry for the amount of irrelavant info to the newsgroup, but google
searches it all and I know some of this info was hard to find. =)

[Marty Isaacs]

Hi Nick,

I think you may be looking for SurfaceLoader.Save

Cheers,
Marty

*** Sent via Devdex http://www.devdex.com ***
Don't just participate in USENET...get rewarded for it!