OT: MS C++ 6.0 help

[narf poit chez BOOM]

I'm starting to understand c++. However, c++ doesn't understand the Directx SDK samples I downloaded.

[PvK]

Ok. Which examples, from which Version of DirectX, and what is MSVC6 saying to you about them?

PvK

[narf poit chez BOOM]

This one (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=b7bc31fa-2df1-44fd-95a4-c2555446aed4&languageid=f49e8428-7071-4979-8a67-3cffcb0c2524&displaylang=en)

The c++ samples.

And it's not recognizing the makefile or the .vcproj file when I try to open a workspace. See you guys monday. (Don't go on the internet sunday...And look at the forum time).

[PvK]

Any newer examples are likely build for MSVC 7, which may not have a compatible Workspace (DSW) format. Try opening the Project file (DSP) or the VCPROJ file directly.

VC7 also uses yet another file type called a "Solution" file (SOL). If there is no SOL file for the example you're looking at, then it probably is an old example which should load in VC6, so I that case something else would be causing the problem.

PvK

[Ed Kolis]

VC7 solutions are *.sln, not *.sol, BTW...
(insert random plug for C# here http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif)

[Instar]

Do you have the DX SDK installed? Do you have your compiler set up to include the DX stuff at compile time?

[minipol]

Meh, who wants to use C++ when there are easier Languages around? Python, java. I remember when i used to program in c++. Now i can concentrate on ideas instead of language syntax stuff.

[Gandalf Parker]

minipol said:
Meh, who wants to use C++ when there are easier Languages around? Python, java. I remember when i used to program in c++. Now i can concentrate on ideas instead of language syntax stuff.



BASIC? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Lets not war.
Lets get back to answering the poor guys quesion. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Fyron]

minipol said:
Meh, who wants to use C++ when there are easier Languages around? Python, java. I remember when i used to program in c++. Now i can concentrate on ideas instead of language syntax stuff.

Because those Languages create relatively slow programs, thus they are not sufficient when speed is required.

[geoschmo]

Also, he hasn't said, but it may be something he's doing for school, and even if there are other Languages better the C++, I doubt his teacher would allow substitutions. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[narf poit chez BOOM]

No dsp, no sol, no sln.

Instar said:
Do you have the DX SDK installed? Do you have your compiler set up to include the DX stuff at compile time?


Yes. No idea how.

I'm trying to make commercially saleable games and scripting Languages are too slow. And I only own two commercial compilers, DarkBASICPro (www.thegamecreators.com) and MS VS C++ 6.0

[Fyron]

You could try the IDE Eclipse, with C++ plugins... not sure how exactly to get it all working myself, but it is all free...

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Wouldn't that be the same as C++? anyway, I'd rather not try to learn too many things at the same time.

[Gandalf Parker]

Most Languages use C++ (or C) for plugins to boost speed. The other language (whatever it might be) for comfort. All are commercially viable. But obviously learning C++, at least enough to understand good use of libraries and plugins, is a good idea. You might consider whether you want to get too involved with the MS part of that "MS C++ 6.0".
I wish you luck with it.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Thank you.

[PvK]

narf poit chez BOOM said:
No dsp, no sol, no sln.
...



Ok... well then you SHOULD be able to:

1) Copy such an example into a working folder somwhere.
2) Double-click the .DSW.
3) Have it at least load into Visual Studio for editing, without having any errors beyond perhaps something like "couldn't find silly widget Q - would you like to create one?" or "update crap to latest Version?" to which you'd just say yes.

If you can't even load it into the editor, then maybe Visual Studio isn't installed quite right.

PvK

[narf poit chez BOOM]

There isn't a dsw, either.

Perhaps I was a little obscure when I said: 'c++ doesn't understand the Directx SDK samples I downloaded.'

Clarification: I just searched all of them, there are no workspace file formats in any of the samples that C++ 6.0 recognizes.

That being dsw, dsp, mdp and mak.

There are makefiles, but those are m64

[PvK]

Oh... ok, that helps. Are there not DSW files one directory-level higher than the lowest sub-folders? There are in the Versions of DXSDK that I have loaded. Open the DSW, and the sub-folders should be sub-projects of that workspace.

For example,

C:\DXSDK\samples\Multimedia\Demos

contains demos.dsw, four project subfolders, and a "bin" subfolder. The bin folder has resources which are shared by the projects, to save space.

The one DSW will let you build any of the projects it includes. You can select which one by using the control available from the Build/Configurations drop-down item.

PvK

[narf poit chez BOOM]

You must have a different one. I've got a media directory, but no multimedia directory, and the bin folder in the Directx samples folder just has .exe files. Path looks like this: C:\Microsoft DirectX 9.0 SDK\Samples\C++

[Ed Kolis]

The C++ samples in the DirectX SDK don't look like they contain too many files... why don't you just create a new empty solution or project or workspace or whatever it's called in the sample directory, remove all the junk that might be in it (in case it's not really empty, MS likes to play with your mind http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif), and add the *.cpp, *.h, and *.rc files to it?

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Ok, but I'm not sure how to add files.

Thanks for all your patience, people.

[Instar]

minipol said:
Meh, who wants to use C++ when there are easier Languages around? Python, java. I remember when i used to program in c++. Now i can concentrate on ideas instead of language syntax stuff.


Java? Easy? Sure, most of the time...

[Instar]

narf poit chez BOOM said:
No dsp, no sol, no sln.

Instar said:
Do you have the DX SDK installed? Do you have your compiler set up to include the DX stuff at compile time?


Yes. No idea how.

I'm trying to make commercially saleable games and scripting Languages are too slow. And I only own two commercial compilers, <a href="www.thegamecreators.com" target="_blank">DarkBASICPro</a> and MS VS C++ 6.0



I don't have a copy of Visual Studio 6 (I use 2003), but here are some general guidelines on how to include the DX include files and things.
In Visual Studio, find the include directory options for C++ projects (For me, it was under Tools -> Options, and then select Projects -> VC++ Directories). Make sure to have the path for the DXSDK\include directory there. Same thing for lib(rary) files for DX, include the DXSDK\lib directory in the VC++ lib files option.

Its been a while since I seriously used MSVC++ 6, so things are probably different.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

The library and include files are there under directories, but I don't see any projescts-> VC++ Directories.

[minipol]

Imperator Fyron said:
Because those Languages create relatively slow programs, thus they are not sufficient when speed is required.



In many cases this is not the case anymore or the differences are very small. C/C++ is good for systems programming or for programs like Mailers. I do like C++ but there are other Languages that allow you to program faster without getting in a fight with pointer, addresses, references and the likes.

[minipol]

narf poit chez BOOM said:
I'm trying to make commercially saleable games and scripting Languages are too slow. And I only own two commercial compilers, <a href="www.thegamecreators.com" target="_blank">DarkBASICPro</a> and MS VS C++ 6.0



You can make commercially saleable games with java and python.
About scripting Languages being too slow, that is just not true. Search the net.
There are several frameworks around that work easier that Direct X and that can be used with several other Languages AND that work as fast.
A few years back i experimented with java and full screen painting. Wasn't a problem to get very high fps.

As Gandalf said, for parts of a program where speed is essential, you can always program these extensions in C/C++.