Starting with shaders

Hi, I have decided to take my first steps into shaders, and have a question or two. From what I have read from other posts, you must use an .fx file for shaders. Is this a plain .txt file saved as .fx??? Also, I know that shaders are written in HLSL, but how do you include the .fx file, written in HLSL, in your main c-script code??? Do you just use the include command??? Thank you for your time.

In short, materials use shader codes with the effect command. FX files are apparently plain text format (unformatted text). I don't know how shaders work or how they are written (they're not in the manual).

Code:

---

material quicktest
{
	ambient_red = 255; // full brightness
	ambient_green = 255;
	ambient_blue = 255;
	effect = "
		technique technique_name
		{
			pass p0
			{
				// insert shader code here
			}
			
			// pass p1 // for additional passes
		}

		// technique simpler // additional techniques for lower end cards
		" // end effect string
}

action my_action
{
	my.material = quicktest; // assigns the material for the shader
}

---

This is as far as I can go. The manual only gives the information I've given. It doesn't explain how to do any calculations, or what the other options are available. I wished it did though.

This thread, however, should be moved to the shaders forum....

I agree ulillillia, my first thought was... read the manuel. However, I was very disapointed by the description of shaders... practically nonexhistant, as you said. So, I found some intro to HLSL documents and am trudging through those now. Thanks for the speedy response, I will just "trial and error" my way through shaders I guess... (most like more error than trial). Thanks again.

Quote:

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Is this a plain .txt file saved as .fx???

---

jepp.

Quote:

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Also, I know that shaders are written in HLSL, but how do you include the .fx file, written in HLSL, in your main c-script code???

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The WIKI is your best friend with this! username/password: acknex