When I purchased the Sphere2 plugin, the source was made available too. So can I compile this myself with the A7 SDK inside the GStudio7 directory? Or do I need more!? I understand how to setup the compiler and all that.

i was able to compile sphere2 with the new a7 plugin sdk. works fine and looks good

That's nice! I tried to compile the dll, only there was a missing header file. Don't recall the name right now. Guess it's only available in the older DirectX SDK.

yeah, it was missing "dxutil.h", searched around and found the right one but i forget where at i can send it to you if you would like, just pm me.

Could you tell me if this is the same file, and will it work with the latest DirectX SDK!? If not, which DirectX SDK version did you used to recompile the DLL?

Code:

---

//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// File: DXUtil.h
//
// Desc: Helper functions and typing shortcuts for DirectX programming.
//
// Copyright (c) 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
#ifndef DXUTIL_H
#define DXUTIL_H


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Miscellaneous helper functions
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
#define SAFE_DELETE(p)       { if(p) { delete (p);     (p)=NULL; } }
#define SAFE_DELETE_ARRAY(p) { if(p) { delete[] (p);   (p)=NULL; } }
#define SAFE_RELEASE(p)      { if(p) { (p)->Release(); (p)=NULL; } }


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Name: DXUtil_GetDXSDKMediaPath() and DXUtil_FindMediaFile() 
// Desc: Returns the DirectX SDK path, as stored in the system registry
//       during the SDK install.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
const TCHAR* DXUtil_GetDXSDKMediaPath();
HRESULT      DXUtil_FindMediaFile( TCHAR* strPath, TCHAR* strFilename );


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Name: DXUtil_Read*RegKey() and DXUtil_Write*RegKey()
// Desc: Helper functions to read/write a string registry key 
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HRESULT DXUtil_WriteStringRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, TCHAR* strValue );
HRESULT DXUtil_WriteIntRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, DWORD dwValue );
HRESULT DXUtil_WriteGuidRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, GUID guidValue );
HRESULT DXUtil_WriteBoolRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, BOOL bValue );

HRESULT DXUtil_ReadStringRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, TCHAR* strValue, DWORD dwLength, TCHAR* strDefault );
HRESULT DXUtil_ReadIntRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, DWORD* pdwValue, DWORD dwDefault );
HRESULT DXUtil_ReadGuidRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, GUID* pGuidValue, GUID& guidDefault );
HRESULT DXUtil_ReadBoolRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, BOOL* pbValue, BOOL bDefault );


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Name: DXUtil_Timer()
// Desc: Performs timer opertations. Use the following commands:
//          TIMER_RESET           - to reset the timer
//          TIMER_START           - to start the timer
//          TIMER_STOP            - to stop (or pause) the timer
//          TIMER_ADVANCE         - to advance the timer by 0.1 seconds
//          TIMER_GETABSOLUTETIME - to get the absolute system time
//          TIMER_GETAPPTIME      - to get the current time
//          TIMER_GETELAPSEDTIME  - to get the time that elapsed between 
//                                  TIMER_GETELAPSEDTIME calls
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
enum TIMER_COMMAND { TIMER_RESET, TIMER_START, TIMER_STOP, TIMER_ADVANCE,
                     TIMER_GETABSOLUTETIME, TIMER_GETAPPTIME, TIMER_GETELAPSEDTIME };
FLOAT __stdcall DXUtil_Timer( TIMER_COMMAND command );


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// UNICODE support for converting between CHAR, TCHAR, and WCHAR strings
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOID DXUtil_ConvertAnsiStringToWide( WCHAR* wstrDestination, const CHAR* strSource, int cchDestChar = -1 );
VOID DXUtil_ConvertWideStringToAnsi( CHAR* strDestination, const WCHAR* wstrSource, int cchDestChar = -1 );
VOID DXUtil_ConvertGenericStringToAnsi( CHAR* strDestination, const TCHAR* tstrSource, int cchDestChar = -1 );
VOID DXUtil_ConvertGenericStringToWide( WCHAR* wstrDestination, const TCHAR* tstrSource, int cchDestChar = -1 );
VOID DXUtil_ConvertAnsiStringToGeneric( TCHAR* tstrDestination, const CHAR* strSource, int cchDestChar = -1 );
VOID DXUtil_ConvertWideStringToGeneric( TCHAR* tstrDestination, const WCHAR* wstrSource, int cchDestChar = -1 );


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Debug printing support
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOID    DXUtil_Trace( TCHAR* strMsg, ... );
HRESULT _DbgOut( TCHAR*, DWORD, HRESULT, TCHAR* );

#if defined(DEBUG) | defined(_DEBUG)
    #define DXTRACE           DXUtil_Trace
#else
    #define DXTRACE           sizeof
#endif

#if defined(DEBUG) | defined(_DEBUG)
    #define DEBUG_MSG(str)    _DbgOut( __FILE__, (DWORD)__LINE__, 0, str )
#else
    #define DEBUG_MSG(str)    (0L)
#endif


#endif // DXUTIL_H

---

I used the Feb 2007 version of DX9 with MSVC++ 7.1 (2003). The header i used is similar but not the same, alot of the CE stuff could be cut out...

Code:

---

//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// File: DXUtil.h
//
// Desc: Helper functions and typing shortcuts for DirectX programming.
//
// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
#ifndef DXUTIL_H
#define DXUTIL_H


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Miscellaneous helper functions
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
#define SAFE_DELETE(p)       { if(p) { delete (p);     (p)=NULL; } }
#define SAFE_DELETE_ARRAY(p) { if(p) { delete[] (p);   (p)=NULL; } }
#define SAFE_RELEASE(p)      { if(p) { (p)->Release(); (p)=NULL; } }


#ifndef UNDER_CE
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Name: DXUtil_GetDXSDKMediaPath() and DXUtil_FindMediaFile() 
// Desc: Returns the DirectX SDK path, as stored in the system registry
//       during the SDK install.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HRESULT DXUtil_GetDXSDKMediaPathCch( TCHAR* strDest, int cchDest );
HRESULT DXUtil_GetDXSDKMediaPathCb( TCHAR* szDest, int cbDest );
HRESULT DXUtil_FindMediaFileCch( TCHAR* strDestPath, int cchDest, TCHAR* strFilename );
HRESULT DXUtil_FindMediaFileCb( TCHAR* szDestPath, int cbDest, TCHAR* strFilename );
#endif // !UNDER_CE


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Name: DXUtil_Read*RegKey() and DXUtil_Write*RegKey()
// Desc: Helper functions to read/write a string registry key 
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HRESULT DXUtil_WriteStringRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, TCHAR* strValue );
HRESULT DXUtil_WriteIntRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, DWORD dwValue );
HRESULT DXUtil_WriteGuidRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, GUID guidValue );
HRESULT DXUtil_WriteBoolRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, BOOL bValue );

HRESULT DXUtil_ReadStringRegKeyCch( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, TCHAR* strDest, DWORD cchDest, TCHAR* strDefault );
HRESULT DXUtil_ReadStringRegKeyCb( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, TCHAR* strDest, DWORD cbDest, TCHAR* strDefault );
HRESULT DXUtil_ReadIntRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, DWORD* pdwValue, DWORD dwDefault );
HRESULT DXUtil_ReadGuidRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, GUID* pGuidValue, GUID& guidDefault );
HRESULT DXUtil_ReadBoolRegKey( HKEY hKey, TCHAR* strRegName, BOOL* pbValue, BOOL bDefault );


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Name: DXUtil_Timer()
// Desc: Performs timer opertations. Use the following commands:
//          TIMER_RESET           - to reset the timer
//          TIMER_START           - to start the timer
//          TIMER_STOP            - to stop (or pause) the timer
//          TIMER_ADVANCE         - to advance the timer by 0.1 seconds
//          TIMER_GETABSOLUTETIME - to get the absolute system time
//          TIMER_GETAPPTIME      - to get the current time
//          TIMER_GETELAPSEDTIME  - to get the time that elapsed between 
//                                  TIMER_GETELAPSEDTIME calls
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
enum TIMER_COMMAND { TIMER_RESET, TIMER_START, TIMER_STOP, TIMER_ADVANCE,
                     TIMER_GETABSOLUTETIME, TIMER_GETAPPTIME, TIMER_GETELAPSEDTIME };
FLOAT __stdcall DXUtil_Timer( TIMER_COMMAND command );


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// UNICODE support for converting between CHAR, TCHAR, and WCHAR strings
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertAnsiStringToWideCch( WCHAR* wstrDestination, const CHAR* strSource, int cchDestChar );
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertWideStringToAnsiCch( CHAR* strDestination, const WCHAR* wstrSource, int cchDestChar );
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertGenericStringToAnsiCch( CHAR* strDestination, const TCHAR* tstrSource, int cchDestChar );
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertGenericStringToWideCch( WCHAR* wstrDestination, const TCHAR* tstrSource, int cchDestChar );
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertAnsiStringToGenericCch( TCHAR* tstrDestination, const CHAR* strSource, int cchDestChar );
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertWideStringToGenericCch( TCHAR* tstrDestination, const WCHAR* wstrSource, int cchDestChar );
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertAnsiStringToWideCb( WCHAR* wstrDestination, const CHAR* strSource, int cbDestChar );
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertWideStringToAnsiCb( CHAR* strDestination, const WCHAR* wstrSource, int cbDestChar );
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertGenericStringToAnsiCb( CHAR* strDestination, const TCHAR* tstrSource, int cbDestChar );
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertGenericStringToWideCb( WCHAR* wstrDestination, const TCHAR* tstrSource, int cbDestChar );
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertAnsiStringToGenericCb( TCHAR* tstrDestination, const CHAR* strSource, int cbDestChar );
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertWideStringToGenericCb( TCHAR* tstrDestination, const WCHAR* wstrSource, int cbDestChar );


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Readme functions
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOID DXUtil_LaunchReadme( HWND hWnd, TCHAR* strLoc = NULL );

//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// GUID to String converting 
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertGUIDToStringCch( const GUID* pGuidSrc, TCHAR* strDest, int cchDestChar );
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertGUIDToStringCb( const GUID* pGuidSrc, TCHAR* strDest, int cbDestChar );
HRESULT DXUtil_ConvertStringToGUID( const TCHAR* strIn, GUID* pGuidOut );


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Debug printing support
// See dxerr9.h for more debug printing support
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOID    DXUtil_Trace( TCHAR* strMsg, ... );

#if defined(DEBUG) | defined(_DEBUG)
    #define DXTRACE           DXUtil_Trace
#else
    #define DXTRACE           sizeof
#endif


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Name: ArrayListType
// Desc: Indicates how data should be stored in a CArrayList
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
enum ArrayListType
{
    AL_VALUE,       // entry data is copied into the list
    AL_REFERENCE,   // entry pointers are copied into the list
};


//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Name: CArrayList
// Desc: A growable array
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
class CArrayList
{
protected:
    ArrayListType m_ArrayListType;
    void* m_pData;
    UINT m_BytesPerEntry;
    UINT m_NumEntries;
    UINT m_NumEntriesAllocated;

public:
    CArrayList( ArrayListType Type, UINT BytesPerEntry = 0 );
    ~CArrayList( void );
    HRESULT Add( void* pEntry );
    void Remove( UINT Entry );
    void* GetPtr( UINT Entry );
    UINT Count( void ) { return m_NumEntries; }
    bool Contains( void* pEntryData );
    void Clear( void ) { m_NumEntries = 0; }
};

//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// WinCE build support
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

#ifdef UNDER_CE

#define CheckDlgButton(hdialog, id, state) ::SendMessage(::GetDlgItem(hdialog, id), BM_SETCHECK, state, 0)
#define IsDlgButtonChecked(hdialog, id) ::SendMessage(::GetDlgItem(hdialog, id), BM_GETCHECK, 0L, 0L)
#define GETTIMESTAMP GetTickCount
#define _TWINCE(x) _T(x)

__inline int GetScrollPos(HWND hWnd, int nBar)
{
	SCROLLINFO si;
	memset(&si, 0, sizeof(si));
	si.cbSize = sizeof(si);
	si.fMask = SIF_POS;
	if (!GetScrollInfo(hWnd, nBar, &si))
	{
		return 0;
	}
	else
	{
		return si.nPos;
	}
}

#else // !UNDER_CE

#define GETTIMESTAMP timeGetTime
#define _TWINCE(x) x

#endif // UNDER_CE


#endif // DXUTIL_H

---

Thanks S3an i've succesfully compiled Sphere2 against the A7 SDK! However, after trying the new dll with A7 there is a shader compiler error X4532: (cannot map expression to pixel shader instruction set) with parallax.fx or so it seems. Have you noticed this?

yes, the exact same problem. i removed the "for" loop from the shader and just set the var indexes by hand. not sure why A7's shader compiler is different here.

This is what I have done to get rid of the shader compiler error X4532. Just change in parallax.fx on line 2807

parallax.fx
Code:

---

technique depthpass
{  
   
    pass p0
    {
    	cullmode=ccw;
    	alphablendenable=false;
	zenable=true;
	zwriteenable=true;
	stencilenable=false;
	alphatestenable=false;
	 
      VertexShader = compile vs_2_0 VS_PASSD(); // vs_1_1 produced the error
      PixelShader  = compile ps_2_0 PS_PASSD();
      //VertexShader = compile vs_1_1 VS_PASSD();
      //PixelShader  = compile ps_1_1 PS_PASSD();
    }
 
 }

---

I'm also using the fix from William. To solve the light issue (empty pointer) with >A6.40.5 change the code like so:

Sphere_Engine.wdl Fixed
Code:

---

//******************************************************
//Light_Update(): Updates each visible light to the dll
//******************************************************

function Light_Update()
{
var temp2loop=0;

//loop through and update each active light in the array
while(temp2loop<max_sphere_lights)
{
temp=closestlight[temp2loop];
if(temp>0)
{
me=ptr_for_handle(closestlight[temp2loop]);

if my.skill5<=max_light_dist
{
Sp_Init_Light(vector(my.x,my.z,my.y),vector(my.skill8,my.skill9,my.skill10),vector(temp2loop,temp2loop,my.Sp_lightrange*2));

Sp_Light_Dist(my.skill5+20,temp2loop);
}

//if light is not within max dist, make it black and very far away so there can be no popping artifacts

if(my.skill5>max_light_dist)
{
Sp_Init_Light(vector(10000,10000,10000),vector(0,0,0),vector(temp2loop,temp2loop,my.Sp_lightrange));

Sp_Light_Dist(my.skill5+20,temp2loop);
}
}

else
{
if(my)
{
//--- line that produced the empty pointer error
Sp_Init_Light(vector(10000,10000,10000),vector(0,0,0),vector(temp2loop,temp2loop,my.Sp_lightrange));

Sp_Light_Dist(my.skill5+20,temp2loop);
}
}

temp2loop+=1;
} 
}

---

Sphere2 is now working with A7.04.2

MS Server 2003 R2 Platform SDK
MS DirectX SDK Jun 2007
A7.04.2 Plugin SDK

Still the best water system out i think ( or at least that us indies can afford to play with ) Good catch on the shader version btw. works perfect!