has anyone been able to get
effect_load(mtl_mymat,"some.fx"); to work?

my attempts have failed, either i'm not calling it right or not putting it in the proper place in my effects.wdl.
any examples of it anywhere.

i havent tried the load fx feature.. but i assume you will need to make some changes to the fx b4 you can use it.. at least you will need to set up the textures it uses.. also.. i think there diferences in some fx files.. Ive had to modify fx files to make them work.. post your code and maybe i can tell whats wrong

Also, you must make sure that the .fx file is DX 8.1 bases, or 8.0. This means Rendermonkey shaders arent compatable. I have not found to many .fx files around, so I havnt experimented much.

//
// Simple Lighting Model
// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
//
//

string XFile = "tiger.x"; // model
int BCLR = 0xff202080; // background

// light direction (view space)
float3 lightDir < string UIDirectional = "Light Direction"; > = {0.577, -0.577, 0.577};

// light intensity
float4 I_a = { 0.1f, 0.1f, 0.1f, 1.0f }; // ambient
float4 I_d = { 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f }; // diffuse
float4 I_s = { 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f }; // specular

// material reflectivity
float4 k_a : MATERIALAMBIENT = { 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f }; // ambient
float4 k_d : MATERIALDIFFUSE = { 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f }; // diffuse
float4 k_s : MATERIALSPECULAR= { 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f }; // specular
float n : MATERIALPOWER = 32.0f; // power

// texture
texture Tex0 < string name = "tiger.bmp"; >;

// transformations
float4x4 World : WORLD;
float4x4 View : VIEW;
float4x4 Projection : PROJECTION;

struct VS_OUTPUT
{
float4 Pos : POSITION;
float4 Diff : COLOR0;
float4 Spec : COLOR1;
float2 Tex : TEXCOORD0;
};

VS_OUTPUT VS(
float3 Pos : POSITION,
float3 Norm : NORMAL,
float2 Tex : TEXCOORD0)
{
VS_OUTPUT Out = (VS_OUTPUT)0;

float3 L = -lightDir;

float4x4 WorldView = mul(World, View);

float3 P = mul(float4(Pos, 1), (float4x3)WorldView); // position (view space)
float3 N = normalize(mul(Norm, (float3x3)WorldView)); // normal (view space)

float3 R = normalize(2 * dot(N, L) * N - L); // reflection vector (view space)
float3 V = -normalize(P); // view direction (view space)

Out.Pos = mul(float4(P, 1), Projection); // position (projected)
Out.Diff = I_a * k_a + I_d * k_d * max(0, dot(N, L)); // diffuse + ambient
Out.Spec = I_s * k_s * pow(max(0, dot(R, V)), n/4); // specular
Out.Tex = Tex;

return Out;
}

sampler Sampler = sampler_state
{
Texture = (Tex0);
MipFilter = LINEAR;
MinFilter = LINEAR;
MagFilter = LINEAR;
};

float4 PS(
float4 Diff : COLOR0,
float4 Spec : COLOR1,
float2 Tex : TEXCOORD0) : COLOR
{
return tex2D(Sampler, Tex) * Diff + Spec;
}

technique TNoShader
{
pass P0
{
// transforms
WorldTransform[0] = (World);
ViewTransform = (View);
ProjectionTransform = (Projection);

// material
MaterialAmbient = (k_a);
MaterialDiffuse = (k_d);
MaterialSpecular = (k_s);
MaterialPower = (n);

// lighting
LightType[0] = DIRECTIONAL;
LightAmbient[0] = (I_a);
LightDiffuse[0] = (I_d);
LightSpecular[0] = (I_s);
LightDirection[0] = (lightDir);
LightRange[0] = 100000.0f;

LightEnable[0] = TRUE;
Lighting = TRUE;
SpecularEnable = TRUE;

// samplers
Sampler[0] = (Sampler);

// texture stages
ColorOp[0] = MODULATE;
ColorArg1[0] = TEXTURE;
ColorArg2[0] = DIFFUSE;
AlphaOp[0] = MODULATE;
AlphaArg1[0] = TEXTURE;
AlphaArg2[0] = DIFFUSE;

ColorOp[1] = DISABLE;
AlphaOp[1] = DISABLE;

// shaders
VertexShader = NULL;
PixelShader = NULL;
}
}

technique TVertexShaderOnly
{
pass P0
{
// lighting
Lighting = FALSE;
SpecularEnable = TRUE;

// samplers
Sampler[0] = (Sampler);

// texture stages
ColorOp[0] = MODULATE;
ColorArg1[0] = TEXTURE;
ColorArg2[0] = DIFFUSE;
AlphaOp[0] = MODULATE;
AlphaArg1[0] = TEXTURE;
AlphaArg2[0] = DIFFUSE;

ColorOp[1] = DISABLE;
AlphaOp[1] = DISABLE;

// shaders
VertexShader = compile vs_1_1 VS();
PixelShader = NULL;
}
}

technique TVertexAndPixelShader
{
pass P0
{
// shaders
VertexShader = compile vs_1_1 VS();
PixelShader = compile ps_1_1 PS();
}
}

this is one of the codes from MS, been trying to use it, inorder to get things to work.

I dont know where to begin...this fx wont work in its current form... you need to gut it completely...The matrix declarations need to be chnaged.. the model string needs to be gotten rid of.. and so on.. I suggest you take a closer look at the example files in the 6.2 release..

well i had already looked at the examples, so i went back and rewrote it,still get a couple of errors, but it works now, getting a great fog effect from it. rotating fog effect.

regards
whisper

please share!