Client-side managed DirectX

[Menge]

hello

my first post here. and im having serious trouble in getting my managed directx apps to work on other peoples computers.

they all have:
- Net Framework 1.1 (NOT SDK)
- DirectX 9.0a (NOT SDK either)
- Windows XP or Server 2003

and i dont want to force them to use the DirectX Developer Runtime. Is there any way to make Managed DirectX work without the Developer Runtime?

thanx in advance

 

[mutant]

What are the errors?

 

[Menge]

"Application has generated an exception that could not be handled."

as the system does not have any SDKs installed, no further info is given. i presume its managed directxs fault. what packages are the ones that install managed directx on client, non-developer computers?

 

[AndreRyan]

YOU need the Developer Runtime, the people who use it need the End-User Runtime.

The Developer Runtime is the debug tools plus DirectX.*.dll libraries the End-User is faster but you cant write managed DX on it because there is no DirectX.*.dll

 

[Menge]

i know I need the developer runtime

but installing the developer runtime was the only way i found that could possibly install managed directx! installing directx9 after having installed net framework didnt do the trick. installing directx9.0a after all that didnt do it either! what now?

 

[Menge]

well

i found out that if i made a setup project and configured the setup to package the directx files and register on the client machine, that i would just work. this all seems just a tad bit too obscure and unsupported to me. weird.

still, i got more problems FINDING OUT DirectInput since documentation on it is just class reference and no proper information. thx anyway. ill make another post about my DirectInput problems hehehe

 

[Gustav Evertsso]

I have the same problem when my brother tried my little MDX game.

I found some help on the directx newsgroup. But I didnt realy like it because they recommend to downloed (the SDK) ~80-90 mb and install with "/installmanageddx". But I dont like that everyone must download that mush.

So, if you found that you could make a small setup program mabey you could upload it to the forum or mail it to me. I would be very greatful for it!

 

[AndreRyan]

When you finish your project, add a Windows Installer project and just Drag-and-Drop the required DX files into the "Application Folder"

You need the Developer Runtime to get the DLLs to start with

 

[Menge]

i cant find out! all the packages that microsoft distributes dont work (except the chunky-86Mb-developer-runtime) ... damn!

and i dont want to be incovenient by asking people to install stuff in orfer to TEST it... since its still in developement

this sux (sorry - im really mad)

 

[Nerseus]

There are some objects called DirectSetup. Ive only seen help for them in C++, but I think there might be a COM version that you could use as well.

The user shouldnt need anything more than your appilcation files plus the end-user runtime, I would think. The end-user runtime is 9meg (I think), so thats not too bad. Plus its now included in the Windows Update (IEs Tools->Windows Update) so your testers can easily download/install it.

-Ner

 

[mutant]

Originally posted by Menge

- Windows XP or Server 2003

I installed Windows Server 2003 recently to see how it is and I have to say, Windows 2003 is so terrible when it comes to graphics, I tried to run one of simpler Direct3D apps I wrote using C++ and using WinXP computer, it wont even start. I tried to install a game to see if it works, it wont. And this is all on a 2 week old computer. No other possibility than get back to WinXP.
Just to warn you on the possiblility of the people running your DX app on Windows 2003.

 

[Menge]

then you mustve forgotten to enable directx on windows server 2003.... yes, it needs to be enabled.. thats why its good.. because everything comes disabled and you enable what you need to use only. i play everything i played on XP.

 

[mutant]

I downloaded newest drivers, ran windows update, installed DX9.0 SDK, the only thing that ran was DirectDraw application made in VB.net, I didnt try Direct3D with VB.net yet, so I dont think I have any problems with enabling it.

 

[Menge]

installing directx wont enable it.

you have to enable it.

run > dxdiag.exe

go to display and enable everything (agp texture acceleration only if your vid card supports it). and you need to enable the sound service and etc... check out the services.msc tab for it

 

[Frasse]

Anyway, if you have problems running your apps on others computers. Have you tried to compile your project as Releas not Debug? There is a minor chance that they have the debug runtimes but major chance they have the releas . Just a hint if you havnt tried it.

/Frasse

 

[Menge]

nope

all release binaries

just seldom pcs install managed directx... the problem is not the binary... but the managed extensions themselves

 

[Nerseus]

Hmm... as far as Win2003 goes, I havent found anything that *doesnt* run on it. My Direct3D apps work fine (written in c# and DX9) as well as all installed games, even older ones. The oldest one I had (that I tried) had to use the compatability to imitate Win98, but even it worked fine.

Im using a Radeon 9500 Pro (a nice card) - I wonder if thats the difference? I also used an nVideo GeForce 2 GTS and everything worked fine on that, too.

I run the DX9 SDK in Debug Mode as well. I have not installed the 9.0a update.

-Nerseus

 

[Nerseus]

An update... I had forgotten Id done this, but a friend of mine just had Win2003 troubles and we figured it out:
In your Display properties (right click desktop, Properties then Settings), click the Advanced button.
Then on the Troubleshoot Tab, make sure the slider (Hardware Acceleration) is all the way to the right.

Seems Win2003 keeps it set lower as a default, to prevent problems.

Hope that helps, mutant (or anyone else)!

-Nerseus

 

[mutant]

Im using GeForce4, its a good card, came with my computer which I bought very recently (2.5 weeks).
What you said Nerseus could just be the problem but I already got rid of the Win2003 installation and went back to XP pro, I guess I can always try again

 

[SteveD]

Windows 2003 is an excellent server OS, and thats its purpose. As far as I can tell, it can do everything XP can do, and more. If youre trying to run it as a desktop OS, dont expect everything to run out of the box - it wont.

As for MDX, Ive found Ive had to package any required DLLs w/ my apps, thus far. Ill let you guys know if I find a way around this.