Graphics Mode!

Hey,

First thing that i want to say is: I use Microsoft Visual C++ 6 and Windows XP Home Edition.

Ok, Now to the question: I want a way to switch to 800x600x32Bit True Colour, Graphics Mode. What i mean by this is that i can not use standard cout & cin, and other console functions, i have to make a function that draws pixels to the screen. But i want acess to other things such as fstream.h
etc...

So this is what i want, NOTE: I do not want to use Allegro to do this, i don't know how to use Allegro.

Ok, I want a function to switch to 800x600x32 from a Windows Console Program, and a function to Draw Pixels onto the screen, and finally a function to exit the pogram.

That is all, i know this might sound like i'm trying to get somebody to write code for me, but i am a beginner, and please, help out.....

I do not want tutorials, i just want the three functions that i have asked about...As a matter of fact, if anybody knows where to get a good tutorial on how to make the three functions i have asked for, then please tell me about it.

But i would like example code very much, so please, help ;)

Ciao :D

What API are you using ?

GLUT?

What is an API??

I am a beginner :(

API - Application Programming Interface.

Basically an API is a set of functions that extend what are available to you already. If you use OpenGL you can get the GLUT API which cuts down on the amount of coding you need to do. When functions from the api are called they set up certain things by themselves. When you use GLUT you dont need to worry about device and render contexts and your code is platform independant.
Another API is SDL which I believe is what is used in the tutorials on http://www.gametutorials.com.

If you want to check out GLUT go to http://nehe.gamedev.com and download the tutorials using the GLUT API which can be found at the bottom of the tutorials.

One of the glut functions can be used to switch to game mode with you desired settings.


API's are the best way to code because if you learn one you can cut down on the time you spend on different applications.:)

Hey,

I don't want to use an API just yet. Because i am not dealing with 3D Graphics at the moment.

I want to go into a 2D Graphics mode.....So if anybody can help.....

Graphics is no easy task, especially not to a 'beginner'. If you really want to attempt graphics now, head over to gamedev.net as they have tutorials/examples/stuff.

If you develop in DirectX, there are some pretty nice tutorials in the SDK.

Quote:

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I don't want to use an API just yet. Because i am not dealing with 3D Graphics at the moment.

---

You can still use an API for 2d graphics. Allegro and SDL are basically only good for 2d (you can use them with OpenGL though).

If you want to do graphics, then by far the easiest method would be to get Allegro or SDL, even though i know you said you didn't want to. For a beginner, these are by far the two easiest to learn, and get decent results quickly :) Allegro is my personal recommendation, but both should be fine.

Allegro
SDL

Check out the PDF and links in my signature... They have lots of information.

The Programming Linux Games stuff should help you a lot with SDL (yes, you can use it in Windows too!).

If you like, I can post a simple C program that draws something on the screen.

You can visit my links page at my webiste to get a lot of useful links. I have links to where you can get all four major APIs (DirectX, OpenGL, Allegro, SDL), as well as, other useful links. If you decide to use Allegro, I have two basic tutorials on Allegro programs that you could refer to.

Btw, there are more APIs than just the four that I mentioned.

EDIT: Oh, I read over where you said that you don't want to use Allegro. Well, Allegro is probably the easiest API out there to use, so if you don't want to use Allegro because of its complexity I'm not sure if you'll like the other APIs at all. SDL is fairly simple, too, but Allegro is still a bit easier.

could you please post a program that switches to 800x600x32bit colour, and draws some pixels on the screen.

Please :D

Cya.

Quote:

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could you please post a program that switches to 800x600x32bit colour, and draws some pixels on the screen.

---

With Allegro? If so, yeah. Go to my website and look at the tutorials for it. You won't believe how incredibly easy it is! Not to mention that the docs for Allegro are very good. If you're looking for a simple API, which it seems you are, Allegro is a good choice. SDL wouldn't be a bad choice, either, but from what I know Allegro is still a little bit easier.

Hey,

The tutorials look good, and i am going to use Allegro. BUT i don't have it installed. How do i install it for Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 Enterprise??

I have no clue.

Please help :D

Allegro.cc That has info for installing on various systems.

Also, for tutorials, you might like to check out Loomsoft.net for some tutes on creating your first bitmaps and stuff :) I found it rather useful when i started. Loomsoft Tutorial

Ohhhh man, i would want to use allegro, but it's just too much work to get it working with Visual C++ 6.

Is there a way to change the graphics mode & draw pixels on the screen WITHOUT an api??

Surely there is, could somebody help out.....

Ok i am going to use allegro, but i don't know how to compile it, i want to compile it for djgpp??

Does anybody know where to get a precompiled version??

Quote:

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Originally posted by Perica
...it's just too much work to get it working with Visual C++ 6.

---

Have a look here for some info on how to set up Allegro in VC++.

Believe me, writing your own graphics code is millions of times harder than getting a nice little API like Allegro to work with MSVC.

I got the precompiled dynamically linked librarys, (DLL's) EXCEPT i don't know how to use them, somebody please help out :D

Please, somebody tell me how to load the DLL, so i can just use the functions normally. :D

Please, Help out.

Ciao.

IT WORKS IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I GOT ALLEGRO TO WORK WITH VC++ YEAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Hey,

How do i Put a Pixel to the screen using Allegro??

Ciao ;)

by reading the allegro docs.

Ok i will,

Also one more thang, How do i automatically include the library, from the source code, i think the #pragma directive is surposed to be used, but i have never used #pragma and i don't know what if does, and my C++ books don't cover it, so could somebody help out..... :D

Ciao ;)

Hey,

I want to change the names of the functions of allegro, so i can remember them better.

How do i do this, i use the msvc dll thingy, but i statically link it, i change the files in the src folder, but when i make the library again, it stays the same, What do i do???

Please help.....Ciao ;)

This may work:

#define YourFunctionName AllegrosFunctionName

Hey,

I'd rather not do that, and i don't think it would work, i haven't tried it, but i don't think it would work.

Because i don't think it would define this:

#define Set_ColourDepth() set_color_depth()

or something simmilar, because of the function's '()' (brackets)

Does anybody know how to compile it so it uses changes made in the src/ folder.

Ciao ;)

Instead of

Code:

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#define Set_ColourDepth() set_color_depth()

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use

Code:

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#define Set_ColourDepth set_color_depth

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just get rid of the brackets, and your fine. But i really dont see why you are so eager to change the names of the functions. It will make it much harder for people to help you with you code later, as they wont know what you functions do, as you have them spelt you own way. Out of curiosity, whats your reasoning for this?

edit: You could also keep the brackets, but you would have to also insert all the variables passed into the function, which is time consuming. Just letting you know that it would be possible, though :)

Yeh,

I figured that out, BUT i want to change the actuall names in the library.

It just bugs me, i want the names to be set out my way ;D

Ciao ;)

Quote:

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Originally posted by Perica
BUT i want to change the actuall names in the library.

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You can't. At least not without stealing the source and recompiling it.

That's what i want to do, i want to recompile it, BUT HOW??

And stealing, such a harsh word, i like to call it 'borrowing'

Nah joking, jokin.

I will put Allegro in my game's credits ;)

So, can anybody help??

Ciao :D

Never heard of anyone trying it before. I'm pretty sure you can get versions of allegro to compile from sourceforge.net (Go to allegro.cc to find the exact link).
Kind of picky, arent you ;) hehe

Oh my god, learn the basics before moving to graphics, FFS.

Your questions are really noobish, take this as an advice.

plz tell me I didn't ask questions like this when I started programming

Hey,

I don't get it. How do i put a pixel to the screen??

And how does the colour system work???

Could somebody please post exaple code, or tell me where to get a good tutorial!!

Ciao ;)