Problem with CreateSurface function (DirectDraw)

Code:

---

LPDIRECTDRAW7 lpdd;
DirectDrawCreateEx(NULL,(void**)&lpdd,IID_IDirectDraw7,NULL);
lpdd->SetCooperativeLevel(hHandle,DDSCL_NORMAL);
if((lpdd->SetDisplayMode(1024,768,16,0,0))!=DD_OK)
        {
        return(0);
        }
//directDraw surface description struct
DDSURFACEDESC2 ddsd;
//directDraw interface pointer
LPDIRECTDRAWSURFACE7 lpddsprimary;
ddsd.dwSize=sizeof(ddsd);
ddsd.dwFlags=DDSD_CAPS;
ddsd.ddsCaps.dwCaps=DDSCAPS_PRIMARYSURFACE;
if(lpdd->CreateSurface(&ddsd,&lpddsprimary,NULL)!=DDERR_INVALIDCAPS)
        {
        ShowWindow(hHandle,SW_MINIMIZE);
        }

---

I've changed out the error flags until I found the one that the CreateSurface function returned. I cannot figure out why this is happening and I have no idea how to fix it. Any help?

DirectDraw is dead. Face it. Use D3D.

Since you usually want to have a back buffer in addition to the primary surface, you may consider something like this:

Code:

---

memset(&ddsd, 0, sizeof(ddsd));

ddsd.dwSize = sizeof(ddsd); 
ddsd.dwFlags = DDSD_CAPS | DDSD_BACKBUFFERCOUNT;
ddsd.ddsCaps.dwCaps = DDSCAPS_PRIMARYSURFACE | DDSCAPS_FLIP | DDSCAPS_COMPLEX;
ddsd.dwBackBufferCount = 1;

---

Why are you using deprecated DirectDraw interfaces? In the new D3D SDK they specifically state that while they attempt to maintain compatibility with previous versions, this can no longer be guaranteed as it relates to DirectDraw interfaces. D3D will be backwards compatible but since DirectDraw is now inside of D3D, they can no longer guarantee it's backwards compatibility and they are no longer supporting DirectDraw or addressing DirectDraw issues - neither are the video card manufacturers.

DirectDraw is still there and still functional. Face it. -I- for one want to learn the roots.

...yet not supported. Future drivers may not even implement the old interfaces correctly so you are treading on thin ice using it.

Just use Direct3D for 2D. It's simple. And you can get to the surface using IDirect3DTexture9 to get a pointer to the IDirect3DSurface9 interface.

But the days of locking and unlocking surfaces for the most part are gone. Everything can be done via shaders, SetRenderTarget() and render to texture operations.

Well Bubba, I'll take your word for it. Only trouble is, now I need to find some resources that teach the Direct3D for 2D interfaces, since this book I have is completely horrible.

Of course any help from the folks on here would be appreciated. With DirectDraw I was able to create the object and pointer, but the CreateSurface function errored when I called it. Now I am stuck between Scylla and Charybdis.

You wont really be able to do 2d stuff with Direct3D it will just look like its in 2d. They decided to kill DirectDraw becouse rotating a bitmap is crazy slow, so now you just create a graphical object and blit the bitmap on.

There are simple ways of getting 2d into 3d. Its honestly not as hard as you might think. Good tutorials are onGamedev.

And Bubba is right, DD is encapsulated inside of D3D, in essence you could think of 2d as being 3d with a constantly 0 z-vector... but thats oversimplyfying I suppose. In any event, check it out, you'll tons of good stuff, or even check out stuff on this forum.