Beginers Tutorial For DirectX 8.x

<p align="center"><strong><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><font color="#FF0000">Beginers</font>
Tutorial For <font color="#FF0000">DirectX 8.x</font></font></strong></p>
<p align="center"><font color="#FF0000" face="Tahoma" size="2"><strong>WILL Teach You:</strong></font></p>
<p align="center"><strong><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000">How to initialise </font><font
color="#FF0000" face="Tahoma" size="2">DirectX</font><font face="Tahoma" size="2"
color="#000000">, </font><font color="#FF0000" face="Tahoma" size="2">DirectD3D</font><font
face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000"> and a </font><font color="#FF0000" face="Tahoma"
size="2">Direct3DDevice<br>
</font><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000">How to use and initialise a </font><font
face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#FF0000">Vertex Buffer</font><font face="Tahoma" size="2"
color="#000000"><br>
How to </font><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#FF0000">Render</font><font
face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000"> a 3D Pyramid<br>
How to use </font><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#FF0000">Matrix</font><font
face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000">'s to rotate your 3D objects<br>
How to use </font><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#FF0000">Z-Buffering</font><font
face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000"> (Draw-Orders/Draw-Buffering)</p>
<p><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000"><strong>By Nick Ridley</strong></font></p>
<font face="Webdings" SIZE="1">
<p></font><font face="Webdings" size="4">š</font><a
href="mailto:time_to_die_@excite.com">Mail Me!</a><br>
<font face="Webdings">"</font><a href="http://www.spyder.tk">Web Site</a></p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://www.geocities.com/nike+guy/spydernetlogo.gif"
width="200" height="200" alt="spydernetlogo.gif (6511 bytes)"></p>
<p><font face="Tahoma" size="2">I just started to leard DirectX and ive been founding it
very hard so I thought I'd put what I know into this tutorial so that hopefully some
others would start to earn it too</font></p>
<p><font face="Tahoma" size="2">Just copy and paste the code into a new VB form that has:</font></p>
<p><font face="Tahoma" size="2">1- A picturebox
            <strong>Name:</strong>
Picture1<br>
2- A Timer  <strong>                
Name:</strong> Timer1    <strong>Interval:</strong> 40</font></p>
<p><font face="Tahoma" size="2">Then goto <strong><font color="#FF0000">Project >
References</font></strong> and check <font color="#0080FF"><strong>DirectX 8 For Visual
Basic Type Library</strong></font>. If you do not have this goto <a
href="http://www.microsoft.com">Microsoft</a> to get it.</font></p>
<h1><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><-- BEGIN CODE --></font></h1>
<p><font face="Tahoma" size="2">'--------------------'<br>
'My DirectX8 Tutorial'<br>
'--------------------'<br>
'I decided to make this tutorial after downloading the DirectX SDK<br>
'and realising how hard DirectX is to learn<br>
'This tutorial demonstates how to make a 3D cube, use a Z-Buffer and some other things<br>
<br>
Option Explicit<br>
<br>
'DirectX Objects<br>
Dim g_DX As New DirectX8 'The main DirectX thingy<br>
Dim g_D3D As Direct3D8 'Used to create the D3DDevice<br>
Dim g_D3DDevice As Direct3DDevice8 'Our rendering device<br>
Dim g_VB(3) As Direct3DVertexBuffer8 'Vertex Buffer, stores our shapes<br>
<br>
' A structure for our custom vertex type<br>
' representing a point on the screen<br>
Private Type CUSTOMVERTEX<br>
x As Single 'x in screen space<br>
y As Single 'y in screen space<br>
z As Single 'normalized z<br>
color As Long 'vertex color<br>
End Type<br>
<br>
' Our custom FVF, which describes our custom vertex structure<br>
Const D3DFVF_CUSTOMVERTEX = (D3DFVF_XYZ Or D3DFVF_DIFFUSE)<br>
<br>
'Pi<br>
Const g_pi = 3.1415<br>
<br>
<br>
Private Sub Form_Load()<br>
Dim b As Boolean<br>
<br>
' Allow the form to become visible<br>
Me.Show<br>
DoEvents<br>
<br>
' Initialize D3D and D3DDevice<br>
'Uses picture1 as the 'canvas' for DX<br>
b = InitD3D(Picture1.hWnd)<br>
<br>
If Not b Then<br>
'If we cant get D3D then tell user and exit<br>
MsgBox "Unable to CreateDevice!", vbCritical, "Error:"<br>
End<br>
End If<br>
<br>
<br>
' Initialize Vertex Buffer with Geometry<br>
b = InitGeometry()<br>
If Not b Then<br>
'If the vertex buffer stuff failed then tell user and exit<br>
MsgBox "Unable to Create VertexBuffer!", vbCritical, "Error:"<br>
End<br>
End If<br>
<br>
<br>
' Enable Timer to render the scene<br>
Timer1.Enabled = True<br>
<br>
End Sub<br>
<br>
Private Sub Timer1_Timer()<br>
'call the rendering function<br>
Render<br>
End Sub<br>
<br>
Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)<br>
'Well duh! makes sure directX doesnt keep the app going with no forms<br>
End<br>
End Sub<br>
<br>
Function InitD3D(hWnd As Long) As Boolean<br>
'Means that if an error occours in VB we carry on, if it happens in<br>
'DX then the object will stay as nothing so we make sure that the error<br>
'was in DX when we say we couldnt initialise D3D<br>
On Local Error Resume Next<br>
<br>
' Create the D3D object<br>
Set g_D3D = g_DX.Direct3DCreate()<br>
If g_D3D Is Nothing Then Exit Function<br>
<br>
' Get the current display mode<br>
Dim mode As D3DDISPLAYMODE<br>
g_D3D.GetAdapterDisplayMode D3DADAPTER_DEFAULT, mode<br>
<br>
' Fill in the type structure used to create the device<br>
Dim d3dpp As D3DPRESENT_PARAMETERS<br>
d3dpp.Windowed = 1<br>
d3dpp.SwapEffect = D3DSWAPEFFECT_COPY_VSYNC<br>
d3dpp.BackBufferFormat = mode.Format<br>
'Z-Buffering (were we make sure that we cant see sides of the object<br>
'we shouldnt be able to<br>
d3dpp.EnableAutoDepthStencil = 1<br>
d3dpp.AutoDepthStencilFormat = D3DFMT_D16<br>
<br>
' Create the D3DDevice (use hardware)<br>
Set g_D3DDevice = g_D3D.CreateDevice(D3DADAPTER_DEFAULT, D3DDEVTYPE_HAL, hWnd, _<br>
D3DCREATE_SOFTWARE_VERTEXPROCESSING, d3dpp)<br>
If g_D3DDevice Is Nothing Then Exit Function<br>
<br>
'Set stuff to do with our device<br>
With g_D3DDevice<br>
<br>
Call .SetRenderState(D3DRS_CULLMODE, D3DCULL_CW) 'Cull back faces with clockwise vertices<br>
Call .SetRenderState(D3DRS_CLIPPING, 1) 'Turn Clipping On<br>
Call .SetRenderState(D3DRS_LIGHTING, 0) 'Turn Lighting Off<br>
Call .SetRenderState(D3DRS_ZENABLE, 1) 'Use Z-Buffer<br>
<br>
End With<br>
<br>
'Tell the Form_Load bit that D3D was initialised successfully<br>
InitD3D = True<br>
<br>
End Function<br>
<br>
<br>
Sub SetupMatrices()<br>
<br>
<br>
'This position, orientates etc all the objects that we are drawing<br>
'In other words its like moving the camera<br>
Dim matWorld As D3DMATRIX<br>
'Rotate around the Y-Axis<br>
D3DXMatrixRotationY matWorld, Timer * 4<br>
g_D3DDevice.SetTransform D3DTS_WORLD, matWorld<br>
<br>
'Here we set were the camera is, were its pointing and which<br>
'is treated as up (Y-Axis in this case)<br>
Dim matView As D3DMATRIX<br>
D3DXMatrixLookAtLH matView, vec3(0#, 3#, -5#), _<br>
vec3(0#, 0#, 0#), _<br>
vec3(0#, 1#, 0#)<br>
<br>
g_D3DDevice.SetTransform D3DTS_VIEW, matView<br>
<br>
'This bit sets the perspective that means objects will apear smaller<br>
'the further away they are and the near/far clipping planes (how far/close)<br>
'objects can be to the camera for rendering<br>
Dim matProj As D3DMATRIX<br>
D3DXMatrixPerspectiveFovLH matProj, g_pi / 4, 1, 1, 1000<br>
g_D3DDevice.SetTransform D3DTS_PROJECTION, matProj<br>
<br>
End Sub<br>
<br>
Function InitGeometry() As Boolean<br>
<br>
'Three vertices (3d singularitys that will make up our triangle sides<br>
Dim Vertices(2) As CUSTOMVERTEX<br>
Dim VertexSizeInBytes As Long<br>
<br>
VertexSizeInBytes = Len(Vertices(0))<br>
<br>
'Set the side<br>
With Vertices(0): .x = -1: .y = -1: .z = 0: .color = &HFFFF0000: End With<br>
With Vertices(1): .x = 1: .y = -1: .z = 0: .color = &HFFFF0000: End With<br>
With Vertices(2): .x = 0: .y = 1: .z = 0: .color = &HFF00FFFF: End With<br>
<br>
' Create the vertex buffer.<br>
Set g_VB(0) = g_D3DDevice.CreateVertexBuffer(VertexSizeInBytes * 3, _<br>
0, D3DFVF_CUSTOMVERTEX, D3DPOOL_DEFAULT)<br>
If g_VB(0) Is Nothing Then Exit Function<br>
<br>
' fill the vertex buffer from our array<br>
D3DVertexBuffer8SetData g_VB(0), 0, VertexSizeInBytes * 3, 0, Vertices(0)<br>
<br>
'Below is not commented because it is the same as ^above^<br>
'just for the other sides<br>
'-----------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
With Vertices(0): .x = -1: .y = -1: .z = 0: .color = &HFFFF0000: End With<br>
With Vertices(1): .x = 1: .y = -1: .z = 0: .color = &HFFFF0000: End With<br>
With Vertices(2): .x = 0: .y = -1: .z = 1: .color = &HFFFFFFFF: End With<br>
<br>
Set g_VB(1) = g_D3DDevice.CreateVertexBuffer(VertexSizeInBytes * 3, _<br>
0, D3DFVF_CUSTOMVERTEX, D3DPOOL_DEFAULT)<br>
If g_VB(1) Is Nothing Then Exit Function<br>
<br>
D3DVertexBuffer8SetData g_VB(1), 0, VertexSizeInBytes * 3, 0, Vertices(0)<br>
<br>
'-----------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
With Vertices(0): .x = 0: .y = 1: .z = 0: .color = &HFF00FFFF: End With<br>
With Vertices(1): .x = 1: .y = -1: .z = 0: .color = &HFFFF0000: End With<br>
With Vertices(2): .x = 0: .y = -1: .z = 1: .color = &HFFFF0000: End With<br>
<br>
Set g_VB(2) = g_D3DDevice.CreateVertexBuffer(VertexSizeInBytes * 3, _<br>
0, D3DFVF_CUSTOMVERTEX, D3DPOOL_DEFAULT)<br>
If g_VB(2) Is Nothing Then Exit Function<br>
<br>
D3DVertexBuffer8SetData g_VB(2), 0, VertexSizeInBytes * 3, 0, Vertices(0)<br>
<br>
'-----------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
With Vertices(0): .x = -1: .y = -1: .z = 0: .color = &HFFFF0000: End With<br>
With Vertices(1): .x = 0: .y = 1: .z = 0: .color = &HFF00FFFF: End With<br>
With Vertices(2): .x = 0: .y = -1: .z = 1: .color = &HFFFF0000: End With<br>
<br>
Set g_VB(3) = g_D3DDevice.CreateVertexBuffer(VertexSizeInBytes * 3, _<br>
0, D3DFVF_CUSTOMVERTEX, D3DPOOL_DEFAULT)<br>
If g_VB(3) Is Nothing Then Exit Function<br>
<br>
D3DVertexBuffer8SetData g_VB(3), 0, VertexSizeInBytes * 3, 0, Vertices(0)<br>
<br>
'-----------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
'Tell Form_load we succeeded<br>
InitGeometry = True<br>
<br>
End Function<br>
<br>
Sub Cleanup()<br>
'Sets all our DX stuff to nowt to avoid keeping the stuff in memory when<br>
'we unload<br>
Set g_VB = Nothing<br>
Set g_D3DDevice = Nothing<br>
Set g_D3D = Nothing<br>
End Sub<br>
<br>
Sub Render()<br>
<br>
<br>
'Draw, rotate etc our scene<br>
Dim v As CUSTOMVERTEX<br>
Dim sizeOfVertex As Long<br>
<br>
<br>
If g_D3DDevice Is Nothing Then Exit Sub<br>
<br>
' Clear the backbuffer to a blue color, and clear the Z-Buffer<br>
g_D3DDevice.Clear 0, ByVal 0, D3DCLEAR_TARGET Or D3DCLEAR_ZBUFFER, &HFF&, 1, 0<br>
<br>
' Begin the scene<br>
g_D3DDevice.BeginScene<br>
<br>
<br>
' Setup the view/rotation etc<br>
SetupMatrices<br>
<br>
'Draw the triangles in the vertex buffer<br>
sizeOfVertex = Len(v)<br>
<br>
'Set what triangle we will use<br>
g_D3DDevice.SetStreamSource 0, g_VB(0), sizeOfVertex<br>
'Tell DX this is our custom vertex type<br>
g_D3DDevice.SetVertexShader D3DFVF_CUSTOMVERTEX<br>
'draw it...<br>
g_D3DDevice.DrawPrimitive D3DPT_TRIANGLELIST, 0, 1<br>
<br>
'---------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
g_D3DDevice.SetStreamSource 0, g_VB(1), sizeOfVertex<br>
g_D3DDevice.DrawPrimitive D3DPT_TRIANGLELIST, 0, 1<br>
<br>
'---------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
g_D3DDevice.SetStreamSource 0, g_VB(2), sizeOfVertex<br>
g_D3DDevice.DrawPrimitive D3DPT_TRIANGLELIST, 0, 1<br>
<br>
'---------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
g_D3DDevice.SetStreamSource 0, g_VB(3), sizeOfVertex<br>
g_D3DDevice.DrawPrimitive D3DPT_TRIANGLELIST, 0, 1<br>
<br>
'---------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
' End the scene<br>
g_D3DDevice.EndScene<br>
<br>
'Transfer the stuff from the backbuffer to the front were we can see it<br>
g_D3DDevice.Present ByVal 0, ByVal 0, 0, ByVal 0<br>
<br>
End Sub<br>
<br>
Function vec3(x As Single, y As Single, z As Single) As D3DVECTOR<br>
'helps us create the vertex's easier<br>
vec3.x = x<br>
vec3.y = y<br>
vec3.z = z<br>
End Function</font></p>
<p> </p>
<h1><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><-- END CODE --></font></h1>
<p> </p>
<p><font face="Tahoma" size="2">Ok so this doesnt teach you every aspect of DirectX8 but
it is the basics that most people will give up on so I hope this helps you people to get
started in DirectX8</font></p>
<p><font face="Tahoma" size="2">Ok so now what else is there to do for you after you get
my code:</font></p>
<p><font face="Tahoma" size="5"><strong>*</strong></font><font face="Tahoma" size="2">
Read it (comments mainly) and understand<br>
</font><font face="Tahoma" size="5"><strong>*</strong> </font><font face="Tahoma" size="2">Adapt
it to make a cube for example to make a cube (remember only to use tri-angles)<br>
</font><font face="Tahoma" size="5"><strong>*</strong></font><font face="Tahoma" size="2">
Once you understand my code understand other peoples code on this site<br>
</font><font face="Tahoma" size="5"><strong>*</strong></font><font face="Tahoma" size="2">
And once youve done that goto <a href="http://www.microsoft.com">www.microsoft.com</a> and
download the DirectX 8 VB SDK and learn from that</font></p>
<p><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000">Ok, so i hope this helped all of you
reading this, if anyone has a </font><strong><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#FF0000">DirectX
8 Collision Detection</font></strong><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000"> thing
or knows how to do it <strong>mail me or leave a message here</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000">If you <strong>liked/understand/want to
use this code</strong> PLEASE </font><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#FF0000"><strong>vote</strong></font><font
face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000"> and leave comments. Theres nothing worse than
people who dont appreciate others work. Thanks.....</font></p>
<p><strong><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000">By Nick Ridley</font></strong></p>
<p><img src="http://www.geocities.com/nike+guy/spydernetlogo.gif" width="200" height="200"
alt="spydernetlogo.gif (6511 bytes)"></p>
<font face="Webdings" SIZE="1">
<p></font><font face="Webdings" size="4">š</font><a
href="mailto:time_to_die_@excite.com">Mail Me!</a><br>
<font face="Webdings">"</font><a href="http://www.spyder.tk">Web Site</a></p>
<p><strong><font face="Tahoma" size="2">If you find any bugs in my code please leave
details of your computer and any error messages below :)</font></strong></p>
</font></strong>