Re: DirectPlay - C# Discussion Boards

PropertyGrid for Remote object?

22-Jun-04 6:22

The service has to be enabled for interaction with the desktop. After you install the service using the ServiceProcessInstaller and ServiceInstaller, go to your services control panel, double-click on the service to show its properties, then click the security tab. Select "Allow service to interact with desktop". If you don't, the service does not get it's own window station and the screen would be black (frankly, I'm surprised it work at all, meaning you must have caught an exception somewhere and continued drawing a background or something).

You could also enable this during installation, but you'll have to do so manually. In your own Installer class, override OnCommitting and use the registry classes in the Microsoft.Win32 namespace to change the registry key accordingly (bitwise OR the Type key under the service key - using the service name, not the display name - with 256, IIRC).

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zericsson22-Jun-04 5:15

zericsson

22-Jun-04 5:15

Hi,

I'm trying to use PropertyGrid to set the props of a remote object. At first it looked ok, but then I complicated it by adding plugins. So now I got the following class tree:
Node : MarshalByRef
Handler : Node
[plugin] : Handler

The plugin object is instansiated by sending the class name to the server, who looks it up in the assebly, creates it and returns it.

// client call
private void NewHandler(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
MenuItem mi = sender as MenuItem;
Handler node = server.CreateHandler(mi.Text);
handlersNode.Nodes.Add(new NodeFacet(node));

propertyGrid1.SelectedObject = node;
// node.NodeChanged += new NodeChange(NodeChanged);
}

// server side
public Handler CreateHandler(string type)
{
Handler node = this.CreateNode(type, handlerTypes) as Handler;
Handlers.Add(node);
return node;
}

In debugger I can see that the node is of the correct subclass, but on the client side I only get the properties from my Handler and Node class.

Any suggestion?

DirectPlay

bouli22-Jun-04 4:32

22-Jun-04 4:32

Hi gurus,

Where can I find a C# sample code that shows how to send a class with DirectPlay? I can send text but I need to send binary data. Confused | :confused:

best regards.

There is no spoon.

Heath Stewart22-Jun-04 4:57

22-Jun-04 4:57

Have you looked in the DirectX SDK documentation for Managed Languages? All you need is either a NetworkPacket or a GCHandle (which you can create using any type). To use a NetworkPacket, all you have to do is pass a ValueType, which is any primative, enum, or struct (they all derive from ValueType).

So, to use a NetworkPackget:

using (NetworkPacket pkt = new NetworkPacket())
{
  pkt.Write(new Point(8, 8)); // Point is a struct; therefore, it is a ValueType
  client.Send(pkt, 0, SendFlags.Guaranteed); // Guaranteed delivery
}

If you're looking for a good resource on Managed DirectX, I highly recommend Managed DirectX 9 Kick Start: Graphics and Game Programming[^]. It's a good read and includes several chapters on DirectPlay. Honestly, though, it's not too tuff, especially after reading that book. It's certainly a lot easier than many .NET Remoting applications I've designed and help write!

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bouli22-Jun-04 5:04

22-Jun-04 5:04

Ah ok...
We can't send a complete class, but we can send simply a structure derived from ValueType...

in a class that handle DirectPlay, is it necessary to use trnasactions with
[Transaction(TransactionOption.Required)]?
Or the flag SendFlags.Guaranteed is enough?

NB: thanks for the link, but the MSDN is largely enough. I just messed up with the parameters... they need to be a structure, not a class :P

There is no spoon.

Heath Stewart22-Jun-04 5:37

22-Jun-04 5:37

The TransactionAttribute is for service components (i.e., COM+ services), not DirectPlay (or any DirectX). They have nothing to do with each other. You can't just mix and match APIs.

If you want to send a class, use the Client.Send overload that requires a GCHandle, as I mentioned before. Most importantly, read the docs. I know the DirectX SDK documentation sucks (NDoc[^] is free and does a better job), but at least you can see what classes and members are available; that's all I did to answer your question (since I knew the basics already).

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bouli22-Jun-04 5:24

22-Jun-04 5:24

I have created a structure with basic data (bool & int) and the structure is not sent. there is an exception that tells "An unhandled exception of type 'System.ArgumentException' occurred in mscorlib.dll

Additional information: Object contains non-primitive or non-blittable data."
while the strcuture looks like this:

public struct TetrionParams
{
	#region Fields
	public bool		DrawGrid;
	public bool		Draw3D;
	public bool		ShowGhostPolymino;
	public bool		ShowNextPolymino;
	public int		Width, Height;
	#endregion
}

There is no spoon.

Heath Stewart22-Jun-04 8:51

22-Jun-04 8:51

How are you calling Client.Send with this struct? More information is required to help you.

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bouli22-Jun-04 21:04

playing quicktime MOV and VR

22-Jun-04 21:04

Hi Heath,

that's okay, I've found a sample in the tutorials of DirectX that shows how to send binary data.
the data need to be transfered byte by byte in the NetworkPacket. the Tut10_ThreadPool tutorial in the ThreadPool.SendData() method. Smile | :)

There is no spoon.

buffer_k.st22-Jun-04 3:52

buffer_k.st

22-Jun-04 3:52

Hi ..

I'm writting a video player in C# using DirectShow ..

I would like to play Quicktime movies and VR too .. i found the Interop.QTActiveXPlugin.dll .. but i have not been able to play a single movie ..

I hope some one can help me get a Quicktime movie to play in C# without using an embeded HTML page containing a Quicktime <object> ..

Thanx ..

Heath Stewart22-Jun-04 4:49

22-Jun-04 4:49

buffer_k.st wrote:
i found the Interop.QTActiveXPlugin.dll .. but i have not been able to play a single movie ..

For one, you must have QuickTime installed on your machine. An interop assembly is an RCW (Runtime Callable Wrapper) that exposes an existing COM server to .NET. The QuickTime ActiveX control is installed on Windows when you install QuickTime. Second, you can make your own. By saying you "found" the interop assembly - do you trust the source? All you have to do to make one is, in VS.NET, right-click on your project, select Add Reference, click on the COM tab, and find the QuickTime library. Double-click to add it. This create an interop assembly.

However, you must also create an ActiveX wrapper. Do this by right-clicking on your toolbox and selecting "Customize" (it's a little different for different versions of VS.NET, but common sense should tell you want to click). Find the ActiveX control for QuickTime and double-click to add it. When you drag this to your form or user control, both the ActiveX interop assembly and the interop assembly you created above (if you haven't yet) are created automatically for you. It's this ActiveX control (AxHost derivative) that you use to display videos.

You cannot use DirectShow to play newer (like, within the last few years) QT files because they do not use a compatible codec (on purpose), just as RealNetworks doesn't.

Finally, if you're having a problem, please be specific. Saying something like "but i have not been able to play a single movie .." doesn't help. Are you getting any exceptions? Do you just not know what to do?

The last question shouldn't be a problem, though. Follow the instructions above, or search for existing articles. It's really quite easy.

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buffer_k.st22-Jun-04 21:57

buffer_k.st

22-Jun-04 21:57

Ok to be more specific ..

Quicktime was already installed .. i found the quicktime COM "QTPlugin.ocx" wich contain Interop.QTPlugin.dll .. but i can't find the axInterop (ActiveX) dll file ..

I downloaded the Quicktime 6 SDK but it is for JAVA and C++ .. I've been searching all over to find the quicktime ActiveX .. but can't find it .. please help ..

Heath Stewart23-Jun-04 3:24

23-Jun-04 3:24

As I mentioned previously, you must customize your toolbox (where all the controls are) and add the QuickTime ActiveX control in there. In fact, forget the step of creating an interop assembly manually - that only defines the types exported from a COM typelib.

When you drag that QuickTime ActiveX control from the toolbox to your form, VS.NET automatically creates the "AxInterop" and "Interop" assemblies. Before doing this, however - if you plan on deploying your application outside of your control, right-click on your project in VS.NET and find the AssemblyKeyFile and AssemblyKeyName properties (something like that). If you want to generate a strong name assembly - even for the interop assemblies (in order to install into the GAC or for purposes of assembly binding redirection) - type the project-relative or absolute path to your key pair file, or type the name of the key container that contains your key pair.

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buffer_k.st23-Jun-04 6:20

buffer_k.st

23-Jun-04 6:20

I did what u said .. and it works perfectly ..

Thank you very much for helping me out .. I didn't realize it was that simple and that powerful ..

Outlook Add-In in C#

gek_at22-Jun-04 3:21

gek_at

22-Jun-04 3:21

Hi Everybody!

I have a question concerning outlook add-ins written in c#. I'd like to write such an add-in but just can't get this thing to work. The main problem is that I don't own a vs.net license, but use SharpDevelop. I used VS.net's wizard at university to create a short plugin template and filled it with some code I found in an MSDN blog article (http://blogs.msdn.com/dancre/archive/2004/03/21/93712.aspx).

But whatever I am trying, I just can't get this thing to work. At home I installed the office XP PIAs and referenced them from the project. I had a look at the installation project from the VS.net solution and added the same registry keys:

<br />
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00<br />
<br />
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Outlook\Addins\SharpPrivacyOutlook.Connect]<br />
"LoadBehavior"=dword:00000003<br />
"Description"="Outlook Add-in for OpenPGP Encryption"<br />
"FriendlyName"="SharpPrivacy Outlook"<br />

However even though the project compiles all right in sharpdevelop, it doesn't get loaded by outlook. If i try to install it manually (in Outlook - Extras - Options - Extended Options - COM Add-Ins [roughly translated from the German Outlook version]), I get the error message: "SharpPrivacyOutlook.dll is not a valid office add-in".

Is there anything else I need to do to install the add-in? Just in case someone wants to have a look at the code or the dll, I put a copy on the project webserver.

I'm glad for any kind of help!

Thanks in advance,
Daniel

---
SharpPrivacy - A free OpenPGP Implementation in c#
http://sharpprivacy.sf.net

Re: Outlook Add-In in C#

Heath Stewart22-Jun-04 4:41

22-Jun-04 4:41

It's not a valid COM add-in, and whether you use SharpDevelop, VS.NET, or command-line tools it doesn't matter.

A .NET assembly only has the same extensions as native executables, and resembles a PE/COFF executable up until the load address and data segments. It's actually more akin to a VB6 DLL. It doesn't contain the same entry points as a native COM DLL, so a shim is required.

You must actually register your .NET DLL using regasm.exe, after installing it into the Global Assembly Cache (GAC) using gacutil.exe; otherwise, specify regasm.exe /codebase when installing to register the path to the assembly.

This registers your .NET assembly as a COM DLL, but the actual InprocServer is mscoree.dll, the managed executable loader. It is the GUID under which your .NET assembly is registers that you should store in the Outlook options registry key. It will actually load mscoree.dll, which will marshal calls to and from your .NET assembly to Outlook.

There are articles about this on MSDN as well, though they talk about creating your own shim (which is stupid, since mscoree.dll that ships with the .NET Framework must exist and is already a shim!).

To make your .NET assembly a decent COM-visible assembly, you should follow several guidelines (like all COM should):

Attribute your assembly with a GuidAttribute (like [assembly: Guid("01234567-0123-0123-0123-012345678901")]</coode>)<li>Attribute all classes and interfaces with unique <code>GuidAttributes as well
Never use auto-generated class interfaces; always specify ClassInterfaceType.None and explicitly define your interfaces and implement the class interface as the first interface
Never change your release interface declarations; always create new interfaces that inherit from them and implement those as the new class interfaces. Use a new GuidAttribute as well, but don't remove the previous interface and make sure it's still implemented properly

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Re: Outlook Add-In in C#

gek_at22-Jun-04 6:10

gek_at

22-Jun-04 6:10

Thanks a lot Heath!!! That did it!

Do you by chance know a webpage where the COM guidlines are further detailed?

Thanks again,
Daniel

---
SharpPrivacy - A free OpenPGP Implementation in c#
http://sharpprivacy.sf.net

Re: Outlook Add-In in C#

Heath Stewart22-Jun-04 6:14

Monochrome instead of coloured cursors

22-Jun-04 6:14

Look on MSDN[^], as with all things related to Microsoft development.

I honestly don't know of a specific page; I just know this from lots of experience with COM (~10 years) and .NET (since its initial beta). If you don't follow COM guidelines when creating CCWs (COM-Callable Wrappers), differents GUIDs (CLSIDs, TYPELIB IDs, and IIDs) may be re-generated with different numbers each time, auto-generated class interfaces can break existing code (when using IUnknown inheritance, or with IDispatch interfaces witout the DispIdAttribute, changing the order of methods will break COM clients), etc.

Study COM and apply those practices in .NET.

Microsoft MVP, Visual C#
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jjansen22-Jun-04 3:07

jjansen

22-Jun-04 3:07

I have made a 32x32 cursor that uses a 16-colours palette. When the cursor is displayed at runtime, however, it appears on screen as a monochrome (black and white) image. Does anyone know why this occurs?

Re: Monochrome instead of coloured cursors

Heath Stewart22-Jun-04 4:33