Help Me Take SGDK2 to the Next Step -- Who Can and Can't Run It?

[bluemonkmn]

1) Did you install DirectX 9.0c?  (Also, did you have the option to install Managed DirectX during the install?)

2) Do you have a folder in your Windows directory called "Microsoft.NET\DirectX for Managed Code" or "Microsoft.NET\Managed DirectX"?

3) Do you have an item in your Windows\assembly folder called "Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound"?  (And if so, what version(s)?)

4) When you say "the same folder" do you mean that "Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound.dll" is in the same folder as SGDK2IDE.exe?  With Microsoft.NET, MS actually did something right because it should be able to find it there... they do look in the same directory now, and you don't have to "register" things any more with .NET (although you still can if you want to by putting things in Windows\assembly).  It may also need to be in the folder where the project is generated (if you don't have it in Windows\assembly).  When the project is generated, a folder by the same name (SHFL if you're using the test project) is created, and that's where SHFL.exe is compiled -- it might want Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound.dll in there too.

Have patience while SGDK2 is still in pre-alpha.  There may be some confusing points caused by SGDK2 code that need to be worked out.  For the most part, .NET has been pretty good to develop with, but SGDK2IDE itself may be responsible for some confusion.

[bat]

porfirio:

dotnet makes it easier for programmers to get their first releses of their programs out...no need to cuss dude.

[eric22222]

Well, I can't seem to run the sample project:

SHFL.exe - Common Language Runtime Debugging Services
Application has generated an exception that could not be handled.
Process id=0xae0 (2784), Thread id=0x824 (2084).

And I've got DirectX 9.0c, by the by.

[bluemonkmn]

Have you ever been able to get any version of SGDK2 to run on your system?  Do you have 3D acceleration (what kind of video card do you have)?  Do you have the latest drivers?

Durnurd, do you know what's necessary to be able to debug into such an error on a system that doesn't have the right development environment on it?  Why couldn't you "JIT" debug?  Think we could figure out how to let people debug into these errors?

Eric, It might help to search for, download, and install the Microsoft CLR debugger, but I can't say for sure if that will help.  You could help out by giving it a try and letting us know if it works, though.  The hope is that if you run the project in debug mode (F5) and there's an error, it will let you debug into the problem with the CLR debugger.

[durnurd]

I know that having the Express edition of C# helps.  However, this doesn't let you actually just debug the project.  You would have to add all of the files very carefully and then ignore any embedded data and try compiling and running it.  Then you can see exactly where the error is.  Unfortunately, in VS2005 Express Edition, only C++ allows attaching to a running process for debugging.  Presumably, the full version of C# also allows this.

[bluemonkmn]

There's a much simpler question I should be asking first before getting the answers to all the above -- does the map editor work, does it give a similar error?

[eric22222]

No, I can't run the map editor. I'm getting:

Code: [Select]

Error creating device
Error while opening the display: Error in the application.
Graphics editor works, if that's any consolation.

[bluemonkmn]

I think I get a similar thing on my laptop from work, which doesn't have any 3D acceleration (and I assume that's why it doesn't work).  Can you find the DirectX applet in your control panel, and run it?  Then click the "DxDiag..." button in the "DirectX" tab.  Then in the diagnostic program that appears, go to the "Display" tab, and click "Test Direct3D".  Have we done this before?  Anyway, let me know if you see any errors with that or anything else along the way that looks suspicious.

[bluemonkmn]

I compiled a version of SGDK2 that allows you to use the map editor even if you don't have 3D acceleration.  You can download it from http://enigmadream.com/gamedev/ (SGDK2IDE.zip).

If 3D acceleration is your problem, tell me what you see when you go to the Direct3D tab of the DirectX control panel applet.  I'm interested in what the "Allow Hardware Acceleration" checkbox looks like in that tab.  Is it checked?  Is it disabled?  Can you check it?

[bluemonkmn]

When you're on the Display tab of DxDiag, check the "DDI Version".  My laptop that doesn't work says "8".

[eric22222]

Okay, now I'm getting

Code: [Select]

SHFL.exe - Common Language Runtime Debugging Services
Application has generated an exception that could not be handled.
Process id=0xa74 (2676), Thread id=0x590 (1424).
Updating the driver didn't change much else, besides the error message. Map editor still doesn't work.

DDI Version says: 9 (or higher).

[tprime]

I can run it. But how do we make maps? The graphic editor is cool!!!!! 

[bluemonkmn]

The help file isn't done yet so until I get a chance to write some documentation, you might have to just stumble your way through.  I think Durnurd has figured it out though, so maybe he will have some time to explain the process.  I'm in a bit of a hurry this morning so I can't at the moment.

[bluemonkmn]

Now I have time: create a map by right-clicking on the "Maps" folder and selecting "New", or by selecting the "Maps" folder and selecting "New Object" from the file menu.

Add layers to the map by doing the same thing with the "Layers" folder under the new map.

[dutch_619]

I've tried it out on a few different computers I use and the results are as follows

  1). HP Omnibook 6000 - throws a fatal exception semi-randomly. Dislikes the video hardware I suspect.

  2). Asus M2NE-S Mobo With Nvidia 8800 Video card, runs clean and stable.

  3). Older Athlon FX system with Nvidia MX440 video card, runs stable but slowly.