The VideoLAN Forums

Hi all.

Is it Possible to load the ActiveX Component in a Direct 3d Interface?
I know it works on a win Form but wot about DirectX?

Any Ideas

regards
Bryan

First I would like to state that VLC is is a stand alone player and does NOT use or require Windows ActiveX components to run.

So I assume you are asking about VLC's (ActiveX component) interface into windows and or into your browser. Considering this is just another way to call VLC into usage, this component can not ever do more that the program it self can do.

It is my understanding that the DirectX component within VLC has been rebuilt in VLC 0.8.4 and will handel anything DirectX will handel with full backward compatibility (within reason of what VLC is). But this does rely on DirectX automatic functions as there have been added no option controls for over ride (VMR9 to VMR7). Also it depends greatly on the capabilities of your video card and its drivers as to what features the automatic functions of DirectX can pick. Most vendors of Video card have provided features (or over rides) that can be changed according to your taste.

I have found (over time) that changing these generally cause problems in other areas of usage. Also some games make changes or allow you to make changes to these and when you make their changes it causes problems for other programs.

While I have tried to answer your question, I suggest you search Microsoft's web site for related articles on DirectX. Perhaps the More direct approach would work for you, IE tell us what you are Trying to do and perhaps someone hare can help you. Like support for a particular format or playing a particular type of file.

Hope this has been helpful to you!

Thanks so much for your reply.

I guess i was a bit ambigous in my question! :O)

What i mean is i would like to have a nice 3d interface using Direct 3d, lets say the EmptyProject solution that come with DirectX sdk.
using that on a button click event would i be able to launch the VLC player
so it looks like its part of the GUI that i have. think like the windows Media Center.

hope this explains it a bit better?

cheers
bryan

OK! It sounds like we may be getting a little closer, But I do not have Windows Media Center Edition and while I have played with the DirectX SDK, it is not presently installed and it has been awhile ago. Perhaps there is someone else that can help you here.

Best of luck!

Thanks for your help dj,
If anyone knows, any help would be much appreciated. thanks.

once again what im trying to do is overlay(not sure if thats the right word?) the VLC activeX Control on Direct3D Interface. I know you can drag and drop the control in VS2003 on to a winform but what about using DirectX?.

Regards
Bryan

If I understand well, you want to render the activex control onto a direct 3D surface or texture; although I am not an expert in Direct 3D, I believe it is not possible to render a windowed activex control such as the VLC activex control directly into a Direct 3D, because of the fact that this type of control requires a window (HWND).
On the other hand, Windowless activex control can be rendered into any graphics buffer (i.e as long as you got an HDC), hence they could be used with Direct3D. I could be possible to make the VLC activex control windowless, but this would require a lot of rework.
However, I would think that presenting a DirectShow video interface would be a better idea, since it could also be rendered into Direct3D and is better suited for video.

Thanks a million Quovodis, i thought as much,just im fairly new to Direct3d.
Only reason i wanted to use VLC is for its streaming facility. i want to do a client/server architecture so all videos stored on my office pc can be wireless streamed to my sitting room.
Anyway maybe direct3d is overkill for what i want, i might look at using VLC and system.drawing this should be ok(i think?)

I see your from cork Quovodis, im actually from sligo myself. good to see another irishman on the forums.

regards
Bryan