I have been searching for a way to create a windows media center plugin with C++, does anyone know if this is possible (with current available tools)? I have the SDK for C#, but would really rather stick to C++ if it all possible.
Thanks for your help!
You could always use C++/CLI, either for the whole thing or just to create a thin shim between Media Center and your unmanaged C++.
C++/CLI is rarely used but it is fantastic for creating a bridge between the managed and unmanaged worlds. It's much better than the old Managed C++, if the thought of that has put you off checking it out.
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I have been working on a project where I am interacting with a 3D camera(on a single machine) through its SDK written in C++. The extent of my knowledge in that language is just as good as what a basic crash course could teach. I need to provide an interface(web) which shows the camera preview from the SDK and when the capture image is clicked, I need to capture an Image using the SDK with a specified filename and path.
The approaches I thought of are:
Using NodeJS exec to capture images the compiled version(exe) of my program in C++. I am communicating the filepath and using json.
I could learn and use C++ CGI to simply control C++ SDK stuff.
Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
You can use one of the C++ CGI libraries out there but, as easy as they are to use, just calling an executable seems easier and cleaner. I think the scanner should come with a bundled tool to drive it, doesn’t it?
I want to create a DeskBand to display some information on my Windows task bar, but I am struggling with implementing the functionality I need in C++. It's been about 10-15 years since I touched C++. I've been working entirely in .NET for the past 7 years.
Before you say it - I know that DeskBands are deprecated. But the suggested replacement UI element - thumbnail toolbars - don't meet my needs. I need a UI element that is constantly visible to the user no matter which application they switch to, and also that provides enough room to display a line of text - I could get by with room for 30 characters or so.
I've been able to get the DeskBand from the Windows SDK sample to compile and run, but now I need to implement some real functionality - specifically...
Locating the AppData\Local folder (SHGetKnownFolderPath(FOLDERID_LocalAppData...)
Watching an XML file for modifications. I need to parse and repaint whenever the file changes.
Parsing the XML file (I found pugixml)
Displaying some data from the XML file in my DeskBand
Setting a timer to repaint the DeskBand once per minute
... and I am realizing how little I know about C++, and how much I've come to depend on .NET's Base Class Library. This task would be super easy for me if I was writing it in C#. But I've learned elsewhere that you shouldn't write shell extensions in .NET.
What are my options? Is there an easier language to accomplish this in - maybe Python? Or do I have to just bite the bullet and do this in C++? If so, any advice for a .NET developer trying to implement a WinAPI shell extension in C++?
Thank you in advance.
Shell Extensions are COM objects, and C++ is generally the best language to use when developing COM objects because COM was designed primarily for C++, but it is not the only language possible. COM has a standardized architecture, so you can use any language outside of .NET that supports COM object development (Delphi, VB, etc) to develop Shell Extensions (similar to how the Win32 API is primarily designed for C, but any C-compatible language can access it).
I wonder if it possible to make a game by c++ with directx(in GFX) so that it could be put in my web (php , asp.net, java or other I don't care about the web language or technology, you chose one for me) and be played online or I have to change something directx or C++.
if it possible tell me how?
thnx in advance
If you mean browser based, I'm not sure it's possible with C++. You might want to look into webGL.
If you're feeling very adventurous, I am aware of an open source project that is essentially a .NET to JS compiler. You can check it out on github here
If you mean "online" as in a MMO type of game, or a game that is played over a network, (but not in a browser), then obviously it is quite possible, I don't know the specific libraries you'd use though.
We have existing WPF application with complicated graphics (rounded edges of the window, speedometer style indicators etc).
Since we rely on .NET our application needs .NET framework. Some users are unwilling to install .NET and we want to provide them with a version that does not need .NET and runs of Windows only (XP,Vista,W7).
Which graphical toolkit we should use to for this scenario?
So far I think Codejock Toolkit Pro is a good adept as we already have GUI in XAML and it could be easier to port GUI to C++.
However, another aspect is download size of the toolkit. We don't want to end up in the situation where toolkit size is so big (e.g. 20-40MB) that's comparable with .NET 4.0 framework size.
I know some of you might think that going back from WPF to C++ is a bad idea, but for our scenario it is absolutely crucial to make user's installation process as easy as possible and .NET framework is a big stumbling block which we are trying to remove.
Sorry I do not have the answer to your question (and I would never ever even dream that I might do such a thing), but I am compelled to tell you as an advice
implementing all the WPF functionality in C++ will take 10-20 times more
installation of a C++ would not be necessarily easier
if you need to make installation easier, use SilverLight
We used QT in one of our projects in past which is Object Oriented and Multi Platform, but QT is mostly like WinForms
As I remember QT keeps UI in xml files too, try to write XSLT from xaml to QT xml. But I don't thik you can do it in complex WPF structures like Triggers or Animation
Have you evaluated QT? Since this relies on XML for UI definition too, it might be easier to port the code to.
You've already gotten a couple of answers recommending Qt -- and I'd agree that's probably your first choice. Note, however, that while Qt does support an XML-based UI description, they seem to be moving away from it toward QML, which is based on JavaScript instead.
Another possibility would be wxWidgets, which also supports an XML-based description of the widgets using XRC.
I was reading about the Maya API to C++ and didn't quite understand the idea.
Upon implementing the API, Can I create an environment, or a GUI in 3D world in Visual Studio?
This question is related to my previous one about the Maya API.
Question
If someone could give me a good place to begin, it would be great.
Thanks,
Oded.
You can't create 3D environment outside the Maya,
as well as you can do anything inside Maya with the API.
I recommend that you start with Maya python API instead of c++ it's way easier, and takes less development time.
you may read the "Complete Maya Programming" book, its example written in c++, but if you know some python you can write them in python.
Maya API allows you to extend Maya, and you can choose to use either c++ or python (the python just wraps same API, more or less). Now the extension framework is meant for you to implement your own nodes, importers/exporters and motion capture devices, mostly. The GUI layer is reserved to scripting components and QT neither which are exactly Maya APIS domain, tough it gives you hooks to do with with the script environment or QT.
As for the exact question can you create a GUI yes you can get a handle to the QT framework, but as i previously said its not the realm of the API per see. And as for the environment yes you could do that its just not the sort of thing you'd do as your first project. You do almost anything you like, inside or even a connection outside of Maya however from a practical standpoint you'd still have to quite intimately know Maya before starting to do so. The API doesn't exactly allow you to do anything you like it has certain no bounds limitations and its not a good idea to fight Mayas run time environment.
If on the other hand you want to control things within Maya externally then make a node or a motion capture server, that's what they are meant for.
Personally i find the complete Maya programming book a bit misleading on all levels but yes you could use it as basis. Just not terribly fruitful for any of the tasks you ask for.