Dxwnd Manual

(1)

DxWnd rel. 2.02.82 unfinished Manual

What is DxWnd?

DxWnd is a Win32 hooker that

DxWnd is a Win32 hooker that intercepts and alter the behaviour of

intercepts and alter the behaviour of

window me

window messages an

ssages and !"s

d !"s b# means

b# means of

of event in

event interception

terception and code

and code

in$ection directed to the configured tasks in order to get a

proper behaviour of fullscreen programs% but in

proper behaviour of fullscreen programs% but in a windowed

a windowed

environment...

environment... too complicated& Well% actuall# DxWnd

.. too complicated& Well% actuall# DxWnd is a

is a tool

tool

that does

that does its best

its best to let

to let #ou run

#ou run fullscreen

fullscreen applications

applications in a

in a

window.

"s that all& Well% no% not

"s that all& Well% no% not reall#... 'aking advanta

reall#... 'aking advantage of the

ge of the

hooked logic in$ected in the application% DxWnd does some more

little tricks% that fall in two general cathegories( making #our

program more compatible to different environments and altering its

time flow. )o% that makes some old

time flow. )o% that makes some old programs able to run on modern

programs able to run on modern

platforms *well% at least sometimes...+ and to

platforms *well% at least sometimes...+ and to increase or

increase or

decrease the game speed at #our will. ,ave

decrease the game speed at #our will. ,ave #ou alwa#s been a

#ou alwa#s been a

complete nerd with -!)& ,ere comes #our revenge( bullet time

wherever #ou need it

(2)

(3)

Why DxWnd?

'his is not a

'his is not a sill# /uestion. ctuall#% #ou ma# think to two

sill# /uestion. ctuall#% #ou ma# think to two

different /uestions(

+

+ Wh# sh

Wh# should "

ould " use Dx

use DxWnd&

Wnd&

2+

2+ Wh# someone s

Wh# someone should spend hi

hould spend his time to deve

s time to develop it&

lop it&

Why should I use DxWnd?

1ets start with the first one. nce upon

1ets start with the first one. nce upon a time *in the

a time *in the "' clock%

"' clock%

that means a few #ears ago+

that means a few #ears ago+ people used to have clums# !4s that

people used to have clums# !4s that in

in

a slow and single5threaded environment tried to do their best to

impress their owner with strength

impress their owner with strength demonstratio

demonstrations% usuall# tr#ing

ns% usuall# tr#ing

to move colored pixels on the screen in

to move colored pixels on the screen in the fastest possible wa#.

the fastest possible wa#.

'hat custom was named videogaming% and implied using all trick#

wa#s to improve the s#stem performances. ne common wa# to do

that% was to high$ack all hardware resources and dedicate them for

this single purpose% of course disabling an# attempt to run

parallel tasks in other portions of the screen( the classic

example being an# videogame developed for

example being an# videogame developed for Win67 and further.

Win67 and further.

ow% #ou gu#s ma# ask

ow% #ou gu#s ma# ask #ourselves wh# should all this time be

#ourselves wh# should all this time be

passed awa# and !4 increased their power b# a

passed awa# and !4 increased their power b# a 00x times more% to

00x times more% to

keep pla#ing the ver# same game in

keep pla#ing the ver# same game in the ver# same environment.

the ver# same environment.

)omeone is calling #ou on a

)omeone is calling #ou on a chat&  new email message is

chat&  new email message is arrived&

arrived&

9ou want to browse the net

9ou want to browse the net meanwhile& )omethin

meanwhile& )omething is happening on

g is happening on

#our favourite social network or

#our favourite social network or MM!:!;& -orget about it 9oure

MM!:!;& -orget about it 9oure

currentl# dealing with a task that wants 00< of

currentl# dealing with a task that wants 00< of #our attention%

#our attention%

even if it uses < of #our !4 power. )o% wh# not attempting to

push this old and invasive application within a window of its

own &

'hats what DxWnd is mainl# for( let fullscreen applications run

pretending the#re still in a

pretending the#re still in a fullscreen context% but actuall#

fullscreen context% but actuall#

within their own separate window. nd% taking advantage of the

code hooking needed to do so% in

code hooking needed to do so% in some case it ma# even

some case it ma# even happen that

happen that

things are further improved% but well see this later.

 second undoubtful fact is the technological evolution that has

turned games from different windows operating s#stems *through

Windows 67 to current Windows 8+% 4!= architectures *>% 32% >?

bits+ and from old and trick# directdraw support to recent 3D

libraries like direct3d 8@6@0@% and pen;1. 'his

libraries like direct3d 8@6@0@% and pen;1. 'his evolution has

evolution has

left some victims behind( a lot of

left some victims behind( a lot of wonderful games are no longer

wonderful games are no longer

supported in the current environment% even

supported in the current environment% even despite the efforts

despite the efforts

Microsoft is making to support legac#. "n some cases% DxWnd is

crucial to recover these old glories of the past.

Why someone should spend his time to develop it?

ow the second /uestion( wh# someone should ever bother to develop

a thing like this& 'his is

a thing like this& 'his is different stor#. " started looking for

different stor#. " started looking for

a window5iAer for a specific purpose( not having a dual

a window5iAer for a specific purpose( not having a dual monitor !4

monitor !4

at home% " was

(4)

(5)

Why DxWnd?

'his is not a

'his is not a sill# /uestion. ctuall#% #ou ma# think to two

sill# /uestion. ctuall#% #ou ma# think to two

different /uestions(

+

+ Wh# sh

Wh# should "

ould " use Dx

use DxWnd&

Wnd&

2+

2+ Wh# someone s

Wh# someone should spend hi

hould spend his time to deve

s time to develop it&

lop it&

Why should I use DxWnd?

1ets start with the first one. nce upon

1ets start with the first one. nce upon a time *in the

a time *in the "' clock%

"' clock%

that means a few #ears ago+

that means a few #ears ago+ people used to have clums# !4s that

people used to have clums# !4s that in

in

a slow and single5threaded environment tried to do their best to

impress their owner with strength

impress their owner with strength demonstratio

demonstrations% usuall# tr#ing

ns% usuall# tr#ing

to move colored pixels on the screen in

to move colored pixels on the screen in the fastest possible wa#.

the fastest possible wa#.

'hat custom was named videogaming% and implied using all trick#

wa#s to improve the s#stem performances. ne common wa# to do

that% was to high$ack all hardware resources and dedicate them for

this single purpose% of course disabling an# attempt to run

parallel tasks in other portions of the screen( the classic

example being an# videogame developed for

example being an# videogame developed for Win67 and further.

Win67 and further.

ow% #ou gu#s ma# ask

ow% #ou gu#s ma# ask #ourselves wh# should all this time be

#ourselves wh# should all this time be

passed awa# and !4 increased their power b# a

passed awa# and !4 increased their power b# a 00x times more% to

00x times more% to

keep pla#ing the ver# same game in

keep pla#ing the ver# same game in the ver# same environment.

the ver# same environment.

)omeone is calling #ou on a

)omeone is calling #ou on a chat&  new email message is

chat&  new email message is arrived&

arrived&

9ou want to browse the net

9ou want to browse the net meanwhile& )omethin

meanwhile& )omething is happening on

g is happening on

#our favourite social network or

#our favourite social network or MM!:!;& -orget about it 9oure

MM!:!;& -orget about it 9oure

currentl# dealing with a task that wants 00< of

currentl# dealing with a task that wants 00< of #our attention%

#our attention%

even if it uses < of #our !4 power. )o% wh# not attempting to

push this old and invasive application within a window of its

own &

'hats what DxWnd is mainl# for( let fullscreen applications run

pretending the#re still in a

pretending the#re still in a fullscreen context% but actuall#

fullscreen context% but actuall#

within their own separate window. nd% taking advantage of the

code hooking needed to do so% in

code hooking needed to do so% in some case it ma# even

some case it ma# even happen that

happen that

things are further improved% but well see this later.

 second undoubtful fact is the technological evolution that has

turned games from different windows operating s#stems *through

Windows 67 to current Windows 8+% 4!= architectures *>% 32% >?

bits+ and from old and trick# directdraw support to recent 3D

libraries like direct3d 8@6@0@% and pen;1. 'his

libraries like direct3d 8@6@0@% and pen;1. 'his evolution has

evolution has

left some victims behind( a lot of

left some victims behind( a lot of wonderful games are no longer

wonderful games are no longer

supported in the current environment% even

supported in the current environment% even despite the efforts

despite the efforts

Microsoft is making to support legac#. "n some cases% DxWnd is

crucial to recover these old glories of the past.

Why someone should spend his time to develop it?

ow the second /uestion( wh# someone should ever bother to develop

a thing like this& 'his is

a thing like this& 'his is different stor#. " started looking for

different stor#. " started looking for

a window5iAer for a specific purpose( not having a dual

a window5iAer for a specific purpose( not having a dual monitor !4

monitor !4

at home% " was

(6)

(7)

1ooking in the net resources% " got

1ooking in the net resources% " got references to an asian

references to an asian

*$apanese&+ DxWnd pro$ect that seemed discontinued% but left

*$apanese&+ DxWnd pro$ect that seemed discontinued% but left an

an

old cop# of the 4BB

old cop# of the 4BB sources *unfortunat

sources *unfortunatel#% not the most recent

el#% not the most recent

release+ to be

release+ to be downloaded. fter that% there were several attempts

downloaded. fter that% there were several attempts

to translate and improve the program% but none shared the sources

again. When " opened the pro$ect tr#ing to

again. When " opened the pro$ect tr#ing to understand the basic

understand the basic

principle% " found that it was incredibl# simple and #et

sophisticated% acting " think in a ver# close wa#

sophisticated% acting " think in a ver# close wa# as virus or

as virus or

anti5virus programs do.

)o " $ust thought it

)o " $ust thought it was such a pit# that

was such a pit# that this incredible piece of

this incredible piece of

artwork of 4BB programming could be left discontinued% and then "

decided to Cadopt the pro$ect and continue it% even if

decided to Cadopt the pro$ect and continue it% even if in the

in the

meanwhile " bought a second monitor for m#

meanwhile " bought a second monitor for m# domestic !4. nd for

domestic !4. nd for

the same reason% " published the source code on

the same reason% " published the source code on sourceforge% a

sourceforge% a

proper location for an# open source piece of coding% and

proper location for an# open source piece of coding% and "

"

encourage an#one to $oin the pro$ect and extend it further on.

encourage an#one to $oin the pro$ect and extend it further on. nd

nd

let me thank again the m#sterious coder whose onl# trail

let me thank again the m#sterious coder whose onl# trail left to

left to

make a reference is )-EF( whoever #ou are% )-EF *if this was #our

nick+% thank #ou.

-rom the time " published the first

-rom the time " published the first DxWnd releases% then% a lot of

DxWnd releases% then% a lot of

improvements

improvements have

have been ma

been made%

de% most of

most of them i

them involving

nvolving sophisticated

sophisticated

techni/ues that " learnt from

techni/ues that " learnt from several great teachers% coming from

several great teachers% coming from

)ource-orge% 4ode!ro$

)ource-orge% 4ode!ro$ect and an#where else in the

ect and an#where else in the net. 'hank #ou

net. 'hank #ou

all% open source supporters

(8)

(9)

How does DxWnd work?

Well% actuall# there are several different wa#s #ou ma# write a

fullscreen application% and thats wh# there are corresponding

different wa#s to handle it hence some anno#ing configuration to

do before.

!lease% bear in mind that DxWnd is still an experimental program%

and then its configuration is still a little clums#. 'his aspect

will be improved and simplified at proper time% later on.

n#wa#% these are the basic principles of the DxWnd behaviour(

. DxWnd DG) ' alterate in an# wa# the behaviour of #our

software *either s#stem or applications+ when not active.

When turned off% ever#thing behaves as if DxWnd never run on

#our machine% or never existed at all.

2. DxWnd DG) alterate the behaviour of #our application

software when running( it hooks custom code that changes the

applications behaviour% hopefull# in a positive wa#% but #ou

never know. "ts possible that because of hacks to the

directdraw or other s#stem code there might be anno#ing

effects such as froAen screen% unresponsive ke#board and so

on. Ee patient and ma#be #oull find a good game setting to

pla# without side effects.

3. 'his is trick#( unless #ou need code in$ection support *this

will be explained later+ when running% DxWnd affects 11

games in the shown list% no matter whether the cursor is

highlighting a particular one% or if #ou started #our game

outside the DxWnd interface. 'hats wh# #ou need not activate

the game from the DxWnd menu% but #ou could keep managing it

as usual *clicking on desktop icons% shortcuts or

whatsoever+. )o% remember this( whenever DxWnd is running% it

impacts on 9 game it is configured on its game list% no

matter if #ou didnt strt it from DxWnd interface.

?. gain% DxWnd is currentl# coded to make G )";1G game

working at a time% even if it could be possible to start and

intercept more than one in parallel. "n some cases% the games

work together% but unpredictable things happen for instance

when #ou tr# to control more than one game at a time. Ma#be

one da# it will make it possible to pla# more games in

parallel% but so far that feature is unsupported% so DxWnd is

operating on one game *the fist started up+ while the others

will not be effected and should start normall# in their

original fullscreen mode.

DxWnd stores 11 its settings on a couple of configuration files

*dxwnd.ini for almost ever#thing% and dxwnd.reg for altered

registr# ke#s configuration+ in the ver# same folder where

dxwnd.exe and the hooker dxwnd.dll are located. o info is written

in the registr# or an#where else in the s#stem. o installation

procedure is re/uired% $ust cop# the files where #ou like better%

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(11)

create #our own shortcut entries wherever #ou like and% whenever

#oure satisfied with some DxWnd setting% $ust back5up the

configuration b# simpl# cop#ing the dxwnd.ini file somewhere else.

lso% keep in mind that 11 changes are written on disk $ust when

DxWnd exits safel#% so whenever it crashes #our configuration

changes are certain to be lost.

-rom release 2.02.22% then% its also possible to export and

import single pieces of configuration to separate files% so that

people are encouraged to share working game configurations b#

sharing these files onl#.

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(13)

The command line arguments

DxWnd accepts a few command line arguments% that can all be

combined together to alter his behaviour(

@'

)tarts

DxWnd

iconiAed

in

the

)#stem

'ra# *see DxWnd in the )#stem 'ra#+

@"

)tarts

DxWnd

initiall#

in

the

"D1G

state% so that it doesnt effect the

programs until #ou manuall# issue a

,ook H )tart command

@4(IfilenameJ

=ses the IfilenameJ configuration file

instead of the default config.ini file.

"n an# case% the configuration file

must be located in the same DxWnd

execution folder.

@langKI

xx>

"f #ou need a localiAed version of

DxWnd% this argument causes DxWnd to

load all resources text from the

external dlls% :esourcesLI

xx>

.dll

@debug

Gnables

debug

features.

ot

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(15)

The Application GUI

DxWnd comes with a nice and simple ;raphic =ser "nterface( when

started% it shows a form prett# muck like the one in the following

picture(

"n the main window there is the list of hooked programs( DxWnd can

currentl# handle up to 27>. 'r#ing to add more than that will give

an error message. eep in mind that DxWnd bundles contain a export

subfolder where all supported games have their own default

configuration read# to be imported% but because of the program

absolute path value% these entries will actuall# work onl# after

updating the path with the proper local value.

s shown in the picture% each configuration line includes an icon

which color tells the general status of the program% as follows(

blank icon( the configuration refers to a not

existent programs path% so that the entr#

wont work unless the path is corrected.

gre# icon( the hook is not enabled( this

program can be activated b# the DxWnd menu%

but wont be windowed.

green icon( the hook is enabled and the

program will be windowed when run either from

the DxWnd interface or however else.

red icon( the program re/uires code

in$ection% then it will need to be activated

from the DxWnd interface onl#.

9ou can activate command either via the top menu% or b# right

clicking on a row in the application list. 'hese are the

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(17)

DxWnd is also able to operate iconiAed in the )#stem 'ra#% from where it shows

its state *either "D1G% :GD9 or :=";+ and run a few useful commands.

DxWnd detects the video settings when is started% and compares it to the current

value after killing a task or terminating itself( in case it finds differences%

it prompts #ou asking whether #ou want the previous screen setting to be

restored. 'his is /uite useful to handle all the games that terminates without

restoring the previous setting% as it ma# happen when the# die abnormall#.

-ile N )ave

)aves the current configuration to disk.

-ile N )ort program list

rranges the program list in ascending alphabetical

order *sort+.

-ile N "mport ...

"mports one program configuration from an

external .dxw exported file

-ile N 4lear all logs

'urns all tracing options off for all games in the

list and deletes an# dxwnd.log file.

-ile N ,ook N )tart @ )top ,ook )top is a hand# wa# to prevent DxWnd to do

its $ob% prett# much the same to stop the program%

but leaving it running *in the "D1G state+. ,ook

)tart restores the default behaviour *the :GD9

state% or :="; when operating on a task+.

-ile N !rocess N !ause

'ries to pause the program b# lowering each thread

priorit# to the minimum.

-ile N !rocess N :esume

:estore threads priorities.

-ile N !rocess N ill

ills the last process activated b# the DxWnd

interface. Oer# useful to get rid of games gone

craA# because of DxWnd that refuse to terminate

themselves.

-ile N Desktop color

depth N 8 @ > @ 2? @ 32

E!!

n recent platforms% low color depths are no longer

supported for the desktop% though still working.

'his menu let #ou ask the s#stem to set the current

color depth to 8% >% 2? or 32 bits per pixel. f

course% it is possible that some color @ resolution

compinations are not supported.

-ile N Move to 'ra#

Move DxWnd in the )#stem 'ra#% where a dedicated

icon will show its state and allow a few commands%

including the possibilit# to show the application

window again.

ote that once DxWnd goes in the )#stem 'ra#% it

alwa#s sta#s there also when it is made visible

again.

-ile N ePit

Gxits DxWnd. Eeware that if a game was activated

while DxWnd was active% it will ver# likel# crash

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(19)

after the DxWnd termination% so a check is made and

#oud be prompted to confirm the operation.

Gdit N :un

)tarts the currentl# selected application

Gdit N Modif#

pens the configuration panel to set@change the

selected program settings

Gdit N Delete

Deletes the selected application entr# *asking a

9es@o confirmation+

Gdit N dd

"nserts a new application entr# in the list. 'he

configuration panel is opened to let #ou define the

initial settings.

Gdit N Gxplore

pens Microsoft Gxplorer to the folder where the

application is located. 'his is a shortcut to

something usuall# useful.

Gdit N 1og N Oiew

pens the dxwnd.log logfile of the selected

application% if existing. Eeware that in order to

do so% #ou should Cassociate the log file

extension to #our preferred text editor before.

Gdit N 1og N Delete

Deletes the logfile of the selected application% if

existing.

,elp N bout

)hows the program version and references the

development team and pro$ect supporters( currentl#

)-EF whoever he@she might be% ;, *that is m#self+%

ll# for having developed both ll#DE; and the

disassembl# librar# "m using and /rit for so man#

hints% informations and pieces of code.

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(21)

Oiew N )tatus

'his command shows a status window with

informations about DxWnd and the hooked program.

Oiew N 'ime )lider

)hows a time slider window that can be used to

know and d#namicall# alter the time flow speed

When right5clicking on the programs list% instead% the following

menu will be shown(

:un

ctivates *run+ the selected task. )ame as double5

clicking on the list entr#.

Modif#

)hows and let #ou change the programs

configuration.

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(23)

entr#.

dd

!rompts for all data needed to dfine a new task in

the list.

Gxplore

pen a window explore session pointing to the

programs configurated install path.

1og N Oiew

)ame as Gdit N 1og N Oiew

1og N Delete

)ame as Gdit N 1og N Delete

Gxport ...

Gxports the highlighted program configuration to a

file

ill

ills the corresponding program. Differentl# from

the -ile 5J !rocess 5J ill command% this command

would not kill the currentl# active program% but

the selected one% no matter whether it was managed

b# dxWnd or not. 'his is the reason wh# sometimes

the first ill command ma# fail and this one is in

general more reliable% at the cost of selecting the

proper entr#.

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(25)

DxWnd in the System Tray

nce #ou move DxWnd in the s#stem tra# and until the program is

terminated% an icon will be visible in the s#stem tra#. :ight5

clicking on the icon% #ou get a subset of the DxWnd commands% plus

the )how command that shows the DxWnd window again. 'he )how

command is the menu default% so #ou can activate it also b#

double5clicking on the DxWnd tra# icon.

:GD9 state( DxWnd is read# to hook a program

"D1G state( DxWnd is running% but will not affect an# program

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(27)

The coniguration panel

'hrough the dd or Modif# command% this tabbed panel will be

shown(

Gach panel defines the configuration for an# given programs

characteristics.

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(29)

the !ain ta"#

ame( 'he user defined program name% to allow #ou to label #our application with an evocative naming% possibl# including /ualifiers% versioning etc.

"f unset% DxWnd will insert here the task filename. !ath( 'he pathname of the task to be activated @ hooked.

1aunch( "n some cases% the program to be hooked cant be run b# launching itself directl#% but needs arguments or other envoronment elements provided b# some frontend father program. 'o simplif# the program activation% the frontend pathname can be written here( when set% the run command does not run the path in the field above% but this one. Module( "n some occasional cases% some dlls ma# get unnoticed to the DxWnd

hooking logic. "n these fortunatel# rare cases% #ou have a chance to make the program working b# referencing here one or more modile names to be added at the DxWnd search algor#thm.

,ook enabled "f this flag is not set% DxWnd ignores the task 5 see gra# icon Do not notif# on task

switch

"nhibits the task switch notification message that ma# hurt some games not designed to handle it properl#

o banner Well% DxWnd celebrates itself a little b# showing a ver# short splash screen at the beginning. "f #oure not happ# with this% checking this flag will disable the show.

:un in window 4hecked b# default% tells DxWnd to tr# to run the program in windowiAed mode% that is the essential reason wh# DxWnd exists. Eut if not checked DxWnd still performs all other functions not related to the screen siAe% such as time stretching% compatibilit# options and so forth. ,ook all D11s 'he original DxWnd behaviour was limited to search Q hook calls made b#

the main program directl#. 4hecking this flag cause DxWnd to recurse in all non5s#stem D11s address space to hook calls there. "ts necessar# in all cases where the graphic engine is not directl# coded in the program% but its implemented in a separated engine D11.

,ook pen;1 Gnables pen;1 !" hooking

:emap 4lient :ect Gnabled b# default% makes DxWnd remap the window client coordinates so that the program receives the same values as if the program was running in fullscreen mode.

,ot patch *obfuscated "'+ 'he original DxWnd used "' patching to redirect !" calls to the altered routines. 'his method has its advantages% but fails when not all !" are reached because the# are located in unconnected dlls% referenced b# ordinal number or referenced b# programs with obfuscated "'. "' obfuscation is a sophisticated but common enough techni/ue to make hackers life harder( for instance% the game executable of Doom """ has an obfuscated "'.

4hecking this flag cause DxWnd to use an alternate patching techni/ue% that is the Rhot patchingR that creates a detour assembl# code right at

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the beginning of the !" implementation. nce done GOG:9 )";1G 411 gets intercepted no matter from where the call is made% but it isnt alwa#s possible to appl# this techni/ue.

1uckil#% in the vast ma$orit# of cases% the# both work.

=se D11 in$ection 'he basic hook thecni/ue intercepts the first window creation event. t that time% the program ma# have done unwanted actions alread#% such as changing video mode or detecting bad conditions or crashing. 4hecking this flag cause the DxWnd logic to be Rin$ectedR right at the beginning of the task execution% making DxWnd able to intercepts all events. 'he drawback is that this onl# works when the task is activated from the DxWnd interface S see red icon.

nother drawback is that the in$ection process resembles prett# much of an activation from a debugger% increasing the chances for game

protections to intercept this situation and stop the program.

,ook child Window!roc E# default% DxWnd intercepts the Window!roc routine of the main window% and this is enough for its purposes. "n some cases% though% this is not enough and this flag tells DxWnd to intercept and redirect the

Window!roc routines of all child windows as well.

ptimiAe 4!= *DirectP 5F+ ptimiAes the 4!= load% but onl# for ddraw operations *DirectP to DirectPF+

eep aspect ratio When the window is resiAed% the aspect ratio set b# the window initial siAe is preserved *b# default the ?(3 aspect ratio such as 800x>00+. Window initial position Q

siAe

-our values for the initial P% 9 coordinates of the upperleft window corner and the window width and height. ll values are referred to the window client area rather than the outside border. 'he values are used depending on the !osition selection

!osition  selection of ? possible cases(

• P% 9 coordinates( the window is placed at the chosen

coordinates

• Desktop center( the window is centered on the screen% and onl#

the width and height fields are used.

• Desktop work area( the window occupies the whole screen but the

bottom taskbar.

• Desktop( the window occupies the whole screen% as if it was

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the $ideo ta"#

-ix Window -rame )t#le "nitialiAes the game window with a title bar and resiAeable borders. !revent Win MaximiAe )ome modern games dont actuall# go in fullscreen mode% but $ust make

the window occup# the whole screen. 'he option intercepts Windows messages and user32 calls to avoid changing the window position and siAe to make it a full5screen window.

1ock win coordinates "ntercepts messages and calls that the program makes to himself to chenge its own window coordinates. "n this wa#% though% the game window becomes fixed in position and siAe.

1ock win st#le "ntercepts messages and calls that the program makes to himself to chenge its own windowst#le.

:ecover screen mode )ets the screen mode to registr# default settings. "n general% DxWnd intercepts an# attempt to change displa# settings and prevents

unwanted operations% but still some programs have displa# settings instructions before DxWnd could possibl# intercept them *e.g. before the window is created and the windows hook is invoked+% so that chaanging the displa# settings right after is the onl# possible solution. 'r# this when other options dont work.

:efresh on win resiAe n# decentl# written windows application should take care of refreshing the screen primar# surface when resiAed% and most

fullscreen games do it. )ome dont *the# were not suppoed to ever be resiAed% actuall#+. 'his flag is to force a refresh *useful for C=prising+.

-ix !arent Window '#picall#% a game is started with an invisible program window% and then created a separate and child window for handling the graphic. )ome games dont use the child window% but the# rather use the parent one. "n this case% the parent window becomes visible% then needs to be properl# resiAed. "ts experimental% for now% but seems to be able to manage successfull# several tough games( )olaris% )leepWalker% )id Meiers )im ;olf% the Worms serie....

Modal )t#le When R-ix Window -rame )t#leR is set% a borderless and titleless modal st#le is chosen instead of the default one.

-orce win resiAe Gxperimental *and not working ver# well so far+( should force the processing of window resiAing messages so that the window can be resiAed b# dragging borders.

,ide multi5monitor config Makes the program ignore that there are multiple monitors in #our s#stem configuration% giving informations about the primar# monitor onl#.

Wallpaper mode Gxperimental S forces the program T5order to the lowest level so that it runs below an# other task% like an active wallpaper.

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window border. "t activates a small trick that cause the program to render to a child modal surface within the main window borders. Dont move DUD rendering

window

)uppress child process creation

)uppressing the birth of child processes is necessar# whenever the task is running child processes as video pla#ers% splash screens or similar things. "n this case% hooking more than one process ma# be difficult and not worth the result.

,ide desktop background )tarts the windowiAed program together with four black borderless windows that surround it entirel# giving a better feeling of concentration. 'he whole idea was borrowed from RMr. ,ideR( https(@@sourceforge.net@pro$ects@mrh#de@

)imulate 8E!! desktop )ome games pretends #ou switch the video mode to 8E!! before #ou activate them% making it useless the 8E!! emulated mode. 'his flag $ust let the program believe that the desktop setting is in 8E!! mode alread#.

)imulate >E!! desktop )ame as above% but declaring a >E!! setting. 'hese two flags should not be set together.

-orces >E!! desktop "n some cases% the game reall# needs a >E!! desktop% but does not contain the code for activate this color depth% and on modern platforms% though supported% it is ver# difficult *WinF+ when not impossible *Win8+ to do it manuall#. 'his flag switched the desktop to >E!! before the game would complain.

)imulate EW monitor ctivate a tweak in the palette handling that causes all colors to be replaced with the corresponding gra#scale color. "t works onl# on 8E!! palettiAed games or emulating >E!! on a 32E!! desktop.

)et >E!! :;E7>7 encoding E# default% DxWnd emulates >E!! color with :;E777 encoding. 'he

option forces :;E7>7. 'hi option% of course% impacts the video onl# in emulation mode and for >E!! color depth.

1ock )#s 4olors

Disable setting gamma ramp Disables !" tr#ing to alterate the default gamma ramp making the screen lighter or darker. )ince there !" affect the whole screen% this flag is mainl# useful to avoid the background desktop to be affected.

)creen resolution ffects the resolutions detected b# the application. 'here is a choice of the following values(

• )O; modes( the classic ?(3 screen resolutions starting from

320x200 up to 280x800

• ,DM" modes( the t#pical >(6 resolutions from >?0x3>0 up to

680x080

• Monitor native modes( whatever returned from the video card

otice that 320x200 resolution is t#picall# no longer supported% but it is not a problem to emulate it in window and this resolution is necessar# to run some older games.

1imit resolution Disables an# resolution higher than the selected value. E# default% the choice is RunlimitedR% that means no resolution is disabled.

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the Input ta"#

4ursor ,andling

,ide cursor -orces hiding the hardware cursor. )how 4ursor -orces showing the hardware cursor.

4orrect mouse position 4ompensate for P%9 mouse coordinates when the window is moved or resiAed. "t should be t#picall# set for most games.

Window frame compensation "n some cases% mouse P%9 coordinates appear displaced of the same amout as the window border *top and left+. 4hecking this flag causes DxWnd to subtract this value and recover the error.

-orce cursor clipping )et hardware cursor clipping within the windows region. "t greatel# improves the game pla#abilit# in some cases *namel#% the Dungeon eeper series+

eep cursor within window void moving the cursor outside the window area. Doing so was used as C4ursor -- directive in some games.

eep cursor fixed "nhibits the )et4ursor!os*+ !"( in some cases% it affects the programs behaviour *e.g. Cecrodrome+.

"ntercept ;D" cursor clipping

Disables ;D" clipping% avoiding unpleasant effects such as the mouse that is not free to move within the whole window.

Message processing Most programs get P%9 mouse coordinates from the mouse messages or from the specific !". ne trick# wa# to get the same info% though% is to listen from the windows message /ueue using !eekMessag @ ;etMessage% and retrieve the P%9 coordinates from 9 received message in the pt field. 4hecking this box make DxWnd to fix the P%9 coordinates on this uncommon situation as well *see C=prising+.

-ix WML4,"''G)'

)low down mouse polling )ome old programs have this bad habit to continuousl# loop through the mouse status polling with no dela#% using 00< of 4!= time. 'his flag introduces a minimal and unnoticeable dela# between mouse polls% saving most of 4!= time.

:elease mouse outside window

ormall#% when the mouse is placed outside the window and the window keeps receiving mouse messages% the mouse cursor is placed on the

corresponding window border and the program performs video scrolling or so forth. 'he re are some cases in which #ou dont want this to happen% for instance when #ou want to use two programs alternativel#% such as a game and a ke#board simulator.

4hecking this flag causes DxWnd to detect the mouse outside window condition% and in this case it places the cursor right in the middle of the screen% where it is supposed to make no harm.

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e#board ,andling

Gnables hot ke#s DxWnd can set some special ke#s *lt5-n+ to trigger special actions% storing the ke# association in the DxWnd.ini file.

'his flag enables the hot ke#s definitions. "f unchecked% all hot ke#s are disabled for this program.

"ntercept lt5-? ke# "ntercepts the lt5-? ke# in the message processing loop to immediatel# terminate the program% avoiding an# programmed exit procedure *out5tro% savegame warnings% ads...+. f course% "- the game is doing the message processing loop

Message ,andling

-ilter offending messages "n theor#% a fullscreen message should not expect several messages that are impossible to receive% such as border siAing% taskbar events and so forth. )ome programs are not properl# coded to react to such

RimpossibleR messages and ma# show falfuncions. 'his flag causes potentiall# harmful and meaningless messages to be suppressed. !eek all messages in /ueue

Direct"nput

Direct"nput ,ooking Gnables hooking on Direct"nput methods

"nitial coord. "nitial coordinates for the Direct"nput mouse coordinates

P% 9 range :ange of P% 9 values *min Q max+ that is permitted for the mouse coordinates when detected b# Direct"nput methods.

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the Timing ta"#

-rame per )econd

-rame per )econd 5 1imit "ntroduces a configurable dela# between screen refresh operations% so that the -!) is limited accordingl#

-rame per second S )kip "ntroduces no dela# in the screen operations% but skips several screen updates so that the actual -!) value is limited without the program noticing it

-rame per second S dela# *msec+

'he dela# expressed in milliseconds to be used either for 1imit or )kip operations

)how -!) on title When checked% the -!) counter is appended to the window title

)how -!) overla# When checked% the -!) counter is drawn as an overla# of the program client area% in a corner of the screen and periodicall# and randoml# moved to other cornes to avoid accidentall# overlap an important screen region.

'ime stretching

'ime )tretching S initial( "f this option is checked% DxWnd tries to emulate an accelerated *x n+ or decelerated *(n+ time flow. 'he value set in the listbox is the initial value% that can be altered b# means of the time control slider in the time panel. When checked% DxWnd stretches time in timing !" such as ;et)#stem'ime*+% the /uer# performance !"s and the )leep !"s% that are the most used wa#s to control a program timing. )how time stretch When checked% the time stretch ratio is drawn as an overla# of the

program client area% in a corner of the screen and periodicall# and randoml# moved to other cornes whenever it is updated.

-ine time ad$ust When checked% the time stretch ratio coarse becomes finer% from a .7 *70<+ratio to a . *0<+ ratio for each tick. 'his allows a better and finer control of timing% despite the more limited range *about 0.7x up to 2.0x+

"ntercept :'D)4 opcode 'he platform performance counter should be determined b# calling the Vuer#!erformance4ounter*+ !". Eut there is a more direct wa#% that is calling the assembler :D')4 famil# instructions. When checked% DxWnd looks for :D')4 and :D')4! intructions b# disassembling the program text segment and replaces them with stretcheable time counters. )tretch timers When checked% the window timers are stretched% namel# the user32.dll

timers set b# )et'imer and the multimiedia timers in winmm.dll set b# time)etGvent*+

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the %og ta"#

Gnable 'race 'his works as a global flag that enables@disables all subse/uent traces.

"f unchecked% no output is written.

"f checked% error messages% plus the specific messages related to other flags *see below+ are written in the dxwnd.log file in the programs execution director#.

DxWnd hacks Gnables the operation logging of all significant events that DxWnd performs to bring the fullscreen program in windowed mode.

DirectDraw trace Gnables the operation logging of DirectDraw operations Direct3D trace Gnables the operation logging of Direct3D operations

DirectP full trace Gnables extended logging of all DirectP operations% no matter whether the# are related to fullscreen @ windowed mode or not.

Win Gvents Gnables logging of all Window messages intercepted in the

applications /ueues% together with events that are generated or processed internall# b# the !eek@;etMessage !"s.

4ursor @ Mouse Gnables extended logging of all cursor or mouse related operations.  EGW:G  some old games dont mind the possibilit# of concurrent use and perform mouse@cursor operations in close loops% so that this t#pe of log can /uickl# grow /uite big in siAe. "n this case% consider the possibilit# to slow down the program b# using the C)low Down flag.

"mport 'able Gnables extended logging of the "mport 'able as seen b# the DxWnd program.

'his can be /uite useful to anal#se and troubleshoot uncommon executables *e.g. when cop# protections are applied+.

Debug Writes some more detailed information for diagnostic purposes. :egistr# op. Gnables the operation logging of registr# operations

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The Direct& ta"#

DirectP Oersion ,ook )ets the basic intervention strateg#( depending on the game

technolog#% a different hooking techni/ue should be adopted. utomatic tries to find it b# itself% but it doesnt alwa#s succeed pen;1 handling re/uire a dedicated setting *see libs tab+

Gmulation Defines the basic surface emulation strateg#( either R 'oneR *the program controls the desktop color depth+% R (rimary )uerR *same as none% but blit operations are made against a memor# surface and then transferred to the real primar# surface S this handles the otherwise known pich5bug problem+ or R(rimary SuraceR *the virtual primar# has a different color depth of the real primar#% and DxWnd takes care of the color transformation internall#( slower but no screen mode

changes+.

'he R Automatic modeR uses a ver# simple strateg# for Direct3D games( it tries the R(rimary SuraceR mode first and% if that doesnt

succeed% switches to R%ocked suraceR. "t is the best strateg# " came across% but it doesnt alwa#s work

uto primar# surface refresh

)ome badl# programmed games *namel# the R4ossaksR series+ dont follow the specification to blit changes on screen% the# $ust get the primar# surface memor# address and keep writing there. 'he option forces a periodic blitting of the primar# surface on screen even if the game doesnt re/uest it. 9ou want a second example& "t has not been eas# to find% but R4rush DeluxeR suffers the same problem.

O"DG N )9)'GM )urface on fail

When this option is set and a 4reate)urface fails because of video memor# shortage% DxWnd backs this up b# creating the surface on

memor#. ddl# enough% some games expect to notice this b# themselves and work correctl# onl# when the option is ' set.

)uppress DP common errors )ome games running in windowed mode generate sporadic errors that wouldnt prevent the game to work% but terminate the application. 'his option makes directx methods return  condition in such common cases. Make Eackbuf attachable lters the siAe specification of the created backbuffer so that it

copes with the actual primar# surface% so that it ma# be attachable to a TE=--G: surface. "t makes CDave Mirra -reest#le EMP pla#able.

Elit from Eackbuffer )ome games *the )ims% the onl# one so far....+ read graphic data from the primar# surface. When the game runs windowed% the approximation introduced in a scaled window brings cumulative error that appear as a progressive RsmearingR effect. "n this case% it might be better to read the data from the backbuffer surface that is not scaled% even if in such a wa# #ou get other troubles when scrolling *see it b#

#ourself...+. 'he onl# reasonable alternative( write game code in a better wa#% in m# opinion

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4ompensate -lip emulation

)uppress clipping DxWnd sets clipping on the primar# surface. "f the game does it as wa#% there might be interferences. s a matter of fact% setting this flag is the onl# wa# to make R!ax "mperia Gminent DomainR working correctl#.

-ull :G4' blit 4auses ever# blit operation to primar# surface to be applied to the full surface *=11 rect coordinates+. "t could be hand# to recover wrong surface handling% but this situation should be classifies more properl# as a DxWnd E=;

!alette update dont blit void executing a plit operation in case of palette update. 'his could be used to fix conflicts between ;D" and ddraw palette updates

)et G: compatible mode Vuite useful in Windows Oista to Win8 platforms% forces the program to declare its compatibilit# with G: desktop mode% avoiding then the switch from G: to standard desktop mode.

-orces ,G1 -orces ,ardware Gmulation 1a#er WinF color fix

Dont fix the !ixel -ormat Do not tr# to fix the surface pixel format E# default set no

1!,4,G1

-ix ddraw ref counter Decrement the reference counter of some ob$ects to keep in proper account all service ob$ects created internall# b# DxWnd

:eturn 0 ref counter :eturns alwa#s a 0 reference counter when a surface @ directdraw session is released

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the %i"s ta"#

;D"

o ;D" handling Disables video5related ;D" @ user32 !" hooking

)caled ;D" calls )cales ;D" !" coordinates to fit the window stretching Gmulated Device 4ontext ,andle an emulated ;D" D4

Map D4 to !rimar# )urface =se the ddraw primar# surface D4 for ;D" operations

)cale font parameters 'ries to scale font parameters to fit the window stretching

;lide *3D-P+

,ook ;lide libs Gnables ;lide !" hooking

pen;1

,ook pen;1 Gnables pen;1 !" hooking

-orce ,ook Gxperimental S probabl# unnecessar#

4ustom pen;1 librar# E# default% DxWnd detects pen;1 !"s within the standard pen;132.dll librar#. 'he field allow to set a different filename for an# custom pen;1 implementation that ma# refer to a different librar# name.

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the *omapti"ility ta"#

-ake Oersion 4auses the program to detect the chosen Windows release. otice( this is not the same thing as the compatibilit# setting of the Windows properties panel% that also ad$ust the s#stems behaviour to emulate the chosen platform.

'weaks

)uppress d3d6 extensions D3d6.dll comes in different versions depending on the platform( on older windows releases it exports the Direct3D4reate !"% while in more recent versions there are man# further exported calls. 'he flag suppresses the additional entries.

'extures not power of 2 fix 4lean TE=--G: X0.0 fix 4lean TE=--G: X.0 fix E#pass font unsupported api )et single core process affinit#

)uppress d3d6 extensions

)uppress "MG 'he flag tries to suppress "MG windows% though that is not full# working #et

,andle exceptions )etting this flag causes DxWnd to set its own exception handler that tries *and often succeds+ to fix sevral common exceptions such as the divide b# Aero exception of old games that were tr#ing to calculate the 4!= speed.

1imit available resources Makes the /uer# for available resources *either :M% hard disk free space and so on+ to return a limited value( some old games cant handle a ver# big integer number and see it as a negative value% refusing to start.

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:egistr#

Gmulate registr# "ntercepts registr# read operations so that missing entries are replaced b# the values in DxWnd.reg file

verride registr# "ntercepts registr# read operations so that missing and exixting entries are replaced b# the values in DxWnd.reg file

"@ 'weaks

-ix buffered "@ after Win8 )et 4D:M Drive '#pe

,ide empt# 4D:M drives

3D Gffects

Disable 'extures :emap all textures with a white texture *D3D onl#+.

3D wireframe s a fanc# and eas# action that DxWnd ma# implement on D3D and pen;1 programs *not ddraw ones+% checking this flag will show the graphic in wireframe mode.

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DxWnd Status

'he DxWnd status shows the following information% refreshing them

periodicall# each one second(

DxWnd version( in the picture% the current one( 2.0.F8

,ook status( either "D1G% :GD9 or :="; *see tra# icons+

when running(

:unning( the task name *see the configuration panel+

)creen K *width x height+ colordepth% as seen b# the task

-ull)creen K 9es@o depending whether the task has set the cooperative level to

GP41=)"OG or not

DP Oersion K version of the DirectDraw @ Direcr3D interface currentl# in use

*namel#% the one used to create the primar# surface+.

1ogging K the logging flag *either  or --+

4ursor K the P%9 cursor coordinates as intercepted and fixed b# DxWnd

-!) K frame per second value calulated b# DxWnd

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Time Slider

'he 'ime )lider shows the current time stretching value%

refreshing it periodicall# each one second. "t also allow the user

to alter the time stretching factor b# grabbing the slider *click

on the slider with the left button and keep it pressed+ and moving

it to left or to right(

'he time stretching factors shown below the slider are related to

the coarse *default+ time resolution. "f the fine time ad$ustment

flag is set% the leftmost slider position corresponds approx. 'o

x2 and the rightmost to approx. (2

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DxWnd (alette

'he DxWnd !alette shows the 27> colors in the current emulated

palette% refreshing them periodicall# each one second(

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dxwnd+ini coniguration ile

'he dxwnd.ini configuration file holds the DxWnd almost complete

configuration *some registr# tricks need the dxwnd.reg file with

registr# tweaks...+% but needs no manual editing since almost all

the information in there comes form the DxWnd ;=".

'here are a few exceptions that need to be known so that $ust in

case #ou can manuall# edit them.

,window-

section(

langK

)ets the DxWnd ;=" language. 4urrentl# supported

languages are onl#

G S english *default language+

4 S chinese

"' S italian

When #ou set a langK

<XX>

specification DxWnd looks for

and loads the resources in the :esourcesL

<XX>

.dll file%

so an#one could build and use his own language pack.

langKdefault disables resource loading and the program

uses the default and built5in english pack.

langKautomatic makes DxWnd search for the current ="

language and tr# to map it to the available language

packs. "f no corresponding pack is available% it

switches to the default *english+ behaviour.

'his setting is alwa#s overridden b# a @langK

<XX>

argument line specification.

posxK

<x0>

pos#K

<y0>

siAxK

<sizX>

siA#K

<sizY>

'he DxWnd window position and siAe. Whenever #ou move @

stretch the ;="% the new coordinates are stored here.

,

keymapping

-

section(

timetoggle=0xnn altf4=0xnn timeslow=0xnn timefast=0xnn ...

)ets the DxWnd hot ke#s mapping *see next paragraph+.

'he available values represent the hex ke# code and

range from 0xF0 lt5-+ to 0xF4 lt5-2+.

'hese are the available hot ke#s(

timetoggle:

toggle time stretching on Q off

altf4:

terminate the program% such as t#ping lt5-?

timeslow:

decrease time speed

timefast:

increase time speed

cliptoggle

( toggle cursor clipping on Q off

refresh

( do a screen refresh

logtoggle

( toggle logging on Q off

fpstoggle

( toggle -!) show on Q off

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