Reality Factory

I see that there are two different VideoDriverDLLs.

What does the d3ddrv.dll and what does the d3d7xdrv.dll?(it could be that the d3d7xdrv.dll only handles specific code...)

What does the d3ddrv.dll and what does the d3d7xdrv.dll?(it could be that the d3d7xdrv.dll only handles specific code...)

d3ddrv.dll is the original driver, d3d7xdrv.dll has been modified to use directx7

Is DirectX9 backward compatible to run all DirectX7 commands?
Would it be feasible to just add DX9 commands to the DX7 driver, and in that way add some of the new DX9 features to RF? Or does it require to fully rewrite the DX7 driver?

You can use the dx9 sdk to write dx7 or dx9 applications but you can't mix the versions. Therefor you have to rewrite the whole app (there have been quite a few changes since dx7...)

So even if the driver will be re-written to DX9, it will not be strait forward to keep it compatible with Genesis + chnages will be needed also in Genesis?

If so, then I guess ot will be better to consider to build a new RF based on an engine like Ogre or Irrlich?

The whole driver has to be ported to directX9. Aside of that, nothing has to be changed, i think. So, the d3d7xdrv is the only one that is actually used, i assume?

Could i have the source code, or where can i find it? Preferably in one single file because i don't have Visual Studio, i only have the free toolkit compiler. So it will be a bit complex with ten or twenty files using the RFScriptEditor...

well you could just port the driver to dx9 but to use any dx9 specific features you also have to change the genesis engine (eg moving transformations from the engine to the driver)

If so, then I guess ot will be better to consider to build a new RF based on an engine like Ogre or Irrlich?

this question has been discussed in other topics... (eg RF and Jet3d)

So, the d3d7xdrv is the only one that is actually used, i assume?

You can use both; the d3ddrv.dll (like the ogl driver) doesn't support advanced features like bumpmapping but may be more compatible than the d3d7xdrv.dll

Could i have the source code, or where can i find it?

the driver source is included in the genesis source code download, you will find it under GenesisLib->Engine->Drivers->D3D7xDrv

Many thanks.