Alpha Centauri 2

Community => Council Room => Topic started by: SenniTreborius on October 06, 2014, 03:39:56 PM

Title: Dxwnd for running SMACX in window
Post by: SenniTreborius on October 06, 2014, 03:39:56 PM

I was wanting to run SMACX in windowed mode. (AltTabing doesn't work in Yitzi's patch). So I installed Dxwnd and it does. I was wondering if anyone if anyone has configured it before to get the best window. Also if windowed I can use OBS for recording games. Unfortunately this has to be in windowed mode for laptop games, hence my problem, but its so easy on a modern PC.

Title: Re: Dxwnd for running SMACX in window
Post by: Yitzi on October 06, 2014, 05:04:47 PM

Quote from: SenniTreborius on October 06, 2014, 03:39:56 PM

I was wanting to run SMACX in windowed mode. (AltTabing doesn't work in Yitzi's patch).

For me it does, so it may depend on other settings...

Title: Re: Dxwnd for running SMACX in window
Post by: SenniTreborius on October 06, 2014, 05:15:24 PM

Quote from: Yitzi on October 06, 2014, 05:04:47 PM

Quote from: SenniTreborius on October 06, 2014, 03:39:56 PM

I was wanting to run SMACX in windowed mode. (AltTabing doesn't work in Yitzi's patch).

For me it does, so it may depend on other settings...

Yes, it may be because I've hooked Dxwnd to SMACX already. I'm going to have a look at that. Got to have a coffee with a friend whose just back from Spain first.
Thing is Dxwnd gives such a damned good window.

Edit: It was not Dxwnd I'm uninstalling OBS to see if it was that.

Title: Re: Dxwnd for running SMACX in window
Post by: SenniTreborius on October 09, 2014, 12:02:26 AM

Actually I saw in some post elsewhere that the GOG release had Alt-Tabing disabled.
Anyway Dxwnd does work, but I need SMACX to run in a slightly smaller window. About 1024x720.
Question what do I do to achieve this.
What do I do to alter in the Alpha Centauri.ini file to achieve this size precisely. That's all I need to know.
IE I want x=1024 y=720. Can it be done. Otherwise I will have to revert to a smaller resolution.

Title: Re: Dxwnd for running SMACX in window
Post by: Petek on October 09, 2014, 01:03:59 AM

Hi SenniTreborius,

See this link (http://www.gogwiki.com/wiki/Sid_Meier%27s_Alpha_Centauri#Restoring_Alt.2BTab_support) for instructions how to enable Alt-Tab in GOG's SMACX.

To change the game's resolution, first try adding the line

DirectDraw=0

to the [Alpha Centauri] section of your Alpha Centauri.ini file. If that doesn't work, make sure that you're editing the "real" .ini file. On some systems, you'll have a "bare bones" ini file in the main SMAC folder, but the "real" ini file is in some location such as

C:\Users\(user name)\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri

The DirectDraw command doesn't work on some netbooks. If that's the case for you, see this thread (http://www.weplayciv.com/forums/showthread.php?6915-DirectDraw-0-failing-me!), especially Chuft's comments. His screenshots were removed, but I hope you can make sense of it anyway.

If none of this helps, please post again and describe what happened. Good luck!

Title: Re: Dxwnd for running SMACX in window
Post by: SenniTreborius on October 09, 2014, 01:26:27 AM

Quote from: Petek on October 09, 2014, 01:03:59 AM

Hi SenniTreborius,

To change the game's resolution, first try adding the line

DirectDraw=0

to the [Alpha Centauri] section of your Alpha Centauri.ini file. If that doesn't work, make sure that you're editing the "real" .ini file. On some systems, you'll have a "bare bones" ini file in the main SMAC folder, but the "real" ini file is in some location such as

C:\Users\(user name)\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri

The DirectDraw command doesn't work on some netbooks. If that's the case for you, see this thread (http://www.weplayciv.com/forums/showthread.php?6915-DirectDraw-0-failing-me!), especially Chuft's comments. His screenshots were removed, but I hope you can make sense of it anyway.

If none of this helps, please post again and describe what happened. Good luck!

I have Asus X53E on which I wish to record SMACX for broadcast using OBS. Unfortunately due to my (and any) laptop GPU configuration I cannot use direct game capture, instead I have to run it in a window. I can do this with Dxwnd, the window is immobile and has a 50 Pixel topboard which hides the bottom of my screen, hiding part of the GUI and making the game look ugly for broadcast. What I would like to be able to do is is run it in a 1024 x 720 window, which I can (but loose even more off the bottom of the screen). I would like to tell the game to play in 1024 x 720, but don't know how to change whatever in the ini file to do this. Otherwise I would have to revert to 800x600, and find somewhere else to stream it to AC2 as I would not like to have my favourite game exposed to derogation at the hand of younger modern gamers on youtube.
Please help,
SenniTreborius; husband of Deirdre.

Title: Re: Dxwnd for running SMACX in window
Post by: Petek on October 09, 2014, 03:06:03 AM

The above suggestions pretty well exhaust what I know about changing the resolution at which SMACX runs. I don't know how to force the game to run at a specific resolution such as 1024 x 720.

Here are two other possibilities:

1. Make sure that the DirectDraw command isn't enabled in your Alpha Centauri.ini file. Start a copy of the game. At this point, don't worry about the screen resolution or colors. Now, get back to your desktop and start a second instance of the game. Exit one of the games. The other instance should now be running in a "window" in the upper left side of your desktop. Is this suitable for what you want to do?

2. I know that others have recorded SMACX and posted Let's Plays to You Tube. Can you contact someone who did this and ask for advice?

Title: Re: Dxwnd for running SMACX in window
Post by: SenniTreborius on October 09, 2014, 04:05:30 AM

Quote from: Petek on October 09, 2014, 03:06:03 AM

The above suggestions pretty well exhaust what I know about changing the resolution at which SMACX runs. I don't know how to force the game to run at a specific resolution such as 1024 x 720.

Here are two other possibilities:

1. Make sure that the DirectDraw command isn't enabled in your Alpha Centauri.ini file. Start a copy of the game. At this point, don't worry about the screen resolution or colors. Now, get back to your desktop and start a second instance of the game. Exit one of the games. The other instance should now be running in a "window" in the upper left side of your desktop. Is this suitable for what you want to do?

2. I know that others have recorded SMACX and posted Let's Plays to You Tube. Can you contact someone who did this and ask for advice?

Thanks Petek for your help and assistance.
The CtlAltTab combination worked for forcing into a window. Alas, I don't seem to be able to record the game in that window. I'll try contacting one of those who have been successful. I believe that aliopologio (probably spelling his name incorrectly) posts here. Of course it could be my lack of ability with OBS.

Title: Re: Dxwnd for running SMACX in window
Post by: sisko on October 09, 2014, 05:12:13 AM

Quote from: SenniTreborius on October 09, 2014, 04:05:30 AM

I'll try contacting one of those who have been successful. I believe that aliopologio (probably spelling his name incorrectly) posts here. Of course it could be my lack of ability with OBS.

from those that were able to record, alfapiomega has an account here. maybe try to PM him..

Title: Re: Dxwnd for running SMACX in window
Post by: SenniTreborius on October 09, 2014, 01:39:51 PM

Quote from: sisko on October 09, 2014, 05:12:13 AM

from those that were able to record, alfapiomega has an account here. maybe try to PM him..

thanks I shall. being a bit of a terrier about this.

Title: Re: Dxwnd for running SMACX in window
Post by: sisko on October 09, 2014, 01:54:23 PM

Quote from: SenniTreborius on October 09, 2014, 01:39:51 PM

being a bit of a terrier about this.

No problem there. We're here to help.