Windows 7: New Windows 7 DirectX Resources Available

Microsoft has made new DirectX resources available for both Windows 7 and Windows Vista designed to illustrate the interoperability of the underlying graphics technology in the two platforms. Devs can take advantage of a whitepaper and two samples which are set up to streamline content creation leveraging interoperability support, using surface sharing between various Windows graphics APIs, revealed a member of the Microsoft DirectX Developer team.

The Windows graphics application programming interfaces, covered by the new whitepaper and samples, include Direct3D 11, Direct2D, Direct3D 10, and Direct3D 9Ex. According to Microsoft the resources apply not only to Windows 7, but also to Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) via the Windows Client Platform Update for Windows Vista.

“Both the whitepaper and sample applications help developers use multiple APIs to render to the same surface in an application designed for Windows 7 or Windows Vista operating systems. Best practice guidelines and pointers to additional resources are available in this whitepaper. Sample application for synchronized shared surface support is available here. Sample application using the shared surface queue helper utility is available here,” the Microsoft DirectX Developer team representative added.

Microsoft is also offering developers resources highlighting Windows 7 Direct3D9Ex Presentation improvements for video applications. The evolution from Vista to Windows 7, and from DirectX 10 to DirectX 11 brought with it Flip Mode Present and Present Statistics in Direct3D 9Ex and Desktop Window Manager. The software giant explains that the new Windows 7 additions permit devs to build applications that cut down on system resource load in scenarios in which DWM is enabled.

“Present Statistics enhancements associated with Flip Mode Present enable Direct3D 9Ex applications to better control the rate of presentation by providing real-time feedback and correction mechanisms. Detailed explanations and pointers to sample resources are included in this whitepaper. Sample application using Direct3D9Ex Flip Mode Present and its Present Statisics is available here.”