Can I use GDI+ with Dolphin?

GDI+ is Microsoft's replacement API for GDI - the Graphics Device
Interface.  It's available on XP and - according to MS - can be
installed on W98, WME, NT4SP6 and W2K.  It is a new object oriented
C++ API with some very interesting features (alpha blending, gradient
paints, etc).

Is there any chance to use that API from Dolphin?


bye
--
Stefan Matthias Aust // Truth Until Paradox
"Ich glaub noch immer an die Welt, die ewig ihre Runden zieht" --U&I

Stefan,

> GDI+ is Microsoft's replacement API for GDI - the Graphics Device
> Interface.  It's available on XP and - according to MS - can be
> installed on W98, WME, NT4SP6 and W2K.  It is a new object oriented
> C++ API with some very interesting features (alpha blending, gradient
> paints, etc).
>
> Is there any chance to use that API from Dolphin?

This looks like something that should have been done with COM but is instead
exposed as C++, probably with the assumption that it will be used indirectly
via .NET.  COM provides a very nice way of using what amount to C++ objects
across process and language boundaries without the baggage of
compiler-specific name decoration, etc., and would be a natural choice for
something like this (DirectX is an example).  I'm hoping that there's a COM
layer underneath it (with type info), but, I fear otherwise.  My first step
would be to look for type libraries, and failing that, to try to open the
redistributable DLL in the ActiveX Component Wizard - type info can be
linked into DLLs.  Otherwise, there is some info in the EducationCentre that
might help.

Have a good one,

Bill

--
Wilhelm K. Schwab, Ph.D.
[hidden email]

"Stefan Matthias Aust" <[hidden email]> wrote:
> GDI+ is Microsoft's replacement API for GDI - the Graphics Device
> Interface.  It's available on XP and - according to MS - can be
> installed on W98, WME, NT4SP6 and W2K.  It is a new object oriented
> C++ API with some very interesting features (alpha blending, gradient
> paints, etc).
>
> Is there any chance to use that API from Dolphin?

I don't think it is a C++ API.  I guess it is a set of CLI/CLR objects that
can be used from managed C++, as well as from C# and VB and others.  If I am
correct on this (I'm not sure) than you can create CCWs (COM callable
wrappers) for those libraries, register them,  and then use it as any other
COM object. This can be done with a command line utility (named axreg or
similar) , or inside VS.NET.  The utility can create typelib and register
the wrappers from the .NET dll you give it.

Davorin,

> I don't think it is a C++ API.

Here's a quote from the MS web site:  "The GDI+ C++ class-based interface is
designed for use by C/C++ programmers. Familiarity with the Windows
graphical user interface and message-driven architecture is required."

A little further down (on
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/gdicpp/cpp_
aboutgdip01_4bas.asp) they say: "GDI+ is an application programming
interface (API) that is exposed through a set of C++ classes."


> I guess it is a set of CLI/CLR objects that
> can be used from managed C++, as well as from C# and VB and others.
> If I am
> correct on this (I'm not sure) than you can create CCWs (COM callable
> wrappers) for those libraries, register them,  and then use it as any
other
> COM object.

Interesting, but, (criticism aimed at MS, not you) isn't this bass
ackwards??  I'm all for making something written by a third party in a
language of their choosing easily accessible from any other language, but, a
new GDI is something that screams for efficiency, and shouldn't take on the
burden of a wrapper to call it, at least not from a C/C++ (or Dolphin!!)
client that can make efficient use of in-proc COM objects.


> This can be done with a command line utility (named axreg or
> similar) , or inside VS.NET.  The utility can create typelib and register
> the wrappers from the .NET dll you give it.

Thanks for the insight.

Have a good one,

Bill


--
Wilhelm K. Schwab, Ph.D.
[hidden email]

"Davorin Mestric" <[hidden email]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:9pk3g0$5pb4$[hidden email]...
> > [GDI+]
> I don't think it is a C++ API.  I guess it is a set of CLI/CLR objects
that
> can be used from managed C++, as well as from C# and VB and others.

Actually, it's an ordinary set of DLL functions which are then wrapped
either as C++ class (or in some other way) as CLR object. So, theoretically,
one could probably create some Dolphin classes for that library. However,
the only function, I was interested in was alpha blending and I noticed in
the meantime that since W98/W2K there's a GDI API call for this function.

Thanks for your responses.


bye
--
Stefan Matthias Aust  //  Truth Until Paradox