switcher3d.lha utility/workbench - Comments

TSK (84.248.40.19) @ 11 Apr 2012, 11:34.03

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:34:03 +0200

By: TSK (84.248.40.19)

>"Perhaps switcher3d should directly use CompositeTags() and NOT Warp3D nor MiniGL so it will avoid to reallocate/convert the windows as textures 
As CompositeTags() directly use bitmaps (as textures) it will economize memory" 
 
Obviously yes. But I haven't had time to find out how that Boing demo from Hans works. Unfortunately my routines which works fine with Warp3D doesn't work with Compositing. Don't know what's wrong.

thellier (80.12.110.205) @ 11 Apr 2012, 10:34.13

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:34:13 +0200

By: thellier (80.12.110.205)

Perhaps switcher3d should directly use CompositeTags() and NOT Warp3D nor MiniGL so it will avoid to reallocate/convert the windows as textures 
As CompositeTags() directly use bitmaps (as textures) it will economize memory

Tuomas/TSK (84.248.40.19) @ 15 Sep 2011, 03:09.06

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:09:06 +0200

By: Tuomas/TSK (84.248.40.19)

@samo79 
I've made a mistake when packing my archive and forgot to disable/clear BGPIC tooltype. Disable or remove BGPIC tooltype or replace the path to any picture file of your choice. BGPIC means background picture. That fixed path to a picture in the tooltype of course is good for my hard drive and its content only. Kuvat=Pictures, Maisemat=Landscapes and Taustakuvia=Backdrops. 
 
I've been working on a new version of Switcher3D written from scratch from time to time.

samo79 (188.152.134.9) @ 15 Sep 2011, 01:09.28

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:09:28 +0200

By: samo79 (188.152.134.9)

I did a fresh installation --> OS 4.1 Update 1, then 2 and 3 so my system is clean 
 
But i get this error: 
 
Switcher3D ERROR: Can't find background picture KUVAT:Maisemat/oceans_063.jpg

fingus (92.73.219.74) @ 18 Nov 2009, 11:05.22

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:05:22 +0100

By: fingus (92.73.219.74)

I have still a litte bit flickering on scrolls of screens. It flickers before it scrolls!

meet.mrnrg (70.109.48.186) @ 12 Dec 2008, 11:42.51

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:42:51 +0100

By: meet.mrnrg (70.109.48.186)

the program relies on a Image that resided on an assigned drive. 
BGPIC = blah, non-existent assign and file path. 
Use Icon Information and re-set value manually.

Tuomas (80.220.50.56) @ 25 Jun 2008, 04:16.04

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:16:04 +0200

By: Tuomas (80.220.50.56)

Quote: "Is currently Switcher3D using 3D acceleration from gfx card to enach its 
speed?" 
Yes !

Zettmaster (89.57.33.30) @ 19 Feb 2008, 11:33.53

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:33:53 +0100

By: Zettmaster (89.57.33.30)

Can you make a video on youtube? Great work!

Tuxedo (83.181.165.106) @ 02 Feb 2008, 09:57.12

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 21:57:12 +0100

By: Tuxedo (83.181.165.106)

Every new version was nicer! :) 
I think only 3(almost 2 easy to do) things needed to daily use for me: 
 
1 - Change background color for switch animation(an RGB tooltype wellcome) 
2 - Have to get much speed creating thumbs and made it antialiased, currently 
wasnt so nice to see isometric thumbs. 
3 - can scroll between thumbed screens pressing again hotkey like on windows, 
was faster thgan choise it with mouse and much comfortable. 
 
P.S. Is currently Switcher3D using 3D acceleration from gfx card to enach its 
speed? 
 
However GREAT WORK! 
 
Tuxedo.

Jack (132.68.248.217) @ 22 Jan 2008, 10:34.42

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:34:42 +0100

By: Jack (132.68.248.217)

Wow, animation speed!!! 
You're hero:-) 
 
So far found the following issue: CUBE animation and FLYING do the same thing, 
probably the FLYING thingie. 
While trying to get grips on this tried WINDOW tooltype return from alt-tabbed 
mode doesn't redraw the top fifth of the screen properly (leftovers of windows' 
thumbnails are there). 
 
 
Keep on! Great proggy. 
Jack

Tuomas (80.220.170.229) @ 21 Jan 2008, 10:27.30

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:27:30 +0100

By: Tuomas (80.220.170.229)

It's possible to slow down animations pressing shift key. Now there's 3 
different speed settings for animations from version 3.0.

Jack (132.68.248.77) @ 15 Jan 2008, 11:25.46

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:25:46 +0100

By: Jack (132.68.248.77)

Another question/request: is it a big deal to add some 
"slowdown" cube rotation? 
I think it is more an issue of  number of frames in the animation issue... 
 
Thanks, 
Jack

Tuomas (80.220.170.229) @ 09 Jan 2008, 11:56.10

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:56:10 +0100

By: Tuomas (80.220.170.229)

Small correction. I tested it just a moment ago. Pressing and releasing a zoomer 
key without touching a mouse wheel doesn't cause any crash.

Tuomas (80.220.170.229) @ 09 Jan 2008, 11:51.05

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:51:05 +0100

By: Tuomas (80.220.170.229)

@Jack 
It's not possible to disable it completely ATM. Just use such key which you 
don't hit accidently. 
 
If I start scrolling mouse wheel right after pressing activation key it might 
cause that crash but waiting a little bit and it doesn't crash most likely. You 
can test that feature if you don't have anything important open and unsaved and 
if you are not trying to get uptime record ;-)

Jack (132.68.248.77) @ 09 Jan 2008, 09:17.12

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:17:12 +0100

By: Jack (132.68.248.77)

Correction: "ZOOMER_KEY=" causes the zoom key to default to decimal 
128 (hex 80), tilde upstroke. 
The original tooltype had decimal 80 (hex 50, F1 downstroke). 
 
How do I disable it except of using the upstroke a spare key I have here ?

Jack (132.68.248.77) @ 09 Jan 2008, 08:56.40

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:56:40 +0100

By: Jack (132.68.248.77)

Really nice commodity:-) 
Let me  request some features: 
cube rotation speed (too fast here). 
 
And there seems to be undocumented feature: 
an empty zoomer key tooltip seems to disable the feature: 
ZOOMER_KEY= 
(decided to disable it due to the bug fat warning in docs) 
 
Thanks!

Tuomas (80.220.170.229) @ 30 Sep 2007, 07:00.12

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 19:00:12 +0200

By: Tuomas (80.220.170.229)

@HD 
Some keyboards have three "Winblows logo" keys and I've heard some 
keyboards have only two. If there's three of them there's two "Winblows 
logo"s and one "menu" key. It's between the right "Winblows 
logo" and the right "Ctrl". Two of the "Winblows logo" 
keys are used as "Amiga logo" keys (left Amiga and right Amiga) on 
Amiga systems. If you have only two of them you can't use that "menu 
key" feature in Switcher3D. Extra keys on "multimedia keyboards" 
could be one solution to use instead of that "menu" key. I have to add 
user defineable key codes option to Switcher3D.

HD (74.112.187.143) @ 29 Sep 2007, 06:24.46

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 06:24:46 +0200

By: HD (74.112.187.143)

Excuse my ignorance but where is the "menu" key on my PS2 keyboard? 
I have a key to the right of my space bar, ALT, then what possibly could 
be the "menu" key, but it doesn't do anything when I press it. 
After that key is CTRL...

anonymous (91.109.47.113) @ 13 Jun 2007, 11:36.18

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:36:18 +0200

By: anonymous (91.109.47.113)

Correction! It now seems to be working, bit slow, bit I'll have a play with the 
options

anonymous (91.109.47.113) @ 13 Jun 2007, 11:18.31

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:18:31 +0200

By: anonymous (91.109.47.113)

nope on my my Micro, does come up with fancy muiltcoloured windows, a bit like 
the orginal Amiga 1000, here's the 4,025 colours at once picture. Although they 
do look arranged like the demo pictures, they're not recongnizable as any of the 
open screens. This is on a 512Mg Micro. 
 
"Switcher3D ERROR: Can`t create ZBuffer. Not enough gfx mem 
ZBuffering will not be available"

Tuomas (80.220.170.229) @ 13 Jun 2007, 05:56.23

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:56:23 +0200

By: Tuomas (80.220.170.229)

@Petrol 
Yes that's how it works now (v2.0?).

Petrol (90.1.84.135) @ 13 Jun 2007, 12:35.00

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 00:35:00 +0200

By: Petrol (90.1.84.135)

I don't know how to say that, but when I do LAmiga+Tab, the switch3d appears and 
I must do a LMbutton click on it to get the 3D's windows. And All windows are 
visible back. No error message! 
(A1XE g4 radeon 9200 128mb)

Tuomas (80.220.170.229) @ 12 Jun 2007, 09:23.38

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:23:38 +0200

By: Tuomas (80.220.170.229)

Btw. Is it better call it "Window and screen manager" not 
"switcher" ?

Tuomas (80.220.170.229) @ 12 Jun 2007, 09:21.03

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:21:03 +0200

By: Tuomas (80.220.170.229)

People with MicroA1 and having problems test a new 2.02 version and enable one 
of the two tooltypes "lowres" or "small_size" !

nubechecorre (62.101.126.228) @ 12 Jun 2007, 01:51.07

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:51:07 +0200

By: nubechecorre (62.101.126.228)

Doesn' t work even here.. :-( I also have a micro ...

anonymous (91.109.10.217) @ 11 Jun 2007, 06:24.22

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 18:24:22 +0200

By: anonymous (91.109.10.217)

Still not working on my Micro... "Switcher3D ERROR: Can`t create ZBuffer 
ZBuffering will not be available" And the fancy shaped triangle thingys 
again... 
 
Darn...

Tuomas (80.220.170.229) @ 11 Jun 2007, 04:15.25

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:15:25 +0200

By: Tuomas (80.220.170.229)

"I hope it will work better now" 
= It should use less gfx mem now.

Tuomas (80.220.170.229) @ 11 Jun 2007, 04:12.34

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:12:34 +0200

By: Tuomas (80.220.170.229)

You who had problems with Switcher3D v2.0 test the new version v2.01 when it's 
downloadable please. There's a new tooltype "ENABLE_MENU_KEY" (which 
is actually enabled by default). Disable it when needed. And I changed texture 
handling so I hope it will work better now. 
 
@Severin 
OK

Severin (83.67.70.55) @ 11 Jun 2007, 03:40.15

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:40:15 +0200

By: Severin (83.67.70.55)

@ Sprocki 
 
erm.. I thnk you've commented on the wrong program ;-) 
 
@ Tuomas 
 
MS dropped support of the right windows key with XP iirc and a lot of the 
keyboard manufacturers no longer provide the key (at least inthe UK, cheaper I 
suppose), I've got a big box full of keyboards here and about half don't have a 
right windows keys.

Sprocki (212.202.37.2) @ 10 Jun 2007, 11:21.53

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 11:21:53 +0200

By: Sprocki (212.202.37.2)

Nice tool. You could include an alternative to not display a gauge below the 
disk icon itself but colour the icon from bottom to top as if you would look 
into a bottle that is 3/4 filled.

Tuomas (80.220.170.229) @ 09 Jun 2007, 01:39.07

Sat, 09 Jun 2007 01:39:07 +0200

By: Tuomas (80.220.170.229)

Quote: "Switcher3D ERROR: Can`t create ZBuffer", "gradient 
rectangle" 
That's because not enough free graphics memory (most likely). Just checked from 
IntuitionBase that microA1 has only 32 MB. I have 64 MB. I have to change the 
whole program work differently so it will draw one item at a time and free some 
memory before handling next item and so on. (I was afraid of that that kind of 
problems might happen.) (That's why the other OSes have big hardware 
requirements.) And I think I should put more error testing in it. 
 
I didn't think there exists such keyboards. I was already thinking to make it 
possible to disable "menu" key function but I didn't add that yet. 
Maybe I uploaded this thing too early !?

Severin (83.67.70.55) @ 08 Jun 2007, 11:28.57

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 23:28:57 +0200

By: Severin (83.67.70.55)

I get a "Switcher3D ERROR: Can`t create ZBuffer 
ZBuffering will not be available}" error here, probably a lack of free gfx 
memory on my Âµ. 
 
Another little problem, on some keyboards the menu key has to be mapped to the 
right-amiga key because they have no right-windows key. I suggest using ctrl-tab 
or make it user definable.

nubechecorre (62.101.126.228) @ 08 Jun 2007, 09:58.49

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 21:58:49 +0200

By: nubechecorre (62.101.126.228)

Doesn't work here.. i get a low screen resolution and a gradient rectangle when 
i press the tab and left amiga keys.. :-( 
 
I tried all the animations mode on and off..

Tuomas (80.220.170.229) @ 08 Jun 2007, 11:45.47

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:45:47 +0200

By: Tuomas (80.220.170.229)

I just submitted a new version (2.0) of Switcher3D. I have Radeon7000 (and 600 
MHz CPU) and I hope you people could tell me how do it perform with better 
Radeon cards and high screen resolutions, please.

Tuxedo (83.190.67.27) @ 03 Apr 2007, 01:00.48

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 13:00:48 +0200

By: Tuxedo (83.190.67.27)

HI ALL! 
With new version of Swicther3D in special behaviour, I cant see screen modes... 
Another problem was that pop up window was really slow now(especially for 2d 
preview...) :( 
 
GOOD WORK! 
 
Tuxedo.

Severin (83.67.70.55) @ 03 Apr 2007, 02:42.01

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:42:01 +0200

By: Severin (83.67.70.55)

Nice improvements, the top triangle of the screen switch animation is white now, 
I still think black is better... 
 
What I would like to see is if you move the mouse to the edge of the screen and 
left it there for a couple of seconds it did the 3d rotate to the previous 
screen (left side) or next screen (right). it would need to be a couple of 
seconds to not interfere with dopus' parent buttons.

shoe (83.227.155.134) @ 31 Mar 2007, 10:04.17

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 10:04:17 +0200

By: shoe (83.227.155.134)

cool util, love it. It's been said before, but ... What about a Warp3D version 
with some cool effects? :) 
 
Thanks for your work!

BillE (87.112.2.234) @ 29 Mar 2007, 04:43.06

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:43:06 +0200

By: BillE (87.112.2.234)

Brilliant, I love it. 
 
Just found one problem though. 
 
A screen with a backdrop window but no others open will show and you can click 
to go to that screen. For some reason the title bar of that screen goes missing. 
 
 
If other windows are open, the backdrop does not show and clicking on one of the 
other windows returns to the screen and the titlebar is still there. 
 
It looks as if when switching to another screen via clicking a backdrop window, 
the switching method puts the window over the screen titlebar - even though as a 
backdrop window it shouldn't. 
 
Any ideas ? 
 
Apart from that little bug, I love it and have been rotating my Amiga screens 
all day :o)

Hans (74.12.142.156) @ 29 Mar 2007, 02:54.55

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:54:55 +0200

By: Hans (74.12.142.156)

Nice program. My advice would be to go with MiniGL. It's already in the SDK. You 
can find some example code to look at. Also, because it's a subset of OpenGL, 
any OpenGL book/tutorial will help you understand the system. And there's 
http://nehe.gamedev.net with plenty of tutorials to help you.

amipal (85.210.14.24) @ 28 Mar 2007, 11:33.37

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:33:37 +0200

By: amipal (85.210.14.24)

Lovely stuff - works a treat on my AmigaOne G4 XE, 512 Mb and Radeon 9000.

Tuxedo (83.181.181.55) @ 28 Mar 2007, 09:28.39

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:28:39 +0200

By: Tuxedo (83.181.181.55)

REALLY nice stuff!!!!! 
Only few thing to do imho: 
 
1 - Can choose to choose from windows+screen, only windows or only screens to 
switch to...choose screen rotation speed... 
 
2 - Better and better looking title(maybe appearing when mouse pointer on top 
of) 
 
3 - Thumbs size 
 
4 - Alt+Tab to cycle widows/screens (like on alt+tab on win, maybe if you press 
alt+tab another thing when switcher3d activated) 
 
5 - Warp3D version with various screen "rotation" effects :) 
 
How ever GOOD WORK! 
 
P.S. 
My system: 
 
A1G3SE@666 os4final 512mb Radeon9250.

pixie (87.103.95.121) @ 28 Mar 2007, 09:21.34

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:21:34 +0200

By: pixie (87.103.95.121)

such time wasted with such lousy implementation... exposÃ© the way 
to go! ;) 
It's cool still as a proof of concept

Severin (83.67.70.55) @ 28 Mar 2007, 08:58.41

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:58:41 +0200

By: Severin (83.67.70.55)

Incredibly slow here on 1680x1050 and for some reason the top triangle of the 
screen switch animation is red, black would be better. Try asking Cobra about 
the w3d stuff, he might have a few tricks from writing warpview.

PEB (75.3.149.147) @ 28 Mar 2007, 08:32.19

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:32:19 +0200

By: PEB (75.3.149.147)

Once I changed my window refresh from "simple" to "smart", 
Switcher3d started working perfectly. 
Very nice program. I am eagerly awaiting further developements!

Petrol (83.192.101.143) @ 28 Mar 2007, 08:07.08

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:07:08 +0200

By: Petrol (83.192.101.143)

I'm using DarkOS theme, on a G4XE (1024*768). It's running pretty fast here ;). 
Thanks.

Tuomas (80.220.170.229) @ 28 Mar 2007, 06:59.50

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:59:50 +0200

By: Tuomas (80.220.170.229)

I'm using "Smart" as window refresh type in GUI prefs. But there's a 
reason why Switcher3d will bring all windows in front of other windows before 
copying their bitmaps so the refresh type shouldn't matter.

Tuomas (80.220.170.229) @ 28 Mar 2007, 06:51.37

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:51:37 +0200

By: Tuomas (80.220.170.229)

I just found out that it doesn't work with Chrome bolts theme. It will show some 
grey picture instead. It work fine with the default OS4, Zami and Atez themes at 
least. The default settings are "mode 2" and "3D look". You 
who have problems did you test it with mode 1 or/and 2D look how it will work 
then ? What GUI theme you use ? What resolution on Workbench ? How many windows 
and screens you had open when you tested this program ? Did you have any/many 
custom screens open ? You can open its prefs window using Exchange program and 
push the "Show interface" button to test two different settings. 
 
Image size is hardcoded to 120x120 pixels. I developed it with 200x200 size at 
first but it's too slow then. I don't know how much faster it's in G4 machines. 
I have 600MHz G3Cxe. I'm using resolution 1024x768x32 (17" CRT). Image size 
is too small and it's too slow with bigger resolutions unfortunately. This 
implementation is quite poor because I don't have any experience of coding 3D 
stuff. I need to study how to use hardware accelerated 3D libraries at first to 
be able to make anything better (if I will have time and motivation). 
 
I forgot to fix that 2D mode. Maybe I will add some new modes to it if I have 
enough time so people can test it with faster machines. (A possibility to select 
between many different settings is always better ?!? ;-)

Petrol (83.192.101.143) @ 28 Mar 2007, 06:51.10

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:51:10 +0200

By: Petrol (83.192.101.143)

Nice work! 
A warp3d version with some options like shadow,zoom,antialiasing,.. would be 
great. 
Thanks

Petrol (83.192.101.143) @ 28 Mar 2007, 06:43.12

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:43:12 +0200

By: Petrol (83.192.101.143)

I solve the problem, it's linked with gui prefs. Maybe the window refresh 
option.

hotrod (195.189.25.121) @ 28 Mar 2007, 06:04.51

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:04:51 +0200

By: hotrod (195.189.25.121)

Wow cool! I agree on that a possibility to change the size of the thumbnails 
would be very nize. Great work though!

PEB (75.3.149.147) @ 28 Mar 2007, 05:40.10

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:40:10 +0200

By: PEB (75.3.149.147)

Same problem here as Petrol. The screenshots look great, though.

Petrol (83.192.101.143) @ 28 Mar 2007, 03:37.17

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:37:17 +0200

By: Petrol (83.192.101.143)

It doesn't work here. I've got a grey borderless window on screen's center but 
no thumb or 3D.

anonymous (60.240.223.29) @ 28 Mar 2007, 02:24.58

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:24:58 +0200

By: anonymous (60.240.223.29)

Nice little program.  Thanks 
 
ace

haymigga (84.238.24.76) @ 28 Mar 2007, 09:48.59

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 09:48:59 +0200

By: haymigga (84.238.24.76)

setting for thumbnail size could handy. on my 1280x1024 the thumbs get quite 
small...