DxWnd and Window Mode for Japan VN

[Entony Gedavlini]

Hello !

(Next, I will combine my two messages and answers from topic v2.06.13 release candidates)

I'm trying to play Japanese visual novel game series "EVE Burst Error" - these are visual novels in the genre of adventure detective stories. For a comfortable game, I need a windowed game mode and "Textractor" as automatic text translator. And also i need the "JoyToKey" program to play with a gamepad.

But one game from this series, EVE The Fatal Attraction, - crashed, after I launched it using DxWnd in windowed mode and clicked outside the game screen. (DxWnd_v2_06_12_build.rar)

But now, when I play with dxwnd.2.06.13.rc20, the game doesn't crash! And that's why I want to say thank you - because now I can play normally.

But I still have a few issues.
1) The biggest inconvenience = whenever I click on any other window, the game doesn't crash (this is great and im happy), but the game window minimizes every time. Is there a way to prevent the game from minimizing after clicking outside of the game's focus?

Im using flags "Do not notify on task switch" in Main tab and "Do not notify task deactivation" in Msgs tab - but its dont help.

2) Second - if I set a custom resolution, for example 900x600, the game doesn't stretch to the edges of the screen and remains square with black stretched screen. (all other games are easily stretched)

When i flag "Scaled GDI calls" in GDI tab - game stretched now, but there appear some graphical glitches around mouse cursor when i move mouse cursor - like water after touch.
And also stretched picture is moved down more then need. (see 3)

3) both versions (v2_06_12_build and 2.06.13.rc20) also have a scale problem - when i choose 640x480 resolution - the picture moved down more then need, and therefore some of the graphics at the bottom of the screen are lost, see screenshot 640x480

And only when i choose 640x500 all is good. see screenshot 640x500
But when i flag "Scaled GDI calls" with 640x500 resolution - game picture stretched down more then need and again some bottom graphics is lost.

And Im checked - original game resolution is 640x480. See screenshot Orig640x480

And about 5 pixels are also lost on the right side - but that's not very important.

4) now im receive game crash even with dxwnd.2.06.13.rc20
when game begin and there opening video - when i click on any other window = game crash
but if i click on game window and begin to play - there is no crash and i can later click normally on any other window

5) My thoughts: The game uses Bink Video and have binkw32.dll in the game folder
and perhaps this DLL is the reason for the game crash in v2_06_12_build and only at the opening video in dxwnd.2.06.13.rc20

[gho]

Thanks.
I apologize for being a little late. I got now a satisfying DxWnd profile that works perfectly for me. If it still has problems with your configuration we'll have to investigate why.
The profile here in attach has some features that may not interest you, in case you can easily disable them.
Please, note that in the discussion I will talk about resolution and size. The two concepts in DxWnd are unrelated and quite different: the resolution is the screen size as perceived by the target program, the size is the size of the window where the rendering is stretched.
Here are my changes starting from the default DxWnd configuration:

• I enabled the fake registry entry. This allows you to move freely the game in whatever folder you like with no need to install the game. It is sufficient to copy two files from the first CD: EVETFA.EXE and BINKW32.DLL.
• I enabled the fake-CD configuration. You have to create a "cd" subfolder and copy there three files: EVETFA.EXE (that is to satisfy the CD-check routine), EVETFA_S.DAT and EVETFA01.DAT
• I tried a full no-CD rip by copying on the same cd folder also the .DAT files from the other CDs, EVETFA02.DAT, EVETFA03.DAT and EVETFA04.DAT. I'm not sure that this will work but if you have problems jumping from CD1 to other CDs let me know, the problem can be fixed. All these three initial steps can be avoided if you install the game with its setup.exe program and mount the CD when requested. Now the mandatory steps ...
• The locale setting must be set to the Japanese preset (of course)
• The GDI emulation must be set to "Scaled GDI calls". This works both for GDI and bink rendering.
• The initial screen resolution must be set to the custom value 640x500. This is the only way to see the whole rendering area. The game works (maybe) also at 640x480 but the bottom of the screen is cut. BEWARE: if you want to see the game in a bigger window you should NOT change the screen resolution but change instead the window size (parameters W and H in the main tab). In my configuration I set 1200x900 but you can use whatever value you prefer.
• The game has a cursor sprite. In the cursor tab it is necessary to set visibility OFF (do avoid seeing a double cursor) and clipper ON (to reach every part of the window with the cursor sprite). This may need fixing in some cases, if it doesn't work for you let me know.
• I set the "Do not notify on task switch". It works for me, the Alt-Tab moves the focus and the cursor to the other programs but Eve doesn't react in any way.

Please, try my attached profile. When everything will be set I'd like to talk about text extraction.

[gho]

;) why don't you try to set the "patch:DumpText" tweak and look inside the file dxwnd.txt file?

[Entony Gedavlini]

Hi!

I forgot to clarify my configuration:
My preferred OS is Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit, as you might have guessed from the screenshots. I also have Windows 10 Pro 2022 H2 64-bit installed as a secondary operating system.
CPU = i5 4570 (Haswell), GPU = GeForce 1050

I use EVE TFA as a portable version:
a) the installed folder with all its contents (2.34Gb)
b) a registry file specifying the path to the game folder and to the CD drive
c) a mini-image of the game for mount into the virtual drive, - see screenshot Mini_IMG.jpg

I'm running the game without the Locale Emulator and without the Japanese locale, because the game generally works fine without it. (At least the first few hours)

Now, about the game:

1) Thanks for the clarification about the resolution and size. It seems I was inaccurate in my earlier message. So I'll clarify: in the Video tab, no matter what resolution I set in the bottom right corner, it doesn't affect the game's picture offset. And when I mentioned 640x480 and 640x500, I meant the W and H sizes in the Main tab.

2) I imported Eve Fatal Attraction.dxw file, then specified the path to the game folder in the Main tab and launched the game. The only difference is that the game no longer crashes if i click during the opening video on another window. Game still minimizes every time when i ALT+TAB. I tested the same thing on Windows 10 - and there the same behavior.
So - "Do not notify on task switch" dont work for me.

3) With enabled Scaled GDI calls, I still have two issues:
a) The game picture "floats" under the mouse cursor when I move mouse. This is visually uncomfortable.
b) the bottom of the screen is cut, - see sreenshot game.jpg

As soon as I disable GDI emulation, the game picture stops "floating" under the mouse cursor and there is no cut. (Of course - if I set the resolution in the Main tab to 640x500)
And again on Windows 10 = the same behavior.

4) ingame.png
omg ! 1800x1400 - your sreens much better )

5) sorry, i dont have tweak "patch:DumpText", i am a regular user.

PS: Overall, if the window minimizing issue could somehow be fixed, that would solve about 90% of the problem. The "floating" picture under cursor and the cutoff at the bottom are annoying too, but I think after 2-3 hours of playing this will not be noticeable. Besides, this only happens in one game in the series — the others work fine.

[BEEN_Nath_58]

is there somewhere I can get the game to test?

[gho]

Search on Internet Archive .... there is one and only one copy, you can't go wrong. it is 4 CDs ...

[gho]

sorry, i dont have tweak "patch:DumpText", i am a regular user.

There is no "special user", probably you didn't set the "Options > Extended mode" flag that would show (almost) all DxWnd features. If you set it, you will see many other configuration tabs including the "Tweaks" tab. Inside it you can find and enable the DumpText tweak.
We decided to hide initially the extended functions not to scare the newbies, but you'll find a description of all functionalities in the help pages (Help > View help).

As soon as I disable GDI emulation, the game picture stops "floating" under the mouse cursor and there is no cut. (Of course - if I set the resolution in the Main tab to 640x500)

Again, what is essential is to set the resolution (and not the size) to 640x500. The window size (W, H) can be set to any value. The annoying floating effect could be caused by rounding in scaling operations, you should avoid that choosing integer multiples for the window size like 1280x1000 for instance.

I am puzzled by the fact that some basic functions are not working for you, mainly the "Do not notify on task switch". That may depend on something on your system or game configuration. You could try to clear the compatibility shims (Main > No SHIMs) or disable the Locale Emulator. But I would recommend to do this on a copy of the game installation because the "No SHIMs" flag will have permanent effects on the executable.
Locale Emulator and probably Textractor as well are a hookers and I can't predict what could happen when you mix the effects of hookers with DxWnd.
Next steps could be to try enabling some logs and see what happens.

[BEEN_Nath_58]

Do not notify on task switch isn't working for me either. When the video plays and I press away, it hides in the taskbar and clicking it back crashes the game. I have hook binkw32 and hook smackw32 enabled.

Update: Scaled GDI libs shifts the game off its place. The surface created is 640x480, but it doesn't stay in place.

In fact the same issue was in the game Ice and Fire, we terminated discussion there because we got a DDRAW.DLL equivalent for that game, but the issue remained and both of these games exhibit the same issue in GDI

[Entony Gedavlini]

There is no "special user", probably you didn't set the "Options > Extended mode" flag

I install DxWnd_v2_06_13_build and forget to enable Extended mode.
Thanks, - now i have game text )
But, I'm not translator...
And yes - hiding initially the extended functions is a good idea on my opinion.

Again, what is essential is to set the resolution (and not the size) to 640x500.

It is not essential for me, because the game cut the bottom of screen only when i turn ON the GDI emulation, or when the size of window in Main tab less than 640x500

The annoying floating effect could be caused by rounding in scaling operations

I set the window size 808x608 (and resolution 640x500) - but nothing change, - see floating.mp4

You could try to clear the compatibility shims (Main > No SHIMs)

Nothing change.
Locale Emulator and Textractor is OFF.

That may depend on something on your system or game configuration.

If i import your game settings and nothing change - may be DxWnd dont have full compatibility with Win 8.1 and Win 10 ?

Next steps could be to try enabling some logs and see what happens.

ok, how i can do it ?

[gho]

It is not essential for me ....

It could make a big difference for DxWnd: when a game tries to set a resolution corresponding to the current screen size, DxWnd interprets this as an attempt to go fullscreen and changes its beavior. But I see that you tried it and nothing changed ....

floating.mp4

Your video shows that the game has a title bar and this extra vertical size will imply some rounded scaling. I believe that if you set both the window size and resolution to 640x500 (or 1280x1000 with doubled size) and set the "Video > Style" to "modal", the titlebar should disappear and the blur effect could go away as well ...

[gho]

Update: maybe I found a way to kill the blur effect.
It is weird, but you must set the screen resolution to 640x500, set the "Video > Style" to "modal" and then set the window size to integer multiple of 640x480 !!
Sizes that match this rule should scale the window x2, x3 but also x3/2, x5/2 and so forth like these:
640x480
1280x960
960x720
1600x1200

[Entony Gedavlini]

It could make a big difference for DxWnd: when a game tries to set a resolution corresponding to the current screen size, DxWnd interprets this as an attempt to go fullscreen and changes its beavior.

I understand this, but for some reason when I repeat your actions, half of the functions don't work.
May be some special C++ or NET should be installed ?

set the "Video > Style" to "modal", the titlebar should disappear

Im tryed it - but unfortunately, the title bar remains

It is weird, but you must set the screen resolution to 640x500, set the "Video > Style" to "modal" and then set the window size to integer multiple of 640x480 !!

This works, thanks !

Sizes that match this rule should scale the window x2, x3 but also x3/2, x5/2 and so forth like these:

For me it works only on 640x480 and 1280x960 windows size
When i set 960x720 size or 1600x1200 - the blur is remain

But for my 1920x1080 monitor the 1280x960 window is good for play -
there is no blur and picture offset is minimal - see screenshot

[gho]

Too many strange things happen .... just to be sure can you check that your game version corresponds to mine? I upload here the game executable, it should be identical (do a CRC check on your file and mine).

[Entony Gedavlini]

CRC hash is the same - FB3D3B4C
im even not doubt in this

In my opinion, the different behavior on our computers is due to:
1) different versions of DxWnd (im using v2_06_13_build)
2) different settings DxWnd
3) different Windows (im using 8.1 and 10 - you 11)

[gho]

Points 1) is identical, point 2) could be identical if you use my profile (see the attach). Point 3) could make a difference. But I suggest trying my profile first ...
Another thing that could make a difference is if you installed the game on one of the system folders like in "C:\Program Files" or "C:\Program files (x86)". These folders are protected by Windows so the hooking may take some odd quirks. I suggest to uninstall the game and reinstall it to a custom folder, for instance under "C:\Games".

[Entony Gedavlini]

But I suggest trying my profile first ...

Im tryed it, but nothing change...

• game is still minimized
• blur is remaining at 960x720 window size when GDI emu is ON
• titlebar dont disappear

I suggest to uninstall the game and reinstall it to a custom folder, for instance under "C:\Games".

4) My all games installed in D:\Games
So, i have - D:\Games\EVE The Fatal Attraction

But OK, im try make fresh install to C:\Games

5) DxWnd is in folder C:\Users\USER\Downloads
I run it as admin and not as admin - nothing change

[Entony Gedavlini]

I reinstalled the game on Windows 10 on the C:\ Games , but the result was the same.

And if we have the same game, the same program, and the same settings, but the program's behavior is different, then I think the problem is with the DxWnd program itself.

In other words, DxWnd currently dont have full compatibility with Windows 8 and Windows 10, and all options only work in Windows 11.

On the other hand, the game runs in a window and almost doesn't crash, so it's playable with the auto-translator.

[BEEN_Nath_58]

We have to be patient, DxWnd doesn't break like that considering it works just as fine on Win7 and WinXP. Why not we start with logs?

[gho]

Good idea. Since the culprit could be also in the intro videos, I would suggest to log also OLE/DirectShow components. @Entony: Use my last profile "Eve Fatal Attraction (with mini-image).dxw" and
set the Logs tab as in the attached picture, then run the game until the problems appear (very soon, I suppose), quit the game, compress the dxwnd.log file that was created in the game folder and upload it here.

[Entony Gedavlini]

set the Logs tab as in the attached picture

I run the game with 960x720 window size on Windows 8.1, played around a bit, and exit.
I'm attaching the saved log file to the archive.

then run the game until the problems appear

the only problem is the minimizing game window when clicked outside

it works just as fine on Win7 and WinXP

When you wrote above that the "Do not notify on task switch" also dont working for you, it was on Windows 10, as I understand ?

[BEEN_Nath_58]

When you wrote above that the "Do not notify on task switch" also dont working for you, it was on Windows 10, as I understand ?

Windows 11

Also about the crash, it only happened if I clicked out of the game too early and it getting minimised, probably the crash happens when playing the 2nd intro video.

Atp there are many parameters and cases to solve rather than a OS version issue...

[gho]

Well, I was reading the log file but I didn't go much further on: there are two facts that needs clarification, from this log line:

dxwnd.HookInit: id=4 path="d:\games\eve the fatal attraction 2\evetfa2.exe" module="" dxversion=Automatic pos=(0,0) size=(960,720) init-max=(640,480) monitor=-1 renderer=3("primary surface") filter="none" scale=(0x0) timestretch=0

First question: are we talking about the same game? I got a game in 4 CDs whose executable is evetfa.exe while Entony links evetfa2.exe. If this file is a renamed version of evetfa.exe, that's ok. But could it be a second episode with a different engine? Maybe not ...
Other issue: I suggested to set the initial screen size to 640x500 but the log tells it's 640x480. I believe this is because there is a misunderstanding: to set the value it is necessary that 640 and 500 are written to the edit boxes below the listbox in the "Video" tab (see picture).
After this first line, things on Win8.1 and Win11 go in a rather different way, so it will take a while to understand what's going on ...

[Entony Gedavlini]

I got a game in 4 CDs whose executable is evetfa.exe while Entony links evetfa2.exe. If this file is a renamed version of evetfa.exe, that's ok.

It is the same version with 4 CD and with EXE CRC hash FB3D3B4C (im check it now) - I made a copy of the game folder and added the number 2 for test it.

After this first line, things on Win8.1 and Win11 go in a rather different way

My previous log was not from the beginning of the game - but in front of the Katsuragi Detective Agency office. That's why there could have been a big difference. I've now made two new logs, which I think will be more appropriate.

Other issue: I suggested to set the initial screen size to 640x500 but the log tells it's 640x480.

Ok, im again import your latest settings and rename exe to EVETFA.EXE and run the game from the beginning.

dxwnd_111:
The game was launched with the import settings "Eve Fatal Attraction (with mini-image).dxw".
Beginning of the game as Kojiro and NO click outside game window.
Both videos (opening and ingame) show video and sound, everything is fine.
I quit the game after the scene at the train station and I clicked the text there for a bit.

dxwnd_222:
The game was launched with the import settings "Eve Fatal Attraction (with mini-image).dxw"
Beginning of the game and clicking mouse outside game window everytime before the 2 videos.
Both videos show only the last frozen picture, but the sound is audible. The game doesn't crash.
The game is minimizing when clicking outside game window.
I quit the game after the scene at the train station and I clicked the text there for a bit.

Windows 11

BEEN_Nath_58 , so, the "Do not notify on task switch" option dont work on my Win 8.1 and Win 10, and on your Win 11, But is work on gho Win 11. Hmm...

Also about the crash, it only happened if I clicked out of the game too early and it getting minimised, probably the crash happens when playing the 2nd intro video.

With default settings i have the same crash if i click outside game window before every of this 2 videos. But this problem is already solved with "Eve Fatal Attraction (with mini-image).dxw" settings.
And now there are only 2 problems left - the non-working option "Do not notify on task switch" and blur (in some window sizes)

[gho]

Uhmm... it will take a while to go through all this stuff, it's some hundreds of thousand lines.
I'll start copying here a few suspicious events.
Here (in dxwnd_222.log) the game tries to create a bitmap but fails and starts throwing exceptions:

gdi32.CreateDIBSection: hdc=0x7b0113bf bmi={colors RGBX=(0xff,0,0,0) header bitc=640 size=(640x-480) compr=0x3} usage=DIB_RGB_COLORS hsect=0 offset=0
gdi32.CreateDIBSection: ERROR err=0
dxwnd.DxWExceptionHandler: SKIP opcode=8B,4E,10 len=3 @0x40a8ae

Instead, on my computer the operation succeeds:

gdi32.CreateDIBSection: hdc=0x2a0119c6 bmi={colors RGBX=(0xff,0,0,0) header bitc=32 size=(640x-480) compr=0x3} usage=DIB_RGB_COLORS hsect=0 offset=0
gdi32.CreateDIBSection: ret=0xdd0519cc

There is a recovery action in DxWnd that doesn't get activated. I would propose a fix that could recover some missing graphic elements and who knows what else .... You could try it and see if the game behaves a little better now.

In any case, the hunt continues ...

[crazyc]

bitc=640

A bitdepth of 640 isn't going to work.