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DarkBASIC Professional Discussion / Dark Shader update available

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 17th Nov 2013 17:24
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If you have purchased Dark Shader from TGC you should be able to download an important update for Dark Shader dated 6 November from My Products on your account page.

The main purpose of the update is to enable us to load and edit shaders similar to those now used in FPS Creator Reloaded but shader developers should find it useful for their needs too.

Before the update, the preview window kept crashing when compiling the new FPSCR shaders. I've done some quick tests with the update and the crashing seems to be fixed. I've now tested this on Vista and W7 without problems.

Chris Tate reported extensive problems with the old version on this thread:

Dark Shader 2 Petition

At the time I was doubtful about the extent of the problems but it's now clear Chris was right and there was a problem compiling large shaders. Most of mine were short and probably didn't trigger the problem whereas Chris's were larger as are the ones now available in FPSC Reloaded. Hopefully this update fixes that particular issue.

Could those of you who've experienced problems with the Dark Shader preview window please test the new update and report back here?



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wattywatts
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Posted: 17th Nov 2013 19:44
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No update showing for me.. Maybe because Dark Shader is listed under the "DarkGAME Studio" pack.

http://www.indiedb.com/games/max-vs-mars
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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 17th Nov 2013 20:29
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That's possible. Contact Order and Billing support - see link under the Post Forum Message box. They will probably be able to help you. I expect it's just an oversight.



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Slim Tonone
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Posted: 20th Nov 2013 02:00
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Green Gandalf I downloaded the Nov 6th update. Now what do I do with it? I'm not the sharpest tack in this box, so any and all assistance would be appreciated!
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MrValentine
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Posted: 20th Nov 2013 02:31
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Will test this later... thanks for posting about it

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GreenDixy
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Posted: 20th Nov 2013 06:59
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Tried the update the preview window is white, And nothing shows up.
Try and add a model no loading box comes up.



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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 20th Nov 2013 11:58
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Quote: "Now what do I do with it? I'm not the sharpest tack in this box, so any and all assistance would be appreciated!"


Locate your Dark Shader folder and look for the file Preview.exe. Rename that as something just in case you need it, e.g. PreviewOld.exe. Then unzip the download file - it should contain just the one file, i.e. the updated Preview.exe file. Just place that in your Dark Shader folder. When you run Dark Shader it should now use the new Preview.exe file.

One thing to note is that the documentation says it no longer supports PS1.x shaders. No idea why (and I haven't tested it to see what happens) but that shouldn't be a problem since you should really be using PS2 upwards now.

Quote: "Tried the update the preview window is white, And nothing shows up.
Try and add a model no loading box comes up."


Did you backup/rename the old Preview.exe file? Are you sure you've got the file Preview.exe in the Dark Shader folder? I can reproduce exactly those symptoms by removing Preview.exe from the Dark Shader folder.

I see you're using W8. I haven't used that yet but I wonder if that's an issue here and perhaps W8 is preventing the new Preview.exe from running?



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Chris Tate
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Posted: 20th Nov 2013 19:14
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Wow this is good news. I'm short of time at the moment but managed to load my most complicated shader; normally Dark Shader would fail to load it.

I will be testing this update some more in future.

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 20th Nov 2013 20:30
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Quote: "managed to load my most complicated shader"


Sounds like good news . It certainly works fine for me so far.

Post here if you encounter any problems with the update. I intend to collate a list of issues people are having with the update and send them to TGC. At the moment I haven't got any confirmed issues - other than the usual limitations of Dark Shader which you've covered extensively on your DS2 petition thread.



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gwheycs62egydws
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Posted: 25th Nov 2013 22:26
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@Green Gandalf

the update works fine
the old one never game be a problem but I never pushed the limits on it

as for Dark Shader 2

dose that mean there would be a hole new version or
would that be just be talking about the crash problem ?

to move side ways - is to move forward
Since a Strait line gets thin fast
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wattywatts
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Posted: 25th Nov 2013 23:55
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I was able to download the update and the viewer window hasn't become unresponsive yet, used to happen all the time.

http://www.indiedb.com/games/max-vs-mars
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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 26th Nov 2013 00:51
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Quote: "as for Dark Shader 2

dose that mean there would be a hole new version or
would that be just be talking about the crash problem ?"


On the thread I gave in my first post Chris Tate was trying to get support for a completely new version with several new features. The present update just fixes the existing version so we can use it properly. As Chris Tate reported there - and others have confirmed since - the original version became unusable in some situations.



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Sasuke
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Posted: 26th Nov 2013 01:18
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Just out of interest, is Dark Shader worth getting? I mean, I don't mind buying it for the sake to support TGC products but will I actually benefit from it over what we can do without it.

"Get in the Van!" - Van B
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gwheycs62egydws
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Posted: 26th Nov 2013 01:27
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@Sasuke

I would say's worth getting

it lest you add a effect to a object in far less time
than manually doing it

the second part you get to see the results right way ;o)

you can rile mess with peoples eye's in your program ;o)

take your program visuals from bla to wow

to move side ways - is to move forward
Since a Strait line gets thin fast
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Sasuke
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Posted: 26th Nov 2013 01:31
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Quote: "@Sasuke

I would say's worth getting

it lest you add a effect to a object in far less time
than manually doing it

the second part you get to see the results right way ;o)

you can rile mess with peoples eye's in your program ;o)

take your program visuals from bla to wow"


All of which you can do in DBP without Dark Shader if you know how. I know there's a few extra commands.

"Get in the Van!" - Van B
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gwheycs62egydws
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Posted: 26th Nov 2013 01:49
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@Sasuke

and if some one programing skill set is slower at understanding things
any short cut to getting to the final results is worth it

to move side ways - is to move forward
Since a Strait line gets thin fast
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Sasuke
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Posted: 26th Nov 2013 01:58 Edited at: 26th Nov 2013 02:00
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Aha I understand you now! Actually makes a lot of sense since I imagine a lot of people don't want to get into the complexities of shader language. I guess the problem there is it seems like it's only for low level shader construction cause when shaders start getting complex where manipulating the code is necessary it looks like it'll become obsolete to an extent.

"Get in the Van!" - Van B
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gwheycs62egydws
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Posted: 26th Nov 2013 02:54
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@Sasuke

yep that would be it

one less thing to think about
and speed up the hole process

as far as I am concerned

thanks to DBP I Can the game I want
with out all the years of huh/what and I still don't get it

well 60 percent less ;o)

I know there is a lot to understand

to move side ways - is to move forward
Since a Strait line gets thin fast
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Sasuke
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Posted: 26th Nov 2013 03:41 Edited at: 26th Nov 2013 03:44
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Yeah, I found when you start fully developing an engine editor then you need to have your own shader editor as well that plugs directly into your engine. After that point external apps like dark shader isn't really necessary unless it offers something you can greatly benefit from!

"Get in the Van!" - Van B
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