Windows Forms & Panda3D

General Discussion
1

Hello,

I was wondering if it is possible to use Windows Forms with Panda3D (I am not using python but C++).

I found a forum thread where someone else asked a similar question but It didn’t make much sense to me.
(for reference : [url]C# Window Form and Panda3D] )

I have created “myForm” (via form designer of VS2008)
and now I would like to reparent the panda3d window to my newly created form.

I had a look at the WindowsProperties class and in particular the Set_parent_window function which takes a WindowHandle* .
How do I convert my IntPtr (managed c++) which is a widows handle to “myForm” into a WindowHandle* (Panda3D) ?

Also would I be interested to hear your general thoughts about using Windows Forms as container for Panda3D.

something likethis :

Chrys

2

You can use:

PT(WindowHandle) wh = NativeWindowHandle::make_win(my_hwnd);

to convert your HWND windows handle to a Panda WindowHandle.

More simply, you can use the version of WindowProperties::set_parent_window() that receives a size_t instead of a WindowHandle pointer, and cast your pointer to size_t:

props->set_parent_window((size_t)my_hwnd);

David

3

thanks that worked! :slight_smile:

		Form1(void)
		{
			InitializeComponent();
			//
			//TODO: Add the constructor code here
			//

			int argc = 0;
			char** argv = NULL;
			theFramework.open_framework(argc, argv);

			WindowProperties props;
			props.set_title("Panda Test...");
			
			props.set_size(this->Size.Width, this->Size.Height);
			props.set_origin(0,0);

			IntPtr my_hwnd = this->Handle;
			props.set_parent_window((size_t)my_hwnd.ToInt32()); 

			theFramework.open_window(props, NULL , NULL);

		}

now I tried to resize the window when i resize Form1.

This is the OnResize event of Form1…

		virtual System::Void OnResize(System::EventArgs ^ e) override
		{
			System::Windows::Forms::Form::OnResize(e);

			WindowProperties props;

			theFramework.get_default_window_props(props);
			props.set_size(this->Size.Width, this->Size.Height);
			//and now ??

		}

but I am not sure how to set the new size of the panda window.
I have also seen there is somethig in PandaFramework to use
event_window_event ? Any hints ?

[EDIT}
Actually I just realised theFramework.get_default_window_props(props); does not do the desired effect (getting the actualy windows properties i had setup initially).
At this point I am conviced I am missing something somewhere either in PandaFramework or WindowFrameWork?
[/EDIT]

4

You resize the window by making a request, like this:

WindowProperties props;
props.set_size(this->Size.Width, this->Size.Height);
theFramework.get_window(0)->get_graphics_window()->request_properties(props);

David

5

this doesnt seem to work, though I think I am still missing something.

here is where it fails

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//     Function: GraphicsWindow::request_properties
//       Access: Published
//  Description: Requests a property change on the window.  For
//               example, use this method to request a window change
//               size or minimize or something.
//
//               The change is not made immediately; rather, the
//               request is saved and will be applied the next time
//               the window task is run (probably at the next frame).
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
void GraphicsWindow::
request_properties(const WindowProperties &requested_properties) {
  LightReMutexHolder holder(_properties_lock);
  _requested_properties.add_properties(requested_properties);

  if (!_has_size && _requested_properties.has_size()) {
    // If we just requested a particular size, anticipate that it will
    // stick.  This is helpful for the MultitexReducer, which needs to
    // know the size of the textures that it will be working with,
    // even if the texture hasn't been fully generated yet.
    _x_size = _requested_properties.get_x_size();
    _y_size = _requested_properties.get_y_size();

    // Don't set _has_size yet, because we don't really know yet.
  }
}

it never passes that if statement.

also I wonder where I would add the theFramework.main_loop();

I think I need register it somehow to be executed by the Form.

6

It’s actually expected for it not to pass that if statement–that has nothing to do with the actual resizing of the window. That is handled in a sub-class, in WinGraphicsWindow::do_reshape_request(). However, note that the resize doesn’t happen immediately; it happens during the next frame, which means it won’t happen if you’re not calling the Panda loop. :slight_smile:

David

7

I wanted share my code with others who like me want to use Panda with Windows Forms. So I wrote a little test application with panda3d and managed C++ using windows forms.

hope it helps :slight_smile:

Features :

Screenshot :

and Source Code :

http://rapidshare.com/files/432740932/TestForms.zip

[EDIT]
you will need to update the project with your own “standard” panda libraries, (the ones from the 1.7.0 SDK for example
[/EDIT]
chrys