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Difference between revisions of "Glossary:Windowed"

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{{stub}}
 
{{stub}}
 
{{Video settings sidebar}}
 
{{Video settings sidebar}}
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{{feature|windowed}}
 +
 +
'''Windowed''' refers to a mode where the game presents the rendered image in a regular window that uses window decorations (borders) around the contents of the window. This mode should not be mistaken for [[Glossary:Borderless fullscreen windowed|borderless fullscreen windowed]] mode, which removes the window decorations and maximizes the window to have it cover the whole monitor.
  
 
'''Key points'''
 
'''Key points'''
−
{{++}} Easy multi-tasking.
+
{{ii}} Can often be toggled with {{key|Alt|Enter}} in supported games.
−
{{++}} Can usually be modified to work as a [[Glossary:Borderless fullscreen windowed|borderless fullscreen windowed]] mode.
+
{{++}} Windowed mode keeps custom color profiles in use for games.
−
{{ii}} Often toggled with {{key|Alt|Enter}} but for many games it has to be enabled manually.
+
{{++}} Seamless task switching with no risk of crashes or freezes with a minor loss in performance.
−
{{--}} Some games do not have a native windowed mode (see [[#Forced windowed mode|Forced windowed mode]]).
+
{{++}} Eliminates screen tearing on Windows due to Vsync being applied over any windows by default.<ref>[https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/b367a457.aspx Microsoft Developer Network - Double Buffered Graphics]</ref>
 +
{{ii}} Some games do not have a native windowed mode; specific workarounds may be required.
 +
 
 +
==Windows==
 +
===DxWnd===
 +
{{++}} Actively developed and supported, includes many configuration options.
 +
{{++}} Great for Win 95/98 like games such as StarCraft, Diablo, and Quake; many presets are included.
 +
{{++}} Automatically applies any configurations while the program is running.
 +
{{ii}} For games that require launching through Ubisoft Connect or Steam, the games need to be started through those programs while having DxWnd open in order for windowed mode to work. You can set DxWnd to run in the system tray on system startup to avoid having to launch it manually.
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Using DxWnd|ref={{cn|date=December 2016}}|fix=
 +
# Open '''[https://sourceforge.net/projects/dxwnd/ DxWnd]''', click on '''Edit''', then '''Add'''.
 +
# Type in a name, and browse for the .exe file path.
 +
# Set the preferred coordinates, size, and monitor if needed.
 +
# Specify the DirectX version if it's not automatically detected.
 +
# Also refer to DxWnd's help menu to read about the documentation.
 +
'''Notes'''
 +
{{ii}} DxWnd can be set up to automatically run in the tray on system startup to avoid having to launch it manually every time you need it.
 +
# Place a shortcut to <code>dxwnd.exe</code> in the Start Menu's <code>Startup</code> folder.
 +
# Right-click the shortcut and click '''Properties'''.
 +
# In the '''Properties''' window that opens, in the '''Shortcut''' tab, change '''Target''' by adding <code> /T</code> to the end of the text in the field. The resulting field should look something like <code>"<path-to-DxWnd>\dxwnd.exe" /T</code>. The <code>/T</code> parameter launches DxWnd in the system tray.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===3D-Analyze===
 +
{{++}} Includes simple option to force windowed mode.
 +
{{ii}} DirectX 8.1 and 9.0 supported; compatibility is not well documented.
  
−
==Force windowed mode==
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{{Fixbox|description=Using 3D-Analyze|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
−
{{++}} Great for older games which have no native windowed mode support such as the [[Black & White]] series.
+
# Open '''[http://www.tommti-systems.de/go.html?http://www.tommti-systems.de/main-Dateien/files.html 3D-Analyze]'''.
 +
# Select the game's .exe file.
 +
# Enable '''Force windowed mode''' and run the game.
 +
}}
  
−
===[http://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/download/129-d3dwindower/ D3DWindower]===
+
===D3DWindower===
−
{{++}} Allows to have and use multiple configurations at once.
+
{{++}} Allows to store multiple configurations at once.
−
{{++}} On certain cases it might even fix performance issues allowing older games to get past 30 FPS and such.
+
{{--}} Cumbersome to use, has fewer configuration options.
−
{{--}} Might appear complicated to use at first.  
+
{{--}} Not maintained, may not work with some games.
  
−
{{ii}} D3DWindower has to be run with admin rights on. See [[Windows Compatibility Mode#Privilege level|Windows compatibility mode]].
+
{{Fixbox|description=Using D3DWindower|ref=<ref>[http://forum.xentax.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=10242 XeNTaX • View topic - So, I fully translated D3DWindower...]</ref>|fix=
−
{{Fixbox|1=
+
# Run '''[https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/733-d3dwindower-english/ D3DWindower]''' as administrator.
−
{{Fixbox/fix|Instructions}}
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# Click on '''Add Program''' and open the game's .exe file.
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# Extract '''D3DWindower''' anywhere.
+
# Select the game and click on '''Settings'''.
−
# Run <code>D3DWindower.exe</code>.
 
−
# Click the third button '''Add Program''', select the game's executable, go to '''Program Options''' (the gear icon).
 
 
# In the '''DLL''' field find <code>D3dHook.dll</code> from the source folder and add it.
 
# In the '''DLL''' field find <code>D3dHook.dll</code> from the source folder and add it.
−
# Set your desired resolution.
+
# Click on '''Run Program''' or double-click on it.
−
# Use the fifth button, '''Run Program''' to start a game, or double click on it.  
+
}}
  
−
'''Notes'''
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===[[Special K]]===
−
{{ii}} Activating the emulation is not even necessary as long as the DLL is specified.
+
{{Fixbox|description=See [[Special_K#Windowed|Special K > Windowed]] for instructions.}}
−
}}
 
  
−
===[http://games.softpedia.com/get/Tools/3D-Analyze.shtml 3DAnalyze]===
+
==[[Glossary:Mouse locking|Mouse locking]]==
−
{{++}} 3DAnalyze has many features alongside a forced windowed mode.
+
{{ii}} ''See the [[Glossary:Mouse locking|glossary page]] for potential workarounds.''
−
{{Fixbox|1=
 
−
{{Fixbox/fix|Instructions}}
 
−
* Under '''Performance''', '''DirectX 8.1 and 9.0''' thick the <code>Force windowed mode</code> checkbox located at the end.
 
−
}}
 
  
−
===[http://sourceforge.net/projects/dxwnd/ DxWnd]===
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{{References}}
−
{{++}} Great for Win95/98 like games such as StarCraft, Diablo and Quake.
 
−
{{++}} Presets already included.
 
−
{{--}} Slightly unintuitive interface, in-game performance might get worse.
 

Revision as of 10:01, 15 February 2021

This page is a stub: it lacks content and/or basic article components. You can help to expand this page by adding an image or additional information.

Graphics and video

Resolutions

Video settings

Hardware

For a list of games, see List of games that support windowed.


Windowed refers to a mode where the game presents the rendered image in a regular window that uses window decorations (borders) around the contents of the window. This mode should not be mistaken for borderless fullscreen windowed mode, which removes the window decorations and maximizes the window to have it cover the whole monitor.

Key points

Can often be toggled with Alt+↵ Enter in supported games.
Windowed mode keeps custom color profiles in use for games.
Seamless task switching with no risk of crashes or freezes with a minor loss in performance.
Eliminates screen tearing on Windows due to Vsync being applied over any windows by default.[1]
Some games do not have a native windowed mode; specific workarounds may be required.

Windows

DxWnd

Actively developed and supported, includes many configuration options.
Great for Win 95/98 like games such as StarCraft, Diablo, and Quake; many presets are included.
Automatically applies any configurations while the program is running.
For games that require launching through Ubisoft Connect or Steam, the games need to be started through those programs while having DxWnd open in order for windowed mode to work. You can set DxWnd to run in the system tray on system startup to avoid having to launch it manually.
Using DxWnd[citation needed]
  1. Open DxWnd, click on Edit, then Add.
  2. Type in a name, and browse for the .exe file path.
  3. Set the preferred coordinates, size, and monitor if needed.
  4. Specify the DirectX version if it's not automatically detected.
  5. Also refer to DxWnd's help menu to read about the documentation.

Notes

DxWnd can be set up to automatically run in the tray on system startup to avoid having to launch it manually every time you need it.
  1. Place a shortcut to dxwnd.exe in the Start Menu's Startup folder.
  2. Right-click the shortcut and click Properties.
  3. In the Properties window that opens, in the Shortcut tab, change Target by adding /T to the end of the text in the field. The resulting field should look something like "<path-to-DxWnd>\dxwnd.exe" /T. The /T parameter launches DxWnd in the system tray.

3D-Analyze

Includes simple option to force windowed mode.
DirectX 8.1 and 9.0 supported; compatibility is not well documented.
Using 3D-Analyze[citation needed]
  1. Open 3D-Analyze.
  2. Select the game's .exe file.
  3. Enable Force windowed mode and run the game.

D3DWindower

Allows to store multiple configurations at once.
Cumbersome to use, has fewer configuration options.
Not maintained, may not work with some games.
Using D3DWindower[2]
  1. Run D3DWindower as administrator.
  2. Click on Add Program and open the game's .exe file.
  3. Select the game and click on Settings.
  4. In the DLL field find D3dHook.dll from the source folder and add it.
  5. Click on Run Program or double-click on it.

Special K

See Special K > Windowed for instructions.

Mouse locking

See the glossary page for potential workarounds.


References