SoftTH NEWS

[MadTommy]

Fine, put it down to a misunderstand.

 

However next time someone asks a question if you know the answer why not just answer it? Or ignore it.

 

Especially if it is a very short answer: i.e its a known bug. Four words would have sufficed.

 

Rather than waste their time getting them to read a readme that only confirms what i already know.. it doesn't work and provides no solution. And which took longer than the answer would have taken to write. Not exactly helpful was it.

[PeterP]

sorry, but your question clearly indicated that you didn't know the contend of the read me .

So my answer was the appropriate one and it also answered you question.

...

 

I'm not posting alone for your pleasure.

If you are having problems with the way I gave you the answer :

Ignore it (you can also put me on your ignore list) and wait for a answer of someone else that suits you better.

 

But don't try to teach me how I have to post my answers.

 

please look back the last page - doesn't it look ridiculous also to you ? - just because I gave you a hint where to find the answer ?!

 

 

Summary :

You called me a "smart arse" and also give me advises how to post , so that I will not waste your and others time...

 

What's next?!

Edited October 4, 2012 by PeterP

[falcon_120]

Calm down people,MadTommy you took it personal when the response was

quite correct I think,reading the Readme may give you answers for future questions.

If you ask anything in the BMS forum for example they'll send you to RTFM most of the time (At least to much for my liking).

[TomDK]

Back To Topic :thumbup:

 

I am trying to setup 4 monitors with SoftTH but no luck so far, maybe you can point me the right way.

 

Upper row is 3 x 27" with 1920x1080

Lower row is 1 x 24" touchscreen for Helios

 

How to setup it the way that I have 5760x1080 plus the lower Gelios monitor ?!

 

If I set it to 7680 x 1080 on all 4 display is the sim running in strange order.

On 5760 x 2160 the upper monitors are too big and also on the Helios-monitor is the cockpit.

 

SoftTH config:

 

[main]

renderResolution=5760x2160

nonlocalFormat=RGB16D

keepComposition=0

smoothing=1

debugD3D=0

zClear=0

vsync=0

tripleBuffer=0

screenshotFormat=jpg

dllPathD3D9=auto

dllPathDXGI=auto

dllPathD3D11=auto

[overrides]

forceResolution=0

antialiasing=0

processAffinity=0

FOVForceHorizontal=0

FOVForceVertical=0

[debug]

compatibleIB=0

compatibleTex=0

compatibleVB=0

[head_primary]

; borderA=0

; borderL=0

sourceRect=1920,0,1920,1080

screenMode=1920x1080

[head_1]

; borderA=0

; borderL=0

devID=1

sourceRect=1920,1080,1920,1080

destRect=0,0,1920,1080

transportResolution=1920x1080

transportMethod=local

noSync=0

fpsLimit=0

[head_2]

; borderA=0

; borderL=0

devID=2

sourceRect=0,0,1920,1080

destRect=0,0,1920,1080

transportResolution=1920x1080

transportMethod=local

noSync=0

fpsLimit=0

[head_3]

; borderA=0

; borderL=0

devID=3

sourceRect=3840,0,1920,1080

destRect=0,0,1920,1080

transportResolution=1920x1080

transportMethod=local

noSync=0

fpsLimit=0

 

 

monitor.lua

 

_ = function(p) return p; end;

name = _('A-10_all_on');

Description = 'Fuer A-10 mit Panels, Phidgets, TFS';

Viewports =

{

Center =

{

x = 0;

y = 0;

width = 5760;

height = 1080;

viewDx = 0;

viewDy = 0;

aspect = 5760 / 1080;

}

}

LEFT_MFCD =

{

x = 1990;

y = 125;

width = 445;

height = 445;

}

RIGHT_MFCD =

{

x = 3335;

y = 125;

width = 445;

height = 445;

}

CMSC_SCREEN =

{

x = 2790;

y = 141;

width = 204;

height = 50;

}

CMSP_SCREEN =

{

x = 2995;

y = 190;

width = 270;

height = 70;

}

RWR_SCREEN =

{

x = 2512;

y = 152;

width = 190;

height = 190;

}

 

DIGIT_CLOCK =

{

x = 2397;

y = 827;

width = 126;

height = 126;

}

 

UHF_FREQUENCY_STATUS =

{

x = 2555;

y = 565;

width = 120;

height = 30;

}

 

UHF_PRESET_CHANNEL =

{

x = 2666;

y = 475;

width = 34;

height = 34;

}

 

UHF_REPEATER =

{

x = 2535;

y = 695;

width = 110;

height = 30;

}

 

UIMainView = GUI

; UIMainView = Viewports.Center

 

 

The export settings for helios are not edited yet !!! Will do this if it works the way I would like it.

 

Cheers

Tom

[MTFDarkEagle]

Quick notice Tom: in your windows screen you have monitor 4 underneath monitor 2, but in softth screen it's beside monitor 3. In windows, try to duplicate it from the softth screen (minimize the total screenresolution, I'm short on time or I would elaborate :) ).

[_Dredd]

I tried similar with Helios, and Helios grinded to a halt! Literally.

It was so slow I didn't worry about it; and just output MFCD's only.

That's with 4s update(lowest) in Helios; and sim FPS running 17-24fps.

 

In game res set to: 4624x3000

 

My Lua:

 

_ = function(p) return p; end;

name = _('1 Screen');

Description = 'One monitor configuration'

Viewports =

{

Center =

{

x = 0;

y = 0;

width = 4624;

height = 1920;

viewDx = 0;

viewDy = 0;

aspect = 4624 / 1920;

}

}

 

 

 

LEFT_MFCD =

{

x = 1350;

y = 1920;

width = 460;

height = 460;

}

 

RIGHT_MFCD =

{

x = 2820;

y = 1920;

width = 460;

height = 460;

}

 

 

 

For your settings, follow PeterP's guide to the letter!

Start fresh with SoftTH's created cfg file; then load into config tool; there it knows your monitor arrangement.

You shall be confused! :D But as Peter said; read the readme, and then read it again, and read his guide again and again. Trial and error = solutions!

Edited October 4, 2012 by _Dredd

[PeterP]

If I set it to 7680 x 1080 on all 4 display is the sim running in strange order.

Elaborate what "strange order" means.

 

Need a explanation what you see on each monitor witch the attached SoftTH config corresponding your windows Display properties

 

 

I assume that Display #2 is your mainscreen - if not - than tell me !

 

 

Example how you should describe the in-game situation to me , so I know exactly what you see and can correct the softth config to show you the images in the right order:

 

 

Example:

1 = right cockpit

2= center cockpit

4= Left cockpit

2= exports

[PeterP]

Quick notice Tom: in your windows screen you have monitor 4 underneath monitor 2, but in softth screen it's beside monitor 3. In windows, try to duplicate it from the softth screen (minimize the total screenresolution, I'm short on time or I would elaborate :) ).

 

No - This doesn't matters - you can arrange the monitors in windows how you like... When SofTh is running, the contend will be spread how it is defined in the SoftTh Config.

 

This matter only when running without SoftTH = Windowed.

 

So: Tom you don't need to rearrange the Desktop. - keep it as they are physical positioned .

Edited October 4, 2012 by PeterP

[_Dredd]

No - This doesn't matters - you can arrange the monitors in windows how you like... When SofTh is running, the contend will be spread how it is defined in the SoftTh Config.

 

So: Tom you don't need to rearrange the Desktop. - keep it as they are physical positioned .

 

Peter, I can't find if you may have mentioned this in another post; but have you found that specific arrangements kill more GPU resources.

For example my post above' I haven't tried yet(I should try when I get time) whether I'd get any more performance having the bottom monitor positioned elsewhere.

[PeterP]

Peter, I can't find if you may have mentioned this in another post; but have you found that specific arrangements kill more GPU resources.

For example my post above' I haven't tried yet(I should try when I get time) whether I'd get any more performance having the bottom monitor positioned elsewhere.

[TomDK]

Thank you both so far !

 

You are right, from all the testing I messses up the 2 files. So know the screens are reordered as attached files show.

 

For any reason, in Helios the monitors are after an update

 

3 / 1 / 4/

2

 

If I set my monitorconfig and DCS settings to 5760x2160 , I see:

 

1= left cockpit

2= middle cockpit with exported mfcd´s

3= right cockpit

4= lower cockpit with Helios in the front

 

... but everything much much to biggggg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ÄHHH - gaanz dumm gefragt .. muss ich vorher Eyefinity aktivieren ??!!

Edited October 4, 2012 by TomDK

[PeterP]

Tom - please hold on a moment and prepare yourself for some homework....

 

 

Why the hell did you now use a 5760x2160 res for DCS the much smaller one that you posted first?

(please read my sig)....

you now use 12.441.600 pixels instead of 8.294.400 ...

 

 

Well - activating Eyfinity changes your screen layout once again...-

And yes! - It should be activated before Softth .

Further : Softth has to be configured exactly for the use with eyefinity.

 

 

BTW: Can't you put all 4 monitors in a "Eyefinity 4 group" and run DCS in with Eyefinity ? - as all 4 monitors are attached to the same card and have the same resolution. - this is what the "local" tag on your picture is telling me.

Edit:

OK -scratch this - you need a eyefinity 3+1 group and Softth... I forgot about Helios for a second...

 

 

Please start at the first post again and read the read letters. - also make sure you have un-ched "Disable areo interface" in DCS - and off course use a aero theme in windows.

 

And when you finally know if you want to use eyefinity together with softth (probably faster) -and you still don't get it to work properly:

 

 

Please be next time more specific than this:

 

 

You are right, from all the testing I messses up the 2 files. So know the screens are reordered as attached files show.

 

For any reason, in Helios the monitors are after an update

 

3 / 1 / 4/

2

 

If I set my monitorconfig and DCS settings to 5760x2160 , I see:

 

1= left cockpit

2= middle cockpit with exported mfcd´s

3= right cockpit

4= lower cockpit with Helios in the front

 

... but everything much much to biggggg.

Please don't get me wrong:

 

I really don't know what to answer on it.

 

where is the softth config for the setting above? what update?

 

sorry can't help further.

Edited October 4, 2012 by PeterP

[TomDK]

Hi again

 

I set the monitors as you described , 3 in a row and the touchscreen under them.

 

The resolution is what the SoftTH setup program gave me as output.

 

I tried the last 2 hours eyefinity but if I use all monitors in a row for eyefinity the touchscreen will not work with Helios ... also I am not pro enough to specify SoftTH for use with eyefinity. I thought SoftTH would be the easier way to setup the monitors. If you remember, in a 2 screen solution SoftTh did not work for me due to fading cockpit .. but this is an other topic.

 

 

Actual SoftTH config:

 

[main]

renderResolution=5760x2160

nonlocalFormat=RGB16D

keepComposition=1

smoothing=1

debugD3D=0

zClear=0

vsync=0

tripleBuffer=0

screenshotFormat=jpg

dllPathD3D9=auto

dllPathDXGI=auto

dllPathD3D11=auto

[overrides]

forceResolution=0

antialiasing=0

processAffinity=0

FOVForceHorizontal=0

FOVForceVertical=0

[debug]

compatibleIB=0

compatibleTex=0

compatibleVB=0

[head_primary]

; borderA=0

; borderL=0

sourceRect=1920,0,1920,1080

screenMode=1920x1080

[head_1]

; borderA=0

; borderL=0

devID=1

sourceRect=1920,1080,1920,1080

destRect=0,0,1920,1080

transportResolution=1920x1080

transportMethod=local

noSync=0

fpsLimit=0

[head_2]

; borderA=0

; borderL=0

devID=2

sourceRect=0,0,1920,1080

destRect=0,0,1920,1080

transportResolution=1920x1080

transportMethod=local

noSync=0

fpsLimit=0

[head_3]

; borderA=0

; borderL=0

devID=3

sourceRect=3840,0,1920,1080

destRect=0,0,1920,1080

transportResolution=1920x1080

transportMethod=local

noSync=0

fpsLimit=0

 

 

But with this config DCS tries to bring the whole cockpit on both , upper and lower, monitor. Helios is over the lower part of the cockpit. That is not what I want ... :) But it seems that I have to choose the same resolution in A-10 as in SoftTH.

 

I would like to run 5760 x 1080 for the cockpit and 1920 x 1080 for Helios.

 

With update I mean, that I have every time I change the monitor configuration, I have also to update the active Helios-profile die to the monitor setup change.

 

Information I gave you , was what you requested .... what I see on the 4 monitors while starting the sim.

 

Will try some more now, adding 5760 to all of my exporst, maybe I make a lucky hit and get the resolution I want :)

 

Thanks so far

 

Tom

 

 

Edit: AERO is enabled for helios and fullscreen choosen for SoftTH use.

[PeterP]

OK - I see where your confusion is coming from -

I want you to forget everything you learned by using the configuration tool .

It is limited to use only the screen-layout that your desktop properties is using.

 

You have to think out side the box to get a optimized screen setting and edit the softth config via a editor to get the most out of SoftTh for your purpose.

 

 

This is the config.SoftTHconfig that you will have to use for a DCS 7680x1080 setting :

 

[main]

renderResolution=7680x1080

nonlocalFormat=RGB16D

keepComposition=1

smoothing=0

debugD3D=0

zClear=0

vsync=0

tripleBuffer=0

screenshotFormat=jpg

dllPathD3D9=auto

dllPathDXGI=auto

dllPathD3D11=auto

[overrides]

forceResolution=0

antialiasing=0

processAffinity=1

FOVForceHorizontal=0

FOVForceVertical=0

[debug]

[debug]

compatibleIB=0

compatibleTex=0

compatibleVB=0

enableVBQuirk=1

[head_primary]

; borderA=0

; borderL=0

sourceRect=1920,0,1920,1080

screenMode=1920x1080

[head_1]

; borderA=0

; borderL=0

devID=1

sourceRect=5760,0,1920,1080

destRect=0,0,1920,1080

transportResolution=1920x1080

transportMethod=local

noSync=0

fpsLimit=0

[head_2]

; borderA=0

; borderL=0

devID=2

sourceRect=0,0,1920,1080

destRect=0,0,1920,1080

transportResolution=1920x1080

transportMethod=local

noSync=0

fpsLimit=0

[head_3]

; borderA=0

; borderL=0

devID=3

sourceRect=3840,0,1920,1080

destRect=0,0,1920,1080

transportResolution=1920x1080

transportMethod=local

noSync=0

fpsLimit=0

This config above is without any Bezel-management

 

here is a example how a config looks if you add 100px between the screens that are showing your camera view-port - please take notice that the resolution is now +200 pixels horizontal and I marked manual edits in bold:

 

[main]

renderResolution=7880x1080

; DCS has to be set to 7880x1080 fullscreen

nonlocalFormat=RGB16D

keepComposition=1

smoothing=0

; Better limit DCS to 30 FPS in the DCS World\Config\graphics.cfg line # 329 MaxFPS = 29 instead of using smoothing

debugD3D=0

zClear=0

vsync=0

tripleBuffer=0

screenshotFormat=jpg

dllPathD3D9=auto

dllPathDXGI=auto

dllPathD3D11=auto

 

[overrides]

forceResolution=0

antialiasing=0

processAffinity=1

FOVForceHorizontal=0

FOVForceVertical=0

 

[debug]

compatibleIB=0

compatibleTex=0

compatibleVB=0

enableVBQuirk=1

 

[head_primary]

; Reported as #2 in windows - Camera Center

sourceRect=2020,0,1920,1080

screenMode=1920x1080

 

[head_1]

; Reported as #4 in windows - Helios

devID=1

sourceRect=5960,0,1920,1080

destRect=0,0,1920,1080

transportResolution=1920x1080

transportMethod=local

noSync=0

fpsLimit=0

 

[head_2]

; Reported as #1 in windows - Camera Left

devID=2

sourceRect=0,0,1920,1080

destRect=0,0,1920,1080

transportResolution=1920x1080

transportMethod=local

noSync=0

fpsLimit=0

 

[head_3]

; Reported as #3 in windows - Camera Right

devID=3

sourceRect=4040,0,1920,1080

destRect=0,0,1920,1080

transportResolution=1920x1080

transportMethod=local

noSync=0

fpsLimit=0

Edited October 5, 2012 by PeterP

[TomDK]

Hi again ...

 

Tried your first config with this monitor setup.

Result is the cockpit is over all 4 monitors, on the lower monitor hidden from Helios. MFCD export works to the lower monitor.

 

This night I tried around with eyefinity, one screen 5760 x 1080 and one 1920 x 1080. On one point I have had it up and running the cockpit on the upper 3 monitors and Helios on the lower monitor. It was perfect but when I used TrackIR I have had only a big big HUD and UFC on the screen. Without TrackIT it was okay. But while frickeling around I destroyed this setting and found it never again.

 

Other bad thing ... FPS are on middle options setting with and without SoftTH around 18 to 25 fps. It seems that my gpu and cpu are to weak for a 4 monitor setup. I will try it out the weekend but I think I have to send the monitors back and buy just one better monitor with higher resolution than 1920x1080 instead.

 

 

BTT:

Please, can you give me some advice how to tweak the screens to display only on the upper 3 monitors the cockpit and my Helios on the lower one ?!

 

 

Thanks again

Tom

 

 

EDIT:

I have it working.

Just changed the aspect in the monitor.lua to 5760x1080 and disabled a zoom on the z-axis from TrackIR.

 

Tested High-Resolution and Medium Resolution so far. FPS between 17 and 28 .... the center screen is looking good but the outside are horrible shifting the pixels.

 

What are u guys thinking about my hardware ... too weak for 4 monitors ?! Maybe will try one 50" screen instead of 3 x 27" ...

Edited October 5, 2012 by TomDK

[BIGNEWY]

I have revisited my ATI Crossfire settings after giving up due to poor performance but decided with the recent 1.2.0 patch to give it another look, as I had been getting good performance with SoftTH.

 

I have found that softTH gives even better performance with my crossfire enabled :thumbup:

 

This is a screen shot with Crossfire on but with SoftTH disabled - notice memory 679mb :mad:

 

 

 

and now with crossfire enabled and softTH - notice memory 1713mb using the cards how it should be used :thumbup:

 

 

softTH is a great piece of software

[Aries]

Do you get FPS increase in crossfire along with memory usage correction?

[BIGNEWY]

Do you get FPS increase in crossfire along with memory usage correction?

 

yes but it has never worked correctly in DCS, but now using it with softTH I have seen great improvement as softTH is using both of the cards memory.

 

:thumbup:

[PeterP]

Future of SofTh (?):

 

As E.D.G.E. and DX11 for DCS comes closer and closer (?),

I want to remind you that SoftTH in its current state doesn't work with DX11.

 

So please have a read here:

 

Upgrade (SoftTH) to support DX11, or go open source

 

kegetys

Administrator

 

 

 

Re: Upgrade to support DX11, or go open source

« Reply #16 on: October 11, 2012, 12:24:10 AM »

Its looking likely that I will release the source, lately I really havent had time to work on SoftTH at all and also after more than 5 years since the birth of the project the interest on spending a whole day on it has kind of died, so any progress would be very slow. I'm not sure how much help the source is for DX11 support though, the existing code for it is only very basic and almost zero of the DX9 code is useful for the most meaningful stuff. The win32 api hooks are maybe of at least some use for handling input.

 

Also, the source was never written to be used by anyone else than me, it is commented decently but I'm not sure if anyone else will be able to make sense of it (Its not structured for reading it and in some places things have had some pretty big changes many times so it has become a bit messy already)

Edited October 15, 2012 by PeterP

[BHawthorne]

Just a heads up, he's confirmed he will be releasing it to open source for sure soon. Previously he was only pondering it.

[JG14_Smil]

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=98109

 

Could someone take a look at this thread and help out? Getting an error when trying to write softTHconfig file.

[Marder]

...

 

Thanks so far

 

Tom

 

 

Edit: AERO is enabled for helios and fullscreen choosen for SoftTH use.

 

 

which programm do you use shown on the attached picture?

[PeterP]

which programm do you use shown on the attached picture?

 

Helios: http://www.gadrocsworkshop.com/helios/latest

 

 

>>> Free Helios Download/ questions thread

 

 

>>> SC Simulations HELIOS how to videos

[doveman]

Helios: http://www.gadrocsworkshop.com/helios/latest

 

 

>>> Free Helios Download/ questions thread

 

 

>>> SC Simulations HELIOS how to videos

 

Hi PeterP

 

Just a heads up but it seems those "SC Simulations HELIOS how to videos" have been removed by the user.

[PeterP]

Thank you Kegetys !

SoftTH source code release

 

Please read this:

kegetys

Administrator

 

Posts: 268

 

 

SoftTH source code release

« on: December 09, 2012, 12:13:28 AM »

First, the most important: SoftTH 2 source code is available here: soffth_source_release.zip, licensed under GNU GPL v3 (see license.txt)

 

I wanted to write some notes of the source but I havent found the time to do it so it is here in a bit raw form. Its a VS 2005 project, see readme for requirements. The configurations are a bit broken, you need to select the matching configuration for the architecture (Release for Win32 and Release x64 for x64).

 

It is looking quite likely I wont be developing SoftTH much further personally at least in major ways, so hopefully the source will find a new home. Feel free to upload it to github or similar services for easier collaboration.

 

As for the reasons why development has been almost at a halt is mostly lack of time and interest - It has been over 6 years since the start of the project now and the "I wonder if it would be possible" has been answered. SoftTH's concept is proven but supporting it is quite labor intensive: New games come out which do unexpected things, and new Direct3D versions come and go. Also since I have done professional software development for a few years now I tend to want to find something else to do on my free time. Trying new experimental things and making something nobody else has done before is still as interesting as ever but I think SoftTH is mostly past that stage.

 

For a bit of history the birth of SoftTH happend in the Live for Speed forums here and here. The Matrox Triplehead2go gave me the original idea of rendering on a single card and copying the side monitor images to other video cards as I thought it should be possible to do what the th2go did with software. Back then I only had an AGP+PCI system and I knew from the numbers that its not going to work - PCI Express would be needed but motherboards with two PCI Express slots were very expensive back then. Regardless I decided to skimp on other components when doing a system upgrade and got myself a dual slot motherboard so I could test the concept. Turns out it worked quite well so the money was well spent.

 

I originally kind of hoped that major video card manufacturers would pick the triple monitor feature up and implement it without needing the likes of SoftTH. To some extent it has happened but still not well enough in my opinion, very obvious and easy features are still missing. Hopefully they'll get there eventually