        #
        | Help file for Microsoft DirectX
        |
        | ELSA AG                    Internet   : http://www.elsa.de
        | Sonnenweg 11               LocalWeb   : +49-(0)241-938800
        | D-52070 Aachen             CompuServe : GO ELSA
        |
        | ELSA Inc.                  Internet   : http://www.elsa.com
        | 2231 Calle De Luna         CompuServe : GO ELSA
        | Santa Clara, CA 95054
        | USA
        |
        | ELSA Asia Inc.             Internet   : http://www.elsa.com
        | 7F-11, No. 188, Sec. 5     CompuServe : GO ELSA
        | Nanking East Road
        | Taipeo 105
        | Taiwan, R. O. C.
        |
        | 09/10/97, GBorgs, MHodshon

        Description of the Microsoft DirectX

        DirectX is an Application Programming Interface (API) devel-
        oped by Microsoft to provide Windows-based programs with
        high-performance, real-time access to system hardware on
        current computer systems. That enables video playback without
        frame dropping and allows games to run faster.
        DirectX was primarily developed for Windows 95, but Windows
        NT 4.0 currently supports a subset of DirectX. Service Pack 3
        for Windows NT 4.0 adds software-only support for all DirectX
        components.
        This Microsoft API consists of five components:

        1. DirectDraw
           DirectDraw allows direct access of video display memory,
           hardware blters, hardware overlays, and page flipping.
           DirectDraw provides this functionality while maintaining
           compatibility with existing Windows 95-based programs and
           device drivers. Essentially, DirectDraw is a memory
           manager for the video memory.

        2. Direct3D
           Direct3D is a complete set of real-time 3D graphics
           services that delivers fast software-based rendering of
           the full 3D rendering pipeline (transformations, light-
           ing, and rasterization) and transparent access to hard-
           ware acceleration. Direct3D is fully scalable, enabling
           all or part of the 3D rendering pipeline to be acceler-
           ated by hardware. Direct3D exposes advanced graphics capa-
           bilities of 3D hardware accelerators, including z-buffer-
           ing, anti-aliasing, alpha blending, MIPmapping, atmospher-
           ic effects, and perspective- correct texture mapping. Inte-
           gration with other DirectX technologies enables Direct3D
           to deliver such features as video mapping, hardware 3D
           rendering in 2D overlay planes, and even sprites, provid-
           ing use of 2D and 3D graphics in interactive media titles.

        3. DirectSound
           DirectSound is the audio component of the Microsoft
           Windows 95 Game SDK that provides low-latency mixing,
           hardware acceleration, and direct access to the sound
           device. DirectSound provides this functionality while
           maintaining compatibility with existing Windows 95-based
           programs and device drivers.

        4. DirectPlay
           DirectPlay is a software interface that simplifies game
           access to communication services. DirectPlay provides a
           way for games to communicate with each other that is
           independent of the underlying transport, protocol, or on-
           line service.

        5. DirectInput
           DirectInput provides fast and consistent access to analog
           and digital joysticks. The DirectInput API maintains
           consistency with the joystick APIs of the Microsoft Win32
           Software Development Kit (SDK), but has improved responsiv-
           eness and reliability by changing the device driver model.
           DirectInput device drivers also use the registry to store
           settings for standard joysticks, calibration information
           for previously configured joysticks, and settings for OEM-
           supplied joysticks.


        DirectDraw and Direct3D are definitely the most important
        components for video adapters. They enable the smooth inter-
        action of software (e.g. games) and the graphics adapter.
        Because the DirectX set is not delivered with the retail
        Windows 95, it has to be installed seperatly, to take advan-
        tage of the hardware acceleration of the ELSA Graphics adap-
        ter.
        The latest version of the DirectX set is located on the
        WINNERware CD and can be installed via the CDSETUP-program.
