User:Eddman

August 27, 2025: Although generally correct, this guide isn't final and needs certain details.

DirectDraw versions

DirectDraw is an obsolete 2D rendering API from Microsoft that was used by game developers mainly before the release of Direct3D 8. To determine the exact version of DirectDraw being used by a game, a more in-depth investigation needs to be performed by tracing the API calls with dgVoodoo 2 (see Determine the Direct3D/DirectDraw version for older games).

Determine the Direct3D/DirectDraw version for older games

This section is applicable for DirectDraw and Direct3D 7 or older. Although these methods can be used for Direct3D 8-9, using a tool such as MSI Afterburner is recommended.

Identify the render API being used:

Start by identifying the loaded DLL files while the game is running: (using e.g. Process Explorer) If the game loads d3d8.dll or d3d9.dll, use MSI Afterburner to validate if it's rendering using the corresponding APIs. If the game loads d3dim700.dll, it is an indication of Direct3D 7, however tracing is required for confirmation. If the game loads the following DLLs, the exact API version cannot be determined directly. A tool such as dgVoodoo 2 must be used to trace the API calls for determining the exact version: If the game loads d3dim.dll, it is an indication of Direct3D 2-6 range. If the game loads ddraw.dll only, it is an indication of the DirectDraw 1-7 range. Notes A DLL file being loaded by the game doesn't necessarily mean its functions are being utilized. Tracing is advised. If the game loads both d3dim.dll and d3dim700.dll, the possible reasons are: It uses one for rendering and the other for other purposes (e.g. Device Enumeration). One of them is loaded but its functions are not utilized. If a 2D game loads d3dim.dll or d3dim700.dll, despite having 2D graphics, the possible reasons are: Direct3D is used to render certain effects which are not possible with DirectDraw only. The game might not be utilizing Direct3D in any meaningful capacity at all. d3dim.dll or d3dim700.dll is possibly loaded as a result of a developer mistake, or using developer tools that added the DLL as a dependency by default. ddraw.dll is always loaded when d3dim.dll or d3dim700.dll are, since Direct3D 2-7 require DirectDraw to be able to function. If tracing the API calls are necessary, perform the following: Download the debug build of dgVoodoo 2, as well as DebugView or DebugView++. Apply the dgVoodoo 2 files to the game per the usual method in the guide. In the game folder, run dgVoodooCpl.exe, right-click on the dgVoodoo banner, and enable Show all sections of the configuration. Open the last tab, Debug, and set Maximum trace level to +Additional trace info for internals. Run the downloaded DebugView tool. Make sure its window is empty before launching the game. Launch the game, start a new game and proceed until you reach in-game graphics. Exit the game and check the DebugView window. If done correctly, a list of interfaces sorted by time should be visible. Determine the Direct3D or DirectDraw version using the following tables: Direct3D version | Interfaces -----------------|--------------------------------------- 2/3 | Direct3D | Direct3DDevice ......................................................... 5 | Direct3D2 | Direct3D2::CreateDevice | | Direct3DDevice2 | Direct3DDevice2::SetCurrentViewport | Direct3DDevice2::GetCurrentViewport | Direct3DDevice2::SetRenderTarget | Direct3DDevice2::GetRenderTarget | Direct3DDevice2::Begin | Direct3DDevice2::BeginIndexed | Direct3DDevice2::Vertex | Direct3DDevice2::Index | Direct3DDevice2::End | Direct3DDevice2::GetRenderState | Direct3DDevice2::SetRenderState | Direct3DDevice2::GetLightState | Direct3DDevice2::SetLightState | Direct3DDevice2::SetTransform | Direct3DDevice2::GetTransform | Direct3DDevice2::MultiplyTransform | Direct3DDevice2::DrawPrimitive | Direct3DDevice2::DrawIndexedPrimitive | Direct3DDevice2::SetClipStatus | Direct3DDevice2::GetClipStatus | | Direct3DRampDevice | Direct3DRGBDevice | Direct3DHALDevice | Direct3DMMXDevice | Direct3DMaterial2 | Direct3DTexture2 | Direct3DViewport2 ......................................................... 6 | Direct3D3 | Direct3D3::CreateVertexBuffer | Direct3D3::EnumZBufferFormats | Direct3D3::EvictManagedTextures | | Direct3DDevice3 | Direct3DDevice3::DrawPrimitiveStrided | Direct3DDevice3::DrawIndexedPrimitiveStrided | Direct3DDevice3::DrawPrimitiveVB | Direct3DDevice3::DrawIndexedPrimitiveVB | Direct3DDevice3::ComputeSphereVisibility | Direct3DDevice3::GetTexture | Direct3DDevice3::SetTexture | Direct3DDevice3::GetTextureStageState | Direct3DDevice3::SetTextureStageState | Direct3DDevice3::ValidateDevice | | Direct3DRefDevice | Direct3DNullDevice | Direct3DMaterial3 | Direct3DViewport3 | Direct3DVertexBuffer ......................................................... 7 | Direct3D7 | Direct3DDevice7 DirectDraw version | Interfaces -------------------|------------------------------------- 1 | DirectDraw | DirectDrawSurface ......................................................... 2/3 | DirectDraw2 | DirectDraw2::GetAvailableVidMem | | DirectDrawSurface2 | DirectDrawSurface2::GetDDInterface | DirectDrawSurface2::PageLock | DirectDrawSurface2::PageUnlock ......................................................... 5 | DirectDrawSurface3 | DirectDrawSurface3::SetSurfaceDesc | | DirectDrawColorControl ......................................................... 6 | DirectDraw4 | DirectDraw4::GetSurfaceFromDC | DirectDraw4::RestoreAllSurfaces | DirectDraw4::TestCooperativeLevel | DirectDraw4::GetDeviceIdentifier | | DirectDrawSurface4 | DirectDrawSurface4::SetPrivateData | DirectDrawSurface4::GetPrivateData | DirectDrawSurface4::FreePrivateData | DirectDrawSurface4::GetUniquenessValue | DirectDrawSurface4::ChangeUniquenessValue ......................................................... 7 | DirectDraw7 | DirectDraw7::StartModeTest | DirectDraw7::EvaluateMode | | DirectDrawSurface7 | DirectDrawSurface7::SetPriority | DirectDrawSurface7::GetPriority | DirectDrawSurface7::SetLOD | DirectDrawSurface7::GetLOD Notes There are no Direct3D/DirectDraw 4 since DirectX 4 was canceled during development. The Direct3D table is not complete, however the listed interfaces should be enough to determine the version. In most cases checking Direct3D* and/or Direct3DDevice* is enough. When dealing with mixed usage of interfaces, note the following: Direct3D 2 and 3, and DirectDraw 2 and 3, use the exact same interfaces, and so cannot be distinguished. Use the DirectX version listed in the system requirements or ReadMe file of the game, or the version of the DirectX installer shipped with the original release of the game. DirectDraw 2/3 and 5 use the same DirectDraw2 interface. To distinguish between the two check which DirectDrawSurface interface is used. DirectDrawSurface interfaces refer to texture (.DDS) types. A game coded to use a newer DirectDraw interface may not have had a need to use the functionality of the newer versions of DirectDrawSurface interfaces. If a game uses, for example, DirectDraw4 combined with DirectDrawSurface2, with no dependency on DirectDrawSurface4, it is safe to assume it uses DirectDraw 6, based on the DirectDraw4 functions. Important: If having trouble determining the exact DirectDraw version, simply write true in the directdraw versions field on the wiki page.