Or you could disable the parts that need TwistedPixel, ideally, opening up a large swatch of functionality and then, later, go back and perhaps re-engineeer the code to use something more modern instead of TwistedPixel.
Heaven & Earth 2 Source Code
- Thread starter ArchCarrier
- Start date
Or you could disable the parts that need TwistedPixel, ideally, opening up a large swatch of functionality and then, later, go back and perhaps re-engineeer the code to use something more modern instead of TwistedPixel.
ShawnDriscoll
SOC-14 1K
Sounds like TwistedPixel was just an image loader. Maybe an image exporter as well? JPG, PNG, BMP, TGA kind of stuff. There must be something else out there that will work with VB6 that does the same thing?
david.wendelken
SOC-12
Why not just post the darn source code out for everyone to make use of.
If you're right and no one can make any use of it, then it is what it is.
But if you're wrong, then someone will be able to salvage this app and improve it. In other words, don't invent obstacles for other people.
If you're right and no one can make any use of it, then it is what it is.
But if you're wrong, then someone will be able to salvage this app and improve it. In other words, don't invent obstacles for other people.
Yes I am well aware of the use of Twisted Pixel and I do own my own copy of VB6 that running right now on my Windows 10 machine as I have a number of RPG utilities (including Traveller) that I use and maintain for my own use.
The software that I wrote (and still maintain) is a CAD CAM program to create metal parts and to cut them on a metal cutting machine that my company manufactures. It maintained in VB6.
With the H&E source code I can identify what the Twisted Pixel OCX is precisely used for and make a work around. At the very least I can make a shim that pretends to be the Twisted Pixel OCX so the program will compile and then proceed from there with a replacement or begin a port to another language.
Exactly.
To show what I can do, I made a windows based viewer that adapted Jim's Galactic code.
The Blog Post
http://batintheattic.blogspot.com/2010/11/traveller-adventure.html
Just download this exe and drop it into the Galactic folder and run it instead of Gal.exe
http://www.batintheattic.com/downloads/Galactic.exe
I didn't implement everything but does view the data within windows and it is direct port of Jim's Code into VB6.
If anybody want a copy of the VB6 source code let me know.
Last edited:
In case people are interested in the technical details TwistedPixel is an activeX user interface control. Except in this case it actually doesn't display anything but acts as a library of image manipulation functions.
ActiveX control use the Microsoft COM standard to expose various interfaces and functions. As a standard there are variety of tools that one can examine the interface of a COM library including the TwistedPixel OCX.
The thing about the COM standard that it is about implementing interfaces. It is very easy to reference an existing library, setup a new class within Visual Basic 6, and have a empty outline of the TwistedPixel OCX. Now it won't actually do anything but the software will at least compile and can be run within the VB6 environment. So you can look at the rest of the code of the program and then work coming up with a substitute for TwistedPixel.
ActiveX control use the Microsoft COM standard to expose various interfaces and functions. As a standard there are variety of tools that one can examine the interface of a COM library including the TwistedPixel OCX.
The thing about the COM standard that it is about implementing interfaces. It is very easy to reference an existing library, setup a new class within Visual Basic 6, and have a empty outline of the TwistedPixel OCX. Now it won't actually do anything but the software will at least compile and can be run within the VB6 environment. So you can look at the rest of the code of the program and then work coming up with a substitute for TwistedPixel.
So, umm, yeah. Why not?
Shove it up on to Github or SourceForge and let fly.
There is no moral or legal obligation to "free the code"...
No, there isn't. But that doesn't mean I can't ask "Why not?"
As far as I know, HE and HE2 are still owned by Stuart Ferris (AKA ArchCarrier). He did graciously give me a copy of the source for both to aid in working on Universe (only). As a non-lawyer, I was open to the idea of releasing a bugfix version if necessary (and if I could get it to compile), but any new functionality or making the source code publicly available would be clear transgressions. It ain't gonna happen. If you want the source code, you'll have to talk to Stuart.
Thanks for the correction.
To clarify for everyone. I have no interest in illegally transfered source code. I once asked Hemdian outside COTI about the state of Universe and whether it could be updated. I believe many of you have re-iterated the same question.
So, who distributed it? It has been so long now i don't recall.
This generous bequest may allow Hemdian to share the code, but I'd still suggest asking Stuart first.
And the compiled version was distributed here:
http://www.downport.com/wbd/HEAVEN_&_EARTH.htm
ShawnDriscoll
SOC-14 1K
It ran fine on my Windows 10 Pro 64-bit. I didn't have to do anything special that I recall.
Maybe I am holding my tongue all wrong when I install.
I'll give it another go when I have time.Thanks for the reply.
Cheers,
ShawnDriscoll
SOC-14 1K
I installed it (I think) when I had Windows 7 Pro 64-bit installed. So it was already on my computer when I updated to Windows 10. If you have access to Windows 7, install on that, then copy the files over to your Windows 10 machine.
No access to a Win7 Machine. I am on my new 64bit Win10 Machine. I get this error message.
Unfortunately programming in anything other than basic on a C=64 is beyond me as I never followed that career path :biggrin:
Any help appreciated although I suspect an emulator will end up being less work LOL
Cheers,
You may want to try the compatibility settings - right click to get the properties and there should be a compatibility tab. Select an earlier version of Windows. I've got mine set to run as compatible w/XP.
But I am also a developer so my machines tend to have a lot of development frameworks on them, so I have cruft from decades clogging up various things.
But I am also a developer so my machines tend to have a lot of development frameworks on them, so I have cruft from decades clogging up various things.
maggot-iiss
SOC-12
Twisted Pixel .ocx
I believe Hyphens signature holds the file that contains TwistedPixel.ocx.
[FONT=arial,helvetica]
http://www.downport.com/wbd/HEAVEN_&_EARTH.htm
Have a search in there.
I am now attempting to install it again, as I do move through installs of Windows like mad.
Let me know where it gets out of hand, and I shall try the same way to sort it for you.
It has worked for me before in Win10.
[/FONT]
I believe Hyphens signature holds the file that contains TwistedPixel.ocx.
[FONT=arial,helvetica]
http://www.downport.com/wbd/HEAVEN_&_EARTH.htm
Have a search in there.
I am now attempting to install it again, as I do move through installs of Windows like mad.
Let me know where it gets out of hand, and I shall try the same way to sort it for you.
It has worked for me before in Win10.
[/FONT]
