How can I load a tga file into a panel?

07-16-2007, 12:14 AM

Hello,
I am trying to write some dialog box similar to the one that is opened when you choose "LOAD GAME" from the HL2 game menu.
I save tga files during the game, and I want to be able to display them on my dialog.
Does anyone know how I can create an image from a tga file? Or does anyone know where I can find the code implementing the dialog opened by "LOAD GAME"?
Thanks,
Shir

Wraiyth · 07-16-2007, 07:45 AM

TGA Files aren't supported, only VTFs are. And the Load Game dialog is closed-source as a part of GameUI.dll

07-18-2007, 01:16 AM

Are you sure tga files are not supported. when a game is saved, only a tga file is created (in the SAVE directory) without any vtf - there must be a way I can do the same..??? just I didn't figure yet how.

gogo

lodle · 07-18-2007, 06:21 AM

OK totaly dont listen to any one trying to give you help is the best way to go ...

No really i mean it ...

Your still here? ....

You have to use vtf files. Have a google or look in the wiki tga files (or any other images) are not supported for in game use. Sure it can write out a jpg or tga but that is completly diffrent from rendering them.

ProZak · 08-06-2007, 08:48 AM

Bump. Actually I believe its possible to load TGA files onto a VGUI Panel.

\Public\Bitmap\tgaloader.h contains a few useful functions.

Winston · 08-06-2007, 11:03 AM

It's about 5 seconds to convert a targa into a vtf/vmt anyway...

For what its worth though, doesn't the MOTD panel support HTML, including images, which, I guess, don't have to be targas.

One3yed · 08-06-2007, 11:36 AM

He basically just wants to make it so when the player does a "Load Game" they see a screenshot of the game they last played. He's not trying to render it mid-game or what not.

I did some poking around and found in cubemap.cpp they create .vtf files from your screen. They basically create a new VTF image using CreateVTFTexture(), copy the unsigned char *data (which is every pixel), then memcpy their own texture data into it, and finally save it to a file.

From there just build yourself a .vmt to fit with the FileSystem and you should be able to load it without a problem when you want to display it, without ever exiting the game.

It won't take 5 seconds, maybe about 1-3 seconds which is perfectly fine for when the player "SAVES" their game.

So the files of interest are:
cubemap.cpp
tgaloader.h
imaterialsystem.h

07-16-2007, 12:14 AM	#1
gogo Guest Posts: n/a	How can I load a tga file into a panel? Hello, I am trying to write some dialog box similar to the one that is opened when you choose "LOAD GAME" from the HL2 game menu. I save tga files during the game, and I want to be able to display them on my dialog. Does anyone know how I can create an image from a tga file? Or does anyone know where I can find the code implementing the dialog opened by "LOAD GAME"? Thanks, Shir

08-06-2007, 11:36 AM	#7
One3yed Join Date: Feb 2006 Reputation: 7 Posts: 90	He basically just wants to make it so when the player does a "Load Game" they see a screenshot of the game they last played. He's not trying to render it mid-game or what not. I did some poking around and found in cubemap.cpp they create .vtf files from your screen. They basically create a new VTF image using CreateVTFTexture(), copy the unsigned char data (which is every pixel), then memcpy their own texture data into it, and finally save it to a file. From there just build yourself a .vmt to fit with the FileSystem and you should be able to load it without a problem when you want to display it, without ever exiting the game. It won't take 5 seconds, maybe about 1-3 seconds which is perfectly fine for when the player "SAVES" their game. So the files of interest are: cubemap.cpp tgaloader.h imaterialsystem.h Last edited by One3yed: 08-06-2007 at 11:40 AM.*

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07-16-2007, 07:45 AM	#2
Wraiyth Join Date: Jun 2007 Reputation: 0 Posts: 63	TGA Files aren't supported, only VTFs are. And the Load Game dialog is closed-source as a part of GameUI.dll

07-18-2007, 01:16 AM	#3
gogo Guest Posts: n/a	Are you sure tga files are not supported. when a game is saved, only a tga file is created (in the SAVE directory) without any vtf - there must be a way I can do the same..??? just I didn't figure yet how. gogo

07-18-2007, 06:21 AM	#4
lodle Join Date: Mar 2006 Reputation: 36 Posts: 1,715	OK totaly dont listen to any one trying to give you help is the best way to go ... No really i mean it ... Your still here? .... You have to use vtf files. Have a google or look in the wiki tga files (or any other images) are not supported for in game use. Sure it can write out a jpg or tga but that is completly diffrent from rendering them.

08-06-2007, 08:48 AM	#5
ProZak Join Date: Mar 2004 Reputation: 60 Posts: 675	Bump. Actually I believe its possible to load TGA files onto a VGUI Panel. \Public\Bitmap\tgaloader.h contains a few useful functions.

08-06-2007, 11:03 AM	#6
Winston Join Date: Jul 2007 Reputation: 84 Posts: 2,170	It's about 5 seconds to convert a targa into a vtf/vmt anyway... For what its worth though, doesn't the MOTD panel support HTML, including images, which, I guess, don't have to be targas.