Introduction

Welcome to the Real Visualization Software Development Kit (SDK)!

Overview

RealNetworks® has created this SDK for developers working with the RealJukebox™ and RealPlayer® applications. This manual helps you use the SDK to produce visualization plug-ins for RealJukebox and RealPlayer. A visualization plug-in is a DLL that renders a graphical display while audio is being played by RealJukebox or RealPlayer. The graphic rendering is synchronized to the amplitude of the audio to provide a lively visual effect.

After you build a visualization plug-in, submit your DLL to RealNetworks at upload_vis@real.com for review and distribution on our RealJukebox Central web site.

Additional Information
Be sure to read the SDK license agreement in full. See "Appendix B: License Agreement".

	Additional Information
Be sure to read the SDK license agreement in full. See "Appendix B: License Agreement".

What's New in Version 2 of the Real Visualization SDK

New APIs

Window support. Your visualization plug-in can use either window mode rendering or buffer mode rendering.
- In window mode, your plug-in is handed a window with the SetWindow function. Rendering status information is supplied to your plug-in with the SetRender function. Finally, your plug-in is given audio data with the OnDrawWindow function.
- In buffer mode, the visualization graphic is rendered in a buffer that is then rendered by the application, either RealJukebox or RealPlayer, in the visualization window pane.
Configuration support. Your visualization plug-in can create
plug-in–specific configuration data to save state information. This new configuration support allows you to create a modal dialog box where you can specify attribute settings associated with your visualization plug-in. Because these settings are persistent, they are used every time the visualization plug-in runs.

New Samples

Version 2 of the Real Visualization SDK includes two sample visualizations.

The first sample shows how to build a visualization by drawing into buffers.
The second sample demonstrates the new window support mode.

How This Manual Is Organized

This manual contains the following information:

"Chapter 1: Using the SDK" describes the files included in the Real Visualization SDK.
"Chapter 2: Development Framework"discusses the Real Visualization SDK's implementation of COM, and lists the steps for compiling the sample plug-ins provided with the SDK.
"Chapter 3: The Visualization Interface" explains the methods used for buffer mode and window mode rendering.
"Appendix A: Interface List" describes the IMPAVisualization interface and its methods.
"Appendix B: License Agreement" contains the SDK license agreement.

Text Conventions in This Manual

Interfaces, methods, functions, code excerpts, and file names appear in a sans serif typeface.

User interface elements appear in Bold Title Case.

Technical Support

For technical support for the Real Visualization SDK, e-mail:

supportsdk@real.com

For general information about RealNetworks' technical support, visit:

http://service.real.com