wxGLCanvas (OpenGL rendering) broken in Vista, not refreshed properly

[wxtrac]

Issue migrated from trac ticket # 10168

component: OpenGL | priority: normal | keywords: OpenGL wxGLCanvas Windows Vista

2008-11-08 15:04:12: StepanHrbek (Stepan Hrbek) created the issue

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This probably affects all wxGLCanvas apps in Windows Vista.[[BR]]

Steps to reproduce (also documented by attached image):

1. Run anything based on wxGLCanvas (e.g. sample 'cube').
2. Partially overlap it with other window (e.g. press alt-tab).
3. Switch back (e.g. press alt-tab).
4. See that parts that were not overlapped are no longer refreshed (e.g. hold arrow).

Tested with wxWidgets 2.8.9, Windows Vista (with Aero disabled)

I'm trying to find out what's wrong, what I know so far:

• OpenGL + Vista Aero is expected to cause problems with wxGLCanvas overlapped by GDI elements, see  http://www.opengl.org/pipeline/article/vol003_7/ However, problem I report is caused by any overlap and with Aero disabled. (I haven't tested it with Aero yet)
• The same problem is present in all applications based on [wiki:FreeGlut FreeGLUT], run in Vista. On the other hand, all applications based on GLUT are refreshed properly.

[wxtrac]

2008-11-08 15:04:57: StepanHrbek (Stepan Hrbek) uploaded file wxWidgets-OpenGL-Vista.jpg (33.9 KiB)

[wxtrac]

2008-12-13 00:50:49: @f18m commented

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I suggest you to grab a snapshot of wx trunk and test its cube sample; OpenGL classes were refactored in wx2.9 and cleaned up. As side effect this bug may have been fixed... unfortunately I cannot test it myself as I don't have Vista.

[wxtrac]

2009-04-28 17:06:27: helser (Aron Helser) commented

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I can confirm the following using wxWidgets 2.8.8, which should be identical to 2.8.9:

• This problem does NOT appear if the Vista Aero is enabled.
• It does appear with many dialogs created by wxWidgets, but does not appear for some system dialogs. We've discovered that you must move the dialog to trigger the refresh problem.
  • Example: Penguin sample.
  • Open the About dialog and move it, then hit OK. Problem appears.
  • Choose File .. Open, move the dialog, then cancel, and the problem does not appear.

We are also seeing the problem in our much more complicated app, with MDI parent/child windows and wxAUI controlling toolbars, etc, and the wxGLCanvas used inside an MDI child window.

[wxtrac]

2009-04-28 17:50:57: helser (Aron Helser) commented

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Just did an SVN checkout of 2.9-trunk, and the problem is still present in the Penguin sample as in my previous comment, so I'm updating the Version tag.

I suspect more people haven't noticed this problem because it does not occur with Aero turned on, which is the default for any capable-enough system.....

[wxtrac]

2009-12-22 10:05:55: jatupper (Jeff Tupper) commented

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After just a bit of “Penguin” testing on Windows 7 (with the “Windows 7 Basic” and “Windows Classic” themes) I didn't see the problem here (with 2.9 revision 62767). I tried alt-tabbing a bit and fiddling about with the About dialog as described above.