This section discusses new features in DirectPlay® 5. For the most recent updates, including new features, additional samples, and further technical information, consult the Microsoft® DirectX® Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/DirectX/.
DirectPlay 5 has a new interface, IDirectPlay3. This interface inherits directly from IDirectPlay2 and by default behaves as IDirectPlay2. All new functionality is enabled through new methods or flags.
DirectPlay 5 supports the following new features and methods:
DirectPlay 5 also supports new functionality for existing DirectPlay 3 methods:
- An application can create multiple DirectPlay objects.
- The IDirectPlay3::SetSessionDesc method enables the host to change the session description.
- The IDirectPlay3::EnumSessions method can now be called asynchronously and will maintain a constantly refreshing list of sessions available on the session.
- Password protection of sessions has been improved. Specify the DPENUMSESSIONS_PASSWORDREQUIRED flag in EnumSessions to enumerate password-protected sessions (in addition to nonpassword-protected sessions). The DPSESSIONDESC2 structure will contain a flag indicating that the session needs a password. Put the password in the DPSESSIONDESC2 structure passed to the Open method to join the session.
- Applications can override the service provider dialog boxes that prompt users for information. To prevent these dialog boxes from appearing, create a DirectPlay Address (Optional) by using the IDirectPlayLobby2::CreateAddress or IDirectPlayLobby2::CreateCompoundAddress methods and then call IDirectPlay3::InitializeConnection with this DirectPlay Address. A subsequent call to IDirectPlay3::EnumSessions will not display a dialog box prompting the user for address information.
- A new multicast server option improves group messaging.
- Support has been added for scalable client/server architecture applications.
- Sessions can be hosted securely and require users to log in with a name and password.
- Members of a secure session can send digitally signed or encrypted messages, by using the DPSEND_SIGNED and DPSEND_ENCRYPTED flags in the Send method.
© 1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.