[Guide] : fake-fullscreen and optimisation

tatsu · 29 Nov 2020, 22:52

the point of UI-festival the way I see it is only if you have two screens of different resolutions.

if your two screens are of the same resolution UI-Party is the one for you.

arma473 · 29 Nov 2020, 23:21

one is landscape, the other one is portrait. So it probably just won't work for me. I'm doing okay without fake fullscreen so I guess i will just stick with that. Thanks for your help though.

Is there a way to get any kind of optimization without fake fullscreen? Can I use AHK to prioritize the thread, without fake fullscreen?

Sir-Prize · 30 Nov 2020, 08:34

Is there a benefit to doing it the way outlined in the OP over using an app like Game Companion?

tatsu · 30 Nov 2020, 09:12

well yes,

this is more optimized, lower consumption of resources than Game companion and
this allows to execute our optimization of FA itself.

tatsu · 30 Nov 2020, 09:14

@arma473 well that's where you would need UI-Festival.

anyways it's up to you

Sir-Prize · 1 Dec 2020, 02:01

@tatsu said in [Guide] : fake-fullscreen and optimisation:

There are multiple versions of the script depending on your monitor setup, and whether you just want the windowed fullscreen, the optimization, or both.

This makes it seem like you shouldn't need fake fullscreen for the optimisation. As it is, I couldn't get the fake fullscreen to work this way for some reason (probably user error) so I will just switch back to what I was doing before I guess.

arma473 · 1 Dec 2020, 02:36

Just so no one has to look for it, from the prior thread, here is the script given if you want to use AHK for optimization, without using it for Fake Fullscreen. There are other examples of scripts people used in the prior thread (https://forums.faforever.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9778)

#NoEnv
SendMode Input
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%
#Persistent

procName := "ForgedAlliance.exe"
SetTimer, CheckProc, 2000
Return


CheckProc:
    If (!ProcessExist(procName))
        Return

    WinGet Style, Style, % "ahk_exe " procName
    If (Style & 0xC40000)
    {
Run, %comspec% /c process -a forgedalliance.exe 111111111110    ;remember to edit this to fit you thread count!!
Run, %comspec% /c process -p forgedalliance.exe high
    }
    Return

ProcessExist(exeName)
{
   Process, Exist, %exeName%
   return ERRORLEVEL
}

return

(And remember to edit the thread count where the comment in the code indicates, e.g. 1110 for 4 logical cores, 11111110 for 8 cores)

RikuTengu · 23 Dec 2020, 21:05

This post is deleted!

tatsu · 24 Dec 2020, 16:04

yeah I had that too.

check the spacing.

it's space sensitive for where it begins and ends the loops.
mine looks like this :

SpikeyNoob · 30 Mar 2021, 15:38

Can the fake full screen / multi monitor thing be done on linux?

tatsu · 30 Mar 2021, 16:43

@SpikeyNoob said in [Guide] : fake-fullscreen and optimisation:

Can the fake full screen / multi monitor thing be done on linux?

no.

I don't think so.

I gave up but if you find a way let me know!

look here : https://forum.faforever.com/topic/123/guide-fake-fullscreen-and-optimisation/2

what’s the Linux step by step

SpikeyNoob · 31 Mar 2021, 14:29

ok worth a shot ig. Ill let u know if I ever figure it out.

IO_Nox · 17 Jun 2021, 14:50

Made anower variant of AHK script.
Using Win 10, AutoHotkey, Steam version of game and Downlord's FAF Client.
For some reason Steam runs "SupremeCommander.exe", FAF Client runs "ForgedAlliance.exe".

I made some manipulations to make AHK script

stop or pause by itself if game haven't started after 2 minutes or right after script done all things,
do things only once on each game start,
do nothing then nothing is needed and also
run singleplayer from descktop shortcut made by Steam,
run multyplayer from descktop shortcut for Downlord's FAF Client.

Lets start from Steam descktop sortcut:
Just right click game shortcut , go to Properties and change URL (I had steam://rungameid/9420, we will start it in script) and insert full file path to your script, Save. Old URL insert into script.
To check it, simply open sortcut in any notepad you have. You will see somethig like that:
File "Supreme Commander Forged Alliance.url":

[{000214A0-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
Prop3=19,9
[InternetShortcut]
IDList=
IconIndex=0
URL=file:///D:/Program%20Files/FAF%20borderleess%20fullscreen%20window.ahk
IconFile=D:\Steam\steam\games\540979be595a41206b56a2e427c29dce1c212ad2.ico
HotKey=0

Note: just Ctrl+C -> Ctrl+V full file path, Windows will add "file:///...%20..." staff by itself if done in Properties.

Next is doing the same for FAF Client:
Right click this time Downlord's FAF Client sortcut (it is standard *.lnk, no url staff) go to Properties and change Object path from "D:\Program Files\Downlord's FAF Client\downlords-faf-client.exe" to "D:\Program Files\Downlord's FAF Client\FAF borderleess.ahk". Old Object run in script.

So, it is time for scripts!

Scrip file "FAF borderleess fullscreen window.ahk" in "D:/Program Files/" directory for singleplayer:

#NoEnv
SendMode Input
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%
#Persistent

Run, steam://rungameid/9420
procName := "SupremeCommander.exe"

Process, Wait, %procName%, 120 ; Waits for process to start, no more then 120 seconds
NewPID := ErrorLevel
if not NewPID
{
    MsgBox The specified process did not appear.
    ExitApp ; Stop this script
}

SetTimer, CheckProc, 2000
return

CheckProc:
    if (!ProcessExist(procName))
        return
     
    WinGet Style, Style, % "ahk_exe " procName
    if (Style & 0xC40000)
    {
        WinSet, Style, -0xC40000, % "ahk_exe " procName ; remove the titlebar and border(s)
        WinMove, % "ahk_exe " procName , , 0, 0, 1920, 1080 ; move the window to 0,0 and resize it to fit across 1 or 2 monitors.
        WinMaximize, % "ahk_exe " procName
        WinRestore, % "ahk_exe " procName

        ; set High priority and cores affinity 
        Process, Priority, %procName%, H
        ProcessHandle := DllCall("OpenProcess", "UInt", 0x1F0FFF, "Int", false, "UInt", NewPID)
        DllCall("SetProcessAffinityMask", "UInt", ProcessHandle, "UInt", 14 ) ; 1110x2 = 14x10 CPU 0 unchecked, CPU 1-3 checked
        DllCall("CloseHandle", "UInt", ProcessHandle)

        ExitApp  ; Stop this script
    }
return

ProcessExist(exeName)
{
   Process, Exist, %exeName%
   return !!ERRORLEVEL
}
return

This one starts before singleplayer, calls Steam to run the game, waits for game, does borderleess fullscreen and optimisation and stops right after that. No script running while you are playing.

Scrip file "FAF borderleess.ahk" in "D:\Program Files\Downlord's FAF Client" directory for multyplayer:

#NoEnv
SendMode Input
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%
#Persistent

Run, downlords-faf-client.exe

procName := "ForgedAlliance.exe"
procNameClient := "downlords-faf-client.exe"

Process, Wait, %procNameClient%, 120 ; Waits for process to start, no more then 120 seconds
NewPID := ErrorLevel
if not NewPID
{
    MsgBox The specified process did not appear.
    ExitApp ; Stop this script
}

SetTimer, CheckProc, 2000

; Stop then FAF Client stoped
Process, WaitClose, %procNameClient%
ExitApp

CheckProc:
    if (!ProcessExist(procName))
        return

    WinGet Style, Style, % "ahk_exe " procName
    if (Style & 0xC40000)
    {
        WinSet, Style, -0xC40000, % "ahk_exe " procName ; remove the titlebar and border(s)
        WinMove, % "ahk_exe " procName , , 0, 0, 1920, 1080 ; move the window to 0,0 and resize it to fit across 1 or 2 monitors.
        WinMaximize, % "ahk_exe " procName
        WinRestore, % "ahk_exe " procName

        ; set High priority and cores affinity 
        Process, Priority, %procName%, H
        NewPID := ErrorLevel
        ProcessHandle := DllCall("OpenProcess", "UInt", 0x1F0FFF, "Int", false, "UInt", NewPID)
        DllCall("SetProcessAffinityMask", "UInt", ProcessHandle, "UInt", 14 ) ; 1110x2 = 14x10 CPU 0 unchecked, CPU 1-3 checked
        DllCall("CloseHandle", "UInt", ProcessHandle)

        Process, WaitClose, %procName%
    }
return

ProcessExist(exeName)
{
   Process, Exist, %exeName%
   return !!ERRORLEVEL
}
return

This starts before FAF Client and waits for FAF Client to run the game. Script is checking for game in loop every 2 seconds. On every game start it does borderleess fullscreen and optimisation BUT does NOT stop after that. Script pauses the loop while you are playing, but is still running while doing nothing. Then the game is over script will resume the loop to catch your next game start. Once you stops FAF Client, sript will stop automaticully.

Now :

sortcurts will run AHK scripts,
scripts will run game in Steam or run FAF Client,
scripts do nothing while you are in game
you don't need to stop scripts and
you can hide script file anywhere (well, for FAF Client better keep it in client's dir, maybe becase of ' in directory name).
Oh, and you need only AutoHotkey for this to work.

If all worked fine you will see in task manager high priority and unchecked first core (CPU 0) affinity for game process, "fake fullscreen mode" in game and no Alt+Tab issues.

Note:
In case your taskbar don't want to hide at all (rarely happens when very actively using other soft at game start, so I don't fix it) you may add hotkey or auto hiding like this:

Process, Wait, %procName%, 120
NewPID := ErrorLevel
if not NewPID
{
    MsgBox The specified process did not appear.
    ExitApp
}
; hide taskbar on process start
HideShowTaskbar(true)

; here do anythig like SetTimer, CheckProc, 2000

Process, WaitClose, %procName%
; show taskbar on process stop and stop this script
HideShowTaskbar(false)
ExitApp

; set action to true to hide or false to show Taskbar
HideShowTaskbar(action) {
   static ABM_SETSTATE := 0xA, ABS_AUTOHIDE := 0x1, ABS_ALWAYSONTOP := 0x2
   VarSetCapacity(APPBARDATA, size := 2*A_PtrSize + 2*4 + 16 + A_PtrSize, 0)
   NumPut(size, APPBARDATA), NumPut(WinExist("ahk_class Shell_TrayWnd"), APPBARDATA, A_PtrSize)
   NumPut(action ? ABS_AUTOHIDE : ABS_ALWAYSONTOP, APPBARDATA, size - A_PtrSize)
   DllCall("Shell32\SHAppBarMessage", UInt, ABM_SETSTATE, Ptr, &APPBARDATA)
}

taskBarIsHidden = false
; ["ctrl" + "win" + "z"] hotkey to toggle taskbar
; this should be in the end of the script, nothing else worked otherwise...
^#z:: HideShowTaskbar(taskBarIsHidden := taskBarIsHidden = true ? false : true)

tatsu · 19 Jun 2021, 07:53

wow well done @IO_Nox !

IO_Nox · 19 Jun 2021, 12:51

@tatsu

Not that well it seems)
Thanks for you comment I reread post and found one significant error:
It seem I Copy-pasted not the latest version, multipleer script neend one extra line to make it pause the loop
" Process, WaitClose, %procName%" in the end of "if" section. Without this line script do not pause the loop...

IO_Nox · 19 Jun 2021, 13:50

One more error fix: in "NewPID" remain procces ID of FAF Client, not the game, so process affinity was set for FAF Client, not for game
Fixed by adding "NewPID := ErrorLevel" after setting high priority:

; set High priority and cores affinity 
        Process, Priority, %procName%, H
        NewPID := ErrorLevel
        ProcessHandle := DllCall("OpenProcess", "UInt", 0x1F0FFF, "Int", false, "UInt", NewPID)
        DllCall("SetProcessAffinityMask", "UInt", ProcessHandle, "UInt", 14 ) ; 1110x2 = 14x10 CPU 0 unchecked, CPU 1-3 checked
        DllCall("CloseHandle", "UInt", ProcessHandle)
        
        Process, WaitClose, %procName%
    }

Hope it was last one...

tatsu · 19 Jun 2021, 15:11

whenever I'm back on windows I'll give it a spin and I'll let you know!

MostLostNoob · 26 Aug 2021, 11:23

@io_nox Thanks for the script revision (also thanks to @tatsu for the original). I do have a couple questions.

How would I revise the line for changing the affinity for 16 logical processors?
To use this for the LOUD mod which uses the exe from the base SCFA install (Steam for me) but points to its own init file for loading, would I just need to replace "steam://rungameid/9420" in the script with the contents of the Target of the LOUD desktop shortcut ("F:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Supreme Commander Forged Alliance\bin\SupremeCommander.exe" /log "..\logs\Loud.log" /init "..\LOUD\bin\LoudDataPath.lua")?

Any help you can provide is appreciated.

Thanks.

tatsu · 27 Aug 2021, 07:46

@mostlostnoob

well I type 1s and I count to 15 with every 1 and then I type a 0 :

1111111111111110

do you mean with the IO_Nox method? no idea. maybe it does it automatically with his code?

Again I don't know what script you're talking about. if it's mine then you just need to detect whatever exe so the name would be "SupremeCommander.exe"

IO_Nox · 27 Aug 2021, 14:57

affinity for 16 logical processors

as @tatsu said 15 ones and last zero may work, by on my 4 threads in win 10 number 1110 have not worked and 14 worked well. So you can try 1111111111111110 and if it is not working here some counting systems math staf:

for me 4 threads, so - 1110 in binary is 0 * 2^0 + 1 * 2^1 + 1 * 2^2 + 1 * 2^3 = 0 * 1 + 1 * 2 + 1 * 4 + 1 * 8 = 14 in decimal (normaly used in live)
for your 16 threads: 1111111111111110 binary is 65534 in decimal (from some random converter in goole search first page)
so you will have:

DllCall("SetProcessAffinityMask", "UInt", ProcessHandle, "UInt", 65534 )

It works like you are setting yes/no flags for each CPU: 0 to disable and 1 to anable, and combines result in 1 number. Flag f for CPU-N will be f * 2^N and sum of all flags is your number. Why fist CPU-0 is always last right? It's because in numbers power order is reverted - similar way 65534 in decimal is 4 * 10^0 + 3 * 10^1 + 5 * 10^2 + 5 * 10^3 + 6 * 10^4

replace "steam://rungameid/9420" in the script with the contents of the Target of the LOUD desktop shortcut ("F:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Supreme Commander Forged Alliance\bin\SupremeCommander.exe" /log "..\logs\Loud.log" /init "..\LOUD\bin\LoudDataPath.lua")?

Should work I think, thecnicaly it is just link or path to executable file. Where is no tricky symbols in path ""F:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Supreme Commander Forged Alliance\bin\SupremeCommander.exe"
but I don't know if " /log "..\logs\Loud.log" /init "..\LOUD\bin\LoudDataPath.lua"" additional part will work properly but usually it should work.

Based on this https://www.autohotkey.com/docs/commands/Run.htm#Remarks
and this
https://autohotkey.com/board/topic/9603-run-exe-with-parameters/

Try somethig like

Run, "F:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Supreme Commander Forged Alliance\bin\SupremeCommander.exe" /log "..\logs\Loud.log" /init "..\LOUD\bin\LoudDataPath.lua"

or

Run, "F:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Supreme Commander Forged Alliance\bin\SupremeCommander.exe" log "..\logs\Loud.log"  init "..\LOUD\bin\LoudDataPath.lua"

or

Run %ComSpec% /c ""F:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Supreme Commander Forged Alliance\bin\SupremeCommander.exe" /log "..\logs\Loud.log" /init "..\LOUD\bin\LoudDataPath.lua""

or anover variation.