First actually working "Borderless Windowed Fullscreen" launcher for Civ5

[undine]

PROJECT STATUS: DEAD

I've written a small game launcher to play Civilization V in "Borderless Windowed Fullscreen" without all the current hassle and issues.
Instructions are in the included file readme.txt.

For game version:
- Civilization V Gods & Kings (DX9) [1.0.2.13]

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[undine]

100+ views and noone taking a minute to post their values?

The launcher is finished and ready for release.
I just wanna make sure it works for everyone right away...

 

[Nutty]

I get "Value is correct!" without G+K installed on 1.0.1.705.

Offset @ 0x007656BC(1B): 0x94
Offset @ 0x007656BBC(8B): 0x4C2C18AC1940F

 

[undine]

I get "Value is correct!" without G+K installed on 1.0.1.705.

Offset @ 0x007656BC(1B): 0x94
Offset @ 0x007656BBC(8B): 0x4C2C18AC1940F

Thanks for testing.
I've uploaded a new version where you can see if the rest works for you as well if you want to.
Its extra slow in case the GUI elements of the regular Civ 5 are in a slightly different position.

Expected behavior:
- It clicks "Click to Continue"
- It presses the Escape-key in case it just clicked "EXIT" instead
- It clicks "OPTIONS"
- It removes the window borders and titlebar
- It writes the memory to instantly re-apply the current resolution when leaving "GAME OPTIONS"
- It presses the Escape-key to leave "GAME OPTIONS"
- It writes the memory back to its original value

 

[undine]

Seriously?
If people are that unwilling to spend a minute of their time I'm simply not gonna release it.
And I certainly won't add a function to restore/remember advanced game settings.

 

[Nutty]

FWIW, I'm interested, but had a very busy weekend.

EDIT: OK, had a chance to check it out, and it works for me.

 

[undine]

FWIW, I'm interested, but had a very busy weekend.

EDIT: OK, had a chance to check it out, and it works for me.

Thanks for testing.

The launcher is available for download now.

 

[LSky]

I tried running this launcher, but I can't detect the Civ5 window. I followed the instructions and tried to play around with the timer in the config file, but to no avail. Anyone knows what I am doing wrong?

 

[undine]

I tried running this launcher, but I can't detect the Civ5 window. I followed the instructions and tried to play around with the timer in the config file, but to no avail. Anyone knows what I am doing wrong?

Hm, the detection should work for everyone.
I'm only scanning for the title "Sid Meier's Civilization V (DX9)" with class "WinClass_FXS".

Maybe you had the DX11 version running while setting up your resolution?
The launcher currently only works with the DX9 version and will launch it automatically when possible.

 

[LSky]

Hm, the detection should work for everyone.
I'm only scanning for the title "Sid Meier's Civilization V (DX9)" with class "WinClass_FXS".

Maybe you had the DX11 version running while setting up your resolution?
The launcher currently only works with the DX9 version and will launch it automatically when possible.

I launch the game using the downloaded launcher obviously, and it just says "Civilization V Title Screen not detected yet. Checking memory address... (timer)" It's launching the DX9 version from Steam, so I think that part is going as it should.

 

[undine]

Window and title screen are two different things

Anyway you could download "Civ5 Offset Check + Borderless Window Test.zip" to see what's wrong exactly.
I'd look into it if you post your values.

 

[fuzzymonkey]

I have the same problem as LSky. I start up the launcher but I get the same error message and the game isnt bordered-windowed. I should say that its better than default - the game now goes over the task bar at the bottom, and is much more responsive.

The only thing Im not sure of is if its launching DX9. When I use the launcher I dont get a choice so Im just assuming that I am using DX9.

Here are the value get from the tester -

Offset @ 0x007656BC (1B): 0x94
Offset @ 0x007656BB (8B): 0x4C2C18AC1940F
Offset @ 0x00400000+0x0672F624+0x80+0x44C+0x58+0x4+0x0 (4B): 0x0

Window Coords - X:0 Y:0 W:1920 H:1080 horC:960 verC:540


Edit: When I press "try BW mode in case both values have read correctly" nothing seems to happen, but when I press "Try BW either way" it seems to work after a few seconds. However it still shows the 'Civ V title screen not detected yet, checking memory address.. timer' and it covers all the civ info (happiness, faith, culture, etc). I expect that I shouldnt need to use the tester to get the full BW mode.

Now that I've been playing the borderless windowed a bit there are some issues. When you get to buttons towards the bottom of the screen the offset gets kinda extreme. IE when you open the tech tree and try to use the scroll bar the mouse has to be clearly above the scroll bar to select it.

Also, scrolling by mousing over the edges does not work at all - I think you really gotta fix that.

 

[undine]

Thanks, I'll look into your values later that night.

The only thing Im not sure of is if its launching DX9. When I use the launcher I dont get a choice so Im just assuming that I am using DX9.

The game should be titled ""Sid Meier's Civilization V (DX9)" if it is the DX9 version.

Now that I've been playing the borderless windowed a bit there are some issues. When you get to buttons towards the bottom of the screen the offset gets kinda extreme. IE when you open the tech tree and try to use the scroll bar the mouse has to be clearly above the scroll bar to select it.

What you describe is the reason I made the launcher.
Its happening when you only remove the window borders without updating the game's viewport.
My launcher fixes that by re-applying the current game resolution.
But to do that successfully it needs to know the right memory address.

Also, scrolling by mousing over the edges does not work at all - I think you really gotta fix that.

edit: I never noticed this because I always hold down a mouse button to scroll.
However it seems to be normal windowed mode behavior.

 

[fuzzymonkey]

edit: I never noticed this because I always hold down a mouse button to scroll.
However it seems to be normal windowed mode behavior.

This is true for when you are scrolling to sides where you have other monitors, but it is not normally true for the other sides.

IE Assume Im playing on my primary monitor, and there is a secondary monitor to the left of it (and no other monitors). If I scroll to the left the screen should not move and the mouse should just normally and easily escape the monitor. But if I scroll top/bottom/right then the screen should move in the appropriate direction. That is what I have seen in other borderless windowed modes.

Oh, and you are right, it is opening up DX9.

 

[undine]

This is true for when you are scrolling to sides where you have other monitors, but it is not normally true for the other sides.

IE Assume Im playing on my primary monitor, and there is a secondary monitor to the left of it (and no other monitors). If I scroll to the left the screen should not move and the mouse should just normally and easily escape the monitor. But if I scroll top/bottom/right then the screen should move in the appropriate direction. That is what I have seen in other borderless windowed modes..

You mean you would like it as a feature?

For me Civ is never scrolling in windowed mode.
I even disabled my side monitors and tested different resolutions / game options.

Offset @ 0x00400000+0x0672F624+0x80+0x44C+0x58+0x4+0x0 (4B): 0x0

The title screen detection may not work due different dll versions (I use Windows 7 x64).
I'll get onto that (or use another method of detection) after applying the Borderless Windowed Fullscreen is working for everyone.

Offset @ 0x007656BC (1B): 0x94
Offset @ 0x007656BB (8B): 0x4C2C18AC1940F

Applying Borderless Windowed Fullscreen should actually be working with these values.

I wrote a small script that tries to apply Borderless Windowed Fullscreen slighly differently.
To test it you need to manually start Civ 5 (DX9) and enter the Game Options.
The script then displays exactly what it does every step and waits for you to press a key to continue.

-

 

[fuzzymonkey]

I use Win7 64 bit too. As for your script ill try to test it out tomorrow.

 

[undine]

There is a new patch out which broke my launcher.
I'll see if I can update it this week.

 

[undine]

I've already found a new address to quickly switch to BWF.
Its more simple and should be working for everyone I hope!

I just need another way to detect reaching the title screen now.

New launcher today or tomorrow.

 

[undine]

The launcher should now be working for the latest version of Civ 5.
(works perfectly for me at least)

If there is demand I could make the resolution configurable in the config.txt and maybe add a DX11 version.

 

[boxleitnerb]

Are the mouse coordinates correct? I tried multiple programs for borderless windowed fullscreen and the mouse pointer coordinates where always shifted vertically - probably because the window had the title bar at the top but nothing at the bottom, thus it is "uneven" when borderless.

DX11 would be appreciated very much. No point in playing in DX9 if you can do DX11.