Translating the GLX Library

OpenGL X Window System programs use the OpenGL Extension with the X Window System (GLX) library. The library is a set of functions and routines that initialize the pixel format, control rendering, and perform other OpenGL specific tasks. It connects the OpenGL library to the X Window System by managing window handles and rendering contexts. You must translate these functions to their equivalent Windows functions. The following table lists the X Window System GLX functions and their equivalent Windows functions.

GLX/Xlib function	WGL/Windows function
glXChooseVisual	ChoosePixelFormat
glXCopyContext	wglCopyContext
glXCreateContext	wglCreateContext, wglShareLists
glXCreateGLXPixmap	CreateDIBitmap / CreateDIBSection
glXDestroyContext	wglDeleteContext
glXDestroyGLXPixmap	DeleteObject
glXGetConfig	DescribePixelFormat
glXGetCurrentContext	wglGetCurrentContext
glXGetCurrentDrawable	wglGetCurrentDC
glXGetProcAddress	wglGetProcAddress
glXIsDirect	Not applicable.
glXMakeCurrent	wglMakeCurrent
glXQueryExtension	GetVersion
glXQueryVersion	GetVersion
glXSwapBuffers	SwapBuffers
glXUseXFont	wglUseFontBitmaps / wglUseFontOutlines
glXWaitGL	Not applicable.
glXWaitX	Not applicable.
XCreateWindow	CreateWindow / CreateWindowEx and GetDC / BeginPaint
XGetVisualInfo	GetPixelFormat
XSync	GdiFlush
Not applicable.	SetPixelFormat

 

Some GLX functions don't have an equivalent Windows function. To port these functions to Windows, rewrite your code to achieve the same functionality. For example, glXWaitGL has no equivalent Windows function but you can achieve the same result, executing any pending OpenGL commands, by calling glFinish.

The following topics describe how to port GLX functions that set the pixel format, and manage rendering contexts, pixmaps and bitmaps.