The fxc.exe tool is a command-line utility provided by Microsoft as part of the DirectX SDK, used primarily for compiling High-Level Shader Language (HLSL) shaders. HLSL is a language used to write shaders for the Direct3D API, which is an integral part of rendering graphics in Windows applications. This article will guide you through using fxc.exe to compile shaders and provide examples to help you get started.

What is fxc.exe?

fxc.exe stands for "FX Compiler" and is used to compile HLSL code into shader object files that can be used in Direct3D applications. It supports various shader models and can produce different types of shaders, including vertex shaders, pixel shaders, geometry shaders, and more.

How to Install fxc.exe

fxc.exe is included in the Windows SDK, which can be installed via the Visual Studio Installer. Ensure you have the Windows 10 SDK installed, which includes the necessary tools for Direct3D development.

Basic Usage of fxc.exe

To use fxc.exe, open a Command Prompt and navigate to the directory containing your HLSL shader files. The basic syntax for using fxc.exe is as follows:

fxc.exe /T <target> /E <entrypoint> /Fo <outputfile> <inputfile>

• /T <target>: Specifies the shader model target (e.g., vs_5_0 for vertex shader model 5.0).
• /E <entrypoint>: Specifies the entry point function in the HLSL file.
• /Fo <outputfile>: Specifies the output file for the compiled shader.
• <inputfile>: The HLSL file you want to compile.

Examples

Example 1: Compiling a Vertex Shader

Suppose you have a vertex shader file named vertexshader.hlsl with an entry point function called VSMain. To compile this shader to target vertex shader model 5.0, use the following command:

fxc.exe /T vs_5_0 /E VSMain /Fo vertexshader.cso vertexshader.hlsl

This command compiles vertexshader.hlsl and outputs a compiled shader object file named vertexshader.cso.

Example 2: Compiling a Pixel Shader

For a pixel shader file named pixelshader.hlsl with an entry point PSMain, compile it for pixel shader model 5.0 using:

fxc.exe /T ps_5_0 /E PSMain /Fo pixelshader.cso pixelshader.hlsl

This will produce pixelshader.cso, which can be used in your Direct3D application.

Additional Options

• /I <directory>: Adds a directory to the list of directories to search for include files.
• /D <name>: Defines a macro for the compiler.
• /Od: Disables optimizations, useful for debugging.

Conclusion

fxc.exe is a powerful tool for compiling HLSL shaders on Windows. By understanding its basic usage and options, you can efficiently compile shaders for your Direct3D applications. Ensure that your development environment is set up with the necessary SDKs to use fxc.exe effectively.