MontiVision^® Development Kit

Product Release Notes for Version 3.1

1. Overview

1.1 Vision Development

The MontiVision® Development Kit is a set of tools that enables you to effortlessly develop powerful and customized imaging applications. Filter configurations used in your application are designed and configured graphically by using the MontiVision Workbench. The development kit includes several image processing modules that are implemented as DirectShow® filters (DirectX® filters). User defined filters can be added using the MontiVision® Filter SDK. Configurations are used in customized projects using Visual C++, Visual Basic, Delphi or any other language that supports COM (Component Object Model). A set of sample applications that demonstrate the use of the Development Kit are also included to demonstrate and assist with the development of additional filters for an infinite range of applications.

1.2 Supported Technologies

The MontiVision® Development Kit is fully compatible with, and supports all video capture devices that provide a WDM streaming (Windows Driver Model) or VfW (Video for Windows) driver. This includes a wide range of USB and FireWire (IEEE1394) cameras as well as a variety of video capture and output cards. Also supported are IP/Network Cameras (MJPEG and MPEG4), GigEVision (GenICam) Cameras and Video as well as Image Files. The Development Kit is fully compatible with all DirectX® filters, including all 3rd party DirectShow filters. The supplied image processing filters are optimized for high performance (MMX, SSE, SSE2) and comply with Microsoft® DirectX® standards, providing user friendly configuration dialogs.

1.3 Trial

The trial version of the MontiVision® Development Kit is fully functional and can be used for evaluation purposes. The MontiVision® Workbench is not limited and can be used freely. MontiVision® Filters, the MontiVision® Filter SDK and the MontiVision® ActiveX controls display the MontiVision® logo until the components are licensed. The runtime of the MontiVision® filters is limited to 30 minutes, the configuration has to be restarted to continue processing.

1.4 Purchase

MontiVision® products are royalty free and a redistribution package is included in the MontiVision® Development Kit. Visit http://www.montivision.com/en/store/ or you local reseller (see http://www.montivision.com/en/products/wheretobuy/) to purchase a license for the MontiVision® Development Kit.

1.5 Installation

Please make sure that your system meets the requirements described below. We recommend that you uninstall any previous versions of the MontiVision® Development Kit before attempting to install the SDK. The filters included in previous packages are supplied with this installation.

2. System Requirements

The MontiVision® Development Kit requires the following software and recommended hardware.

2.1 Recommended Hardware

An Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon processor based PC with enough memory for the image sizes needed and a modern graphics hardware with DirectX® support for optimal performance.

2.2 Software Requirements

Microsoft® Windows® 2000 (Service Pack 3), Windows® XP (Service Pack 2) or Windows® Vista. DirectX® 9.0 or higher (DirectX® 9.0b recommended).

3. Software Development

All MontiVision® image processing filters provide COM interfaces that can be accessed from within different programming languages. The type libraries of the filters are registered with the filters during the installation. A set of programming samples is provided in the MontiVision® Development Kit. All interfaces are documented in the online help.

3.1 Supported Programming Languages

Microsoft® Visual C++®, Managed C++, Borland® C++ Builder®, C#, Visual Basic® 6, Visual Basic® .NET, VBA and Delphi® are all officially supported, and recommended. Any programming language that provides COM and optionally DirectX® support could work, but has not been tested extensively.

3.2 Header and IDL Files

All C/C++ header files and IDL (Interface Definition Language) files required for usage are included in this package.

3.3 Filter Development

There are three ways to develop customized filters (DirectX® filters) to extend the MontiVision® Development Kit.

Create a simple DLL project as described in the documentation, include the provided header and library files and implement the functions that are required.
Use the Visual Studio 6 or Visual Studio .NET wizards that are provided with this installation. A skeleton DLL framework is created; all you have to do is to fill the provided functions with your custom algorithm.
Create a fully featured DirectShow® filter by utilising the latest Microsoft® DirectX® SDK.

3.4 Integration

Filter configurations created by the MontiVision® Workbench are integrated into customized applications using the MontiVision® ActiveX® Smart Control or the MontiVision® Integration ActiveX® control. MontiVision® Filters can also be used by the DirectX® (DirectShow®) API directly.

3.5 Examples

The installation includes a variety of sample applications for Microsoft® Visual Basic® 6, Visual Basic® for Application, Visual Basic® .NET, C#, Visual C++® and Borland® Delphi®. Additionally a comprehensive collection of MontiVision® Workbench sample configuration files (MVP files) is provided.

4. Technical Support and Feedback

4.1 Documentation

Refer to the documentation provided with this package for more information about the usage of the MontiVision® Workbench and the imaging filters. The documentation also includes the complete programming reference.

4.2 Support

Visit our support site at http://www.montivision.com/en/support/.
Subscribe to our MontiVision Blog on http://www.montivision.com/en/support/blog/.
Visit our support forum ( http://forum.montivision.com ) to read discussions about the MontiVision Development Kit and to ask your questions regarding the product.
Read the MontiVision FAQ at http://www.montivision.com/en/support/faq/.
Write us an email to support@montivision.com or use our web contact form at http://www.montivision.com/en/home/contact/formular/.

MontiVision® is a registered trademark of Ing.-Büro Cymontkowski (Engineering Firm Cymontkowski).
*Other brands and names are the property of their respective owners.