Overview

Heidi Technology Speeds Information Display, Hardcopy and File Output
Version 10 - Now Available

Drivers and Applications

Programmers and hardware manufacturers who write drivers or develop special applications appreciate the immediate-mode interface in Heidi, which was specifically designed for the drawing portion of graphics software programming as applied to display, hardcopy and file output. This interface enhances programming flexibility and capability, particularly for 3D graphics application development and driver writing. It provides a dynamically configurable framework for managing the graphics of 2D and 3D objects, rendering, and shading.

Hardcopy Output

Heidi's rendering pipeline augments graphics hardware through a scaleable device interface. The new Heidi Device Interface, HDI, provides manufacturers and developers a complete environment for creating immediate-mode drivers for hardcopy output from graphics software. The HDI Hardcopy driver development kit is distributed on a case by case basis.  For more information contact driverinfo@autodesk.com.

Custom File Format Output

Heidi's technology can also be applied to inter-application data transfer and is not restricted to use with graphics device drivers. The richness and flexibility of the Heidi architecture can also be leveraged for output to files. Autodesk's DWF™ (Design Web Format) is one example of this use.

Examples

Practical examples of how Heidi technology significantly improves software performance can be found in Autodesk® 3ds Max®, Autodesk® DWF™ Viewer, and AutoCAD®. Autodesk 3ds Max, for example, specially tunes its Heidi drivers and takes advantage of Heidi technology for virtually immediate rendering and shading. AutoCAD uses Heidi for video interface development and HDI for its new plotting interface and enhancements.

Commercial Licensing

Heidi is available for commercial development under a special licensing program. All commercial users of the Heidi Development Kit must be registered with the Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) to comply with the licensing agreement. For further details visit the Download page.

Version 10 Now Available

Heidi version 10 is now available for download. Visit the Download page to get started. This version has been updated to work with Microsoft® Visual Studio .NET (VC 8.0) compiler and also has been enhanced to support new features in the latest AutoCAD® and Autodesk® DWF™ Viewer products.

Documentation

The Heidi Developer Guide is provided in HTML format in the \help directory. It contains a full Class Reference as well as an overview of Heidi architecture with sections on the new functions, implementing new drivers and applications, fonts, selection renderers, lighting and material functions, and other tools.

Additional documentation for developing hardcopy drivers is provided with the Hardcopy drivers developer kit.