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This tutorial shows how to run PIX for the first time using a experiment to collect data for a single frame. The tutorial is divided into the following steps:
Launch PIX from the start menu.
Start->All Programs->Microsoft DirectX SDK->DirectX Utilities->PIX for Windows
Figure 1. Launching PIX
Create a new experiment by selecting New Experiment from the File menu.
Figure 2. PIX Experiment
By default, this creates an experiment with the basic view.
The target program is the application (.exe) that you would like to analyze. Enter the full path name to the target program in the text box, or use the browse button to find it.
Figure 3. Set the Target Program
This example uses the HDRCubeMap sample.
Next, choose what data PIX will collect. Select single-frame capture using the F12 key. This tells PIX to capture all the data required to render a frame each time the F12 key is pressed.
Figure 4. Choose a single frame capture
For an explanation of the other data collection methods, see data gathering options.
Click the Start Experiment button to start collecting data.
Figure 5. Start Experiment Button
PIX will launch the target program.
Figure 6. HDRCubeMap Sample
Wait until at least one frame has been rendered and then press F12. PIX will capture all the state and API calls made for whatever frame it is currently rendering. To end the experiment, close the target program; one way to do this is to click the window close button (the little x) in the top right corner of the target program.
Figure 7. Close Button
When the target program closes, PIX automatically opens the PIXRun file that contains the data that was collected. For help analyzing run files, see Run Files.
When you exit PIX, you will be asked if you want to save the either the experiment or the PIXRun file. Since an experiment contains all the setup information for PIX, saving an experiment allows you to reopen PIX later and repeat your setup steps. This can be handy for rerunning an experiment across different machine combinations (CPU/adapters/drivers).
The PIXRun file contains the pipeline state and object data for the Direct3D objects. It can be used to return to an event, and reproduce the exact state conditiions that led to the rendered output. A PIXRun file is a handy way to go back and examine the results of this experiment without collecting any additional data.