diff --git a/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxGraphicsStateGuardian9.cxx b/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxGraphicsStateGuardian9.cxx
index 16543abdd9..59ad17a019 100755
--- a/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxGraphicsStateGuardian9.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxGraphicsStateGuardian9.cxx
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ void DXGraphicsStateGuardian9::
 apply_vertex_buffer(VertexBufferContext *vbc, CLP(ShaderContext) *shader_context) {
   DXVertexBufferContext9 *dvbc = DCAST(DXVertexBufferContext9, vbc);
 
-  DBG_SH2 dxgsg9_cat.debug ( ) << "apply_vertex_buffer\n"; DBG_E
+  DBG_SH3 dxgsg9_cat.debug ( ) << "apply_vertex_buffer\n"; DBG_E
 
   bool set_stream_source;
   HRESULT hr;
@@ -501,18 +501,18 @@ apply_vertex_buffer(VertexBufferContext *vbc, CLP(ShaderContext) *shader_context
 
             offset = 0;
             source_vertex_element_type = dvbc -> _vertex_element_type_array;
-            while (source_vertex_element_type -> id != VS_END) {
-              if (source_vertex_element_type -> id ==
-                  vertex_element_type -> id) {
+            while (source_vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type != VS_END) {
+              if (source_vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type == vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type &&
+                  source_vertex_element_type -> index == vertex_element_type -> index) {
                   offset = source_vertex_element_type -> offset;
                   break;
               }
               source_vertex_element_type++;
             }
-            if (source_vertex_element_type -> id == VS_END) {
+            if (source_vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type == VS_END) {
               dxgsg9_cat.error()
                 << "unable to find a mapping for vertex shader input type="
-                << vertex_element_type -> id
+                << vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type
                 << " from vertex elements\n";
             }
 
@@ -1142,8 +1142,6 @@ begin_draw_primitives(const Geom *geom, const GeomMunger *munger,
 
   DBG_SH5 dxgsg9_cat.debug ( ) << "begin_draw_primitives\n"; DBG_E
 
-
-
 // SHADER
   if (_vertex_array_shader_context==0) {
     if (_current_shader_context==0) {
@@ -1164,13 +1162,108 @@ begin_draw_primitives(const Geom *geom, const GeomMunger *munger,
   _vertex_array_shader_expansion = _current_shader_expansion;
   _vertex_array_shader_context = _current_shader_context;
 
-// const GeomVertexFormat *format = _vertex_data->get_format();
-
+  const GeomVertexFormat *format = _vertex_data->get_format ( );
   const GeomVertexArrayData *data;
+  int number_of_arrays = _vertex_data -> get_num_arrays ( );
 
-  // use the original data if possible
-  if (_current_shader_context && _vertex_data->get_num_arrays ( ) > 1) {
-    data = _vertex_data->get_array(1);
+  if (_current_shader_context && number_of_arrays > 1) {
+
+    // find a matching vertex format for the vertex shader's input if possible
+    VertexElementArray *vertex_element_array;
+
+    vertex_element_array = _current_shader_context -> _vertex_element_array;
+    if (vertex_element_array)
+    {
+      bool match;
+      bool multiple_matches;
+      int index;
+      int first_index;
+
+      match = false;
+      multiple_matches = false;
+      first_index = -1;
+
+      // quick check for a match
+      // find the one array with the minimum number of elements if possible
+      {
+        for (index = 0; index < number_of_arrays; index++) {
+          data = _vertex_data -> get_array (index);
+
+          const GeomVertexArrayFormat *array_format = data->get_array_format();
+          int number_of_columns = array_format->get_num_columns();
+
+          DBG_VEA
+            dxgsg9_cat.debug ( )
+              << " data index " << index
+              << " number_of_columns " << number_of_columns
+              << " vertex_element_array -> total_elements " << vertex_element_array -> total_elements
+              << "\n";
+          DBG_E
+
+          if (number_of_columns >= vertex_element_array -> total_elements) {
+            if (first_index >= 0) {
+              multiple_matches = true;
+            }
+            else {
+              first_index = index;
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (multiple_matches)
+      {
+        // ugh slow, need to find which one
+        for (index = first_index; index < number_of_arrays; index++)
+        {
+          data = _vertex_data -> get_array (index);
+
+          const GeomVertexArrayFormat *array_format = data->get_array_format();
+          int number_of_columns = array_format->get_num_columns();
+
+          if (number_of_columns >= vertex_element_array -> total_elements)
+          {
+
+// check not implemented yet
+dxgsg9_cat.error ( ) << "vertex_element_type_array check not implemented yet\n";
+
+// build a vertex_element_type_array from data
+
+// compare both vertex_element_type_array for a match
+vertex_element_array -> vertex_element_type_array;
+
+
+          }
+        }
+
+// since the check is not implemented yet use first_index for now
+data = _vertex_data -> get_array (first_index);
+
+        match = true;
+      }
+      else
+      {
+        if (first_index >= 0) {
+          data = _vertex_data -> get_array (first_index);
+          match = true;
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (match) {
+
+      }
+      else {
+        // ERROR
+        dxgsg9_cat.error ( ) << "could not find matching vertex element data for vertex shader\n";
+
+        // just use the 0 array
+        data = _vertex_data->get_array(0);
+      }
+    }
+    else {
+      // ERROR
+      dxgsg9_cat.error ( ) << "_current_shader_context -> _vertex_element_array == 0\n";
+    }
   }
   else {
     // The munger should have put the FVF data in the first array.
@@ -2412,20 +2505,37 @@ reset() {
   _supports_render_texture = false;
 
   // default render to texture format
-  _screen->_render_to_texture_d3d_format = D3DFMT_X8R8G8B8;
+  _screen->_render_to_texture_d3d_format = D3DFMT_A8R8G8B8;
+
+  #define TOTAL_RENDER_TO_TEXTURE_FORMATS 3
+
+  D3DFORMAT render_to_texture_formats [TOTAL_RENDER_TO_TEXTURE_FORMATS] =
+  {
+    D3DFMT_A8R8G8B8,  // check for this format first
+    D3DFMT_X8R8G8B8,
+    (D3DFORMAT) 0,    // place holder for _screen->_display_mode.Format
+  };
+
+  render_to_texture_formats [TOTAL_RENDER_TO_TEXTURE_FORMATS - 1] = _screen->_display_mode.Format;
+
   hr = _d3d_device->GetCreationParameters (&creation_parameters);
   if (SUCCEEDED (hr)) {
-    hr = _screen->_d3d9->CheckDeviceFormat (
-        creation_parameters.AdapterOrdinal,
-        creation_parameters.DeviceType,
-        _screen->_display_mode.Format,
-        D3DUSAGE_RENDERTARGET,
-        D3DRTYPE_TEXTURE,
-        _screen->_render_to_texture_d3d_format);
-    if (SUCCEEDED (hr)) {
-      // match the display mode format for render to texture
-      _screen->_render_to_texture_d3d_format = _screen->_display_mode.Format;
-      _supports_render_texture = true;
+    int index;
+    for (index = 0; index < TOTAL_RENDER_TO_TEXTURE_FORMATS; index++) {
+      hr = _screen->_d3d9->CheckDeviceFormat (
+          creation_parameters.AdapterOrdinal,
+          creation_parameters.DeviceType,
+          _screen->_display_mode.Format,
+          D3DUSAGE_RENDERTARGET,
+          D3DRTYPE_TEXTURE,
+          render_to_texture_formats [index]);
+      if (SUCCEEDED (hr)) {
+        _screen->_render_to_texture_d3d_format = render_to_texture_formats [index];
+        _supports_render_texture = true;
+      }
+      if (_supports_render_texture) {
+        break;
+      }
     }
   }
   if (dxgsg9_cat.is_debug()) {
@@ -2706,7 +2816,7 @@ do_issue_shader() {
     context = (CLP(ShaderContext) *)(expansion->prepare_now(get_prepared_objects(), this));
   }
 
-  if (context == 0) {
+  if (context == 0 || (context && context -> valid (this) == false)) {
     if (_current_shader_context != 0) {
       _current_shader_context->unbind(this);
       _current_shader_expansion = 0;
diff --git a/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxGraphicsStateGuardian9.h b/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxGraphicsStateGuardian9.h
index 0a14b13adc..27a0de9cff 100755
--- a/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxGraphicsStateGuardian9.h
+++ b/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxGraphicsStateGuardian9.h
@@ -45,13 +45,13 @@ typedef LPDIRECT3DPIXELSHADER9 DIRECT_3D_PIXEL_SHADER;
 #include "dxShaderContext9.h"
 
 
-#define DEBUG_ENABLE !false
+#define DEBUG_ENABLE false
 #define DBG_SH1 if (false && DEBUG_ENABLE) {
 #define DBG_SH2 if (false && DEBUG_ENABLE) {
 #define DBG_SH3 if (false && DEBUG_ENABLE) {
 #define DBG_SH4 if (false && DEBUG_ENABLE) {
 #define DBG_SH5 if (false && DEBUG_ENABLE) {
-#define DBG_HLSL if (!false && DEBUG_ENABLE) {
+#define DBG_HLSL if (false && DEBUG_ENABLE) {
 #define DBG_VEA if (false && DEBUG_ENABLE) {
 #define DBG_S if (false && DEBUG_ENABLE) {
 #define DBG_E }
diff --git a/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxShaderContext9.cxx b/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxShaderContext9.cxx
index 86979004cd..4cdc7fb5a8 100644
--- a/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxShaderContext9.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxShaderContext9.cxx
@@ -392,11 +392,12 @@ CLP(ShaderContext)(ShaderExpansion *s, GSG *gsg) : ShaderContext(s) {
   s->parse_init();
   s->parse_line(header, true, true);
 
+  _state = false;
+
 #ifdef HAVE_CGDX9
 
   DBG_SH2  dxgsg9_cat.debug ( ) << "SHADER: Create ShaderContext \n"; DBG_E
 
-  _state = false;
   _cg_shader = false;
 
   _cg_profile[SHADER_type_vert] = CG_PROFILE_UNKNOWN;
@@ -626,7 +627,7 @@ CLP(ShaderContext)(ShaderExpansion *s, GSG *gsg) : ShaderContext(s) {
 
 // SHADER ISSUE: STREAM INDEX ALWAYS 0 FOR VERTEX BUFFER?
         stream_index = 0;
-        vertex_element_array = new VertexElementArray (_direct_3d_vertex_shader.total_semantics + 16);
+        vertex_element_array = new VertexElementArray (_direct_3d_vertex_shader.total_semantics + 2);
 
         for (index = 0; index < _direct_3d_vertex_shader.total_semantics; index++) {
           D3DXSEMANTIC *semantic;
@@ -1661,7 +1662,7 @@ update_shader_vertex_arrays(CLP(ShaderContext) *prev, GSG *gsg)
 
 // SHADER ISSUE: STREAM INDEX ALWAYS 0 FOR VERTEX BUFFER?
       stream_index = 0;
-      vertex_element_array = new VertexElementArray (nvarying + 16);
+      vertex_element_array = new VertexElementArray (nvarying + 2);
 
       for (int i=0; i<nvarying; i++) {
         InternalName *name = _cg_varying[i].name;
diff --git a/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxVertexBufferContext9.cxx b/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxVertexBufferContext9.cxx
index 4f54496433..b5fd0678e4 100755
--- a/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxVertexBufferContext9.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/dxgsg9/dxVertexBufferContext9.cxx
@@ -46,92 +46,119 @@ DXVertexBufferContext9(GeomVertexArrayData *data, DXScreenData &scrn) :
   int index;
   int n = 0;
   int num_columns = array_format->get_num_columns();
-  int total_elements;
 
-  total_elements = num_columns + 2;
-  _vertex_element_type_array = new VERTEX_ELEMENT_TYPE [total_elements];
-  memset (_vertex_element_type_array, 0, total_elements * sizeof (VERTEX_ELEMENT_TYPE));
+  _vertex_element_type_array = 0;
 
-  // create a simple vertex type mapping from the vertex elements
-  for (index = 0; index < num_columns; index++)
+  VERTEX_ELEMENT_TYPE *vertex_element_type_array;
+
+//  if (scrn._dxgsg9 -> _current_shader_context)
   {
-    int num_values;
-    const InternalName *name;
+    int total_elements;
+    unsigned char vertex_element_type_counter_array [VS_TOTAL_TYPES];
+    VERTEX_ELEMENT_TYPE *vertex_element_type;
 
-    name = array_format -> get_column (index) -> get_name ( );
-    num_values = array_format -> get_column(index) -> get_num_values ( );
+    total_elements = num_columns + 2;
+    vertex_element_type_array = new VERTEX_ELEMENT_TYPE [total_elements];
+    memset (vertex_element_type_array, 0, total_elements * sizeof (VERTEX_ELEMENT_TYPE));
+    memset (vertex_element_type_counter_array, 0, sizeof (vertex_element_type_counter_array));
 
-    if (false) {
+    // create a simple vertex type mapping from the vertex elements
+    vertex_element_type = vertex_element_type_array;
+    for (index = 0; index < num_columns; index++)
+    {
+      int num_values;
+      const InternalName *name;
 
-    } else if (name == InternalName::get_vertex ( )) {
+      name = array_format -> get_column (index) -> get_name ( );
+      num_values = array_format -> get_column(index) -> get_num_values ( );
 
-      switch (num_values)
-      {
-        case 3:
-          _vertex_element_type_array [index].id = VS_POSITION_XYZ;
-          break;
-        case 4:
-          _vertex_element_type_array [index].id = VS_POSITION_XYZW;
-          break;
-        default:
-          dxgsg9_cat.warning ( ) << "VERTEX ERROR: invalid number of position coordinate elements " << num_values << "\n";
-          break;
+      if (false) {
+
+      } else if (name -> get_top ( ) == InternalName::get_vertex ( )) {
+
+        switch (num_values)
+        {
+          case 3:
+            vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type = VS_POSITION_XYZ;
+            break;
+          case 4:
+            vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type = VS_POSITION_XYZW;
+            break;
+          default:
+            dxgsg9_cat.warning ( ) << "VERTEX ERROR: invalid number of position coordinate elements " << num_values << "\n";
+            break;
+        }
+
+      } else if (name -> get_top ( ) == InternalName::get_texcoord ( )) {
+
+        switch (num_values)
+        {
+          case 1:
+            vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type = VS_TEXTURE_U;
+            break;
+          case 2:
+            vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type = VS_TEXTURE_UV;
+            break;
+          case 3:
+            vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type = VS_TEXTURE_UVW;
+            break;
+          default:
+            dxgsg9_cat.warning ( ) << "VERTEX ERROR: invalid number of vertex texture coordinate elements " << num_values << "\n";
+            break;
+        }
+
+      } else if (name -> get_top ( ) == InternalName::get_normal ( )) {
+
+        vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type = VS_NORMAL;
+
+      } else if (name -> get_top ( ) == InternalName::get_binormal ( )) {
+
+        vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type = VS_BINORMAL;
+
+      } else if (name -> get_top ( ) == InternalName::get_tangent ( )) {
+
+        vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type = VS_TANGENT;
+
+      } else if (name -> get_top ( ) == InternalName::get_color ( )) {
+
+        vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type = VS_DIFFUSE;
+
+      } else {
+
+        dxgsg9_cat.error ( )
+          << "VERTEX ERROR: unsupported vertex element " << name -> get_name ( )
+          << "\n";
+
+        vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type = VS_ERROR;
       }
 
-    } else if (name == InternalName::get_texcoord ( )) {
+      vertex_element_type -> index = vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type];
+      vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type]++;
 
-      switch (num_values)
-      {
-        case 1:
-          _vertex_element_type_array [index].id = VS_TEXTURE_U;
-          break;
-        case 2:
-          _vertex_element_type_array [index].id = VS_TEXTURE_UV;
-          break;
-        case 3:
-          _vertex_element_type_array [index].id = VS_TEXTURE_UVW;
-          break;
-        default:
-          dxgsg9_cat.warning ( ) << "VERTEX ERROR: invalid number of vertex texture coordinate elements " << num_values << "\n";
-          break;
-      }
+  // SHADER ISSUE: STREAM INDEX ALWAYS 0 FOR VERTEX BUFFER ???
+      vertex_element_type -> stream = 0;
+      vertex_element_type -> offset = array_format -> get_column(index) -> get_start ( );
 
-    } else if (name == InternalName::get_normal ( )) {
+      DBG_VEA  dxgsg9_cat.debug()
+        << "INFO VertexElementArray " << index
+        << " " << name -> get_name ( )
+        << " VS INPUT TYPE " << vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type
+        << " index " << vertex_element_type -> index
+        << " offset " << vertex_element_type -> offset
+        << "\n";
+      DBG_E
 
-      _vertex_element_type_array [index].id = VS_NORMAL;
-
-    } else if (name == InternalName::get_binormal ( )) {
-
-      _vertex_element_type_array [index].id = VS_BINORMAL;
-
-    } else if (name == InternalName::get_tangent ( )) {
-
-      _vertex_element_type_array [index].id = VS_TANGENT;
-
-    } else if (name == InternalName::get_color ( )) {
-
-      _vertex_element_type_array [index].id = VS_DIFFUSE;
-
-    } else {
-
-      dxgsg9_cat.warning ( ) << "VERTEX ERROR: unsupported vertex element " << name -> get_name ( ) << "\n";
-      _vertex_element_type_array [index].id = VS_ERROR;
+      vertex_element_type++;
     }
 
-// SHADER ISSUE: STREAM INDEX ALWAYS 0 FOR VERTEX BUFFER ???
-    _vertex_element_type_array [index].stream = 0;
-    _vertex_element_type_array [index].offset = array_format -> get_column(index) -> get_start ( );
-
-    DBG_VEA  dxgsg9_cat.debug() << "INFO VertexElementArray " << index
-      << " " << name -> get_name ( )
-      << " VS ID " << _vertex_element_type_array [index].id
-      << " offset " << _vertex_element_type_array [index].offset
+    DBG_VEA  dxgsg9_cat.debug()
+      << "INFO stride " << array_format -> get_stride ( )
+      << " total bytes " << array_format-> get_total_bytes ( )
       << "\n";
     DBG_E
   }
 
-  DBG_VEA  dxgsg9_cat.debug() << "INFO stride " << array_format -> get_stride ( ) << " total bytes " << array_format-> get_total_bytes ( ) << "\n"; DBG_E
-
+  _vertex_element_type_array = vertex_element_type_array;
 
   _fvf = 0;
   _managed = -1;
diff --git a/panda/src/dxgsg9/vertexElementArray.cxx b/panda/src/dxgsg9/vertexElementArray.cxx
index 567eff5813..0c93b10201 100644
--- a/panda/src/dxgsg9/vertexElementArray.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/dxgsg9/vertexElementArray.cxx
@@ -50,6 +50,12 @@ int VertexElementArray::set_vertex_element_offset (int vertex_element_index, int
   return state;
 }
 
+void VertexElementArray::set_vs_input_type (int vs_input_type, VERTEX_ELEMENT_TYPE *vertex_element_type) {
+  vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type = vs_input_type;
+  vertex_element_type -> index = vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type];
+  vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type]++;
+}
+
 void VertexElementArray::add_position_xyz_vertex_element (int stream_index) {
   DIRECT_3D_VERTEX_ELEMENT *vertex_element;
   VERTEX_ELEMENT_TYPE *vertex_element_type;
@@ -58,9 +64,7 @@ void VertexElementArray::add_position_xyz_vertex_element (int stream_index) {
     vertex_element = &this -> vertex_element_array [this -> total_elements];
     vertex_element_type = &this -> vertex_element_type_array [this -> total_elements];
 
-    vertex_element_type -> id = VS_POSITION_XYZ;
-    vertex_element_type -> index = vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id];
-    vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id]++;
+    set_vs_input_type (VS_POSITION_XYZ, vertex_element_type);
 
     vertex_element -> Stream = stream_index;
     vertex_element -> Offset = this -> offset;
@@ -83,9 +87,7 @@ void VertexElementArray::add_position_xyzw_vertex_element (int stream_index) {
     vertex_element = &this -> vertex_element_array [this -> total_elements];
     vertex_element_type = &this -> vertex_element_type_array [this -> total_elements];
 
-    vertex_element_type -> id = VS_POSITION_XYZW;
-    vertex_element_type -> index = vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id];
-    vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id]++;
+    set_vs_input_type (VS_POSITION_XYZW, vertex_element_type);
 
     vertex_element -> Stream = stream_index;
     vertex_element -> Offset = this -> offset;
@@ -108,9 +110,7 @@ void VertexElementArray::add_normal_vertex_element (int stream_index) {
     vertex_element = &this -> vertex_element_array [this -> total_elements];
     vertex_element_type = &this -> vertex_element_type_array [this -> total_elements];
 
-    vertex_element_type -> id = VS_NORMAL;
-    vertex_element_type -> index = vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id];
-    vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id]++;
+    set_vs_input_type (VS_NORMAL, vertex_element_type);
 
     vertex_element -> Stream = stream_index;
     vertex_element -> Offset = this -> offset;
@@ -133,9 +133,7 @@ void VertexElementArray::add_binormal_vertex_element (int stream_index) {
     vertex_element = &this -> vertex_element_array [this -> total_elements];
     vertex_element_type = &this -> vertex_element_type_array [this -> total_elements];
 
-    vertex_element_type -> id = VS_BINORMAL;
-    vertex_element_type -> index = vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id];
-    vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id]++;
+    set_vs_input_type (VS_BINORMAL, vertex_element_type);
 
     vertex_element -> Stream = stream_index;
     vertex_element -> Offset = this -> offset;
@@ -158,9 +156,7 @@ void VertexElementArray::add_tangent_vertex_element (int stream_index) {
     vertex_element = &this -> vertex_element_array [this -> total_elements];
     vertex_element_type = &this -> vertex_element_type_array [this -> total_elements];
 
-    vertex_element_type -> id = VS_TANGENT;
-    vertex_element_type -> index = vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id];
-    vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id]++;
+    set_vs_input_type (VS_TANGENT, vertex_element_type);
 
     vertex_element -> Stream = stream_index;
     vertex_element -> Offset = this -> offset;
@@ -183,9 +179,7 @@ void VertexElementArray::add_diffuse_color_vertex_element (int stream_index) {
     vertex_element = &this -> vertex_element_array [this -> total_elements];
     vertex_element_type = &this -> vertex_element_type_array [this -> total_elements];
 
-    vertex_element_type -> id = VS_DIFFUSE;
-    vertex_element_type -> index = vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id];
-    vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id]++;
+    set_vs_input_type (VS_DIFFUSE, vertex_element_type);
 
     vertex_element -> Stream = stream_index;
     vertex_element -> Offset = this -> offset;
@@ -208,9 +202,7 @@ void VertexElementArray::add_specular_color_vertex_element (int stream_index) {
     vertex_element = &this -> vertex_element_array [this -> total_elements];
     vertex_element_type = &this -> vertex_element_type_array [this -> total_elements];
 
-    vertex_element_type -> id = VS_SPECULAR;
-    vertex_element_type -> index = vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id];
-    vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id]++;
+    set_vs_input_type (VS_SPECULAR, vertex_element_type);
 
     vertex_element -> Stream = stream_index;
     vertex_element -> Offset = this -> offset;
@@ -233,9 +225,7 @@ void VertexElementArray::add_u_vertex_element (int stream_index) {
     vertex_element = &this -> vertex_element_array [this -> total_elements];
     vertex_element_type = &this -> vertex_element_type_array [this -> total_elements];
 
-    vertex_element_type -> id = VS_TEXTURE_U;
-    vertex_element_type -> index = vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id];
-    vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id]++;
+    set_vs_input_type (VS_TEXTURE_U, vertex_element_type);
 
     vertex_element -> Stream = stream_index;
     vertex_element -> Offset = this -> offset;
@@ -258,9 +248,7 @@ void VertexElementArray::add_uv_vertex_element (int stream_index) {
     vertex_element = &this -> vertex_element_array [this -> total_elements];
     vertex_element_type = &this -> vertex_element_type_array [this -> total_elements];
 
-    vertex_element_type -> id = VS_TEXTURE_UV;
-    vertex_element_type -> index = vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id];
-    vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id]++;
+    set_vs_input_type (VS_TEXTURE_UV, vertex_element_type);
 
     vertex_element -> Stream = stream_index;
     vertex_element -> Offset = this -> offset;
@@ -283,9 +271,7 @@ void VertexElementArray::add_uvw_vertex_element (int stream_index) {
     vertex_element = &this -> vertex_element_array [this -> total_elements];
     vertex_element_type = &this -> vertex_element_type_array [this -> total_elements];
 
-    vertex_element_type -> id = VS_TEXTURE_UVW;
-    vertex_element_type -> index = vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id];
-    vertex_element_type_counter_array [vertex_element_type -> id]++;
+    set_vs_input_type (VS_TEXTURE_UVW, vertex_element_type);
 
     vertex_element -> Stream = stream_index;
     vertex_element -> Offset = this -> offset;
@@ -310,7 +296,7 @@ int VertexElementArray::add_end_vertex_element (void) {
     vertex_element = &this -> vertex_element_array [this -> total_elements];
     vertex_element_type = &this -> vertex_element_type_array [this -> total_elements];
 
-    vertex_element_type -> id = VS_END;
+    vertex_element_type -> vs_input_type = VS_END;
 
     vertex_element -> Stream = 0xFF;
     vertex_element -> Type = D3DDECLTYPE_UNUSED;
diff --git a/panda/src/dxgsg9/vertexElementArray.h b/panda/src/dxgsg9/vertexElementArray.h
index cc0a03140d..8d12b82990 100644
--- a/panda/src/dxgsg9/vertexElementArray.h
+++ b/panda/src/dxgsg9/vertexElementArray.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ enum
 
 typedef struct
 {
-  int id; // this is VS_XXXXX
+  int vs_input_type; // this is VS_XXXXX from the enum above
   int index;
   int stream;
   int offset;
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ public:
   ~VertexElementArray ( );
 
   int set_vertex_element_offset (int vertex_element_index, int offset);
+  void set_vs_input_type (int vs_input_type, VERTEX_ELEMENT_TYPE *vertex_element_type);
 
   void add_position_xyz_vertex_element (int stream_index);
   void add_position_xyzw_vertex_element (int stream_index);