Media Player Help Index

Media Player lets you control the playing of various kinds of media files and hardware. It can play animation, sound, and MIDI sequencer files. Media Player can also control CD-ROM drives and videodisc players.

You use the buttons to control the playing of the media piece. The scroll bar shows how much of a piece has played. Move the scroll box to play a different part of the piece.

This Index lists all Help topics available for Media Player. Index items are arranged alphabetically within each category. Use the scroll bar to see entries not currently visible in the Help window.

To learn how to use Help, press F1 or choose Using Help from the Help menu.

Keyboard

Media Player Keys

Commands

File Menu Commands

Device Menu Commands

Scale Menu Commands

Procedures

Changing the Scale

Opening a File

Specifying a Media Device

Playing a Media Device


Media Player Keys

Use the following keys in Media Player:

Press	To

F1	Get Help and display the Media Player Help Index.

Alt+Spacebar	Open the Control menu.

Alt or F10	Select the first menu on the menu bar.

Letter key	Choose the menu or menu item whose underlined letter matches the one you type.

Left or Right Arrow	Move among menus.

Up or Down Arrow	Move among menu items.

Enter	Choose the selected menu item.

Esc	Cancel the selected menu.

Tab	Move from button to button (left to right).

Shift+Tab	Move from button to button (right to left).

Spacebar	Press a button.

Left Arrow key	Move the playing position back when the scroll bar is selected.

Right Arrow key	Move the playing position forward when the scroll bar is selected.

PgUp	Move the playing position back in large increments when the scroll bar is selected.

PgDown	Move the playing position forward in large increments when the scroll bar is selected.


Media Player Procedures

The Procedure topics give you step-by-step instructions for using Media Player. Use the scroll bar to see more topics.

To learn how to use Help, press F1 or choose Using Help from the Help menu.

Procedures

Changing the Scale

Opening a File

Specifying a Media Device

Playing a Media Device


Specifying a Media Device

Media Player supports two types of devices: simple and compound. Simple devices don't require you to specify a media file (such as an audio compact-disc player). Compound devices require a specified media file (such as the synthesizer that plays waveform audio).

When you specify a simple device, Media Player readies itself to start playing. You don't have to use the Open command of the File menu to specify a specific media file.

When you specify a compound device (such as waveaudio), Media Player asks you identify the file you want played. Once you have the device specified, you can use the Open command of the File menu for other files available for use by that device. If you want to open files of a different type, you must first select the appropriate device through the Device menu.

To specify a simple device:

*	Select the device name from the Device menu.

Names of simple devices are not followed by an ellipse.

To specify a compound device:

1	Select the media device name from the Device menu. This causes the Open Media File dialog box to appear.

Names of compound devices are followed by an ellipse.

2	If the file is in the current directory, type the filename in the File Name box. Then choose OK.

Or if the file is not in the current directory, type the complete pathname. Then choose OK.

Or to use the File Name, Drives, and Directories boxes to open the file, complete steps 3 through 6.

3	Type a different extension in the File Name box if appropriate. Then choose OK.

4	To select a different drive, select the drive from the Drives drop-down list box.

5	To select a different directory, double-click in the Directories list box to find the directory that contains the file.

6	Double-click the filename in the File Name box.

Related Topics

Playing a Media Device

Opening a File


Opening a File

If a compound device is already specified, you can open and play files appropriate to play for that device. For example, if you've specified a MIDI Sequencer device, then you can open and play MIDI files. If you've specified a MIDI Sequencer device and you now want to open a waveform file, you must then first go back to the Device menu and specify waveaudio device.

If a simple device is open, the Open option on the File menu is disabled.

To open a file to play:

1	Make sure you have the right Device selected for the file you want to play.

2	Select Open from the File menu.

3	If the file is in the current directory, type the filename in the File Name box. Then choose OK.

Or if the file is not in the current directory, type the complete pathname. Then choose OK.

Or to use the File Name, Drives, and Directories boxes to open the file, complete steps 4 through 7.

4	Type a different extension in the File Name box if appropriate. Then choose OK.

5	To select a different drive, select the drive from the Drives drop-down list box.

6	To select a different directory, double-click in the Directories list box to find the directory that contains the file.

7	Double-click the filename in the File Name box.

Note:  Your system may include sample animation, sample audio, and sample MIDI files in the \MMDATA subdirectory under your Windows directory.

Related Topics

Playing a Media Device

Opening a File


Playing a Media Device

After specifying a media device, use the following procedures to play the device.

To start play:

*	Select the [image] Play button.

When playback is started, the title bar displays the word "(Playing)" following the device title.

Note: Don't try to play the same compact disc with both Media Player and Music Box simultaneously.

To pause or restart play:

*	Select the [image] Pause button.

When playback is paused, the title bar displays the word "(Paused)" following the device title.

Choose the Pause button again to resume playback.

To stop play:

*	Select the [image] Stop button.

When playback is stopped, the title bar displays the word "(Stopped)" following the device title.

To eject a compact disc or other media element:

*	Select the [image] Eject button.

The Eject button is available only with devices that include an eject function.

To change the playback position:

Media Player displays a scale above the scroll bar. The scale displays track locations or a time scale, depending on which Scale menu option is chosen. This is particularly useful when playing devices oriented around different tracks, such as audio compact disc players.

1	Move the scroll box to the time or track position you want.

2	Select the Play button.

Related Topics

Specifying a Media Device


Changing the Scale

You can change the scale display above the scroll bar. There are two options:

*	Time scale: shows time intervals

*	Track scale: shows tracks

To change scales:

*	Select Time or Tracks from the Scale menu.


Media Player Commands

To get help with a command, choose the appropriate menu.

File Menu Commands

Open

Exit

Device Menu Commands

Device Names

Scale Menu Commands

Time

Tracks


File Menu Commands

Use the scroll bar to see more information.

Open Command

Opens a file to play with the specified device.

This command is only available when a compound device is specified; simple devices are not associated with disk files.

Related Topics

Opening a File

Specifying a Media Device

Exit Command

Exits Media Player.

Exiting Media Player ends playback of the following types of media:

*	Animation

*	MIDI sequencer

*	Waveform audio

Audio compact discs and videodiscs continue playback after you close Media Player.


Device Menu Commands

Use the scroll bar to see more information.

Device Names

Specifies a media device.

The contents of the Device menu depend on which Media Control Interface (MCI) devices are installed on your system. Each menu option specifies the name of an MCI device installed on your system.

There are two types of media devices:

*	Simple devices

*	Compound devices.

Menu options for compound devices are followed by an ellipsis (...). When you choose a menu option for a compound device, Media Player displays a dialog box that allows you to specify the name of the file to open.

Related Topics

Specifying a Media Device


Scale Menu Commands

Use the scroll bar to see more information.

Time Command

Changes the scroll bar scale to show time intervals.

Tracks Command

Changes the scroll bar scale to show track numbers.

Related Topics

Changing the Scale


simple device

Devices used without specifying an associated media file. For example, one such simple device would be an audio compact-disc player,


Sample MIDI Files

Your system includes sample MIDI files from the Media Music (TM) collection of original MIDI production music. Media Music is a product of Passport Designs, Inc., a leading developer of music software application tools and music data products for personal computers and MIDI instruments. Passport currently offers a wide range of music productivity tools, including music sequencing and notation software and a library of popular songs and original MIDI production music.  For more information and a dealer referral call or write to:

Passport Design, Inc.

625 Miramontes St.

Half Moon Bay, CA USA 94019

phone: 415-726-0280, fax: 415-726-2254

To place orders call 1-800-443-3210


compound device

Devices used to play a specific media file.  For example, to play a waveform audio device you must specify the device along with the .WAV file you want played.


Media Control Interface (MCI)

A standard control interface for multimedia devices and files. MCI allows a multimedia application to easily control a variety of multimedia devices and files.


scroll bar

A bar that appears at the right and/or bottom edge of a window whose contents aren't completely visible. Each scroll bar contains two scroll arrows and a scroll box, which allow you to scroll within the window or list box.


drop-down list box

A single-line list box that opens to display a list of choices.


scroll box

A small box in a scroll bar that shows the position of what's currently in the window or list box relative to the contents of the entire window.