Is There a Media Player Tutorial?

[sm5574]

Specifically, is there a tutorial that shows how to manipulate this thing using ActionScript? I'd like to be able to actually use the Media Player, but until I find out how to dynamically add audio files to it with ActionScript, it's useless.

Thanks.

[tmoore935]

Can you add the files with the supplied method? The media player was made to be of ease to anyone?

[sm5574]

If by "the supplied method" you mean the properties window, yes I can. But that doesn't do me any good unless I want to create a new Flash application everytime I add a new audio file to my church's website (which will be every week). I'm all for making things easy to use, but that shouldn't cripple those of us who actually know how to program.

[w.brants]

Specifically, is there a tutorial that shows how to manipulate this thing using ActionScript?Have you already looked at the API file ?setPlaylist ( playlist, nr [, paused ] )
----------------------------------------
playlist : an array of labels and values. The labels represent the label shown in the
list display, the values represent the file names of the media files.
Supported media file filename extensions are
flv (video)
jpg, png, gif (still)
mp3, fd (audio)
fd files require the mp3 file that goes with it to be named the same except
for the filename extension; that should be mp3 (all lowercase).
nr : the playlist index number (zero based) of the media file to start with.
paused : when set to true, the player starts in paused mode.

example :

items = new Array();
items.push( { label: 'My first media file', value: 'MyMusicFile.mp3' } );
items.push( { label: 'My second media file', value: 'MyVideo.flv' } );
myMediaPlayer.setPlaylist ( items, 0 );


setExternalPlaylist ( playlistfile, nr [, paused ] )
----------------------------------------------------
playlistfile : external file containing the playlist. Each line contains one item
in the format label | value

example :

My first media file | MyMusicFile.mp3
My second media file | MyVideo.flvThe easiest way if you have to make changes on a regular base is the external playlist. It's also possible for example to use a php file for external playlist that scans an entire directory and outputs a playlist. Thay way you only have to upload new media files to make changes.

[sm5574]

Thanks! Didn't know there was an API file.

I love KoolMoves, I really do, but it is conspicuously lacking in professional-level documentation (by that I mean documentation written for professionals--not that the existing manual is unprofessional, which it certainly is not). What documentation it does come with seems to be just thrown in with the expectation that we'll somehow happen to come across it. If it weren't for this forum I probably would have abandoned KM long ago.

[maed]

I'd be interested in a tutorial as well.

There's a property in the MediaPlayer control called "color settings".

I've tried various skins, altering the colors in "color settings" and the colors don't change.

Maybe it's not for changing the colors of the player?

[w.brants]

If the info for the skin selection says "No colors parameterized", this doesn't do anything. For other skins like the two classic ones, TinyMP3 or TinyVid, you can change the colors of the skin.

[maed]

If the info for the skin selection says "No colors parameterized",

Do you know where it would say this? I don't see it under "properties" for the Media Player control (like "color options" is, where the value is "default specs").

[sm5574]

When you choose the skin, the window shows you a list of skins on the left and a preview on the right. At the bottom of this window it will tell you (among other things) what file types (audio/video) are supported and if the colors are parameterized.

[maed]

Ahh, I see. It's in the preview window at the bottom.

Thanks!

[pushplay]

Why can't I see the video that I added to a media player? I can hear the audio but I can't see the video. When you add items to the playlist aren't you suppose to be able to see the video? Or is there some code I need to add?

[tmoore935]

Why can't I see the video that I added to a media player? I can hear the audio but I can't see the video. When you add items to the playlist aren't you suppose to be able to see the video? Or is there some code I need to add?
What player did you choose?

[pushplay]

I chose the iSilver!

[w.brants]

Why can't I see the video that I added to a media player? I can hear the audio but I can't see the video. When you add items to the playlist aren't you suppose to be able to see the video? Or is there some code I need to add?
Do you mean you hear the audio of the video or that you can listen to mp3 files. If the first is the case, that's strange; you should be able to see the video. If it's the entire video file, make sure it's in the same directory as the swf file since KM doesn't store path names, only file names.

[pushplay]

When I first used the player in my fun file I could see the video. For whatever reason I noticed I couldn't see the video anymore. I thought maybe I just couldn't see the video in Koolmoves, but after I uploaded as a test I still couldn't see it. I can still hear it but I got no video!

Does it matter what size the movie is (height/width)? I was under the impression that it would just play it.

[w.brants]

If you were able to see it once, most likely the problem is that the player can't find the flv file. Make sure you upload the flv file into the same directory as the swf file. It should work. The size of the width and height of the movie are not important.

Edit :
If you can still hear the video, that's really strange.
What happens if you select another skin like iRed ?
Can you post a link to the web location so I can see the problem ?

[pushplay]

As far as I can tell their all in the same directory. Shouldn't I be able to view the video in Koolmoves as well before uploading to my site?

I'm going to do a dobule check. Also I'm going to restart the program and my computer maybe it's tired or need a break!

Thanks for the quick response!

[pushplay]

I wanted to post this just incase someone runs into this same problem.

Ok I was still having problems with my media player which I could not view my videos in Koolmoves or after uploading to my website, but I could hear the audio!

Before I upgraded to Kool6 I had some saved fun files that I was working on. If I started a new fun file I could see and hear the videos in the media player but I could not see it when I put a media player in a saved fun file so this lead me to check the settings and preferences and I found that Kool6 settings were different than my Kool5 version particularly the ("Export Settings")

Here is what I found...

The JPEG was set to 74 in Kool5 but in Kool6 it is set to 85. The backwards compatible was checked off in Kool5, but in Kool6 it is not checked, and the Compress setting is not check in Kool 5 but in Kool6 it is. (Take a look at the attached files)

So once I made these changes to reflect Kool6 settings and saved as a swift/html file I was able to view the video and hear the audio perfectly in Koolmoves!

Thanks for everyone's help!

[pushplay]

Well I thought I solved this riddle but now some videos I can see and some just don't play.

Check this out www.ividpro.com/test/mediatest.html

I can't even see the media player on the web. Let me know if the link above lets you see the media player. And in Koolmoves only two videos play, the others don't even play. I'm wondering is there a limit to the file size of the videos or media? Does anyone know?

I also attached my fun file!

[w.brants]

There's no limit to the file size.

The reason you don't see the media player on the web is becasue the AC_RunActiveContent.js file isn't in the same directory as the html and swf file or you didn't upload it at all.

The same problem seems to be the case for the flv files. They are not in the same directory as the other files or you didn't upload them. When I try to access them directly it says the files can't be found.

As for your previous problem, make sure the backward compatibility checkbox is unchecked. It's this setting that causes the problems. I don't understand at the moment why. I'll contact Bob about it.

[pushplay]

How could I have forgot that "AC_RunActiveContent.js"

Yes I left that out! And once I loaded the video in the same directory they all played!

Ok and the reason it didn't play in Koolmoves was because the video file was not in the same folder as the fun file.

[pushplay]

Thanks for your help W.Brants!