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INFO: Difference between the Media Player Object and the AVI Object
Document ID: IR04041The information in this article applies to:
- AutoPlay Media Studio 4.0
SUMMARY
This article will explain the difference between the Media Player Object and the AVI Object.
DISCUSSION
The Media Player Object and the AVI Object have many similarities; for example, they can both be used to display AVI videos. However, there are some important differences between the two objects.
Compatibility
The main difference between the two objects is in compatibility. In the case of the AVI Object, the standard, old-school MCI player control is used. This control has been part of Windows since Windows 95, which means that anyone who can run your AutoPlay application should be able to view your AVI video, so long as they have the appropriate codec installed.
In the case of the Media Player Object, everything is handled by an external ActiveX control; specifically, the Windows Media Player ActiveX control, msdxm.ocx. This control hasn't been around as long as the MCI player control has; in fact, it didn't even ship with Windows 98. However, it has shipped with every version of Internet Explorer since 4.01 sp2, and with every version of DirectX since 6.0 as well...so the chances that your users will have this ActiveX control are pretty high.
When it comes to file compatibility, well, true to its name, the AVI Object can only play AVI videos. For example, you can't play an MPEG in an AVI Object. The MCI player control just wasn't built for it. Whereas the Media Player Object can play anything that Windows Media Player can, from MPEGs and MP3s, to WMVs and WAVs.
One final point about compatibility is in relation to codecs. Regardless of which object is used, if your video requires a specific codec, the user needs to have that codec installed in order for the video to play. In the case of the AVI Object, the codec needs to be installed as a system-wide codec. If your user normally uses Windows Media Player to view their videos, it's possible they might have the appropriate codec installed only as a Windows Media Player codec, which means although they "have" the codec on their system, other applications like the MCI player control might not know it's there. Depending on your video's codec requirements, you may have to weigh the benefits of the AVI Object's greater system compatibility with the potentially greater "codec availability" of the Media Player Object.
Different Interfaces
Both objects give you the option to display video playback controls immediately below the video for your users to use. While the AVI Object only supports a very simple interface with few options, the Media Player Object has more options and gives you greater control over which parts of the interface are used. In addition, the Media Player Object's interface includes support for relatively advanced Windows Media Player features like closed captions and the "goto" bar.
Different Events
The two objects have slightly different events that you can use to trigger actions. For example, although the AVI Object has an "On Mouse Click" event, the Media Player Object does not. Meanwhile, the Media Player Object has events like "On Connecting to Server" and "On Stream Open" that reflect its aptitude for dealing with streaming media.
Different Actions
The AVI Object and the Media Player Object have similar actions, but the Media Player Object has one action that the AVI Object doesn't: MediaPlayer.SetFullScreen, which enables you to switch between the Media Player Object's normal and full-screen modes at run time.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information please see the following topics in the help file:
- User's Guide | Objects | What Are Objects?
- User's Guide | Objects | Object Types
- Command Reference | Objects | AVI Object
- Command Reference | Objects | Media Player Object
- Command Reference | Events | AVI Object Events
- Command Reference | Events | Media Player Object Events
- Command Reference | Actions | AVI Object Actions
- Command Reference | Actions | Media Player Object Actions
KEYWORDS: AutoPlay Media Studio 4.0, Media Player Object, AVI Object
Last reviewed: October 29, 2002
Copyright © 2002 Indigo Rose Corporation. All rights reserved.