Subject:Can I put links inside a .rm file?

Posted by: DanAyo

Date:6/26/2002 6:07:47 AM

Is it possible to place links inside of a .rm file?

I would like for the user to be able to choose various points of a message to listen to. So far example if he wanted to start listening at point3 he could click a link and go straight there. Could this all be contained within 1 file?

Any help, links, or other referneces appreciated.

Danny Ayo

Subject:RE: Can I put links inside a .rm file?

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:6/26/2002 8:00:40 AM

I'm not sure about doing this within one file. What i've done is encode each section as a separate .rm file, then create a .ram file in a text editor that contains a list of each of the .rm files (include the complete path or URL). When the listener clicks on the .ram file, RealPlayer will play all the .rm files sequentially in the order listed. The listener may also choose each section like a chapter from the transport control bar. There is unfortunately a very short delay between sections, but if you choose the break points appropriately they can be almost unnoticeable.

Subject:RE: Can I put links inside a .rm file?

Reply by: DanAyo

Date:6/27/2002 5:55:29 AM

Thanks Chienworks, I didn't know that I go use the ram file to go to multiple files.

To make sure I understand you. Let's say I have a file that I want to break at 3 places. Link 1 would reference rm 1,2,& 3. My second link would reference rm 2, 3, & 1. My third link would reference 3,1, &2. Does that sound correct?

Do you happen to have such a file posted on the web? I'd like to check it out.

Again Thanks

Danny Ayo

Subject:RE: Can I put links inside a .rm file?

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:6/27/2002 9:16:06 AM

I've got an old sample at http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/

Each .rm file has a .ram file that simply contains it's URL. There is also a .ram file for listening to the entire service that contains this:

  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/announce.rm
  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/prelude.rm
  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/calltowo.rm
  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/opening.rm
  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/hymn1.rm
  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/sreading.rm
  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/celebrat.rm
  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/slesson.rm
  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/message.rm
  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/pastoral.rm
  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/offertor.rm
  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/hymn2.rm
  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/closing.rm
  http://www.msbchurch.org/audio/20000430/postlude.rm

This allows the listener to listen to any individual piece, or to the entire collection. And if they select the entire collection, RealPlayer still allows them to skip around with a few mouse clicks.

Subject:RE: Can I put links inside a .rm file?

Reply by: SonyKevin

Date:6/27/2002 6:05:02 PM

If you want to use a single file, another option is to use the HotSpotSeek metadata command.

The following text comes from the help file. (Just type "HotSpotSeek" on the Search tab to get to the Inserting Commands topic, and then click the "Insert a Command Marker" drop-down heading.)

Hope this helps. Regards,
Kevin

+_+_+_+_+_+

[HotSpotSeek] allows you to define an area in the RealPlayer video display that users can click to jump to a point in the current RealMedia file.

In the Parameter box, enter the duration of the hot spot, its coordinates, alternate text, and the point in the RealMedito which you want to jump in the following format: 00:01:30.0 (x1,y1,x2,y2) <"alternate text"> <HH:MM:SS.SS>.

For example, entering 00:01:30.0 (0,0,100,100) “<Jump to 30 minutes>” <00:30:00.00> in the Parameter box would create a hot spot 100 pixels high and 100 pixels wide in the top-left corner of the display. The hot spot would be active for 1 minute and 30 seconds, and the alternate text "Jump to 30 minutes" would be displayed when the cursor passed over the hot spot. When you click the hot spot, the player will seek to the 30-minute mark in the encoded file.

Notes:

Hot spot coordinates refer to the size of the source file. Sound Forge will scale the hot spot if the media file is encoded with a different video size.

If you omit the duration, the hot spot command will be active until the end of the streaming media file.