Http Streaming :: How to ::

***GatorShashank*** · #1 04-29-2005, 03:23 AM

Hello,

Many people have questions about media steaming support for their sites. Hostgator supports "Http Streaming". I am presenting a "How to" for those who need it to work from their sites.

================================================== ================================================== ====
After you encode your media files, there are two more steps in preparing your content for streaming from a Web server: creating Windows Media metafiles with .wax, .wvx, or .asx file name extensions and adding tags to your HTML files. The HTML tag points the end user's browser to the metafile, which points Windows Media Player to the content—the Windows Media file. A metafile must be used to reference the media because a direct reference to the media in an HTML tag will cause most browsers to attempt to download the media rather than stream it.

To create a Windows Media metafile

Open a text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad. Type the following metafile script, replacing the URL with that of your media. Reference the media just as you would any other Web file.

Code:

<ASX VERSION="3.0">
<ENTRY>
<REF HREF = "http://YourWebServer/Path/YourFile.wmv" />
</ENTRY>
</ASX>

You can place the metafile in the same folder as that of your media. If you do so, you can use a relative path, which is simply the name of the file. The REF line would look like this:

Code:

<REF HREF="YourFile.wmv" />

Save the text file, using the name of your media file followed by the .wvx extension if the metafile points to a file with a .wmv extension, or .wax if the metafile points to a file with a .wma extension, such as YourFile.wvx. The file name extension .asx was used in previous versions of Windows Media Technologies. To add a tag to an HTML file Using a text editor such as Microsoft Notepad, open the Web page that you want to add the reference to the media to. Add the URL of the metafile. For example:

Code:

<HTML>
<BODY>
Play this Windows Media file:
<A HREF = "http://YourWebServer/Path/YourFile.wvx">
YourFile</A>
</BODY>
</HTML>

Copy the Windows Media files (with .wma, .wax, .wmv, and .wvx file name extensions) to your Web server. When an end user clicks the reference on the Web page, the metafile is downloaded and Windows Media Player opens. Windows Media Player opens the metafile, and then opens and plays the Windows Media file from your Web server.
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amartins · #2 04-29-2005, 11:24 AM

Very nice article! *thumbs-up"

shanee86 · #3 05-05-2005, 02:28 AM

Ok what I want to know how to do is stream music were it doesn't download a file to there cache or temp floder! Or protects my content! You know what I mean some people stream videos etc to you and after you watch it you can go into your temp folder and find it in there! And copy it! Well sometime you can't or you go into there and there is no media file or it is in a type that can't be played back or protected! Can you help me thanks!

David · #4 05-05-2005, 06:37 AM

Thanks very much for the how to Joe. I learned something today. I had wondered about it, and figured it had something to do with meta files but never had needed to before so I hadn't played with it yet. Now I won't have to figure it out by trial and error. Keep them coming

I think it would be great if HG could offer how to articles every week or two and place them in their own forum. Maybe you could setup a simple form for users (registered) to fill in to submit requested topics/how to's. Sorry, I know...but don't you know that no good deed every goes unpunished

David

voodoo · #5 05-20-2005, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shanee86

Ok what I want to know how to do is stream music were it doesn't download a file to there cache or temp floder! Or protects my content! You know what I mean some people stream videos etc to you and after you watch it you can go into your temp folder and find it in there! And copy it! Well sometime you can't or you go into there and there is no media file or it is in a type that can't be played back or protected! Can you help me thanks!

I use a program called TopMusic. After installing it you upload your music to it's folder for playing it and create a file for the music to be played. The music is uploaded as mp3. The file I created is an m3u with the address within pointing to the mp3. It then only streams the music as opposed to downloading it to the temp folder. Even with my professional music editing software, the material downloaded is useless. You can get the topmusic block for php_nuke here http://www.sergids.com . I don't know if it will work as is for other CMS's

ebiz1 · #6 05-22-2005, 11:38 PM

Thanks! These streaming instructions are just what I needed.

I followed all instructions on writing the script. I tested it by double clicking it in my Windows Explorer and it worked great. However, when I enter the link in the address bar (or reference it in the html of my site) it just brings up the text rather than running the script. Any idea what I may be doing wrong?

The script is at xxx (problem solved, linked removed. Thanks!)

Thanks in advance.

Christine

Thomas · #7 05-23-2005, 09:33 PM

Christine,

I'm not sure if this will make a difference but I noticed a small discrepency in your code...

GatorJoe wrote:

Quote:

Note the spaces around the = and between the last quote and the slash

Your code:

Quote:

Worth a try?

My browser tried in earnest to stream the file but couldn't find it. Could just be a path issue.

ebiz1 · #8 05-24-2005, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Note the spaces around the = and between the last quote and the slash

Yeah, I started with the original string of code, then noticed the spaces which should not be in there so removed them to see if it would help. No luck. I think I tried every variation of spaces/no spaces.

I actually have access to a flash creator but that needs to start with AVI rather than wmv (9). So I thought I would try this route instead. I'm about at my wits end, but I know that it has to be possible. Maybe someone from hostgator will eventually get back to me.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Christy

amartins · #9 05-24-2005, 02:47 PM

Dunno much about this never tried it but have you tried using the full URL to the wmv file?

Are you keeping with case sensitivity? By the way (this is not the problem probably) but I have noticed in code examples that the trailing forwardslash should have a space before it

<REF HREF="wmvfile.wmv" />
not
<REF HREF="wmvfile.wmv"/>

I'll look for more info on this as sooner or later some customer is bount to want to stream.

Antonio.

gtgeorge · #10 05-24-2005, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebiz1

Thanks! These streaming instructions are just what I needed.

I followed all instructions on writing the script. I tested it by double clicking it in my Windows Explorer and it worked great. However, when I enter the link in the address bar (or reference it in the html of my site) it just brings up the text rather than running the script. Any idea what I may be doing wrong?

The script is at http://www.christineknowlton.com/vid...tyTree2005.wvx . (I cannot get the post to hold onto the link insert.)

Thanks in advance.

Christine

What browser are you using? I thought about it as I use FireFox and opened your link in IE and it works great!

amartins · #11 05-24-2005, 04:11 PM

u might have something there cause I only tested with firefox too :-)

ebiz1 · #12 05-25-2005, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtgeorge

What browser are you using? I thought about it as I use FireFox and opened your link in IE and it works great!

Aaak!

That's something I usually remember to try. Yes, I'm on Firefox. Switched to IE and it works! I was so confounded by trying to figure out how to get it into FLV, when I finally gave up and went this route I was already at my wits end.

Thank you!!

Christy

(I'll go remove that link now so no one else gets tortured by the video

)

easydoesit · #13 09-26-2005, 03:24 PM

So does this method of streaming work in FireFox? I haven't gotten it to work in FireFox.

MachineDog · #14 09-26-2005, 04:00 PM

Should, remember that it only works with certain filetypes.

vt2steps · #15 09-27-2005, 10:55 PM

Thanks for the tutorial! I usually search the knowledgebase and the forums for answers. When I searched the knowledgebase for streaming media, I didn't get any hits. Would you create a "Streaming Media/Video" or similar category in the knowledgebase and add this article? That would be great.

Regards,

Vernessa

stp · #16 09-29-2005, 01:57 AM

Has anyone got the working in Firefox? And if so, how.

Serra · #17 09-29-2005, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stp

Has anyone got the working in Firefox? And if so, how.

The best solution I've found for Firefox is to use Quicktime. I setup a Quicktime http stream on a site and had no problem viewing it on Firefox.

I've yet to find a way to do what has been discussed here in Firefox.

robbierogers · #18 09-30-2005, 05:32 AM

Thank you for this information. I was hoping to use mp3 because of the smaller file size. Is that possible?

stp · #19 10-03-2005, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serra

The best solution I've found for Firefox is to use Quicktime. I setup a Quicktime http stream on a site and had no problem viewing it on Firefox.

Thanks Serra - I will look into it.

though · #20 10-07-2005, 02:22 PM

do the instructions work for quicktime (.mov) files as well?

though · #21 10-09-2005, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stp

Thanks Serra - I will look into it.

i am interested in detailed quicktime streaming instructions.

please fill me in.

- troy

Serra · #22 10-10-2005, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by though

i am interested in detailed quicktime streaming instructions.

please fill me in.

- troy

Seems very simple. This worked for me.

I put the file on the server and used the following link to the file:

<embed src="dateline.mov" width="320" height="300" qtsrc="http://bowwowtv.com/video/dateline.mov">

I used a java script to create the movie window popup. You can check the source code of the page at:

http://bowwowtv.com/video/quicktime.htm

Doesn't look so good when it isn't in its window, but you will get the idea.

The only problem I've discoved is that if the client doesn't have Quicktime, then they are not prompted to download it, so I added that to the page.

(BTW: don't PM me, email me...)

Danny Carlton · #23 10-14-2005, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voodoo

I use a program called TopMusic. After installing it you upload your music to it's folder for playing it and create a file for the music to be played. The music is uploaded as mp3. The file I created is an m3u with the address within pointing to the mp3. It then only streams the music as opposed to downloading it to the temp folder. Even with my professional music editing software, the material downloaded is useless. You can get the topmusic block for php_nuke here http://www.sergids.com . I don't know if it will work as is for other CMS's

The topMusic php-nuke module doesn't protect the song from being downloaded. On the topmusic site, the music is protected because they use a media server to serve the files. An m3u file simply tells the browser the location of the mp3. By manually downloading the m3u file and looking at it in a text editor, the location of the mp3 can be found, and it can then be downloaded.

primalmedia · #24 09-30-2007, 10:40 PM

Your ASX file should be formatted like this.

Code:

<ASX VERSION="3.0">
 <ENTRY ClientSkip="no">
  <TITLE>Primal Media Ad</TITLE>
  <AUTHOR>Primal Media Limited</AUTHOR>
  <COPYRIGHT>(c)2007 Primal Media Limited</COPYRIGHT>
  <REF HREF="http://media.primalmedia.co.nz/primaltv/no_ad_intro.wmv" />
 </ENTRY>
 <ENTRY ClientSkip="no">
  <TITLE>Primal Media Ad</TITLE>
  <AUTHOR>Primal Media Limited</AUTHOR>
  <COPYRIGHT>(c)2007 Primal Media Limited</COPYRIGHT>
  <REF HREF="http://media.primalmedia.co.nz/primaltv/no_ad_intro.wmv" />
 </ENTRY>
</ASX>

When you link to your asx file it should look like this ...

Code:

    <object id="vidPlayer" width="500" height="344" CLASSID="CLSID:6BF52A52-394A-11d3-B153-00C04F79FAA6" codebase="http://activex.microsoft.com/activex...ion=6,4,7,1112" standby="Loading Microsoft Windows Media Player components..." type="application/x-oleobject" align="right" style="padding: 4px;">
     <param name="URL" VALUE="<?php echo SITE_URL."/video/play_300_item".$rowv['magVideoId'].".asx"; ?>">
     <param name="SendPlayStateChangeEvents" VALUE="True">
     <param name="enabled" value="True">
     <param name="PlayCount" value="1">
     <param name="animationatStart" value="true">
     <param name="EnableContextMenu" value="0">
     <param name="TransparentatStart" value="true">
     <param name="EnableFullScreenControls" value="true">
     <param name="DefaultFrame" value="0">
     <param name="stretchToFit" value="false">
     <param name="uiMode" value="full">
     <param name="autoStart" value="true">
     <param name="showControls" value="true">
     <param name="ShowStatusBar" value="true">
     <embed id="vidPlayer" name="vidPlayer" type="application/x-mplayer2" pluginspage="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...Downloads.aspx"  enablecontextmenu="0" src="<?php echo SITE_URL."/video/play_300_item".$rowv['magVideoId'].".asx"; ?>"  width="500" height="344" ShowControls="1" ShowAudioControls="1"  uimode="full" StretchToFit="false" ShowStatusBar="1" ShowDisplay="0" autostart="1"></embed>
    </object>

You will need the <embed></embed> for browsers that won't load Microsoft Objects.

slapshotw · #25 10-01-2007, 12:44 AM

I wonder if these people from 2005 still care

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