Web Design in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition

Adding Windows Media

Before linking to Windows Media files (.asf or .wma), be sure they are saved in the ASFROOT directory on the NT Server running the Windows Media Administrator.

To link to a downloadable (nonstreaming) Windows Media Audio file (.wma), use a simple link directly to the audio file:

    <a href="song.wma">Link to the song</a>

Linking to streaming Windows Media works much like the process described for RealAudio above. Streaming Windows Media uses a go-between reference file called an “active stream redirector” file (.asx), similar to RealAudio’s metafile. The ASX file contains the URL information that points the player to the actual media file. This method of providing a single stream to a single user on demand is called unicasting. In the HTML document, create a link to the redirector file as shown in this example:

    <a href="streamingsong.asx">Stream the song</a>

The content of the .asx file looks like this:

    <ASX version="3">
        <Entry>
            <ref href="path/streamingsong.asf" />
        </Entry>
    </ASX>

Change the path in the ref so that it points to your Windows Media file. The .asx file should be saved in the same directory as the Windows Media file.

Another method for delivering Windows Media is multicasting , in which a single media stream is delivered (at a time determined by the publisher) and multiple users share the stream. You can multicast prerecorded or live content. To add a multicast to your site, it is recommended that you use the tools and wizards provided by the Windows ...