Web Design in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition

Windows Media

To link to a Windows Media Video file for download and playback, create a link directly to the video file:

    <a href="movie.wmv">See the movie</a>

To link to a streaming Windows Media file for unicasting (a single stream triggered by a user request), make a link to an active stream redirector file (.asx).

    <a href="streamingmovie.asx">See a streaming movie</a>

The content of the .asx file is the location (URL) of the actual movie and looks like this:

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

For multicasting (a publisher-controlled broadcast of a single stream that is viewed by many users simultaneously), it is recommended that you generate code using the tools and wizards provided by the Windows Media Services program.