E-mail this pageAbout ASX Playlist/Redirector Files
When using a file you've had installed on the media server, you'll generally be linking to your media file through a redirector file , a file that resides on your own website and points to the media file while providing information about it. The redirector file can conveniently be used to link multiple streaming files together into a single "Show." For Windows Media files, this redirector file will have an ASX extension.
The Son of MediaFileThingy program takes care of most of the work in building the ASX file(s) for you, but here's a quick overview for those who want to build the ASX files by hand.
The structure of an ASX file involves a set of XML tags that are like HTML tags in their general appearance, although they mark rather unique information with respect to the media file.
Specific tags include
- Title - used once to denote the title of the "Show" and again to specify the title of each clip within the show.
- Abstract - used to describe the "Show" and again to describe each clip within the show
- Logo - used to define a 16X16 GIF image that appears as icon within the "Show" label; also used, with slightly altered parameters and an 80X32 GIF image, to identify the image that is displayed if the user presses "Stop"
- Entry - used to demark each media clip
- Banner - used within Entry tags to display a banner in the player: the banner can contain Abstract and MoreInfo tags
- Author - used to identify the author of a clip
- Copyright - used to specify a copyright for the clip
- MoreInfo - used to create a hyperlink on the Title/Author/Copyright text
- Ref - used to identify the location of the media clip
The following example illustrates how these tags can be used:
<ASX version = "3.0">
<Title>Working with Redirector Files</Title>
<Abstract>This clip addresses the use of Redirector Files for Windows Streaming Media.</Abstract>
<Logo href= "http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/it/media/icon.gif
" Style="Icon" />
<Logo href= "http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/it/media/marker.gif
" Style="Mark" />
<MoreInfo href="http://www.plattsburgh.edu/technology/it/itrc/index.php
" />
<Entry ClientSkip = "no">
<Banner href = "http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/it/media/promo.gif
">
<MoreInfo href = "http://www.plattsburgh.edu/technology/it/itrc/index.php
" />
</Banner>
<Logo href= "http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/it/media/icon.gif
" style="Icon"/>
<Title>Summer Workshops</Title>
<Abstract>A short promotional clip for summer workshops</Abstract>
<Ref href = "mms://media.plattsburgh.edu/friesep/mousetrax100.asf" />
</Entry>
<Entry>
<Banner href = "http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/it/media/logo.gif
">
<Abstract>Visit the ITRC in Feinberg 302</Abstract>
<MoreInfo href = "http://www.plattsburgh.edu/technology/it/itrc/index.php
" />
</Banner>
<Logo href= "http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/it/media/icon.gif
" style="Icon"/>
<Title>ITRC Opening: Spring 1999</Title>
<Author>Peter Friesen</Author>
<Copyright>©1999 LIS</Copyright>
<Abstract>ITRC Opening: Spring 1999</Abstract>
<Ref href = "mms://media.plattsburgh.edu/friesep/opening.wmv" />
</Entry>
</ASX>
This sample would have the effect of producing the following display:
Thanks to our former ITRC student assistant Justin Musser for helping out with the videotaping and production on these clips.