music not playing on webpage

[kino1]

In Publisher 2007, the music files I have embedded on each page of my website
are not playing when the website comes up on the Internet. Previously, the
files just started automatically in earlier versions of Publisher. Any ideas?

 

[Mike Koewler]

This is the best new feature Pub has had in years. Do you have any clue
how obnoxious it is for someone to visit a site and have music play
automatically? I would rather see <blink>.

YMMV, JMO, TEHO.

Mike

 

[kino1]

I understand what you're saying, but what I'm trying to do is not for just
random music to start up for "entertainment"--it's instructional. I need
some pieces to play (simple Midis) on various pages as examples of something.
It's important. Thanks.

 

[DavidF]

Format > Background > Background sound at the bottom of the dialog. Perhaps
you are not using the correct file format. *.MID Perhaps the file you are
using is large and taking a long time to load?

DavidF

 

[Mike Koewler]

Kino,

In that case, put a link - To listen to this, click here. That way, a
visitor who wants to look around in silence can do that, while the one
who wants to hear what you are talking about can do that also.

Mike

 

[kino1]

Thanks, DavidF.
I've got those things covered. It's the right file format and they're very
small files. I've tried leaving the browser open for a good while to see if
something will start, but nothing.
Any other ideas?

 

[kino1]

Hello, Mike.
I'm trying to do this, but the link doesn't activate either. I tried
inserting it as an object (midi sequence), several different ways.
Any other ideas?

 

[Mike Koewler]

Kino,

Are you sure you have a player correctly installed on your computer and
that you have uploaded the files to the correct directory? Do you have a
url we can view?

Mike

 

[kino1]

Good morning, Mike.
Thanks for staying with this. Yes, I have a URL:
http://www.public.asu.edu/~aarios/magicalrealism/2007objects/index.htm
Let me know your thoughts.

 

[DavidF]

kino 1,

I noticed a couple things about your page and your site.

The link that your provided does serve up the music in IE today when I tried
it. It does not work in FF. And, though I usually am like Mike and hate
music on a website, in this case I think the music does add a lot to the
page. Maybe it is because I like the music, but maybe it is because it seems
to fit into the "theme" or "message" for the page, but I can see why you
want to include it.

I also noticed that you are building your site with multiple Publisher
files, and even multiple versions. I noticed some Pub 2000 pages. I think
your site is a pretty good example of how to use this approach...I like it.

I don't know a solution for you at the moment. Perhaps Mike will come back
with some sort of code snippet that can be inserted into the page that would
allow you to play your music in the background. I'll also look around a bit,
because in this case I do support the use of music...I support the way YOU
are using music. I think the ideal would be to have the music start
automatically, but also have an off button. Just because you and I like the
music, you should give the option to turning it off to those who don't.

DavidF

 

[DavidF]

Oh one other thing I forgot to mention. It appears that the links to the
"Gallery objects..." on the left are not working in FF. If the links are
grouped, try ungrouping them. That can fix that issue.

DavidF

 

[Mike Koewler]

Kino,

Keep in mind I am not a Pub expert or even above a novice. But try
inserting this into an html code fragment:
<embed
src="http://www.public.asu.edu/~aarios/magicalrealism/2007objects/index_files/sound266.mid"
type="audio/mid"
autostart="true"
play="true"
loop="false"
hidden="true"

</embed>

I tried it and it worked for me. YMMV.

BTW, I like the sound. In the above example, there is no off switch and
it doesn't loop.

Mike

 

[Mike Koewler]

Yes!

Mike

 

[DavidF]

Kino 1,

I spent a while researching this, and it appears that all browsers will not
play background music, and if they do, they use different media players.
Netscape or FireFox seems to require the Quicktime player/plugin be
installed, which I guess is no surprise that it doesn't like the Windows
player.

I found some code that you can add in the form of an insert html code
fragment, that when added and the page viewed in FF, the "information bar"
pops up and tells me I have to have Quicktime installed.

<object>
<embed src="index_files/your.mid" autostart="true" hidden="true"></embed>
</object>

Don't forget that Pub 2007 works a bit different than Pub 2000. Unlike 2000,
unless you change the default settings, most of your support files,
graphics, and *.mid files are stored in the index_files subfolder. Pub 2000
didn't use a subfolder and named the pages in a different way. If you write
links, plan accordingly.

I also found a javascript snippet that allows you to install and on and off
button, and it does work in IE, but once again requests Quicktime when
viewed in FF. View the following page in IE:
http://www.jdstiles.com/java/musiconoff.html
In my limited testing you can get this to work by inserting both parts of
the snippet in the body of your Pub doc, even though it says that you have
to put part of it in the head section. You would use this instead of the
background music feature in Publisher. However, try the page in FF, and you
will see what I mean about the information bar...or perhaps you won't, if
you have Quicktime installed.

I don't have Quicktime installed, nor do I want to install it. It took me
forever to get rid of it when I first setup this computer. It was constantly
trying to update itself, was loading in the background and taking resources,
and I just didn't want it. But that is just me. If most of your viewers have
Quicktime installed, then perhaps these workarounds will work for you. Let
me know if you try it. Also, you can google for other javascript code that
might accomplish the same thing. But one way or the other, I think you have
to work around the two browsers requiring two different media players.

By the way, which version of IE are you using? All this might be a moot
point if you are using IE7, as it is creating a whole different set of
issues because of its increased security.

DavidF

 

[DavidF]

Mike, do you have Quicktime installed?

DavidF

Kino,

Keep in mind I am not a Pub expert or even above a novice. But try
inserting this into an html code fragment:
<embed
src="http://www.public.asu.edu/~aarios/magicalrealism/2007objects/index_files/sound266.mid"
type="audio/mid"
autostart="true"
play="true"
loop="false"
hidden="true"

I tried it and it worked for me. YMMV.

BTW, I like the sound. In the above example, there is no off switch and it
doesn't loop.

Mike

 

[Mike Koewler]

David,

The only major difference between the code I posted and you did was the
<object> </object> tags. Does that make a difference in the non Gecko
browsers? I can't find a way to preview a Pub site in anything but my
default browser, so I don't know how the code works in IE. BTW, that's
another suggestion to make for the next version of Pub - allow the user
to select which browser to preview the site it.

Mike

 

[DavidF]

Mike,

I didn't see your post and code until after I had posted mine. After seeing
yours, I tested it and got the same results in FF. It told me I needed
Quicktime.

I suspect the code will help kino 1, if the viewer has Quicktime installed,
and perhaps most machines already do. And the on/off javascript will
probably also work...it does with IE.

I have already added the test in other browsers feature to my wish list for
Publisher, but I won't hold my breath. In the meantime if you really want to
test the Publisher html code in other browsers, you have to direct the
output to your hard drive. When you "Publish to the Web", a dialog comes up
and in the left hand column choose where you want to direct the output. If
I am just testing something, I usually direct the output to a folder on my
Desktop, so it is easy to find and get to, and delete when I am done. Then I
open that folder, right click the index.htm file, or the *.htm files in the
index_files folder, and choose "open with" and choose the browser. If this
doesn't work, you can open any browser, go to File > Open and browse to the
folder. This is also handy for studying the files that are produced before
you upload them to the server...

DavidF

 

[DavidF]

Figured as much. Thanks.

Now I am wondering what browser kino is using, and which version.

DavidF

 

[kino1]

Thank you, guys.
I had to leave for the weekend--sorry.
So far, the code works great, but for the whole site. When I try embedding
a different song on the second page, they play together.
But the one, just getting one, that's progress!
I am hoping to have a different song on each page.
Again, any ideas?
So far you both have been a great help. I thank you both.
I am trying to see why the various galleries are not working on the left
side of the first page. I will try ungrouping them. Thanks for catching
this.

 

[kino1]

I did ungroup the objects, and that worked. Thanks.
I notice now that the music (same music) plays for the first three pages,
then that's it.
This is all so minute in detail, but it's a big, big help.
As I said, I really do appreciate the attention.