Playing an Audio File Using KiXtart KiXtart has the built-in ability to play a WAV or SPK file using the Play command. To play an audio file using KiXtart, proceed as follows: 1. Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. 2. Download and extract the latest version of KiXtart, from www.microsoft.com , to the new directory. 3. Select Start|Run and enter “kix32 scriptfile”. Here, scriptfile is the full path of the new directory from step 1 and file name of a script file that contains the following: $Aud = "filename" Play File $Aud Here, filename is the full path and file name of the WAV or SPK file to play. Scripting the Microsoft Media Player Windows NT/2000 includes a free application called Media Player, designed to play audio and video files. Mplay32.exe is the 32-bit version of the standard Media Player, and this utility can play audio, video, and DirectShow files. This utility supports a limited amount of command-line switches. Microsoft Media Player 7 is a Windows add-on that provides extremely enhanced functionality when compared to the older Windows multimedia players. Some of these features include media rights, MP3 (Motion Pictures Expert Group Layer 3 Audio) support, video streaming, radio tuners, and play list support. This player is intended to be the core Windows multimedia player and manager while replacing the older, built-in multimedia players, such as CDPlayer.exe and Mplay32.exe. This utility has limited support for Windows Script Host. Playing a Media File from the Command Line To play and then close a media file using Mplay32.exe and shell scripting, proceed as follows: 1. Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. 2. Select Start|Run and enter “scriptfile.bat”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: @Echo Off MPLAY32 /PLAY /CLOSE "filename" Here, filename is the full path and file name to play. Playing a Media File Using Windows Script Host To play and then close a media file using Mplay32.exe and Windows Script Host, proceed as follows: 1. Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. 2. Download and install the latest version of Windows Script Host, from www.microsoft.com , to the new directory. 3. Select Start|Run and enter “cscript scriptfile.vbs”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: On Error Resume Next Set SHELL = CreateObject("wscript.shell") SHELL.Run "MPLAY32 /PLAY /CLOSE filename",0 Here, filename is the full path and file name to play. The value 0 within the Run command causes the media player to be hidden. Playing Multiple Media Files Using a Play List Many new audio players (for example, winamp) utilize play lists to play one audio file after another. To play multiple media files using a play list, Mplay32.exe, and Windows Script Host, proceed as follows: 1. Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. 2. Download and install the latest version of Windows Script Host, from www.microsoft.com , to the new directory. 3. Select Start|Run and enter “cscript scriptfile.vbs”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: On Error Resume Next PlayList ("playlist") SUB PlayList(TXTfile) Set SHELL = CreateObject("wscript.shell") Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") Set readfile = FSO.OpenTextFile(TXTfile, 1, false) 1. Do while readfile.AtEndOfStream <> true contents = Trim(readfile.Readline) If contents <> "" Then SHELL.RUN "MPLAY32 /PLAY /CLOSE " & contents,3,True End If Loop End Sub Here, playlist is the full path and file name of a playlist file. Each line of this file contains the full path and file name of an audio file to play. Tip The value 3 within the SHELL.RUN command specifies to maximize the player. You can change this value to 0 if you would like the player hidden. Ejecting a CD Using Windows Script Host Microsoft Media Player 7 does not currently support access through Windows Script Host. You can, however, use the Media Player 7 object model to display information and control the CD player. To eject a CD using the Media Player 7 object model and Windows Script Host, proceed as follows: Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. 2. Download and install Microsoft Media Player 7 and the latest version of Windows Script Host, from www.microsoft.com , to the new directory. 3. Select Start|Run and enter “cscript scriptfile.vbs”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: On Error Resume Next Set MPlayer = CreateObject("WMPlayer.OCX.7") MPlayer.cdromCollection.item(x).eject() Here, x is the number of the CD-ROM drive (starting at 0). Ejecting All CDs Using Windows Script Host To eject all CDs using the Media Player 7 object model and Windows Script Host, proceed as follows: 1. Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. 2. Download and install Microsoft Media Player 7 and the latest version of Windows Script Host, from www.microsoft.com , to the new directory. 3. Select Start|Run and enter “cscript scriptfile.vbs”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: On Error Resume Next Set MPlayer = CreateObject("WMPlayer.OCX.7") Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") Count=-1 For Each Drive in FSO.Drives If Drive.DriveType = 4 Then Count=Count+1 End If Next If Count > -1 Then For x = 0 to Count MPlayer.cdromCollection.item(x).eject() Next End If Here, a DriveType value of 4 indicates a CD-ROM player. Scripting RealPlayer G2 RealPlayer G2 is an advanced multimedia player from Real Networks (www.real.com). Although this player is commonly used to play streaming media on the Internet, you can use these same ActiveX control calls to script RealPlayer using Windows Script Host. 1. 2. Playing an Audio File To play an audio file using the RealPlayer ActiveX control and Windows Script Host, proceed as follows: Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. Download and install the latest version of Windows Script Host, from www.microsoft.com , to the new directory. 3. Download and install the latest version of RealPlayer G2, from www.real.com , to the new directory. 4. Select Start|Run and enter “cscript scriptfile.vbs”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: On Error Resume Next Set RPlayer = CreateObject("rmocx.RealPlayer G2 Control.1") RPlayer.SetSource "file:filename" RPlayer.DoPlay Wscript.Echo "Press OK to end." Here, filename is the full path and file name to play. Playing an Audio File with Windows Script Host Controls To play an audio file with basic controls using the RealPlayer ActiveX control and Windows Script Host, proceed as follows: 1. 2. Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. Download and install the latest version of Windows Script Host, from www.microsoft.com , to the new directory. 3. Download and install the latest version of RealPlayer G2, from www.real.com , to the new directory. 4. Select Start|Run and enter “cscript scriptfile.vbs”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: On Error Resume Next Set RPlayer = CreateObject("rmocx.RealPlayer G2 Control.1") CMD = 2 Do While CMD <> 10 Select Case CMD Case 0 RPlayer.DoPlay Case 1 RPlayer.DoPause Case 2 If AUD = "" Then AUD = "filename" AUD = InputBox("Please enter the name of the audio file to play", "Audio File", AUD) RPlayer.SetSource "file:" & AUD Case 3 WScript.Quit End Select Message = "Choose a command:" & vblf & vblf & _ "0: Play file" & vblf & _ "1: Pause file" & vblf & _ "2: Choose file" & vblf & _ "3: Quit" & vblf CMD = InputBox(Message, "RealPlayer Commands", "0") Loop Note The highlighted code above must be entered as one paragraph. Here, filename is the full path and file name to play. Playing Multiple Audio Files Using a Play List Many new audio players (for example, winamp) utilize play lists to play one audio file after another. To play multiple media files using a play list, the RealPlayer ActiveX control, and Windows Script Host, proceed as follows: 1. 2. Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. Download and install the latest version of Windows Script Host, from www.microsoft.com , to the new directory. 3. Download and install the latest version of RealPlayer G2, from www.real.com , to the new directory. PlayList ("playlist") 4. Select Start|Run and enter “cscript scriptfile.vbs”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: On Error Resume Next Set RPlayer = CreateObject("rmocx.RealPlayer G2 Control.1") Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") Set readfile = FSO.OpenTextFile(TXTfile, 1, false) Wscript.Echo "Press OK to end." SUB PlayList(TXTfile) Do while readfile.AtEndOfStream <> true filename = Trim(readfile.Readline) If filename <> "" Then RPlayer.SetSource "file:filename" RPlayer.DoPlay End If Loop End Sub Here, filename is the full path and file name to play. Scripting the Office Assistant The Office Assistant is an interactive animated character used to help and entertain users of Microsoft Office. You can only access the assistant object model through an Office application object model. This means that you must have an Office application installed in order to automate an office assistant. To script the Office Assistant in Excel using Windows Script Host, proceed as follows: 1. Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. 2. Install the latest version of Microsoft Excel. 3. Download and install the latest version of Windows Script Host, from www.microsoft.com , to the new directory. 4. Select Start|Run and enter “cscript scriptfile.vbs”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: On Error Resume Next Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") Set objXL = CreateObject("Excel.Application") objXL.Workbooks.Add objXL.Visible = False objXL.Assistant.Visible = True With objXL.Assistant .Reduced = True .Left = 300 .Top = 300 .MoveWhenInTheWay = True End With Set Balloon = objXL.Assistant.NewBalloon Balloon.Heading = "Multiple Selections" Balloon.Text = "Please make a selection" Balloon.CheckBoxes(1).Text = "Selection 1" Balloon.CheckBoxes(2).Text = "Selection 2" Balloon.Show If Balloon.CheckBoxes(1).Checked Then Wscript.Echo "You selected check box 1." End If If Balloon.CheckBoxes(2).Checked Then Wscript.Echo "You selected check box 2." End If objXL.quit Related solution: Found on page: Automating Applications through an Application Object 96 Scripting Microsoft Agent Using Windows Script Host Microsoft Agent is an ActiveX technology that allows you to use animated characters to present information to your users. This technology can be used in presentations, logon scripts, new user setups, and any other situation where an interaction is needed. Scripting a Character to Speak Many developers use Microsoft Agent to entertain, educate, or guide their users through a process. To script a Microsoft Agent character to speak using Windows Script Host, proceed as follows: 1. Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. 2. Download and install the latest version of Microsoft Agent, a text-to-speech engine, a Microsoft Agent character, and Windows Script Host, from www.microsoft.com, to the new directory. 3. Select Start|Run and enter “cscript scriptfile.vbs”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: On Error Resume Next Set SHELL = CreateObject("wscript.shell") Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") aCHAR = "charname" Set ACTL = CreateObject("Agent.Control.2") ACTL.Connected = True If Not IsObject(ACTL) Then Wscript.Echo "Microsoft Agent was not found on your " & _ "system." & vblf & "Please install and try again." Wscript.Quit End If ACTL.Connected = True ACTL.Characters.Load aCHAR, aCHAR & ".acs" If Err.Number <> 0 Then Wscript.Echo "Could not locate the Agent called " & aCHAR Wscript.Quit End If Set CREF = ACTL.Characters(aCHAR) CREF.Show CREF.Speak "Hello there!" WScript.Echo "Press OK to close" Here, charname is the name of the agent character to use. Scripting a Character to Speak a WAV File Microsoft Agent has the ability to accept a WAV (WAVeform Audio) file and appear to speak it based on the gaps of silence detected. This allows you to use a real voice, as opposed to a synthesized voice, to speak to your users. To use Microsoft Agent to speak a WAV file, proceed as follows: 1. Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. 2. Download and install the latest version of Microsoft Agent, a text-to-speech engine, a Microsoft Agent character, and Windows Script Host, from www.microsoft.com , to the new directory. 3. Select Start|Run and enter “cscript scriptfile.vbs”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: On Error Resume Next Set SHELL = CreateObject("wscript.shell") Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") aCHAR = "charname" Set ACTL = CreateObject("Agent.Control.2") ACTL.Connected = True If Not IsObject(ACTL) Then Wscript.Echo "Microsoft Agent was not found on your " & _ "system." & vblf & "Please install and try again." Wscript.Quit End If ACTL.Connected = True ACTL.Characters.Load aCHAR, aCHAR & ".acs" If Err.Number <> 0 Then Wscript.Echo "Could not locate the Agent called " & aCHAR Wscript.Quit End If Set CREF = ACTL.Characters(aCHAR) CREF.Show CREF.Speak "", "WAVFile" WScript.Echo "Press OK to close" Here, charname is the name of the agent character to use, and WAVFile is the full path and file name of the WAV file to use. Scripting a Character to Sing You can make the Microsoft Agent appear to sing by modifying the pitch and speed of the agent’s voice. To make a Microsoft Agent character sing the Imperial March from Star Wars, proceed as follows: 1. Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. 2. Download and install the latest version of Microsoft Agent, a text-to-speech engine, a Microsoft Agent character, and Windows Script Host, from www.microsoft.com , to the new directory. 3. Select Start|Run and enter “cscript scriptfile.vbs”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: On Error Resume Next Set SHELL = CreateObject("wscript.shell") Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") aCHAR = "charname" Set ACTL = CreateObject("Agent.Control.2") ACTL.Connected = True If Not IsObject(ACTL) Then Wscript.Echo "Microsoft Agent was not found on your " & _ "system." & vblf & "Please install and try again." Wscript.Quit End If ACTL.Connected = True ACTL.Characters.Load aCHAR, aCHAR & ".acs" If Err.Number <> 0 Then Wscript.Echo "Could not locate the Agent called " & aCHAR Wscript.Quit End If Set CREF = ACTL.Characters(aCHAR) CREF.Show CREF.Speak "\Chr=""Monotone""\\Map=""\Pit=98\\Spd=50\DUN DUN \Spd=134\DUN \Spd=50\DUN \Pit=78\DUN \Pit=117\\Spd=200\DUN \Pit=98\\Spd=50\DUN \Pit=78\DUN \Pit=117\\Spd=150\DUN \Pit=98\\Spd=50\DUN""=""""\" CREF.Speak "\Chr=""Monotone""\\Map=""\Pit=147\\Spd=50\DUN DUN DUN \Pit=156\\Spd=67\DUN \Pit=117\\Spd=134\DUN \Pit=92\\Spd=67\DUN \Pit=78\\Spd=80\DUN \Pit=117 \\Spd=77\DUN \Pit=98\\Spd=67\DUN""=""""\" Wscript.Echo "Press OK to end the show" Note The highlighted code above must be placed on one line. Here, charname is the name of the agent character to use. Scripting a Character to Read You can make the Microsoft Agent speak any text that you can interpret in Windows Script Host. To make a Microsoft Agent character read a text file using Windows Script Host, proceed as follows: 1. Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. 2. Download and install the latest version of Microsoft Agent, a text-to-speech engine, a Microsoft Agent character, and Windows Script Host, from www.microsoft.com , to the new directory. 3. Select Start|Run and enter “cscript scriptfile.vbs”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: On Error Resume Next Set SHELL = CreateObject("wscript.shell") Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") aCHAR = "charname" Set ACTL = CreateObject("Agent.Control.2") ACTL.Connected = True If Not IsObject(ACTL) Then Wscript.Echo "Microsoft Agent was not found on your " & _ "system." & vblf & "Please install and try again." Wscript.Quit End If ACTL.Connected = True SUB ReadTXT(TXTfile) Do while readfile.AtEndOfStream <> true ACTL.Characters.Load aCHAR, aCHAR & ".acs" If Err.Number <> 0 Then Wscript.Echo "Could not locate the Agent called " & aCHAR Wscript.Quit End If Set CREF = ACTL.Characters(aCHAR) CREF.Show ReadTXT ("textfile") WScript.Echo "Press OK to close" Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") Set readfile = FSO.OpenTextFile(TXTfile, 1, false) contents = readfile.Readline If contents <> "" THEN CREF.Speak contents End IF Loop contents = NULL readfile.close End Sub Here, charname is the name of the agent character to use, and textfile is the full path and file name of the text file to read. Scripting a Character to Check for Events In Chapter 7, you learned how to check for events using Windows Management Instrumentation. To make a Microsoft Agent character notify you of events using WMI and Windows Script Host, proceed as follows: 1. Create a new directory to store all files included in this example. 2. Download and install the latest version of Microsoft Agent, a text-to-speech engine, the Merlin Microsoft Agent character, WMI, and Windows Script Host, from www.microsoft.com , to the new directory. 3. Select Start|Run and enter “cscript scriptfile.vbs”. Here, scriptfile is the full path and file name of a script file that contains the following: On Error Resume Next Set SHELL = CreateObject("wscript.shell") Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") aCHAR = "Merlin" . use. Scripting a Character to Read You can make the Microsoft Agent speak any text that you can interpret in Windows Script Host. To make a Microsoft Agent character read a text file using Windows. command-line switches. Microsoft Media Player 7 is a Windows add-on that provides extremely enhanced functionality when compared to the older Windows multimedia players. Some of these features. the core Windows multimedia player and manager while replacing the older, built-in multimedia players, such as CDPlayer.exe and Mplay32.exe. This utility has limited support for Windows Script