Windows Media Player is a popular media player that has been around since the early days of Windows. It allows users to play various types of media files, such as music and videos, on their computers. In this article, we will be discussing how to interact with Windows Media Player in C#.
Before we dive into the code, let's first understand the basics of Windows Media Player. The player has a user interface that allows users to control playback, adjust volume, and apply various effects to the media being played. It also has a library feature that allows users to organize their media files.
To interact with Windows Media Player in C#, we will be using the Windows Media Player control, which is a part of the Windows Media Player SDK. This control can be added to a C# project by adding a reference to the "interop.wmplayer.dll" file.
Once the control is added, we can start interacting with Windows Media Player in our code. The first step is to create an instance of the Windows Media Player control and add it to our form. This can be done by adding the following code in the form's constructor:
WindowsMediaPlayer wmp = new WindowsMediaPlayer();
this.Controls.Add(wmp);
Next, we need to specify the source of the media file that we want to play. This can be done by setting the URL property of the Windows Media Player control. For example, if we want to play a music file named "song.mp3", we can use the following code:
wmp.URL = "song.mp3";
Once the source is set, we can start playing the media file by calling the play method of the Windows Media Player control:
wmp.controls.play();
We can also pause, stop, and resume playback by calling the corresponding methods of the control. Additionally, we can use the settings property to adjust the volume, balance, and other playback settings.
But what if we want to add our own custom functionality to the Windows Media Player control? This can be done by using event handlers. The Windows Media Player control has various events that can be subscribed to in order to perform custom actions. For example, we can use the "PlayStateChange" event to detect when the media has finished playing and then perform some other action.
Furthermore, we can also use the Windows Media Player SDK to create our own custom user interface for the player. This allows us to add buttons, sliders, and other controls to the player and customize its appearance.
In addition to playing media files, Windows Media Player also has the ability to stream media from the internet. This can be done by using the "MediaChange" event and setting the URL property to the desired media stream. This makes Windows Media Player a versatile tool for not only playing local media files but also streaming media from online sources.
In conclusion, interacting with Windows Media Player in C# is a simple and straightforward process. With the use of the Windows Media Player control and event handlers, we can create our own custom media player or add additional functionality to the existing player. So the next time you want to play a media file in your C# application, consider using Windows Media Player for a seamless and user-friendly experience.
