Copyright: Copyright © 1996 - 1997 David Polberger


Contents

MM Player is the ultimate program for managing your collection of media files and Audio CDs. Please read the introduction for more information. Please read What's New? if you are upgrading from version 1.0 or 2.0.

This program is distributed under the ShareWare concept that means that you may try this software program for 30 days. If you would like to use it beyond that period you must register.

NOTE: MM Player was designed to be easy to use. Therefore, this helpfile is not very comprehensive. If you do not understand how to use a specific button, please rest the mouse pointer on it a few seconds to get help by ToolTips.

Using MM Player

Introduction

File Management Mode

CD Audio Mode

Albums

Floating Palette

Windows in MM Player

Menus

File menu

Audio menu

Album menu

CD Audio menu

Help menu

Miscellaneous

Uninstalling MM Player

Disclaimer

Registering MM Player

What's New?

Contacting the author

Copyright © 1996 - 1997 David Polberger


Media Control Interface
The MCI (Media Control Interface) is an interface that lets third-party authors add multimedia capabilities to Windows. For example, Apple can add QuickTime support to Windows using the MCI. This interface also makes it easier for software developers to play supported media files since all playing of supported file types is performed by the MCI, not the program itself.


Other supported currencies
I accept the following currencies (cash only):

Currency	Price

US dollars	$15

UK pounds	£10

German D-Marks	25

Swedish crowns	120

Danish crowns	120

Norwegian crowns	120


Introduction

MM Player is an easy to use multimedia player and jukebox for Windows 95 and NT 4.0 that can handle all file types supported by the Media Control Interface (.MID, .WAV, .AVI, .MOV for example) and CD Audio tracks. MM Player allows you to organize your favorite media files and CD Tracks in Play Lists that can be played in the background while you do other work.

This program allows you to build a database of your Audio CDs and save names of tracks etc.

Both normal media files and CD Tracks can be mixed in the Play List. MM Player allows you to re-organize these items in any order you like or play them in random order.

Another of MM Player's features is a Floating Palette, a miniature version of the main window that stays on top of other windows and allows you to access the most frequently used features such as selecting the item to play, stop, pause, fast-forward etc.


The CD Audio Mode

The CD Audio Mode is new to version 2.0. This is the mode that displays all tracks on a CD. It serves two purposes:

•	To let you manage and play to CDs quickly and easily. MM Player allows you to name specific CDs and their tracks. This information is saved and will be retrieved the next time you change to the CD Audio Mode and have the recorded CD in your CD-ROM drive.

•	To let you add your favorite CD tracks to the Play List using either the Add and Add All buttons or using drag and drop.

The information you record about your CDs is saved in the file CDDB.INI, located in your MM Player directory. This file looks like a standard .INI file and you can edit it using a program such as Notepad.

The CD Player application that comes with Windows 95 also uses an .INI file to store its database information. The CD Player uses standard Windows API (Application Programming Interface) to read and write this file. However, this creates an undesirable side-effect: the database is limited to 64 Kb. MM Player doesn't use the Windows API to write and read the database, but accomplishes these tasks by itself. This means that your database does not have a diskspace limit like the CD Player application. But since the CDDB.INI file is not a standard .INI file, you should not try to add comments and re-organize the CD information contained in it. Edit the database from within MM Player and you will not encounter any problems.


The File Management Mode

The File Manegement Mode is the default mode of the MM Player. This is the mode that displays all your available drives, directories and drives and serves two purposes:

•	To let you quickly browse your collection of media files.

•	To let you add your favorite media files to an album using the Add and Add All buttons. You can also use drag and drop.

MM Player can handle all files types supported by the MCI.


Albums

This feature is designed to let you easily organize your favorite multimedia files and CD Audio tracks into different albums. You can then start playing an album, minimize the program and listen to your favorite multimedia files and CDs while you do other things.

Note that you can mix all different media types, including MIDI files, Wave files and CD Audio tracks in the same album. MM Player will automatically recognize if the wrong CD is inserted when trying to play a CD track from the Play List. This program will ask you to insert the correct CD. The Play List works in conjunction with the CD Database, so that the correct names of tracks will be displayed.

You can add multimedia files to an album in three ways:

•	Drag and drop files on the MM Player window from the Windows 95 Explorer.

•	Use the File List or CD Audio List together with the Add, Add All, Remove and Remove All buttons.

•	Drag and drop items from the File List or the CD Audio List to the Play List.

You could, for example, go into one of your directories containing mulitimedia files, mark the files to be included in the album and then press the Add button. Then you can repeat this procedure in other directories. If you would like to remove some of the files in an album, mark the files to be removed and press Remove. The Remove and Remove All buttons do not delete the files from your hard drive, only from the album.

You can control how MM Player plays your files in a variety of ways. Please go into the Preferences dialog and rest the mouse pointer a few seconds on an active topic in the Play List section to find out more about this. Changing these settings from the Preferences dialog makes these changes persistant, i.e., they are retrieved the next time you use MM Player. You can also change these settings from the Audio Menu if you you do not want to save them.

It is possible to reorganize the items in the Play List in any order you like. Either use the buttons below the Play List or use drag and drop.


Floating Palette

The Floating Palette, new to version 2.0, is a miniature version of the main window designed to float on top of all other windows on screen. You can for example work in another program while listening to an Audio CD and control the CD wihout leaving the program you were working in.

You can access the Floating Palette from the toolbar of the main window, from the Audio Menu or from its keyboard shortcut, Control + I.

You will be familiar with most buttons on the Floating except for three. The buttons that look like notes bring up a menu that allows you to select an item from the Play List and the File List / CD Audio List. The button next to the scrollbar moves the Floating Palette to the top of the screen.

Many commands can only be accessed from the right-click popup menu. Experiment with this menu to see what options are available to you without having to return to the main window.

Tool Tips play an important role in the Floating Palette. Resting the mouse pointer on the scrollbar will display the name of the file / CD track that is currently being played. Resting the mouse pointer on the Next or Previous buttons will display what file / CD track will be played if you click on one of these buttons.

You can single-click the label next to the scrollbar of the Floating Palette to toggle the way MM Player displays the position in the current file / CD track:

Mode 1) The position in the current file / track as minutes and seconds will be displayed.

Mode 2) The position in the current file / track as percents will be displayed.

Mode 3) The remaining time in the current file / track as minutes and seconds will be displayed.

Double-clicking on this label allows you to change the position in the current file / CD track. You can also do this by using the scrollbar.


Windows in MM Player

The main window consists of two main parts: The Play List to the left and the File List / CD Audio List to the right. The File List is designed to let you quickly browse your directories containing multimedia files and play them. The CD Audio List is designed to let you quickly browse your collection of Compact Discs and play specific tracks on these CDs.

The Play List is designed to let you organize your favorite media files / CD tracks into albums. You can then start playing an album, minimize the program and listen to your favorite media files and CD tracks while you do other things.

At the bottom of the window is a status bar which tells you the length of the current file / CD, the position in it, how much time is remaining and the name of the current album. At the top is a toolbar which provides quick mouse access to the items found in the menus. Finally, a scrollbar is located in the toolbar that gives visual feedback of the current position and also lets you easily change it. You can doubleclick on the label next to the scrollbar to change to position in the current media to any value you like.

The preferences dialog consists of three tabs. The General tab contains all the options related to running the program. The Appearance tab contains the options regarding the appearance of MM Player, such as the background. The CD Audio tab contains options regarding the playing of Compact Discs.

NOTE: Please rest the mouse pointer a few seconds on an active topic to find out more about it.


File menu

 Preferences...

Brings up the Preferences dialog

Register...

Displays the Register dialog box which allows you to enter the registration information received after registering MM Player. Please click here to learn more about registering MM Player.

Exit

Ends your MM Player session.

History List

Displays the four recently uses albums. Clicking on one of these albums will automatically open it.


Audio menu

 Play item from Play List

Plays the selected item in the Play List

 Play item from File List

Plays the selected item in the File List

 Pause

Pauses / unpauses the current item

 Stop

Stops playing the current item

 Rewind

Plays the current item from the beginning

 Previous

Plays the previous item or the next randomly selected item

 Next

Plays the next item or the next randomly selected item

Loop Playback

Continuously plays the current item

Change Position

Brings up a dialog box allowing you to change the position in the current item.

 Mixer

Starts the mixer application specified in the Preferences dialog

Floating Palette

Replaces the main window with a small floating palette which will always stay on top of other windows.

File Management Mode

Changes to the File Management Mode, thus replacing the CD Audio List with the File List.

CD Audio Mode

Changes to the CD Audio Mode, thus replacing the File List with the CD Audio List.


Album menu

 New

Creates a new album. The program warns you if you have unsaved changes in a previous album

 Open

Brings up an open dialog box which enables you to open an MM Player album file

 Save

Saves the current album

Save As...

Saves the current album under a new name

 Delete...

Deletes the current album

Sort Alphabetically

Sorts the current album in alphabetical order

 Move Up

Moves the selected file in the Play List one step up

 Move Down

Moves the selected file in the Play List one step down

Random Play

Selects which item(s) to play in the Play List at random

Continuous Loop

Starts playing the first item in the album after the last one has finished


CD Audio menu

 Save in database

Records the current CD information in the database

 Eject

Ejects the current CD (or inserts it if your CD-ROM drive supports this)


Help menu

 Contents

Displays this help file

Topic Search

Displays the search dialog box of the help file

Registration Form

Displays the integrated registration form

Help on Help

Displays help about using the Windows help system

About...

Brings up a dialog box where you among other things can find the version number and copyright information


Uninstalling MM Player

MM Player is very easy to uninstall. This program stores all files, including .INI files, in its own directory. It does not add any files to your Windows directory and it does not use the Registry (unless you have followed the instructions in the ReadMe.txt file to make MM Player your default media player for a specific file type).

Before you delete the directory containing the MM Player files, make sure that there are no files that you have created using this program, such as album files and the CD Database file that you would like to keep. Then delete the MM Player directory.


Disclaimer

MM Player is distributed as ShareWare.  No warranty exists, either expressed or implied.  No liability is assumed for any damage or loss resulting from the use of this program.


Registering MM Player

MM Player is distributed under the ShareWare concept. This means that you may try this software before you buy it. You may evaluate this program for 30 days. If you would like to use MM Player beyond that time, you MUST register.

You will receive a registration code (based on your name) by regular mail or by e-mail upon registering. This code will "unlock" the program, which will enable you to enter the program without having to wait 20 seconds. This registration code that you will receive will work with ALL future versions of MM Player.

The registration fee is 15 US dollars. Please click here for a list of other supported currencies.

Please follow the following steps to register MM Player:

•	Print out and fill out this form completely using the standard Windows help system or use the form provided on the Help menu of the main window to let the program print the registration form with all the necessary information for you.

•	Send the registration form in a sealed envelope, along with the money (cash only), to:

David Polberger

Bärnstensvägen 7

SE - 239 42 Falsterbo

SWEDEN

I cannot accept checks due to the high cost of cashing checks in a bank in Sweden. Please send cash only.

Go to registration form


Form
Registration Form

Name:	______________________________________________

Please type both your first and last name. I need at least 10 characters

(including space between words) to generate your registration code.

Address:	______________________________________________

Zip Code:	______________________________________________

E-mail:	______________________________________________

City:	______________________________________________

State / Province:	______________________________________________

Country:	______________________________________________

Would you like me to send the registration information by e-mail?

Yes	No

Please fill out the following information as well

Are there any features that you would like to be implemented in future versions?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Did you encounter any bugs?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

What operating system are you using?

 Windows 95	 Windows NT

 Windows 3.1x	 OS / 2

 Other (please specify):	___________________________________

Where did you get MM Player?

 Internet (please specify):	___________________________________

 Other (please specify):	___________________________________

Thank you for registering MM Player 2.1!


What's New?
What's New? - Revision History

v2.1

32-bit version supporting long filenames - released on the 22st of May 1997

New features

A built-in registration form has been added. You now have the option to fill in the form in the help file as usual or fill in the integrated form and select Print. The form will then be printed to the printer of your choice.

The Tool Tips for the Previous- and Next buttons now display the name of the item MM Player will play if that button is pushed. This is very useful in the Floating Palette where you otherwise would have to check the drop-down menus yourself.

It is now possible to single-click the label next to the scrollbar of the Floating Palette to toggle the way MM Player displays the position in the current file / CD track:

Mode 1) The position in the current file / track as minutes and seconds will be displayed.

Mode 2) The position in the current file / track as percents will be displayed.

Mode 3) The remaining time in the current file / track as minutes and seconds will be displayed.

The edit box below the Play List is now editable for file names. MM Player will only allow you to specify a valid path and file name.

Bugfixes

Several bugs have been fixed regarding editing the contents of a CD that is not in the CD-ROM drive at the moment. This didn't work in the previous version.

The menu that appears in the Floating Palette when you push the button used to access the tracks of the current CD is now always displayed correctly. It did not update correctly when a user ejected the CD manually in the previous version.

Flashing of the icons of the toolbar of the main window and of the Floating Palette when a CD has reached the end has been fixed.

The drop-down menu of the Floating Palette now always displays the contents of the current CD as opposed to the CD that the user is currently looking at in the CD Audio List (which is almost always the current CD).

The background of the logo in the about box now displays the correct color even if the user is using some other color than light gray for window backgrounds.

v2.0

32-bit version supporting long filenames - released on the 9th of May 1997

The Multimedia Player has been renamed to MM Player.

New features

It is now possible to play and organize your favorite CDs using MM Player. It is possible to add CD tracks to the Play List. The program allows the user to name tracks. This information is saved in a separate .INI file and will be retrieved the next time the CD is inserted.

The Rename box (for renaming files) has been enhanced. You can now rename the file without having to worry about the extension. It is also possible to easily move the file to a new directory.

Refresh button below the Directory List and the File List. This new button will update the files / directories being displayed in these windows. Very useful if you change a filename or the directory structure from another program.

Similar information to what is displayed above the Play List is now displayed above the File List too.

It is now possible to, in addition to using the Add- and Removebuttons, drag-and-drop files between the Play List and the File List.

It is now possible to rearrange the items displayed in the Play List by using drag-and-drop.

It is now possible to type in a file name or a wildcard (*.mid;*.rmi for example) directly in the text box above the File List.

MM Player now only plays the selected items in the Play List if the number of selected items is greater than 1.

You can now change the position in a media file directly by double clicking on the label next to the scrollbar or choose Change Position from the Audio menu.

Help is now displayed while the mouse is being rested on an menu item.

A new 256-color bitmap will now be displayed on systems capable of displaying 16k or higher color depths in the about dialog box.

Support for .MOD, .S3M files etc. This feature requires the MOD4WIN MCI driver and program, available for download at http://www.mod4win.com.

A new welcome dialog box has been added that among else includes a tip of the day.

A new miniature version of the main window has been implemented. This "Floating Palette" stays on top of other windows and allows the user easily to control MM Player when working in other windowed applications.

A new style for the toolbar buttons has been added: borderless buttons. This new style looks like and behaves like the buttons in Netscape Communicator and Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0.

Windows 95's own mixer is now the default if available.

Bugfixes

It is now possible to play the first file in the Play List by doubleclicking on it when Random Play is enabled.

The caption of the titlebar now displays the file that is playing correctly.

Playback of a file that is started from the File List is no longer aborted when the user clicks on another file in the File List or changes directory.

The program now displays correctly on systems running a video driver set to display in 120 dpi ("Large Fonts").

Bugs regarding the first item in the Play List are now fixed.

The correct buttons are disabled when a new album is opened.

The scrollbar that is used to move the position in a file is now always disabled when it is supposed to be.

12 character limitation is now removed in the Rename File dialog box. This makes it possible to move files to other directories.

The titlebar of the program now always displays the correct filename.

The Cancel button in the Preferences dialog now restores the background etc.

Many more minor features have been added than listed here. A lot of small bugs that are not listed here have also been fixed.

v1.0

16-bit version not supporting long filenames - released on the 30th of December 1996.

Initial release


Contacting the author

If you have any comments, suggestions for improvements or bug reports please feel free to contact me. My e-mail address and the URL of my homepage on the World Wide Web can be found below.

E-mail address

staffan.polberger@mailbox.swipnet.se

Internet address

http://mmplayer.home.ml.org

http://home2.swipnet.se/~w-25992/