Performance Tips for Developers Using the Windows Media Player 9 Series SDK

Windows Media Player 9 Series SDK: Getting Started GuideWindows Media Player 9 Series SDK (Software Development Kit) provides developers with tools, libraries, documentation, and sample code to integrate, extend, and control Windows Media Player (WMP) functionality in custom applications. Although WMP 9 is a legacy product (released in 2002), understanding its SDK remains useful for maintaining legacy systems, studying historical multimedia integration patterns on Windows, or working with older media formats and plugins. This guide walks you through the essentials: prerequisites, installation, architecture, common tasks, sample projects, debugging tips, and migration considerations.

1. What’s in the SDK

The WMP 9 Series SDK typically includes:

• Documentation (API reference, programming guides, and architecture notes).
• Header files and import libraries for C/C++ development (COM interfaces).
• ActiveX control for embedding WMP in applications.
• Sample code (C++, Visual Basic, HTML/Script samples).
• Tools for creating skins, plugins, and visualizations.
• Media format and codec guidance.

2. System Requirements and Prerequisites

• A Windows development environment (Windows 98/NT/2000/XP era) or a modern Windows with compatibility support for legacy development.
• Visual Studio (Visual C++ or Visual Basic) capable of targeting native Win32/COM projects. Visual Studio 6.0 was contemporary, but newer Visual Studio versions can work if you install legacy SDK components and configure include/lib paths.
• Basic knowledge of COM, ActiveX, and Windows message handling.
• Familiarity with multimedia concepts (codecs, containers, streaming).

3. Installation and Setup

1. Obtain the SDK:

   • The original SDK was distributed by Microsoft. For legacy work, locate an archived installer or extract SDK files from an archived installation package.

2. Install or extract the SDK files onto your development machine.

3. Configure your IDE:

   • Add the SDK include path to your project’s Additional Include Directories (point to the folder containing headers like wmp.h).
   • Add the SDK library path to Additional Library Directories (for import libs like wmp.lib).
   • Ensure your project links against required system libraries (ole32.lib, uuid.lib, winmm.lib, etc.).

4. Register necessary COM components:

   • The Windows Media Player ActiveX control is typically registered with the system when WMP is installed. If needed, register the control manually:

     
     regsvr32 wmplayer.ocx 

   • Some SDK samples may require additional DLLs to be registered.

4. SDK Architecture — Key Components

• Windows Media Player ActiveX control (IWMPPlayer, IWMPPlayer4, etc.): Embeddable control to host WMP in windows and dialogs.
• Core COM interfaces:
  • IWMPPlayer: basic player functions (open, play, pause, stop).
  • IWMPControls: playback control methods and state.
  • IWMPPlaylist, IWMPMedia: manage playlists and media items.
  • IWMPEvents: event callbacks for playback and state changes.
• Visualization and plugin interfaces:
  • Interfaces for creating visualizations and DSP plugins.
• Scripting/HTML integration:
  • Use OBJECT tag in HTML or script languages to control the player on web pages.

5. First Example — Embedding WMP in a Win32 Dialog (C++)

Below is a high-level outline of steps (not full code) to host the WMP ActiveX in a Win32 application:

1. Initialize COM with CoInitialize or CoInitializeEx.
2. Create a dialog window or a child window for the control.
3. Use AtlAxCreateControl or CreateWindowEx with the WMP class to create the ActiveX instance.
4. Query for interfaces (IWMPPlayer, IWMPControls) via QueryInterface.
5. Call player methods to open and play media:
   • IWMPPlayer->put_URL(L”path\to\file.mp3”);
   • IWMPControls->play();

Note: For full code, the SDK samples demonstrate proper creation, event sinking (advise/unadvise), and cleanup.

6. Common Tasks & Code Snippets

• Play a file (scripting/HTML):

  <object id="wm" classid="CLSID:6BF52A52-394A-11d3-B153-00C04F79FAA6"></object> <script> wm.URL = "song.mp3"; wm.controls.play(); </script> 

• Using IWMPPlaylist:

  • Create a playlist, add IWMPMedia items, assign to player.currentPlaylist.

• Handling events:

  • Implement IWMPEvents or use script event handlers (e.g., onplaystatechange) to react to playback start, stop, errors.

7. Building Plugins and Visualizations

• DSP/Effect plugins: implement the DSP interfaces described in the SDK, register the plugin with WMP, and handle PCM audio buffers.
• Visualization plugins: respond to audio data and render graphics (often using DirectDraw/Direct3D or GDI in that era).
• Skinning: WMP 9 supported skins—use the skin templates and tools in the SDK to design UI skins.

8. Debugging and Common Issues

• COM registration errors: ensure wmplayer.ocx and related DLLs are registered.
• Version mismatches: SDK headers/interfaces may differ from the installed WMP version—verify interface version (IWMPPlayer vs IWMPPlayer4).
• 32-bit vs 64-bit: WMP 9-era components are 32-bit; building a 64-bit host will not load 32-bit ActiveX—build 32-bit binaries or use a compatible player/component.
• Missing codecs: install appropriate codecs or use Microsoft’s Media Format SDK guidance for decoding.

9. Security and Compatibility Notes

• WMP 9 is obsolete and has security vulnerabilities. Avoid exposing legacy ActiveX/COM controls in untrusted environments or on internet-facing pages.
• For modern development, prefer current media frameworks (Media Foundation, Windows Media Player newer APIs, or cross-platform libraries like VLC/libVLC) unless maintaining legacy systems.

10. Migration Path

• Evaluate porting to:
  • Windows Media Player newer SDKs (with updated COM interfaces).
  • Media Foundation for modern Windows media apps.
  • Managed wrappers (e.g., using .NET libraries) where appropriate.
• Map common interfaces and flows (playlists, media control, events) to their modern equivalents.

11. Resources and Samples

• Check your SDK package for included sample projects (C++, VB, HTML). They’re the fastest way to learn practical usage.
• Use community archives and forums for legacy issues and specific sample code.

Windows Media Player 9 Series SDK remains primarily relevant for legacy maintenance. This guide covers practical steps to get started: install/configure the SDK, embed the ActiveX control, use core COM interfaces, build simple plugins, and handle debugging and migration. For hands-on work, run the SDK samples in a compatible 32-bit dev environment and consult the included API reference.