>Is there any way to control the volume that the sounds are played at? Is there a way to programmatically increase/decrease the volume control?
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I've never researched that area because I believe that it is the user's machine and he/she should be free to set the volume at whatever's comfortable for them. Further, I've taken the position on this sort of thing lately, that, even if I know the answer, I don't tell because of this. For the most part, the information is available, and if some really needs to do it, they can find it for themselves.

This may seem a bit odd, but I have reasons for feeling this way. Unfortunately, at least in the area that I work in, there is a growing trend to "throw" untrained users at a system, and expect that the system be able to cope, rather than training the user at his/her job and the software that they must use. Despite supplying with them extensive help files, I still am asked to explain the "why's" of a system, when the answer is a simple keystroke away. As a result I've taken this POV.

If this is a crying need, then the best answer may be for the user to be better trained on the software, rather than expecting the software to jump through what are, largely, unnecessary hoops.