Hi All:

My question is about the best way of play sound files from Visual Foxpro.

I've a fox 2.5 application that contain a database of sound effects (not
the sound, only description, reference, etc...). I want to update this
application to a VFP 5,6 or 7, opposite to SQL 7.0. I'm thinking too, in make
digital sound files of the effects and play it from the application.

The First question is about what version of Visual Fox must I use? Is
soon for use VFox 7? I should work in the 6.0 version with SP5?
Support Vfox 7.0 the XP Windows?

With the information that I've get , I see differents ways to do it:

-With controls ActiveX Multimedia, -SET BELL (minor way), -with API
functions MCI, -with API functions DirectX.....

Exist some items that I have to think for all player ways:

- Some API functions, only plays sound files of short time, this functions
are thinking to systems sound, alerts sound, etc... In my case, I can't
work with this "limit" functions, because I will have sounds files of
10 SECONDS and sounds files of 10 MINUTES

- Some old player software, don't begin to play the file until this file
is load in memory. Other software, load an first "buffer" and then play the
file and reload the buffer simultaneously. This item, it's very important for
my application, for select a sound fast.

- The sound files, will be in a file server. Like the application will be
multiuser, 2 o more users, could try play the same file at the same time.
It's necesary, that the method for play sound, don't open the file exclusive.

- Choose Mono, Stereo, 8-16-32 bits, 44.1 Khz, ....

- Play differents codecs (obvius, if are installed) like Mp3, ...

- The OS would be Win9x, ME, Xp, 2000, NT,.... I don't like close the
application to a OS. If I use API functions that are integrated in
the system, it's better for a future OS?


Now please, in order of your experience in that field, What method do you
think it's better for that? or if you know a better ways, please tell me.

If anybody knows a URL, book, or other source documentation to guide my steps
please tell me.


Thanks in advance for your time.


Fernando Molina
fmolina@sintonia.es