The Nov '01 issue of Advisor has an introductory article by Tamar. That may give at least some orientation.

Jay

>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 limit 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 a 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