Windows Media Player 11 won't autoclose when opened from Command Line
Trying to load Windows Media Player 11 in XP OS from command line, play a Playlist, and close the WPM window when the Playlist is finished.
Used the syntax in the MS example at the following link but with no success. http://support.microsoft.com/KB/241422
Also tried several other combinations of /Play /Close parameter options, again with no success. Not sure what the problem might be.
Used the syntax in the MS example at the following link but with no success. http://support.microsoft.com/KB/241422
Also tried several other combinations of /Play /Close parameter options, again with no success. Not sure what the problem might be.
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ASKER
Hi BillDL
Thanks for all your suggestions and help on this question! This whole exercise is purely local where I am using a shortcut icon on the XP desktop to input the command line parameters and access a playlist from the local hard drive. I had tripped across references to the mplayer2.exe utility earlier and tried it with the /play /close parameters, but had no success with that approach either.
Although not stated in the original description, my goal is to have the playlist run ALONG WITH the full screen Media Player graphics that you get with "Now Playing" option. If I did get the mplayer2.exe utility to work with the /play /close parameters, could I still get the full screen wmplayer.exe type graphics???
Thanks for all your suggestions and help on this question! This whole exercise is purely local where I am using a shortcut icon on the XP desktop to input the command line parameters and access a playlist from the local hard drive. I had tripped across references to the mplayer2.exe utility earlier and tried it with the /play /close parameters, but had no success with that approach either.
Although not stated in the original description, my goal is to have the playlist run ALONG WITH the full screen Media Player graphics that you get with "Now Playing" option. If I did get the mplayer2.exe utility to work with the /play /close parameters, could I still get the full screen wmplayer.exe type graphics???
I doubt it highly TandMe. Media Player 6.4 was a pretty basic program without the proper ability to fetch and load all the online content into the viewing area, display in fancy "skin" mode, or show all the strange visualisations available in Media Player version 7 onwards. I think you're really stuck with either the rudimentary mplayer2.exe and the /play /close switch, or wmplayer.exe and the extended switches, but none to close when done.
ASKER
Thanks for your additional thoughts! I was hoping that there were some "undocumented" switches, but that doesn't appear to be the case. As a workaround, I think I will wrap the Media Player application in a Task from Task Scheduler and close the Player with the Task. Seems like a long way around the barn, but at least it will get the job done :-)
Hi Lee
Actually, I believe that I have answered the question, even though the answer is "sorry, that doesn't work". TandMe was puzzled why the /play /close switches weren't working with Windows Media Player 11. The fact is that WMV 11 (wmplayer.exe) uses different switches from the older 6.4 version (mplayer2.exe), and the /close one is not available as it was before. The linked page that TandMe was working from referred to mplayer2.exe. I provided a link to the command line switches for wmplayer.exe which supported my answer.
Bill
Actually, I believe that I have answered the question, even though the answer is "sorry, that doesn't work". TandMe was puzzled why the /play /close switches weren't working with Windows Media Player 11. The fact is that WMV 11 (wmplayer.exe) uses different switches from the older 6.4 version (mplayer2.exe), and the /close one is not available as it was before. The linked page that TandMe was working from referred to mplayer2.exe. I provided a link to the command line switches for wmplayer.exe which supported my answer.
Bill
I think BillDL has paid his efforts but has not yet answered the question. As EE experts, the answer provided should be specific to the version of the software. What have been answered refer to Windows Media Player 6.4 and Windows Media Player 9. So, I agreed with the decision of LeeTutor.
No Jackie, what I said was this:
"FROM WMPlayer 9 in XP, the command line options for wmplayer.exe became more complex in that the standard command uses a 'Prefetch' parameter, but also became less versatile than those for mplayer2.exe: etc".
I then explained that the older mplayer2.exe was what supported the /play /close switches.
The operative word was "FROM". Perhaps I should have said "From WMPlayer 9 in XP UPWARDS", but it should have been clear that I am referring to Windows Media Player in Windows XP being the point at which the whole thing changed. Actually, some of the options may well have changed in Windows ME and Media Players 7 or 8, but it's hardly a point of argument given that the page I linked to quite clearly provides the command line option availability in Windows Media Player versions 10 through to 12.
So, do you want to split the points then?
>>> "As EE experts, the answer provided should be specific to the version of the software." <<<
Agreed, and explained above, but my feeling is that some kind of explanation to accompany a googled hyperlink is a bit more "expert".
Anyhow, I am not arguing to grab points. It's hardly worth it. The provision to the asker of either a solution, or an explanation why a solution is not possible, is what counts at the end of the day. I am happy that I was able to do so for TandMe, even though a "sorry, not possible" answer was given.
Bill
"FROM WMPlayer 9 in XP, the command line options for wmplayer.exe became more complex in that the standard command uses a 'Prefetch' parameter, but also became less versatile than those for mplayer2.exe: etc".
I then explained that the older mplayer2.exe was what supported the /play /close switches.
The operative word was "FROM". Perhaps I should have said "From WMPlayer 9 in XP UPWARDS", but it should have been clear that I am referring to Windows Media Player in Windows XP being the point at which the whole thing changed. Actually, some of the options may well have changed in Windows ME and Media Players 7 or 8, but it's hardly a point of argument given that the page I linked to quite clearly provides the command line option availability in Windows Media Player versions 10 through to 12.
So, do you want to split the points then?
>>> "As EE experts, the answer provided should be specific to the version of the software." <<<
Agreed, and explained above, but my feeling is that some kind of explanation to accompany a googled hyperlink is a bit more "expert".
Anyhow, I am not arguing to grab points. It's hardly worth it. The provision to the asker of either a solution, or an explanation why a solution is not possible, is what counts at the end of the day. I am happy that I was able to do so for TandMe, even though a "sorry, not possible" answer was given.
Bill
I suggest splitting the points equally between BillDL http:#a25982270 (for a full explanation why the command was not working and suggestions to rectify it), and jackieman http:#a25983603 (for providing a link to an easy to read page showing the command line options available specifically to Windows Media Player 11).
I asked what type of files you were trying to play, but looking back at your question I see it's a playlist. Sorry, I missed that, so just ignore that question. The one about whether you are trying to open a local playist or one from a web server may be important to know though.
Bill