Compatibility Modes
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The Windows Media Player control is designed to be a universal player for all types of multimedia data. It works equally well rendering content served by Windows Media Services and Microsoft DirectShow local playback media types. The Windows Media Player control incorporates many of the attributes supported by the earlier Microsoft NetShow Player version 2.0 control and by the Microsoft ActiveMovie control, along with new methods, properties, and events. In addition, the Windows Media Player control can operate in one of the following three modes to provide compatibility with the NetShow Player version 2.0 and ActiveMovie controls.
- MediaPlayer mode—The control supports all of the methods, properties, and event notifications documented in this SDK.
- NSPlay mode—The control exposes the methods, properties, and events supported for the NetShow Player version 2.0 control.
- ActiveMovie mode—The control exposes the methods, properties, and events supported for the ActiveMovie control.
All three modes provide the enhanced streaming and playback capabilities of Windows Media Player; however, each mode supports its own set of attributes.
The class identifier (CLSID) used to create an instance of the control determines the mode of operation. Using one of the CLSIDs previously reserved for NetShow Player control or the ActiveMovie control creates an instance of the Windows Media Player control in that alternate mode. As a result, applications and Web pages created with these controls can use the improved performance of Windows Media Player with little or no change to their code.
Important Installing the NetShow Player version 2.0 control or the ActiveMovie control on your development platform after installing the Windows Media Player control causes unexpected results.
This article contains the following sections.