Basic Command Messages

The basic command messages are summarized in the following list. MCI does not modify any of these messages or the data associated with them. MCI relays all information received from the calling application to your device driver.

MCI_LOAD

Loads a device element from disk.

MCI_PAUSE

Suspends playing or recording.

MCI_PLAY

Starts transmitting output data.

MCI_RECORD

Starts recording data.

MCI_RESUME

Resumes a paused device.

MCI_SAVE

Saves the current file. Devices which modify files should not destroy the original copy until they receive the save message.

MCI_SEEK

Seeks forward or backward.

MCI_SET

Sets device information.

MCI_STATUS

Returns status information from the device. MCI_STATUS as a basic command has additional flags not present for the required message.

MCI_STOP

Stops playing, with no video shown and no audio played.

The basic command messages use the lParam1 parameter for the flags applicable to the command message. They also use the lParam2 parameter for a pointer to a message-specific data structure. Your device driver might add flags and parameters to create extended commands. When you extend a command message, your device driver must still respond to the basic flags and parameters.