In addition to the commands described previously, each device supports a set of commands specific to its device type. Where possible, these type-specific commands are identical between types. When type-specific commands are common to multiple devices, they are considered basic commands. For example, the basic play command is identical for videodisc and videotape devices. Other basic commands are listed in the following table.
Although these commands are optional for a device, if a device supports a command it must respond to the options listed in this table. The options provide a minimum set of capabilities for most devices. If an option does not apply to device, the device must return “Action not available for this device.”
Basic Commands
| Command | Description |
| load | Load a device element from disk. The following optional item modifies load: | |
| filename Specifies the source path and file. | ||
| pause | Stop playing. | |
| play items | Start playing the device. The following optional items modify play: | |
| from position to position Specifies the position to start and stop playing. If from is omitted, the play starts from the current position; if to is omitted, the play stops at the end of the media. | ||
| record items | Start recording data. All data recorded after a file is opened is discarded if the file is closed without saving it. The following optional items modify record: | |
| insert Specifies that new data is added to the device element at the current position. | ||
| from position to position Specifies the positions to start and stop recording. If from is omitted, the device starts recording at the current position; if to is omitted, the device records until a stop or pause command is received. | ||
| overwrite Specifies that new data will replace data in the device element. | ||
| resume | Resumes playing or recording on a paused device. | |
| save item | Saves the MCI element. The following optional item modifies save: | |
| filename Specifies the destination path and file. | ||
| seek item | Moves to the specified position and stops. One of the following is required for item: | |
| to position Specifies the position to stop the seek. | ||
| to start Specifies to seek to the start of the media or device element. | ||
| to end Specifies to seek to the end of the media or device element. | ||
| set items | Sets the various control items: | |
| audio all off, audio all on Enables or disables audio output. | ||
| audio left off, audio left on Enables or disables output to the left audio channel. | ||
| audio right off, audio right on Enables or disables output to the right audio channel. | ||
| door closed Loads the media and closes the door if possible. | ||
| door open Opens the door and ejects the media if possible. | ||
| time format milliseconds Sets the time format to milliseconds. All position information is this format after this command. You can abbreviate milliseconds as ms. | ||
| video off, video on Enables or disables video output. | ||
| status item | Obtains status information for the device. One of the following items modifies status: | |
| current track Returns the current track. | ||
| length Returns the total length of the media. | ||
| length track track_number Returns the length of the track specified by track_number. | ||
| number of tracks Returns the number of tracks on the media. | ||
| position Returns the current position. | ||
| position track track_number Returns the position of the start of the track specified by track_number. | ||
| start position Returns the starting position of the media or device element. | ||
| time format Returns the time format. | ||
| stop | Stops the device. |