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September 21, 1998
This section explains how you can use scripting with the Windows Media Player and Windows Media Services to create rich multimedia Web sites that function properly in both Netscape Navigator 4.x and Internet Explorer 4.x or later.
You will need to go through a few different steps to write your code to work in both of the popular browsers:
Step 1. To take advantage of the all-browser-friendly scripting functionality, you first embed the Windows Media Player on your Web page, using an ActiveX control for Internet Explorer and a plug-in for Netscape Navigator.
Step 2. You then enable Netscape Navigator to receive script events, using a simple JavaScript function. (Internet Explorer is already script-enabled.)
Step 3. You can then capture script events that will activate other ActiveX controls and plug-ins. You can also read header information (including author, title, and copyright) from your ASF or ASX file.
We've also provided an example of how you can change Windows Media Player properties through a single script that covers both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.
Understanding how this code works will be key to successfully creating advanced Web sites, so we've provided step-by-step explanations for each task above. You're welcome to cut and paste the code we've provided into your own Web pages. (Please note that these pages assume an understanding of scripting languages such as VBScript and JavaScript.) If you customize the code we've provided, be sure to test your changes thoroughly in both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.
Several examples in the Downloads area (for example, Buttons and Status Bar) were designed to work in both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. These examples work in both browsers because they use simple JavaScript functions.
Netscape Navigator does not support Dynamic HTML and VBScript, so samples that use these scripting languages will work only in Internet Explorer.
Netscape Navigator does not support ActiveX controls, so samples that use controls will not work. On the other hand, both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator support plug-ins, so examples such as the Flash demo, which uses events to control another plug-in, will run in both browsers.
For additional information on cross-browser scripting, see the Windows Media Player SDK. You can download the SDK from the Windows NT Netshow Services site 
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