Windows Media Metafile Elements Reference

Windows Media metafiles (which use the .wax and .wvx extensions) are based on the Extensible Markup Language (XML) syntax, and are made up of various elements with their associated tags and attributes. Each element in a Windows Media metafile defines a particular setting or action in the Microsoft® Windows Media™ Player. Some elements must be located in a specific position in the file relative to other elements. Some elements have required tags and attributes that must be defined in the Windows Media metafile. Element names and attributes are not case-sensitive.

The most important part of successfully using Windows Media metafiles is the correct syntax of the .wax or .wvx metafile elements. Syntax errors in a Windows Media metafile with a .wmx or .wvx extension can cause anything from a single attribute being overlooked, to the metafile not being recognized as valid and failing to work.

Almost as important is the order in which the elements appear in the Windows Media metafile. The attributes of some elements temporarily override the attributes of similar elements in different sections of the metafile.

Remarks

·WAX or WVX element and attribute tags are not case sensitive. The text used in the metafile to define an element can be either upper- or lowercase, or a mixture of both. The opening and closing tags used in an element also can be in a different case.
If an element tag does not have any child elements (those that modify or are contained within another element), a single slash character (/) can be used at the end of the opening tag in place of a closing tag. If the child elements do not appear between the opening and closing tag for an element, they are not child elements for that element, and are ignored or cause an error in the syntax of the metafile.

For more information about WAX or WVX elements, see the following sections in the ASX Elements Reference in the Windows Media Player Control SDK documentation. This reference contains a definition of each of the elements, their attributes and their values, and special conditions related to each element:

Element	Description
ABSTRACT	Contains text that represents a description of the associated ASX, BANNER, or ENTRY element.
ASX	Defines a file as a Windows Media metafile with an .asx extension.
AUTHOR	Contains a text string representing the name of the author of a Windows Media metafile with an .asx extension or media clip.
BANNER	Defines a URL to a graphic file that appears in the display panel.
BASE	Defines a URL string appended to the front of URLs sent to Windows Media Player.
COPYRIGHT	Defines a text string specifying the copyright information for an ASX or ENTRY element.
DURATION	Defines the length of time Windows Media Player renders a stream.
ENDMARKER	Specifies a marker at which Windows Media Player stops rendering the stream.
ENTRY	Defines a clip.
ENTRYREF	Links to the ENTRY elements in an external Windows Media metafile with an .asx extension.
EVENT	Defines a behavior or action taken by Windows Media Player when it receives a script command labeled as an event.
LOGO	Specifies a graphic file to be displayed as a logo.
MOREINFO	Specifies a URL to a Web site, e-mail address, or script command associated with a show, clip, or banner.
PARAM	Defines a custom parameter associated with a clip
PREVIEWDURATION	Defines the length of time a clip is played in preview mode.
REF	Specifies a URL for a piece of media content
REPEAT	Defines the number of times Windows Media Player repeats one or more ENTRY or ENTRYREF elements.
STARTMARKER	Specifies a marker from which point Windows Media Player starts rendering the stream.
STARTTIME	Defines a time index from which the Windows Media Player will start rendering the stream.
TITLE	Defines a text string specifying the title for an ASX or ENTRY element.

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