Embed flunks -- now what do I do?

[Weedy Lady]

Using any html checker on line my code for putting background music on my pages flunks.

Evidently you should not use <embed etc.> because it is not valid coding, even though it works in IE and Netscape. (I can't get the music on my Firefox browser, but that's becaue their required player plug in and my computer hate each other).

Every code on the web that I've seen (and I've sure seen a lot of them)uses either the embed code that I'm using or a java script. I don't want any more java scripts on my pages if I can avoid it.

And yes -- I have to have music. My pages are greeting cards and they are blah without the music.

I'm in process of hand reworking over 700 pages so they will display properly in Netscape/Firefox -- removing the specified border colors and replacing them with graphics. I would really love to have a valid html code for embedding a music player while I'm doing this latest humongous project.

Can anyone post one here on the forum for me?

And yes -- part of the code HAS to be a mini player that shows on the screen and that you can turn off if you wish.

[speed]

You use the <object> tag, but it's a bit buggy on some browsers apparently. Not being one for music on pages I can't give you the code.

I did look in Google and found:
http://webtips.dan.info/sounds.html
http://webdesign.about.com/cs/multim.../htbgsound.htm

As an alternative what about using Flash?
I think that's the way I'd go.

I hope that at least points you in the right direction.

[Weedy Lady]

Thanks for the web pages. After reading them quickly (I'll go back later and really study them) it looks like I'm stuck with using the non compliant <embed...> tags that I have now because they seem to work. And the articles said the <object...> tag doesn't work in IE. 87% of my visitors use IE.

Originally I had the music files in the head section, and that worked fine except there was not a way to turn off the music. It seems that very few people have a little round button on their keyboard to turn off sound like I do.

As for flash -- it is completely beyond me. I tried several times to do a simple flash file, but each time I would get to step 4 of the instructions and it just wouldn't do what it said it would, and my brain wound up in shreds.

I tried looking up the standards also, hoping to be able to get my coding compliant, but again reading even part of the documentation fried my brain.

I will keep trying, though.

Thanks again.

[paulhiles]

The usual but "non-validating" method is to use both <object> and <embed> tags. If the targetted player is the Windows Media Player, then the object tag needs to contain the appropriate classID for the player, and of course these IDs change as newer versions are released. A Javascript detection script could be used to add the appropriate code, but I notice you're not too keen on adding additional Javascript.

You might consider offering links for each type of media player.. again, a logistical nightmare if you're dealing with over 400 pages!

All in all, I'm in agreement with speed, using Flash may be the best solution. With around 98% of the Internet enabled desktops having the Flash plugin, you stand a pretty good chance of your audio being heard! :o)

Hope that helps!

Paul

PS. A related link to one of speed's suggestions
To embed, or not to embed

[Weedy Lady]

I have, at this moment in time, 258 different midi files on my site. I also have over 800 pages.

I would have to make 258 flash files, and make a new one for each new song I add. Then I would have the "logistical nightmare" of removing the coding for the music (258 different sets of codes, even in my html editor) and inserting the proper flash code on each page.

Daunting, to say the least.

I know these things are best addressed when first designing a site, but when I started this web site 6 years ago as a personal page kind of thing on Geocities, no where in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would grow to what it has become.

I am constantly in the process of trying to standardize my pages as much as possible to make maintenance easier, but with each card being fairly unique (which is why people like my site) it is a challenge.