Flash CS3 Documentation

ActionScript 2.0 Components Language Reference > Media components > Understanding media components

Understanding media components

This section provides an overview of how the media components work. Most of the properties listed in this section can be set with the Component inspector. (See Using the Component inspector with media components.)

Apart from the layout properties discussed later in this section, the following properties can be set for the MediaDisplay and MediaPlayback components:

• The media type, which can be set to MP3 or FLV (see Media.mediaType and Media.setMedia()).
• The relative or absolute content path, which holds the media file to be streamed (see Media.contentPath).
• Cue point objects, along with their name, time, and player properties (see Media.addCuePoint() and Media.cuePoints). The name of the cue point is arbitrary; use a name that will have meaning when using listener and trace events. A cue point broadcasts a cuePoint event when the value of its time property is equal to that of the playhead location of the MediaPlayback or MediaDisplay component with which it is associated. The player property is a reference to the MediaPlayback instance with which it is associated. You can remove cue points by using Media.removeCuePoint() and Media.removeAllCuePoints().

The streaming media components broadcast several related events. The following broadcast events can be used to set other items in motion:

• A change event is broadcast continuously by the MediaDisplay and MediaPlayback components while media is playing. (See Media.change.)
• A progress event is continuously broadcast by the MediaDisplay and MediaPlayback components while media is loading. (See Media.progress.)
• A click event is broadcast by the MediaController and MediaPlayback components whenever the user clicks the Pause/Play button. In this case, the detail property of the event object provides information on which button was clicked. (See Media.click.)
• A volume event is broadcast by the MediaController and MediaPlayback components when the user adjusts the volume controls. (See Media.volume.)
• A playheadChange event is broadcast by the MediaController and MediaPlayback components when the user moves the playback slider or when the Go to Beginning or Go to End buttons are clicked. (See Media.playheadChange.)

The MediaDisplay component works with the MediaController component. Combined, the components behave in a manner similar to the MediaPlayback component, but they give you more flexibility in the look and feel of your media presentation.

Related topics

• Understanding the MediaDisplay component
• Understanding the MediaController component
• Understanding the MediaPlayback component

Flash CS3