Sample Files

This page gathers the multimedia samples found throughout this guide. These samples are not configured to stream over the Internet. Before you play these samples, download this manual as described in "How to Download This Guide to Your Computer", and play the samples through your local copy. If you use these sample files as the basis for your own presentation, see also "Preparing Local Files for Streaming".

For More Information: For more demonstrations and information about creating media presentations that take advantage of RealOne Player's advanced features, visit http://www.realnetworks.com/resources/index.html.

Tip: The RealNetworks Production Guide, available at http://service.real.com/help/library/encoders.html, contains over 150 sample files demonstrating advanced SMIL features and clip types such as RealText.

Note: If you browse this manual with Netscape Navigator 6, you may not be able to play the linked sample files. If this occurs, you can open the sample files directly from the samples folder. You can also use Navigator 4.7 or Microsoft Internet Explorer to browse the guide.

License Agreement

The sample files that are included with this guide are the property of RealNetworks, and are licensed solely for your use in learning SMIL and RealNetworks technologies, as well as for creating customized presentations. You may not under any circumstances use, copy, sublicense, display, distribute, transmit, or reprint the sample files or the customized presentations, in whole or in part, without first obtaining written permission from RealNetworks. Except as set forth herein, all rights in the sample files are expressly reserved to RealNetworks.

Available Sample Files

All sample files are located in the samples folder. When playing a file, you can use RealOne Player's View>Clip>Clip Source command to view the source file used to create each example. Samples are available for the following features:

• Ram Files
• Clip-Encoded URLs
• SMIL Syntax
• SMIL Hyperlinks to HTML Pages
• SMIL Sequences
• SMIL Timing
• SMIL Layout
• Interactive Presentations

Ram Files

Chapter 3 explains how to write a Ram file that launches RealOne Player, and that can set parameters such as starting size and clip information. (samples list)

Clip-Encoded URLs

Using the RMEvents utility, you can encode events directly into a clip, as described in Chapter 4. (samples list)

SMIL Syntax

Before you write your own SMIL files, be sure that you understand the SMIL components and syntax rules. (samples list)

SMIL Hyperlinks to HTML Pages

Using SMIL, you can easily link RealOne Player to an HTML page that opens on a click, or automatically at a certain time. Chapter 6 describes hyperlinking. (samples list)

SMIL Sequences

Chapter 7 describes how to create sequences in a SMIL presentation. (samples list)

SMIL Timing

Chapter 7 also explains some of the basic SMIL timing attributes. (samples list)

SMIL Layout

SMIL layout is described in Chapter 8. The following sample files demonstrate SMIL layout tags, attributes, and features. (samples list)

Interactive Presentations

The interactive folder in the samples directory links to three interactive presentations that are constructed through different production techniques. Several files in these presentations use absolute, local paths. On Windows, you can copy the entire samples directory to your C: drive. Then, use your browser to open START_HERE.htm in the interactive folder. Alternatively, you can edit the chooseclip.htm files and, in some cases, the Ram files, to change the links to the actual locations of these HTML files and clips on your computer. Media clips are in the clips folder. (samples list)

Preparing Local Files for Streaming

The sample files listed on this page are created for local playback, which allows you to experiment with the markup easily. As you develop and test your own SMIL presentations, it's convenient to use clips located on your computer or a network file server, tying them into your SMIL presentation with local URLs. However, a SMIL presentation that works perfectly for local playback may not necessarily stream well. This is because streaming involves bandwidth and protocol issues that are not relevant for local playback. The following sections guide you to relevant information you'll need to know to prepare a presentation for streaming.

Bandwidth Considerations

Before you write a single line of SMIL markup for any presentation, you need to develop a bandwidth strategy. What are the connection speeds of your target audience? Do you want to create a single clip for all viewers? Do you want to use SureStream to accommodate viewers who have different connection speeds? These are a few of the bandwidth issues that you need to address.

For More Information: For more on bandwidth management, see "Bandwidth Strategies".

Clip URLs

Incorrect URLs are the biggest problems both beginning and experienced users typically face when trying to stream a presentation. Local SMIL files can use relative clip URLs, but streaming SMIL presentations should use fully qualified URLs. Be careful always to ensure the following:

• Media clips on Helix Server should use RTSP URLs (rtsp://).
• Media clips on Web servers must use HTTP URLs (http://).
• HTML pages on Helix Server or a Web server must use HTTP URLs.

For More Information: For more on URLs, see "What URLs Do You Use?".

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