Q: Sound files inside the exe

[Steve Stunning]

How do some programs have sound files inside the exe? I just played a game that was nothing but an exe and there were no sound files.

How can I make an exe and have the sound files inside the exe instead of having to access them?

Thank for reading this and any help you can provide.

------------------
Steve Stunning

[Serge]

You can create a resource file that will be compiled with your EXE. Resource file can hold a lot of different file formats. If you have VB6, then you have a Resource Editor.
To put the file in the resource: From the Add-Ins menu select Add-In Manager.... From the list select (put a check mark) a VB6 Resource Editor. Then, from the Project menu select Add New Resource File. A common dialog will be shown to give a name to your new resource file, do so (don't worry, this file will not be needed after you compile your program). Now, you will notice that in project explorer you would have a resource file added. Now, double click on that file. You will get the Resource Editor. From the toolbar select secon icon from the right (the icon called Add Custom Resource... Select the appropriate sounds (Wavs). Notice that editor will create an ID for each item you add. You can keep the default or change them to different ID by double click on each item. Close the Resource Editor. Let's say you keep the default IDs. Now, the programming part.

Here is the generic routine that you can use:

Private Declare Function sndPlaySound Lib "winmm.dll" Alias "sndPlaySoundA" (ByVal lpszSoundName As String, ByVal uFlags As Long) As Long
Private Const SND_ASYNC = &H1
Private Const SND_NODEFAULT = &H2
Private Const FLAGS = SND_ASYNC And SND_NODEFAULT
Public Sub PlayWavResource(pintResourceID As Integer)
    Dim bytArr() As Byte
    Dim intFFN As Integer
    Dim strPath As String

    bytArr = LoadResData(pintResourceID, "CUSTOM")
    strPath = App.Path & IIf(Right(App.Path, 1) = "\", "~tempwav.wav", "\~tempwav.wav")
    intFFN = FreeFile
    Open strPath For Binary As intFFN
    Put #intFFN, , bytArr
    Close #intFFN
    Call sndPlaySound(strPath, FLAGS)
    Kill strPath
End Sub

Usage: PlayWavResource ResourceID
Example: Call PlayWavResource(101)


------------------

Serge

Software Developer
[email protected]
[email protected]
ICQ#: 51055819



[This message has been edited by Serge (edited 12-02-1999).]

[chrisjk]

Serge - or anyone - how could I modify the above to include an AVI in my EXE that plays using the Windows Media Player? I have the AVI as resource id 101 in the CUSTOM bit.

Thank you

Regards,

------------------
- Chris
[email protected]
If it ain't broke - don't fix it

[Serge]

Sure!

Public Sub PlayAVIResource(pintResourceID As Integer, pMediaPlayer As MediaPlayer)
    Dim bytArr() As Byte
    Dim intFFN As Integer
    Dim strPath As String

    bytArr = LoadResData(pintResourceID, "CUSTOM")
    strPath = App.Path & IIf(Right(App.Path, 1) = "\", "~tempavi.avi", "\~tempavi.avi")
    intFFN = FreeFile
    Open strPath For Binary As intFFN
    Put #intFFN, , bytArr
    Close #intFFN
    pMediaPlayer.FileName = strPath
    pMediaPlayer.Play
End Sub

Example: Call PlayAVIResource(101, MediaPlayer1)

------------------

Serge

Software Developer
[email protected]
[email protected]
ICQ#: 51055819

[Steve Stunning]

Thank you Serge... I will give it a try.

[funkheads]

so is there any way to compile the EXE and write ActiveX files inside of it so that the user does not have to have them located on his/her hard drive? ...and so i don't have to package them with the software? because we all know that ActiveX references can be a ***** if the user does not have them in their Windows\System directory. ok. bye.

--michael

[Steve Stunning]

Serge,

It worked great. Thanks for you help!!

[Frans C]

There is no need to write the wav file to disk before playing it.

Option Explicit
Private Declare Function sndPlaySound Lib "winmm" Alias "sndPlaySoundA" (ByVal lpszSoundName As String, ByVal uFlags As Long) As Long
Private Const SND_ASYNC = &H1     ' Play asynchronously
Private Const SND_NODEFAULT = &H2 ' Don't use default sound
Private Const SND_MEMORY = &H4    ' lpszSoundName points to a memory file

Private Sub Form_MouseDown(Button As Integer, Shift As Integer, X As Single, Y As Single)
Dim retVal As Long
Dim SoundBuffer As String
    SoundBuffer = StrConv(LoadResData(101, "CUSTOM"), vbUnicode)  'replace 101 with your resource ID
    retVal = sndPlaySound(SoundBuffer, SND_ASYNC Or SND_NODEFAULT Or SND_MEMORY)
End Sub

[Steve Stunning]

Frans C,

Even better.... I like not having to save it to disk prior to play!!

Many thanks to you...

[VB Starter]

since im kinda confused by this, does anyone know how to run an exe. file from a resource file? They are default ( "Custom",101) settings.

[Serge]

Use the method I posted earlier (which is to save the file to disk first), then use Shell statement:

Public Sub RunResourceExe(pintResourceID As Integer)
    Dim bytArr() As Byte
    Dim intFFN As Integer
    Dim strPath As String

    bytArr = LoadResData(pintResourceID, "CUSTOM")
    strPath = App.Path & IIf(Right(App.Path, 1) = "\", "~tempexe.exe", "\~tempexe.exe")
    intFFN = FreeFile
    Open strPath For Binary As intFFN
    Put #intFFN, , bytArr
    Close #intFFN
    Shell strPath, vbNormalFocus
End Sub

Example: RunResourceExe 101

------------------

Serge

Software Developer
[email protected]
[email protected]
ICQ#: 51055819



[This message has been edited by Serge (edited 12-10-1999).]

[Shadowlord]

1. Is there any way to write into a RES file from my app? My game uses RES files for levels and graphics, and I want to make an editor for it.

2. Is there any way to (probably with the API) read from a RES file other than the one that is associated with my app? I want to have a separate RES file for each chapter of my game, so I can easily create add-ons.