• Audio in Containers

    From Charles H. Sampson@21:1/5 to All on Sun Mar 11 18:15:54 2018
    When I was learning FileMaker, using FMP8, I'm pretty sure that I played
    around with putting audio files into containers. My memory is that I
    could double-click on the container and the file would play (in iTunes,
    I think). If that was ever true, I can't make it happen now. Help?

    Going a step farther, if such playback is possible, does it work if I
    put an alias into the container? (An obvious question is, "Why not let FileMaker set up the alias by telling FileMaker to store only a
    reference to the file, rather than a copy of the file. I want to use an
    alias whose name is different from the name of the file.)

    Charlie
    --
    Nobody in this country got rich on his own. You built a factory--good.
    But you moved your goods on roads we all paid for. You hired workers we
    all paid to educate. So keep a big hunk of the money from your factory.
    But take a hunk and pay it forward. Elizabeth Warren (paraphrased)

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Helpful Harry@21:1/5 to Charles H. Sampson on Mon Mar 12 19:48:16 2018
    On 2018-03-12 01:15:54 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:

    When I was learning FileMaker, using FMP8, I'm pretty sure that I played around with putting audio files into containers. My memory is that I
    could double-click on the container and the file would play (in iTunes,
    I think). If that was ever true, I can't make it happen now. Help?

    Going a step farther, if such playback is possible, does it work if I
    put an alias into the container? (An obvious question is, "Why not let FileMaker set up the alias by telling FileMaker to store only a
    reference to the file, rather than a copy of the file. I want to use an
    alias whose name is different from the name of the file.)

    Charlie

    The ability to play the audio (or video) will depend on it's format. It
    has to be a format that both FileMaker and your OS understand.

    FileMaker Container fields can store a reference to an external file.
    There's a tick box option to do just that when inserting the file /
    audio / video.

    There is a set of AV Player script commands in FileMaker Pro 16, but I
    haven't used them ... I haven't had any need to use audio or video in
    FileMaker Pro since about version 3.

    Helpful Harry :o)

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Charles H. Sampson@21:1/5 to Helpful Harry on Fri Mar 16 11:50:18 2018
    Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> wrote:

    On 2018-03-12 01:15:54 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:

    When I was learning FileMaker, using FMP8, I'm pretty sure that I played around with putting audio files into containers. My memory is that I
    could double-click on the container and the file would play (in iTunes,
    I think). If that was ever true, I can't make it happen now. Help?

    Going a step farther, if such playback is possible, does it work if I
    put an alias into the container? (An obvious question is, "Why not let FileMaker set up the alias by telling FileMaker to store only a
    reference to the file, rather than a copy of the file. I want to use an alias whose name is different from the name of the file.)

    The ability to play the audio (or video) will depend on it's format. It
    has to be a format that both FileMaker and your OS understand.

    FileMaker Container fields can store a reference to an external file.
    There's a tick box option to do just that when inserting the file /
    audio / video.

    There is a set of AV Player script commands in FileMaker Pro 16, but I haven't used them ... I haven't had any need to use audio or video in FileMaker Pro since about version 3.

    I just ran a simple test. I created a database that has only one table.
    That table has only one field, which is a container.

    The files I work with are aiff format. (I know that's redundant.) If I
    insert such a file into the container and let FileMaker make a alias, I
    can get playback after a lot of clicking; eventually iTunes fires up and
    plays it. Strangely, if I tell FileMaker to insert a copy of the file
    into the container, no amount of clicking gets any playback. Equally
    strangely, if I insert my own alias into the container, I get the same
    lack of success: No playback.

    Charlie
    --
    Nobody in this country got rich on his own. You built a factory--good.
    But you moved your goods on roads we all paid for. You hired workers we
    all paid to educate. So keep a big hunk of the money from your factory.
    But take a hunk and pay it forward. Elizabeth Warren (paraphrased)

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Helpful Harry@21:1/5 to Charles H. Sampson on Sun Mar 18 14:37:49 2018
    On 2018-03-16 18:50:18 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:
    Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> wrote:
    On 2018-03-12 01:15:54 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:

    When I was learning FileMaker, using FMP8, I'm pretty sure that I played >>> around with putting audio files into containers. My memory is that I
    could double-click on the container and the file would play (in iTunes,
    I think). If that was ever true, I can't make it happen now. Help?

    Going a step farther, if such playback is possible, does it work if I
    put an alias into the container? (An obvious question is, "Why not let
    FileMaker set up the alias by telling FileMaker to store only a
    reference to the file, rather than a copy of the file. I want to use an
    alias whose name is different from the name of the file.)

    The ability to play the audio (or video) will depend on it's format. It
    has to be a format that both FileMaker and your OS understand.

    FileMaker Container fields can store a reference to an external file.
    There's a tick box option to do just that when inserting the file /
    audio / video.

    There is a set of AV Player script commands in FileMaker Pro 16, but I
    haven't used them ... I haven't had any need to use audio or video in
    FileMaker Pro since about version 3.

    I just ran a simple test. I created a database that has only one table.
    That table has only one field, which is a container.

    The files I work with are aiff format. (I know that's redundant.) If I
    insert such a file into the container and let FileMaker make a alias, I
    can get playback after a lot of clicking; eventually iTunes fires up and plays it. Strangely, if I tell FileMaker to insert a copy of the file
    into the container, no amount of clicking gets any playback. Equally strangely, if I insert my own alias into the container, I get the same
    lack of success: No playback.

    I've only had a very quick play with the Container fields just now in
    FileMaker 16, but they seem to be a lot more flakey and
    over-complictaed than they used to be ... just like pretty much
    everything else in the newer versions of FileMaker Pro. :o(

    My *guess*, and only a guess, is that when storing a reference to a
    file, FileMaker calls on the OS to open the original file, but when
    storing a file itself it tries to use it's own features, which are
    probably extremely limited (partly due to needing to be cross-platform compatible).

    In Layout Mode, you can click on Container Field and "optimize" it for
    video / audio by using the options in the Inspector panel - the last
    set of options in the last sub-menu (the one with the drum-like icon).
    That does give the Field a play / pause bar when storing audio or video.

    As for the AVPlayer Script / button commands, they seem like a total
    waste of space and wouldn't do anything no matter how the field was
    formatted or the inserted data / file was stored.

    My conclusion, based solely on this very quick playing around, would be
    to NOT use FileMaker Container Fields to store anything except images.
    They seem to be rather useless for anything else.

    Helpful Harry :o)

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Charles H. Sampson@21:1/5 to Helpful Harry on Mon Mar 19 13:27:03 2018
    Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> wrote:

    On 2018-03-16 18:50:18 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:
    Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> wrote:
    On 2018-03-12 01:15:54 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:

    When I was learning FileMaker, using FMP8, I'm pretty sure that I played >>> around with putting audio files into containers. My memory is that I
    could double-click on the container and the file would play (in iTunes, >>> I think). If that was ever true, I can't make it happen now. Help?

    Going a step farther, if such playback is possible, does it work if I
    put an alias into the container? (An obvious question is, "Why not let >>> FileMaker set up the alias by telling FileMaker to store only a
    reference to the file, rather than a copy of the file. I want to use an >>> alias whose name is different from the name of the file.)

    The ability to play the audio (or video) will depend on it's format. It
    has to be a format that both FileMaker and your OS understand.

    FileMaker Container fields can store a reference to an external file.
    There's a tick box option to do just that when inserting the file /
    audio / video.

    There is a set of AV Player script commands in FileMaker Pro 16, but I
    haven't used them ... I haven't had any need to use audio or video in
    FileMaker Pro since about version 3.

    I just ran a simple test. I created a database that has only one table. That table has only one field, which is a container.

    The files I work with are aiff format. (I know that's redundant.) If I insert such a file into the container and let FileMaker make a alias, I
    can get playback after a lot of clicking; eventually iTunes fires up and plays it. Strangely, if I tell FileMaker to insert a copy of the file
    into the container, no amount of clicking gets any playback. Equally strangely, if I insert my own alias into the container, I get the same
    lack of success: No playback.

    I've only had a very quick play with the Container fields just now in FileMaker 16, but they seem to be a lot more flakey and
    over-complictaed than they used to be ... just like pretty much
    everything else in the newer versions of FileMaker Pro. :o(

    My *guess*, and only a guess, is that when storing a reference to a
    file, FileMaker calls on the OS to open the original file, but when
    storing a file itself it tries to use it's own features, which are
    probably extremely limited (partly due to needing to be cross-platform compatible).

    In Layout Mode, you can click on Container Field and "optimize" it for
    video / audio by using the options in the Inspector panel - the last
    set of options in the last sub-menu (the one with the drum-like icon).
    That does give the Field a play / pause bar when storing audio or video.

    As for the AVPlayer Script / button commands, they seem like a total
    waste of space and wouldn't do anything no matter how the field was
    formatted or the inserted data / file was stored.

    My conclusion, based solely on this very quick playing around, would be
    to NOT use FileMaker Container Fields to store anything except images.
    They seem to be rather useless for anything else.

    You might well be right, Harry. Unfortunately for me, I want to create a database of my classical CDs. Fortunately, I've come up with a
    workaround that gets what I want. It's clumsy, it's ugly, but it works.

    Charlie
    --
    Nobody in this country got rich on his own. You built a factory--good.
    But you moved your goods on roads we all paid for. You hired workers we
    all paid to educate. So keep a big hunk of the money from your factory.
    But take a hunk and pay it forward. Elizabeth Warren (paraphrased)

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Helpful Harry@21:1/5 to Charles H. Sampson on Tue Mar 20 09:45:24 2018
    On 2018-03-19 20:27:03 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:
    Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> wrote:
    On 2018-03-16 18:50:18 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:
    Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> wrote:
    On 2018-03-12 01:15:54 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:

    When I was learning FileMaker, using FMP8, I'm pretty sure that I played >>>>> around with putting audio files into containers. My memory is that I >>>>> could double-click on the container and the file would play (in iTunes, >>>>> I think). If that was ever true, I can't make it happen now. Help?

    Going a step farther, if such playback is possible, does it work if I >>>>> put an alias into the container? (An obvious question is, "Why not let >>>>> FileMaker set up the alias by telling FileMaker to store only a
    reference to the file, rather than a copy of the file. I want to use an >>>>> alias whose name is different from the name of the file.)

    The ability to play the audio (or video) will depend on it's format. It >>>> has to be a format that both FileMaker and your OS understand.

    FileMaker Container fields can store a reference to an external file.
    There's a tick box option to do just that when inserting the file /
    audio / video.

    There is a set of AV Player script commands in FileMaker Pro 16, but I >>>> haven't used them ... I haven't had any need to use audio or video in
    FileMaker Pro since about version 3.

    I just ran a simple test. I created a database that has only one table.
    That table has only one field, which is a container.

    The files I work with are aiff format. (I know that's redundant.) If I
    insert such a file into the container and let FileMaker make a alias, I
    can get playback after a lot of clicking; eventually iTunes fires up and >>> plays it. Strangely, if I tell FileMaker to insert a copy of the file
    into the container, no amount of clicking gets any playback. Equally
    strangely, if I insert my own alias into the container, I get the same
    lack of success: No playback.

    I've only had a very quick play with the Container fields just now in
    FileMaker 16, but they seem to be a lot more flakey and
    over-complictaed than they used to be ... just like pretty much
    everything else in the newer versions of FileMaker Pro. :o(

    My *guess*, and only a guess, is that when storing a reference to a
    file, FileMaker calls on the OS to open the original file, but when
    storing a file itself it tries to use it's own features, which are
    probably extremely limited (partly due to needing to be cross-platform
    compatible).

    In Layout Mode, you can click on Container Field and "optimize" it for
    video / audio by using the options in the Inspector panel - the last
    set of options in the last sub-menu (the one with the drum-like icon).
    That does give the Field a play / pause bar when storing audio or video.

    As for the AVPlayer Script / button commands, they seem like a total
    waste of space and wouldn't do anything no matter how the field was
    formatted or the inserted data / file was stored.

    My conclusion, based solely on this very quick playing around, would be
    to NOT use FileMaker Container Fields to store anything except images.
    They seem to be rather useless for anything else.

    You might well be right, Harry. Unfortunately for me, I want to create a database of my classical CDs. Fortunately, I've come up with a
    workaround that gets what I want. It's clumsy, it's ugly, but it works.

    Something specifically made for that task would be a much better idea -
    iTunes, as one example, can easily catalogue music files, albums, etc.

    Helpful Harry :o)

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Charles H. Sampson@21:1/5 to Helpful Harry on Tue Mar 20 14:36:33 2018
    Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> wrote:

    On 2018-03-19 20:27:03 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:
    Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> wrote:
    On 2018-03-16 18:50:18 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:
    Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> wrote:
    On 2018-03-12 01:15:54 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:

    When I was learning FileMaker, using FMP8, I'm pretty sure that I played
    around with putting audio files into containers. My memory is that I >>>>> could double-click on the container and the file would play (in iTunes, >>>>> I think). If that was ever true, I can't make it happen now. Help? >>>>>
    Going a step farther, if such playback is possible, does it work if I >>>>> put an alias into the container? (An obvious question is, "Why not let >>>>> FileMaker set up the alias by telling FileMaker to store only a
    reference to the file, rather than a copy of the file. I want to use an >>>>> alias whose name is different from the name of the file.)

    The ability to play the audio (or video) will depend on it's format. It >>>> has to be a format that both FileMaker and your OS understand.

    FileMaker Container fields can store a reference to an external file. >>>> There's a tick box option to do just that when inserting the file /
    audio / video.

    There is a set of AV Player script commands in FileMaker Pro 16, but I >>>> haven't used them ... I haven't had any need to use audio or video in >>>> FileMaker Pro since about version 3.

    I just ran a simple test. I created a database that has only one table. >>> That table has only one field, which is a container.

    The files I work with are aiff format. (I know that's redundant.) If I >>> insert such a file into the container and let FileMaker make a alias, I >>> can get playback after a lot of clicking; eventually iTunes fires up and >>> plays it. Strangely, if I tell FileMaker to insert a copy of the file
    into the container, no amount of clicking gets any playback. Equally
    strangely, if I insert my own alias into the container, I get the same >>> lack of success: No playback.

    I've only had a very quick play with the Container fields just now in
    FileMaker 16, but they seem to be a lot more flakey and
    over-complictaed than they used to be ... just like pretty much
    everything else in the newer versions of FileMaker Pro. :o(

    My *guess*, and only a guess, is that when storing a reference to a
    file, FileMaker calls on the OS to open the original file, but when
    storing a file itself it tries to use it's own features, which are
    probably extremely limited (partly due to needing to be cross-platform
    compatible).

    In Layout Mode, you can click on Container Field and "optimize" it for
    video / audio by using the options in the Inspector panel - the last
    set of options in the last sub-menu (the one with the drum-like icon).
    That does give the Field a play / pause bar when storing audio or video. >>
    As for the AVPlayer Script / button commands, they seem like a total
    waste of space and wouldn't do anything no matter how the field was
    formatted or the inserted data / file was stored.

    My conclusion, based solely on this very quick playing around, would be
    to NOT use FileMaker Container Fields to store anything except images.
    They seem to be rather useless for anything else.

    You might well be right, Harry. Unfortunately for me, I want to create a database of my classical CDs. Fortunately, I've come up with a
    workaround that gets what I want. It's clumsy, it's ugly, but it works.

    Something specifically made for that task would be a much better idea - iTunes, as one example, can easily catalogue music files, albums, etc.

    I used iTunes to rip my CDs and I'll use it to put one back together if
    it is damaged. I don't know how good the iTunes filing system is. I'll
    look. It might suffice.

    Charlie
    --
    Nobody in this country got rich on his own. You built a factory--good.
    But you moved your goods on roads we all paid for. You hired workers we
    all paid to educate. So keep a big hunk of the money from your factory.
    But take a hunk and pay it forward. Elizabeth Warren (paraphrased)

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Helpful Harry@21:1/5 to Charles H. Sampson on Wed Mar 21 13:58:14 2018
    On 2018-03-20 21:36:33 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:
    Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> wrote:
    On 2018-03-19 20:27:03 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:
    Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> wrote:

    <snip>
    My conclusion, based solely on this very quick playing around, would be >>>> to NOT use FileMaker Container Fields to store anything except images. >>>> They seem to be rather useless for anything else.

    You might well be right, Harry. Unfortunately for me, I want to create a >>> database of my classical CDs. Fortunately, I've come up with a
    workaround that gets what I want. It's clumsy, it's ugly, but it works.

    Something specifically made for that task would be a much better idea -
    iTunes, as one example, can easily catalogue music files, albums, etc.

    I used iTunes to rip my CDs and I'll use it to put one back together if
    it is damaged. I don't know how good the iTunes filing system is. I'll
    look. It might suffice.

    There are other options too, but I don't bother with music at all, so
    I've never used any of them.

    Another one might be "Music Collector" - expensive, but there is a free
    trial, so you can test it first. <https://www.collectorz.com/music>

    Helpful Harry :o)

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)