Soundplay stopped working

[rm65453]

I have a script that alerts every 1 hour with a wav file. It was working for a week and now this week it has stopped working.

 

here is the sound loop code

 

Send ("{VOLUME_UP}")
_SetMasterVolumeLevel(0)
Local $aSound = _SoundOpen("path\deliveryalert.wav")
SoundPlay($aSound, 1)
_SoundClose($aSound)
$DeliveryFlag = 1

 

I have confirmed that the loop still runs at the designated time, just the file does not play.

[Melba23]

rm65453,

Firstly, there is no need to use the UDF functions _SoundOpen/Close if you play the file using the native SoundPlay - you do need them if you use the UDF _SoundPlay function to play certain files.

Secondly, what does the _SetMasterVolumeLevel(0) line do? Have you checked the volume sliders during script execution to see if they are at a suitable level to allow you to hear the sound?

M23

[rm65453]

The reason I started using _SoundOpen/close was because some computers were not playing using simply the soundplay.

Many staff members lowers the volume of these alerts, the _SetMasterVolumeLevel(0) line increases the volume before playing the file.

 

But even if i did use the _SoundOpen/Close, it would not cause problems, would it?

The modified code did not work either

Send ("{VOLUME_UP}")
_SetMasterVolumeLevel(0)
SoundPlay("path\deliveryalert.wav", 1)

Edited February 2, 2016 by rm65453

[Melba23]

rm65453,

Have you tried using the UDF functions (_SoundOpen/Play/Close) to play the file?

M23

[rm65453]

you mean this

 

Local $aSound = _SoundOpen("path/filename.wav")
If @error = 2 Then
    MsgBox($MB_SYSTEMMODAL, "Error", "The file does not exist")
    Exit
ElseIf @extended <> 0 Then
    Local $iExtended = @extended ; Assign because @extended will be set after DllStructCreate().
    Local $tText = DllStructCreate("char[128]")
    DllCall("winmm.dll", "short", "mciGetErrorStringA", "str", $iExtended, "struct*", $tText, "int", 128)
    MsgBox($MB_SYSTEMMODAL, "Error", "The open failed." & @CRLF & "Error Number: " & $iExtended & @CRLF & "Error Description: " & DllStructGetData($tText, 1) & @CRLF & "Please Note: The sound may still play correctly.")
Else
    MsgBox($MB_SYSTEMMODAL, "Success", "The file opened successfully")
 EndIf
 Sleep (500)
    _SoundPlay($aSound, 1)
    _SoundClose($aSound)

 

Still nothing, the funny thing is the original code worked for a week and now suddenly stopped working.

[Melba23]

rm65453,

I actually meant just:

Local $aSound = _SoundOpen("path/filename.wav")
_SoundPlay($aSound, 1)
_SoundClose($aSound)

Does the file play in other players?

M23

[rm65453]

Yes the file plays fine in other players. 

 

That code is pretty much what I pasted without the error handling. unfortunately still not working!!

 

btw thank you so much for your quick help melba23, much appreciated.

[Melba23]

rm65453,

I am afraid I have not been of much help.

If you select another file rather then the current one, does AutoIt manage to play it?

M23

[rm65453]

tried to play another file, still nothing.

 

are there other options to play a wav or mp3 file?

[Melba23]

rm65453,

Has anything changed on the system since the time when the file did play? Any new AV or HIPS software now on the system which might object to AutoIt playing a sound file?

M23

[rm65453]

No changes that I can aware off. I can ask the IT dept to confirm as well.

[rm65453]

Ok so here is what I found out. The first of every month, the IT dept sends some changes. Somehow the windows media player was not installed anymore. VLC player is the default for the organization. I reinstalled windows media player for the machine and that seems to have fixed the issue. but not all machines have that installed as default.

 

Anyway I can overcome this limitation?

[MuffinMan]

Does it have to be a certain sound, or just any audio cue?  You might try Beep(), I don't know if it uses WMP or not, but I doubt it.

https://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/docs/functions/Beep.htm

[rm65453]

Unfortunately has to be an audio file, wav or mp3.

[nend]

You can use Bass.dll there is a UDF on the forum for that and it's not relying on the windows mediaplayer.

[Melba23]

rm65453,

VLC has a command line interface - from what I can see you should be able to start it minimized (--qt-start-minimized) and play the file. You could then use ProcessClose to shut it down.

M23

[rm65453]

Brilliant idea Melba23, will try this next week. Didnt even think of that.

 

Feel free to point me to some sample code if you have something in mind, i have not extensively searched the forum but a quick search didnt show me something relevant.

[Melba23]

rm65453,

I just Googled "open VLC hidden" and found that command line option.

M23

[rm65453]

Hi Melba23,

 

Sorry to bother you again about this, need a few clarification:

1. I am  having a hard time figuring out how to send the command line command with autoit (without opening the command prompt window)

"C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" --qt-start-minimized

 

2. Once I have accomplished this, would the soundplay run via VLC or do I  need to change those commands as well?

Edit: Ignore the second question, I found that that I can specify the location of the file in the command line as well.

Thanks

 

I am using the following code:

 

ShellExecute("C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe --qt-start-minimized " & '"' & $aSound & '"')

where the $aSound is the path for the sound file.

 

It executes but windows throws and error saying "Windows Cannot Find 'ShellExecute("C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe --qt-start-minimized "soundpath/soundalert.wav"')

Edited February 11, 2016 by rm65453

[ViciousXUSMC]

This works for me.

I like the Bass.dll idea though so it can be fully self contained.

 

$sVLCPath = '"C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\VLC.exe"'
$sSoundPath = '"C:\Users\Public\Music\Sample Music\Kalimba.mp3"'

Run($sVLCPath & ' --qt-start-minimized ' & $sSoundPath)

Sleep(5000)
ProcessClose("VLC.exe")