Windows Media Player Skin Tutorial: Adding Essential Buttons

Create articles from any YouTube video or use our API to get YouTube transcriptions

or, create a free article to see how easy it is.

Creating a custom skin for Windows Media Player can significantly enhance your media playback experience. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk through the process of adding essential buttons to your Windows Media Player skin. We'll cover everything from basic playback controls to more advanced features like mute and full-mode return buttons.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into adding buttons, ensure you have:

A basic understanding of XML and JavaScript
A text editor for coding (e.g., Notepad++, Visual Studio Code)
Windows Media Player installed on your system
Background, hover, and mapping images prepared for your skin

Setting Up Your Skin File

Start by creating an XML file for your skin. This file will contain all the necessary elements and attributes for your custom player interface. Begin with the basic structure covered in previous tutorials, including the background and mapping information.

Adding Buttons One at a Time

It's crucial to add buttons individually and test each one before moving on to the next. This approach helps identify and fix any bugs or typos quickly, preventing complex troubleshooting later on.

Play Button

Let's start with the play button:

<play element mapping color="#CCFFFF" />

After adding this code, save the file and test it. You should see a play button that displays a tooltip when you hover over it.

Pause Button

Next, add the pause button:

<pause element mapping color="#FE9900" />

Save and test again. You should now have functional play and pause buttons.

Stop Button

Add the stop button:

<stop element mapping color="#69ACC0" />

While similar to pause, the stop button can be useful for users who prefer a complete halt to playback.

Close Button

Implement a close button to exit the player:

<button element mapping color="#99FEE00">
  <up tool tip="Close" />
  <on click="view.close();"/>
</button>

Return to Full Mode Button

Add a button to switch back to the full Windows Media Player interface:

<button element mapping color="#41BD99">
  <up tool tip="Return to full mode" />
  <on click="view.returnToMediaCenter();"/>
</button>

Next Track Button

Implement a button to skip to the next track:

<button element mapping color="#320000">
  <on click="JScript:player.controls.next();"/>
  <up tool tip="Next" />
  <cursor>system</cursor>
  <enabled>EMP:enabled(player.controls.next)</enabled>
</button>

Previous Track Button

Add a button to go back to the previous track:

<button element mapping color="#033FFF">
  <on click="JScript:player.controls.previous();"/>
  <up tool tip="Previous" />
  <cursor>system</cursor>
  <enabled>EMP:enabled(player.controls.previous)</enabled>
</button>

Mute Button

Finally, add a mute button to toggle sound on and off:

<button element id="mute" mapping color="#00FFFF">
  <on click="JScript:player.settings.mute=!player.settings.mute;"/>
  <up tool tip="Mute" />
  <down tool tip="Sound" />
  <down>WMP:prop(player.settings.mute)</down>
  <sticky>true</sticky>
</button>

Testing Your Buttons

After adding each button, it's essential to test its functionality:

Save your XML file
Load the skin in Windows Media Player
Hover over buttons to check tooltips
Click buttons to ensure they perform the correct actions
Play audio files to test playback controls

Troubleshooting Common Issues

When adding buttons to your Windows Media Player skin, you may encounter some common issues. Here are some tips for troubleshooting:

Buttons Not Appearing

If buttons are not visible:

Check your mapping colors in the XML file
Ensure your background image isn't covering the button areas
Verify that your mapping file correctly defines button regions

Buttons Not Functioning

If buttons appear but don't work:

Double-check your JavaScript commands for typos
Ensure that event handlers (like on click) are properly formatted
Verify that you're using the correct method names (e.g., player.controls.next() for the next track)

Tooltip Issues

If tooltips are not displaying or showing incorrect text:

Check the spelling in your <up tool tip> and <down tool tip> tags
Ensure you've closed all XML tags properly

Mute Button Toggle Problems

If the mute button isn't toggling correctly:

Verify the <sticky> tag is set to "true"
Check the JavaScript toggle command for accuracy

Advanced Button Customization

Once you've mastered adding basic buttons, you can explore more advanced customization options:

Custom Button Images

Replace the default button appearances with custom images:

<button element id="custom_play">
  <up image="play_button_up.png" />
  <down image="play_button_down.png" />
  <hover image="play_button_hover.png" />
  <on click="JScript:player.controls.play();"/>
</button>

Conditional Button States

Create buttons that change based on player state:

<button element id="play_pause">
  <up image="play.png" />
  <down image="pause.png" />
  <on click="JScript:if(player.playState==2){player.controls.pause();}else{player.controls.play();}"/>
  <down>WMP:prop(player.playState==3)</down>
</button>

Grouping Buttons

Organize your buttons into logical groups for better layout control:

<group element id="transport_controls">
  <layout>horizontal</layout>
  <button element id="previous" />
  <button element id="play" />
  <button element id="pause" />
  <button element id="stop" />
  <button element id="next" />
</group>

Optimizing Button Placement

Careful consideration of button placement can greatly improve the usability of your skin:

Group related buttons together (e.g., play, pause, and stop)
Place frequently used buttons in easily accessible locations
Consider the natural flow of user interaction when arranging buttons
Use consistent spacing between buttons for a polished look

Accessibility Considerations

When designing your skin and adding buttons, keep accessibility in mind:

Use high-contrast colors for button elements
Ensure buttons are large enough to be easily clickable
Provide clear and descriptive tooltips for all buttons
Consider adding keyboard shortcuts for essential functions

Performance Optimization

To ensure your skin runs smoothly, especially on older systems:

Minimize the use of complex JavaScript in button actions
Optimize image sizes for quicker loading
Use efficient XML structures to reduce parsing time
Test your skin on various hardware configurations

Cross-Version Compatibility

Windows Media Player has evolved over the years, and not all features are available in every version. To maximize compatibility:

Stick to core functionalities that are present in most versions
Test your skin on different Windows Media Player versions
Provide fallback options for version-specific features
Document any version-specific requirements for your skin

Integrating with Windows Media Player Themes

Windows Media Player allows users to switch between different visual styles or themes. Consider how your custom buttons will interact with these themes:

Use neutral colors that work well with various theme colors
Provide alternative button styles for light and dark themes
Test your skin with different Windows Media Player themes

Adding Visual Feedback

Enhance user experience by providing visual feedback for button interactions:

Implement hover states for buttons
Add pressed states for buttons
Use subtle animations for state changes (e.g., fading between states)
Ensure visual feedback is quick and doesn't impede functionality

Localizing Button Labels

If you plan to distribute your skin internationally, consider localizing button labels and tooltips:

Use language-neutral icons where possible
Implement a system for switching between different language sets
Provide translations for all text elements in your skin

Enhance accessibility and usability by implementing keyboard navigation:

Assign tab indexes to buttons for logical navigation order
Implement keyboard shortcuts for common actions
Provide visual indicators for keyboard focus

Creating a Cohesive Design

Ensure your buttons fit well with the overall design of your skin:

Maintain a consistent style across all buttons
Use a color scheme that complements your background image
Balance button sizes and spacing for a harmonious layout
Consider the overall theme or mood you want to convey

Testing and Refining

Thorough testing is crucial for a polished final product:

Test all buttons in various scenarios (playing, paused, stopped)
Seek feedback from other users
Iterate on your design based on user feedback
Test on different screen sizes and resolutions

Documenting Your Skin

If you plan to share your skin, proper documentation is important:

List all features and custom buttons
Provide installation instructions
Document any known issues or limitations
Include version information and update history

Conclusion

Creating a custom Windows Media Player skin with functional buttons is a rewarding project that allows you to personalize your media playback experience. By following this guide, you've learned how to implement essential playback controls, navigation buttons, and additional features like mute and full-mode return.

Remember to add buttons incrementally, testing each one thoroughly before moving on to the next. This approach will help you catch and fix any issues early in the development process.

As you become more comfortable with skin creation, don't be afraid to experiment with advanced features and unique designs. The possibilities for customization are vast, limited only by your creativity and the XML/JavaScript framework provided by Windows Media Player.

Whether you're creating a skin for personal use or to share with others, attention to detail and user experience should be your top priorities. A well-designed skin can greatly enhance the enjoyment of music and video playback for you and potentially many other Windows Media Player users.

Continue to explore and push the boundaries of what's possible with Windows Media Player skins. Happy skinning!

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv21ihPpNRM&t=15s