C-Sharp Winforms Flash Flv Embedded Flashplayer

A Comprehensive Guide to Embedding FLV Flash Player in Windows Forms

Are you looking to enhance your Windows Forms application by embedding a FLV Flash player? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Many developers face challenges when dealing with video playback within desktop applications, especially when multiple video files need to be played seamlessly. In this blog post, we’ll walk through the steps and considerations for embedding an FLV player, focusing particularly on managing playlists.

The Challenge: Playing Multiple FLV Files

The primary issue faced by developers is how to not just embed a single FLV file but to create a seamless experience that allows for the playback of multiple videos. Jeroen Wijering’s JW FLV Player is a popular solution for this, but integrating it into a Windows Forms application poses some unique challenges.

Key Points:

  • You might find it easy to play a single .flv file.
  • Handling multiple files requires additional planning, especially if you want to utilize the playlist features offered by the player.

Solution Steps

1. Verify Functionality in a Web Environment

Before diving into the complexities of Windows Forms, it’s essential to confirm that the FLV Player works as desired within a web browser:

  • Test the Player: Go to JW FLV Player and try to create a simple webpage that plays multiple FLV files using playlists.
  • Check Playlist Options: If the player functions correctly, note how playlists are configured.

2. Use a Web Browser Control in Windows Forms

If you’ve confirmed that the player works in a web environment, the next step is to embed it in your Windows Forms application. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Add a Web Browser Control:

    • Open your Windows Forms project in Visual Studio.
    • Drag and drop a WebBrowser control from the toolbox onto your form.

  2. Load HTML with the FLV Player:

    • Create an HTML file that integrates the JW FLV Player and your playlists.
    • Load this HTML file into the WebBrowser control.

    Example HTML code snippet:

    <!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <script src="path/to/swfobject.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
    <div id="player"></div>
    <script>
        swfobject.embedSWF("path/to/jwplayer.swf", "player", "640", "480", "9.0.0");
        var playlist = [
            { file: "video1.flv" },
            { file: "video2.flv" }
        ];
        jwplayer("player").setup({
            playlist: playlist
        });
    </script>
</body>
</html>

3. Troubleshoot with Developers

If testing within a web browser does not yield expected results, consider reaching out to the developers of the JW FLV Player or browsing forums for support.

Summary

Embedding the FLV player into your Windows Forms application can seem challenging, especially when looking to handle multiple video files. However, by first testing in a web browser and utilizing a WebBrowser control, you can effectively integrate a robust solution that leverages the playlist features of the JW FLV Player.

Takeaways:

  • Always test player functionality in its intended environment.
  • Utilize a WebBrowser control to handle HTML content within Windows Forms.
  • Don’t hesitate to seek help from the player’s creators for more complex issues.

With these guidelines, you will be able to implement a functional and user-friendly video playback experience in your application!