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Creating a Windows Media Download Package (deprecated)

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[The feature associated with this page, Windows Media Player SDK, is a legacy feature. It has been superseded by MediaPlayer. MediaPlayer has been optimized for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft strongly recommends that new code use MediaPlayer instead of Windows Media Player SDK, when possible. Microsoft suggests that existing code that uses the legacy APIs be rewritten to use the new APIs if possible.]

This page documents a feature that may be unavailable in future versions of Windows Media Player and the Windows Media Player SDK.

Follow these steps to create a Windows Media Download package.

  1. Create a border. Use the same techniques you would use to build a skin for Windows Media Player. Design the border so that resizing Windows Media Player will not ruin the composition of the border elements. For instance, use a solid color or visualization as a background because these will scale well as Windows Media Player is resized.
  2. Compress the border contents. Create a compressed folder (with a .zip file name extension) that contains the border files: images, JScript files, and the skin definition file with a .wms file name extension. Rename the compressed file so that it has a .wmz file name extension.
  3. Write a Windows Media metafile. Windows Media Player will not load the border unless you create a Windows Media metafile with an .asx file name extension that implements the SKIN element. The metafile can also be used to create a playlist that describes the content included in the package.
  4. Assemble your content. Put all the files that you want to use into a folder. This includes audio files, video files, metafiles, and border definition files.
  5. Create the package. Create a compressed folder (with a .zip file name extension) that contains the border file, content files, and the metafile. Change the file name extension of this .zip file to a .wmd file name extension.
  6. Post the package to a website. The completed package is ready to be posted to a website and downloaded by users.

Windows Media Download Packages (deprecated)