Use ltmmConvert to Perform a Simple File Conversion

The ltmmConvert object allows the user to recompress multimedia files or convert from one multimedia format to another.

1.

To begin simple conversion you will first need to create an instance of the ltmmConvert class. This is accomplished using the Win32 CoCreateInstance function as follows:

C Source

IltmmConvert* pConvert;
CoCreateInstance(&CLSID_ltmmConvert, NULL, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, &IID_IltmmConvert, (void**) &pConvert);

C++ Source

IltmmConvert* pConvert; 
CoCreateInstance(CLSID_ltmmConvert, NULL, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, IID_IltmmConvert, (void**) &pConvert);

The function creates an instance of ltmmConvert and returns an IltmmConvert interface pointer. It is through the IltmmConvert interface that the conversion process is controlled.

2.

Define a window to send conversion status messages:

C Source

HWND hwndNotify; 
#define WM_CONVERTNOTIFY (WM_USER + 1000) 

IltmmConvert_SetNotifyWindow (pConvert, (long) hwndNotify, WM_CONVERTNOTIFY);

C++ Source

HWND hwndNotify; 
#define WM_CONVERTNOTIFY (WM_USER + 1000) 

pConvert->SetNotifyWindow ((long) hwndNotify, WM_CONVERTNOTIFY);

 

The above code instructs the convert object to send WM_CONVERTNOTIFY messages to the window procedure for hwndNotify. The wParam parameter of the window message will contain the notification code.

 

Note: A conversion can be accomplished without the use of the notification window, but the user would be required to poll the object’s state to determine when the conversion has finished.

3.

Define the source or input file as demonstrated with the following code:

C Source

BSTR bstr; 

// create a string containing the source file path
bstr = SysAllocString(L"c:\\source.avi"); 

// assign the source file path to the convert object
IltmmConvert_put_SourceFile (pConvert,  bstr); 

// free the string
SysFreeString(bstr);

C++ Source

BSTR bstr; 

// create a string containing the source file path
bstr = SysAllocString(L"c:\\source.avi");

// assign the source file path to the convert object
pConvert->put_SourceFile (bstr); 

// free the string
SysFreeString(bstr);

 

The code above allocates a string containing an AVI file path and assigns the path to the convert object with a call to put_SourceFile.

4.

Define audio and video compressors to be used for the conversion process. If you do not want to change the current compression, then you should just skip this step. The ltmmConvert object contains audio and video compressor Also known as an encoder Also known as compressor, this is a module or algorithm to compress data. Playing that data back requires a decompressor, or decoder., this is a module or algorithm to compress data. Playing that data back requires a decompressor, or decoder Also known as a decompressor, this is a module or algorithm to decompress data.. collection objects. These objects allow the user to enumerate the registered audio and video compressors and to select the compressors to use during the conversion process.

5.

The following code demonstrates how to enumerate the registered audio filters:

C Source

IltmmCompressors* pCompressors; 
long lCount; 
long i; 

// get an interface into audio compressors collection
IltmmConvert_get_AudioCompressors (pConvert, &pCompressors); 

// get the total number of registered compressors
IltmmCompressors_get_Count (pCompressors, &lCount); 

// enumerate all of the compressors
for(i = 0; i < lCount; i++)
{
   IltmmCompressor* pCompressor; 
   BSTR bstrName; 
   BSTR bstrFriendlyName; 
   VARIANT_BOOL fSelected; 

   // get an interface for the ith compressor
   IltmmCompressors_Item (pCompressors, i, &pCompressor); 

   // get the compressor’s "full name" (used to uniquely identify the compressor) 
   IltmmCompressor_get_Name (pCompressor, &bstrName); 

   // get the compressor’s "friendly name"  (used for readable display) 
   IltmmCompressor_get_FriendlyName (pCompressor, &bstrFriendlyName); 

   // query whether the compressor is currently selected
   IltmmCompressor_get_Selected (pCompressor, &fSelected); 

   //
   // add additional code here
   //

   // free strings
   SysFreeString(bstrName); 
   SysFreeString(bstrFriendlyName); 

   // release the compressor interface
   IUnknown_Release(pCompressor); 
}

// release the compressors interface
IUnknown_Release(pCompressors);

C++ Source

IltmmCompressors* pCompressors; 
long lCount; 
long i; 

// get an interface into audio compressors collection
pConvert->get_AudioCompressors (&pCompressors); 

// get the total number of registered compressors
pCompressors->get_Count (&lCount); 

// enumerate all of the compressors
for(i = 0; i < lCount; i++)
{
   IltmmCompressor* pCompressor; 
   BSTR bstrName; 
   BSTR bstrFriendlyName; 
   VARIANT_BOOL fSelected; 

   // get an interface for the ith compressor
   pCompressors->Item (i, &pCompressor); 

   // get the compressor’s "full name" (used to uniquely identify the compressor) 
   pCompressor->get_Name (&bstrName); 

   // get the compressor’s "friendly name"  (used for readable display) 
   pCompressor->get_FriendlyName (&bstrFriendlyName); 

   // query whether the compressor is currently selected
   pCompressor->get_Selected (&fSelected); 

   //
   // add additional code here
   //

   // free strings
   SysFreeString(bstrName); 
   SysFreeString(bstrFriendlyName); 

   // release the compressor interface
   pCompressor->Release();
}

// release the compressors interface
pCompressors->Release();

6.

The registered video compressors can be enumerated with the following code:

C Source

IltmmCompressors* pCompressors; 
long lCount; 
long i; 

// get an interface into video compressors collection
IltmmConvert_get_VideoCompressors (pConvert, &pCompressors); 

// get the total number of registered compressors
IltmmCompressors_get_Count (pCompressors, &lCount); 

// enumerate all of the compressors
for(i = 0; i < lCount; i++)
{
   IltmmCompressor* pCompressor; 
   BSTR bstrName; 
   BSTR bstrFriendlyName; 
   VARIANT_BOOL fSelected; 

   // get an interface for the ith compressor
   IltmmCompressors_Item (pCompressors, i, &pCompressor); 

   // get the compressor’s "full name" (used to uniquely identify the compressor) 
   IltmmCompressor_get_Name (pCompressor, &bstrName); 

   // get the compressor’s "friendly name"  (used for readable display) 
   IltmmCompressor_get_FriendlyName (pCompressor, &bstrFriendlyName); 

   // query whether the compressor is currently selected
   IltmmCompressor_get_Selected (pCompressor, &fSelected); 

   //
   // add additional code here
   //

   // free strings
   SysFreeString(bstrName); 
   SysFreeString(bstrFriendlyName); 

   // release the compressor interface
   IUnknown_Release(pCompressor); 
}

// release the compressors interface
IUnknown_Release(pCompressors);

C++ Source

IltmmCompressors* pCompressors; 
long lCount; 
long i; 

// get an interface into video compressors collection
pConvert->get_VideoCompressors (&pCompressors); 

// get the total number of registered compressors
pCompressors->get_Count (&lCount); 

// enumerate all of the compressors
for(i = 0; i < lCount; i++)
{
   IltmmCompressor* pCompressor; 
   BSTR bstrName; 
   BSTR bstrFriendlyName; 
   VARIANT_BOOL fSelected; 

   // get an interface for the ith compressor
   pCompressors->Item (i, &pCompressor); 

   // get the compressor’s "full name" (used to uniquely identify the compressor) 
   pCompressor->get_Name (&bstrName); 

   // get the compressor’s "friendly name"  (used for readable display) 
   pCompressor->get_FriendlyName (&bstrFriendlyName); 

   // query whether the compressor is currently selected
   pCompressor->get_Selected (&fSelected); 

   //
   // add additional code here
   //

   // free strings
   SysFreeString(bstrName); 
   SysFreeString(bstrFriendlyName); 

   // release the compressor interface
   pCompressor->Release();
}

// release the compressors interface
pCompressors->Release();

 

"font-weight:bold; ">Note: The only difference between enumerating audio and video compressors is the initial collection object retrieved.

7.

An individual compressor can be selected for the conversion process by calling the compressor collection’s put_Selection function:

C Source

IltmmCompressors* pCompressors; 

// get an interface into audio compressors collection
IltmmConvert__get_AudioCompressors(pConvert, &pCompressors); 

// select compressor
IltmmCompressors__put_Selection (pCompressors, 10); 

// release collection
IUnknown_Release(pCompressors);

C++ Source

IltmmCompressors* pCompressors; 

// get an interface into audio compressors collection
pConvert->get_AudioCompressors (&pCompressors); 

// select compressor
pCompressors->put_Selection (10); 

// release collection
pCompressors->Release();

The previous code selects the 10th compressor to be used for the conversion. You can also deselect any compressor by passing a –1 as the item index.

8.

Define the target or output file. As demonstrated with the following code:

C Source

BSTR bstr; 

// create a string containing the target file path
bstr = SysAllocString(L"c:\\target.avi"); 

// assign the target file path to the convert object
IltmmConvert__put_TargetFile(pConvert,  bstr); 

// free the string
SysFreeString(bstr);

C++ Source

BSTR bstr; 

// create a string containing the target file path
bstr = SysAllocString(L"c:\\target.avi"); 

// assign the target file path to the convert object
pConvert->put_TargetFile (bstr); 

// free the string
SysFreeString(bstr);

 

The code above allocates a string containing an AVI file path and assigns the path to the convert object with a call to put_TargetFile.

9.

Optionally, you may decide that you would like to generate an WMV, WAV, or MP3 output file. For information about Windows Media Support, click here. You can change the target format The format to be used for the converted file. This includes the file format, any special settings used by that format, and which audio and/or video codec A COmpressor combined with a DECompressor, or encoder and a decoder, which allows you to both compress and decompress that same data. is to be used for the conversion, and any special settings used by the codecs. with the following code:

C Source

// set the output format to WAVE audio
IltmmConvert_put_TargetFormat (pConvert, ltmmConvert_TargetFormat_WAVE);

C++ Source

// set the output format to WAVE audio
pConvert->put_TargetFormat (ltmmConvert_TargetFormat_WAVE);

 

Some formats require specific compressors. For example, ltmmConvert_TargetFormat_Asf requires that you don’t select any additional compressors and ltmmConvert_TargetFormat_MPEG1Audio requires that you select a MPEG (MP3) audio compressor.

10.

You can now, optionally, set compressor and format properties using the ShowDialog function:

C Source

HWND hwndMain; 

// audio compression properties
IltmmConvert_ShowDialog (pConvert, ltmmConvert_Dlg_AudioCompressor, (long) hwndMain); 

// video compression properties
IltmmConvert_ShowDialog(pConvert, ltmmConvert_Dlg_VideoCompressor, (long) hwndMain); 

// target format properties
IltmmConvert_ShowDialog(pConvert, ltmmConvert_Dlg_TargetFormat, (long) hwndMain);

C++ Source

HWND hwndMain; 

// audio compression properties
pConvert->ShowDialog (ltmmConvert_Dlg_AudioCompressor, (long) hwndMain); 

// video compression properties
pConvert->ShowDialog(ltmmConvert_Dlg_VideoCompressor, (long) hwndMain); 

// target format properties
pConvert->ShowDialog (ltmmConvert_Dlg_TargetFormat, (long) hwndMain);

 

You can test for the existence of any dialog with the HasDialog function.

11.

You are now ready to start the conversion. This is accomplished with the following code:

C Source

IltmmConvert_StartConvert (pConvert);

C++ Source

pConvert->StartConvert ();

12.

The notification window will be sent messages indicating the current conversion progress:

LRESULT ConvertWndProc(HWND hwnd, UINT msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam) 
{
   if(msg == WM_CONVERTNOTIFY) 
   {
      switch(wParam) 
      {   
case ltmmConvert_Notify_Started: 
   // conversion started
   break; 
      case ltmmConvert_Notify_Complete: 
         // conversion successfully completed
         break; 
      case ltmmConvert_Notify_ErrorAbort: 
         // a conversion error occurred
         // the error code is contained in lParam
         break; 
      case ltmmConvert_Notify_UserAbort: 
         // the StopConvert function was called
break; 
      case ltmmConvert_Notify_Progress: 
         // the current completion percentage is in lParam
         break; 
      }
   }
   return 0; 
}