LINUX, MAC, UNIX or WINDOWS server running PHP
or ASP.
PHP Version
Tested with PHP version 4.3 on Linux, PHP version 5.1 on Windows XP Professional and PHP version 4.3 on Mac OS X 10.3.9.
ASP Version
Tested on Windows XP Professional with
.NET installed. The ASP code is based on VBscript, so Wimpy "should"
work on earlier version of Windows Servers.
ColdFusion Version
Tested on Windows XP Professional using ColdFusion version 6.1. Currently, Wimpy MP3 Player for ColdFusion is still using Wimpy MP3 Player version 4.1, which does not include a lot of the advanced features. If you plan on using any of the advanced features, it would be best to stick with either the PHP or ASP version.
INSTALLATION
1. Create a new folder named "mp3s" on your website.
Example:
www.yoursite.com/mp3s
2. Upload all the Wimpy files to the new folder on your website.
3. Open a web browser and navigate to the Wimpy Script file.
Example:
www.yoursite.com/mp3s/wimpy.php
NOTE: Depending on the version you are installing, the Wimpy Script file will be either wimpy.php, wimpy.asp or wimpy.cfm
Troubleshooting
If the example.mp3 file does not show up in the playlist, or after accessing the Wimpy Script file all you see is a bunch of code, or a black screen, then your server does not have either PHP, ASP or ColdFusion installed, depending on the type of files you just installed. Try installing a different version. For example, if you installed the PHP demo and it did not work, then try installing the ASP demo.
Some web hosting companies claim to have PHP or ASP installed on their web server, however, PHP and ASP can be configured by the server administrator to prevent certain functions from working. Wimpy takes advantage of certain functions, such as directory reading, in order to automatically display the contents of the installation folder. Contact your hosting provider to see if they can remove the PHP or ASP limitations on your account.
ALTERNATIVES TO PHP, ASP OR ColdFusion
You can use Wimpy without a server-side scripting environment installed on the server by taking advantage of either the XML playlist, JavaScript, or embedded playlist functionality. Although these options are not as convenient, since they will not automatically load files into the playlist, they do offer added control over how the information is presented within the player and/or a higher level of control over the player.
Running Wimpy off of XML Playlists.
You can run wimpy off of an XML playlist rather than PHP, ASP or ColdFusion. To do so you will need to create an XML playlist, then use the Customizer tool to set the "Wimpy Script" to the URL for the XML playlist. Click here to learn more about using XML playlists.
Playing files using JavaScript
You can use JavaScript to load files into Wimpy and also control the player. for more information on using the JavaScript implementation.
Using an "Embedded Playlist"
You can also load and play files by embedding the URL to your mp3 files into the HTML code that displays Wimpy. Use the Customizer tool and enter the URL to your MP3 files into the "Embedded playlist" option. to check out the Customizer tool, scroll down until you see the "Embedded Playlist" option.
CUSTOMIZING WIMPY
To control the look and feel of the player, apply a skin or to control the way the player behaves, use the Customizer tool. to access the Customizer tool. The Customizer tool also allows you to generate HTML code so that you can include Wimpy in any web page on your site.
You can use the HTML code that the Customizer tool outputs by copying and pasting the Wimpy Player HTML code anywhere between the opening <body> and closing </body> tags in your HTML pages.
SKINS Check out the "skins" section at wimpyplayer.com to find a skin that you like. Once you find a skin you like, download the skin package (zip) file to your local hard drive and unzip the package, then upload the skin_name.xml (and any associated graphics) to your web site. Use the Customizer tool to apply the skin.
You can also create your own skin using Skin Machine in order to make the look and feel of Wimpy conform to your web site's design. for more information on creating your own skin and Skin Machine.
INTEGRATING WIMPY
There are a number of integration options available, be sure to check out the at wimpyplayer.com. Some of the additional features include:
HELPFUL TOOLS
There are a variety of "tools" available to help get Wimpy MP3 Player set up and running smoothly on your site.: to visit the tools section for a complete list..
Wimpy Loader
An example of how to load wimpy player into an existing Flash project and allows you to use your own buttons to control the player.
Pop Up Window Maker Create a link to pop up the player into a tightly fitting window -- or automatically open a pop up window when your home page loads.
CMS plugins
Integrate Wimpy MP3 Player into your CMS applications, including , , and .
VERSION HISTORY
5.3.8 March 8, 2006
- fixed bug with loading cover art, where if an invalid URL or graphic is loaded, the cover art functionality would "break"
- Default image no longer over-rides existing cover art or per-track images. This option now encompasses the idea of a background image for the cover art loader, where if a cover art image can not be seen, the background will remain visible.
5.3.1 Feb. 20, 2006
- fixed issue with linefeeds and other white space in XML playlist rendering.
- Included option to stream icecast streams through wimpy
- Included option to limit playback time.
- If wimpyConfigs.xml is in wimpy installation folder wimpy.php/asp will render &wimypConfigs=wimpyConfigs.xml in the default output HTML.
- removed certain options from rendering in the HTMl if the default value is identical.
v5.2.6 Jan.23 2006
- JavaSript: No longer need to include anything for the "wimpyApp / playlist" item
- JavaSript: New function: js_wimpy_loadAndPlay
Pretty much the same thing as js_wimpy_appendPlaylist,
the only thing that is different is that you do not
specify "track" or "playlist");
- Moved "base" field references (filename, artist, title, link, visual) to root so that these items can be set though HTML -- enabling a higher degree of database connectivity.
- Removed Response.codepage and Response.charset from ASP -- this was causing some ASP installations to choke.
- If a wimpyConfigs.xml file is present in the wimpy installation folder, then the default HTML that is created will reference the wimpyConfigs file rather than setting each option to the default value in the output HTML. This minimizes the script code and provides an example for how to use the wimpyConfigs.xml for easy HTML implementation of the wimpyConfigs.xml file.
v5.2.5 Dec. 11, 2005
- You can now "point" wimpy to another folder above or below the public document root. For the PHP version, use the wimpy_dir.php plugin. For the ASP version, edit the variable "startDir" in the wimpy.asp file.
- Set the default background to 60% alpha so that the Customizer tool can set background color.
- Corrected issue with files using an UPPER CASE MP3 extension being listed as a directory.
- Run wimpy off of a configs file. Set wimpy.swf?wimpyConfigs=http://www/path/to/wimpyConfigs.xml
- Added loop playlist options to customizer tool, and config.xml. Options are as follows: off, one, all
- Add https option. Configurable in the wimpy.php or wimpy.asp file.
- Added "block php info" option to PHP by default.
- Fixed bug with mp3 file's cover art not sizing properly if a default coverart file is present, and then an mp3's coverart loads and startplaying on load option is set. The two images loaded to fast, not giving wimpy a chance to reset itself.
- Fixed bug with freaky behavior when clicking stop button. After clicking the stop button, then play button where "click to start" would not go away. Plus after clicking stop, track would not rewind to the beginning, Plus playlist would reset to the first track, but if you clicked play again, the track that was previously loaded would play even though the playlist appears to show that the first item in the play list is selected.
- fixed bug with startOnTrack through wimpyConfigs.xml
- Created a new loading indicator
v5.2.3 Dec.7, 2005
- Fixed issue with certain PHP installations where cover art for individual files did not work properly.
- Added pls and m3u playlist parsing. You can now include a m3u (simple or extended) or pls playlist file in your wimpy folder and it will display in the player's playlist, and when clicked on wimpy will list and play the contents of the m3u or pls playlist.
v5.2 Nov. 22, 2005
- You can now "point" wimpy to another folder above or below the public document root. For the PHP version, use the wimpy_dir.php plugin. For the ASP version, edit the variable "startDir" in the wimpy.asp file.
- Set the default background to 60% alpha so that the Customizer tool can set background color.
- Corrected issue with files using an UPPER CASE MP3 extension being listed as a directory.
- Run wimpy off of a configs file. Set wimpy.swf?wimpyConfigs=http://www/path/to/wimpyConfigs.xml
- Added loop playlist options to customizer tool, and config.xml. Options are as follows: off, one, all
- Add https option. Configurable in the wimpy.php or wimpy.asp file.
- Added "block php info" option to PHP by default.
- Fixed bug with mp3 file's cover art not sizing properly if a default coverart file is present, and then an mp3's coverart loads and startplaying on load option is set. The two images loaded to fast, not giving wimpy a chance to reset itself.
- Fixed bug with freaky behavior when clicking stop button. After clicking the stop button, then play button where "click to start" would not go away. Plus after clicking stop, track would not rewind to the beginning, Plus playlist would reset to the first track, but if you clicked play again, the track that was previously loaded would play even though the playlist appears to show that the first item in the play list is selected.
- Fixed bug with startOnTrack through wimpyConfigs.xml
- Many other bug fixes
v5.1 Sept. 3, 2005
- Many bug fixes
v5.0.16 July. 23, 2005
- Added External JavaScript controller functionality.
- Included additional features into the wimpyLoader, which allow you to create your own buttons and control the player.
- Fixed issue with "default image" option... fixed?
- Created Podcast Amp. A goofy little free tool to browse and listen to Podcasts from your desktop.
v5.0.12 July. 17, 2005
- Fixed bug with one item in a podcast
- Fixed bug with Fake EQ
v5.0.05 June. 29, 2005
- Corrected issue with older version of PHP, where files did not show up in the player (file_get_contents function).
- Corrected MySQL connection scripts.
- Corrected wimpy_podcast.php script.
- Optimized PHP performance.
v5.0.04 June. 27, 2005 New Features:
- Embed playlist into Wimpy Player HTML or JavaScript code.
- Play RSS / XML podcasts natively
- Optional external XML Configuration file
- Use multiple configuration files with a single install.
- Authentication script for the super-paranoid.
- MySQL "existing database" helper scripts
- Play / Pause toggle button
- "Random Playback" has been replaced by "Shuffle Playlist"
- Loop button has three states: Loop Playlist, loop single track and off
- Playlists no longer loop by default
- "First run" installation -- build configuration file immediately after uploading.
- Easy JavaScript "makeWimpyPlayer" for multiple instances on a page.
- Use Wimpy MP3 Player like Wimpy Button.
- Flash 7 compatible
- Resize the player without freaking out the skin.
- Startup logo is just a logo, not including the "wimpy" word.
- Visual link now defined by the "comments" tag in either the ID3 tag or Playlist "comments" tag.
v4.1 - Feb. 27, 2005
- Added optional "vote" button.
- Added "fake" graphic EQ to simulate a graphic EQ.
- Added Playlist scroll up/down buttons.
- Added ability to edit the start up text via Skin Machine.
v4.0.32 - Feb. 13, 2005
- Fixed bug with ecommerce links (again) due to URLs being interpreted improperly.
v4.0.31.1 - Jan. 7, 2005
- Fixed bug with ecommerce links. ID3v1 tags were
taking precedence over ID3v2 tags, which cause the ecommerce
link to truncate at 30 characters in the PHP version.
v 4.0.31 - Dec. 10, 2004
- Added option to stop after each track (only available
through the customizer tool. No button on the player)
- Added "force XML compliance" option so people
can build their own back-end app to connect to the wimpy
front-end.
- Added "default jpg" in the case that there is
not an image in a given folder / per graphic, the player
will default to, well, the default image,rather than maintain
the existing image.
- Fixed bug with demo: scrubber grabber scrolls off screen.
- Fixed bug with demo: long text in info display would over
run into the time.
- Changed the way skin.xml files are handled. Rather than
dropping a skin.cml file into the wimpy folder, one must
enter the http://www/path/to/skin.xml. This allows for using
skins with XML playlists, and is generally much more versatile.
- XML files that have "skin" in the file name are
automatically hidden from wimpy.php/asp.
- Moved the ID3 extraction out of the main script and into
a separate collection of files. Now using getID3() by James
Heinrich as a separate library.
v 4.0.18 - Sept. 17, 2004
- Revamped wimpy so that it can accommodate skins.
- Added support for non-western characters.
- Added option for preventing mp3s from being locally cached
by the end user.
- Added option for ecom window.
- Created Skin Machine so that users can easily customize
the design of the player.
v 3.2 - Sept. 24, 2004
- Added support for non-western characters.
- Added option for preventing mp3s from being locally cached
by the end user.
- Added option for ecom window.
- Fixed bug with loading cover art graphics.
- Brought ASP version up-to-par with the PHP version.
v 4.0.18 beta - Sept. 17, 2004
- Retooled wimpy so that it can be skinable.
- Created Skin Machine so that users can easily create and
modify customized the skins.
v3.05 - August 4, 2004
- Enabled wimpy to be used with a shopping cart system. (Set
the "comments" ID3 tag or the XML "comments"
field to the URL for your shopping cart item.)
- Added auto detect visual capacities. Simply drop an image
named "coverart.jpg/swf" into the root of each mp3
directory/sub-directory. Or if you wan to use an individual
image for each track, drop in a jpg/swf file with the same
name as the mp3
- Added support for the following non-western characters:
^ ~ `
- Fixed volume control "weirdness"
- Fixed "sticky scrubber" and "diamond shift"
- Add the "smart" random so that wimpy "knows"
which tracks have been selected and won't re-play randomly
selected tracks until all track have been played.
- Fixed Upper/mixed case discovery bug
- Fixed the "getMyid3info" bug
- Added support for "force download" for the ASP
version
- Added support for Playlister "save to server"
for the ASP version
v2.0.50 - June 24, 2004
- Re-vamped the MySQL connection scripts.
- Fixed bug with the playlist handle.
- Added the "Loop Current Track" button.
- Fixed weirdo error with Playlister - Some PHP installations
require a "GET" method, others do not.
v2.0.47 - May 25, 2004
- Streamlined the Library within the FLA source to provide
easier editing / skinning.
- Added "Force download"option rather than popping
the track into a "_BLANK" page, PHP will now try
and force the download so the user can save it to their local
machine.
April 2004
- Created Wimpy AV - a derivative of Wimpy that plays video
-primarily the same basic code as Wimpy, but alterations were
necessary to bring the actionscript code up to actionscript
version 2 specs. Wimpy MP3 player still relies on actionscript
version 1 to run properly.
v2.0.33 - March. 8, 2004
- Added support for some non-western characters: ä é
- Added support for MySQL database connectivity
- Create Wimpy for ASP
- Added option to display ID3 information in the playlist
or simply the filename.
v2.0.32 - Feb. 22, 2004
- Retooled Wimpy's actionscript from the ground up. (i.e.
removed the kludge factor)
- Added support for XML playlists
- Created Playlister to assist in building XML playlists.
v 1.8a - Jan 31, 2004
- Customization via HTML.
- Volume control fix for MAC users. (Volume settings were
not carried over to the next song)
v 1.8 - Jan 22, 2004
- Added help pop-ups
- Fixed volume controls. (the volume would revert when the
next song loaded + mute and full volume)
- Changed playlist item "double click action" to
a single click
- Moved preferences into a query string that is passed into
wimpy.swf via HTML.
- Demo in SWF and PHP.
- You can now move the wimpy.swf to another location outside
of your wimpy folder by editing the HTML (rather than editing
the source.fla fie).
v 1.7b - Dec 5, 2003
- redesigned the user interface to make it cooler--more like
itunes.
v 1.7 - Oct. 14, 2003
- added some additional troubleshooting variables... have
been able to get wimpy working with PHP version 4.06 by setting
troubleshoot2 to true.
- added a directory filter, so you can hide particular directories
from wimpy... especially good for people who have ugly front
page directories hanging around.
- added an option in the wimpy.fla so that you can randomly
select the first song to play from the playlist--then the
rest of the songs will play in order.
- moved the customization features to the PHP page for easier
editing
v 1.6 - Aug 19, 2003
- included a download button so that users can download the
source.mp3 file. This feature can be disabled through the
wimpy.fla file by double clicking the wimpy player and on
the "options" layer changing the variable: displayDownloadButton
= true; from true to false.
- PHP revisions to accommodate different version of PHP +
troubleshooting.
v 1.5a - Aug 18, 2003
- PHP revisions only.
- added troubleshooting for legacy PHP version.
- included action to display PHP info (wimp.php?action=phpinfo)
v 1.5 - Aug 2, 2003
- retro fitted the PHP so that it works under earlier versions
of PHP (tested on PHP version 4.0.5. -- thanks to http://www.nilsellis.com
for letting me test on his server).
- Made a new skin that makes wimpy really small.
v 1.4
- removed the capacity to save id3 info to a text file...
too much hassle for the end user, although obtaining the directly
list and mp3 info does require more"resources"
v 1.3c
- fixed idiotic problem with 1.3.b (wimpy was reading any
file other than "txt" and "mp3"). Du.
v 1.3b
- fixed filename issues where the filename contained characters
incomparable with Flash.
v 1.3a
- handle mp3 files that have an image embedded in them.
v 1.3
- playlist now has id3 information
- a text file containing wimpy formatted id3 information is
created for each mp3 file. This increase the speed it takes
to get wimpy going and minimizes the overhead required to
process mp3's numerous times.
- cleaned up the source FLA file so that it is easier to "skin"
- turned wimpy into a movie clip so that you can "copy
and paste" wimpy into your existing FLA project.
v 1.0.6a
- Workin' out the functionality and the bugs.
- Tried out a new layout... based off of www.heavy.com's player
:)
v 1.0
- The first release of the newer version which deviates from
using playlists. Millions of bugs and very ugly code, but
hey it works!
v 0.077 July 14, 2003
- It's feature rich! but functionally poor :(
- Its official, wimpy is a kludge. A broken mess that is impossible
to install. Don't even think about editing the look and feel.
v 0.075 June 21, 2003
- Included the ability to edit the id3 tags of the actual
mp3 file.
- code is starting to get out of hand.
v 0.062 Feb. 25, 2003
- This version works, but has some funky bugs.
- A big clunky player complete with editable playlists
- Still a little buggy
v 0.057 Nov 11, 2002 (the original release)
- Removed a little bit of the ugliness
- Should run with or without "register_globals"=On/Off
(If you've actually read down this far, the least i can do
is provide you with some screen shots of these "museum"
players : )