HTML+TIME 2.0 Reference

Internet Development Index

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HTML+TIME (Timed Interactive Multimedia Extensions), first released in Microsoft?Internet Explorer 5, adds timing and media synchronization support to HTML pages. Using a few Extensible Markup Language (XML)-based elements and attributes, you can add images, video, and sounds to an HTML page, then synchronize them with HTML text elements over a specified amount of time.

Thus, HTML+TIME technology allows you to create multimedia-rich, interactive content on a Web page with little or no scripting. Because HTML+TIME adds timing to a document through new attributes on existing HTML elements, you can leverage your existing HTML knowledge when you add timing to a page. The HTML+TIME attributes specify when an element appears on a page, how long it remains displayed, and how the surrounding HTML elements are affected, allowing you to create animation effects. In addition to the attributes, some new XML-based elements have been created to simplify the incorporation of media into Web pages.

The topic areas listed below provide access to the object model exposed by the time2 behavior.

HTML+TIME References by Topic

Animation	Introduction to HTML+TIME allows Web authors to animate content on the page by changing the value of particular attributes and properties over time. Without using script, you can animate an element's color; move an element along a specific path or between intervals; cause elements to appear or disappear over time or in response to events; or accelerate, reverse, or loop an animation.
Microsoft DirectMusic?/A>	Authors can add sophisticated musical content to Web pages by combining the timeline control and synchronization offered by Introduction to HTML+TIME with some of the attributes and properties provided by the DirectMusic application programming interface (API). DirectMusic provides support for MIDI, downloadable sounds, and consistent playback on the Microsoft Windows?platform.
Media	Introduction to HTML+TIME provides extensive support for media playback through media container elements, a unified timeline model, a variety of media-specific attributes and properties, and system test attributes. These features make it simpler for Web authors to provide tightly synchronized multimedia presentations, and to coordinate media and animation without using script.
Time Containers	By providing a timing model that unifies a rigid timeline with event-based timing relationships, Introduction to HTML+TIME makes it easy to synchronize media elements, control animations, and add timed, interactive content to a Web page without using script.
Transitions	Introduction to HTML+TIME provides support for Introduction to Filters and Transitions, which allow you to apply multimedia-style effects to your Web pages. Visual filters are extensions to CSS properties that change the display of an object's contents. Transitions are time-varying filters: they affect the way content changes in an object are displayed. You can apply visual filters and transitions to standard HTML controls, such as text containers, images, and other windowless objects. Although filters and transitions can be implemented as script, Introduction to HTML+TIME allows Web authors to combine filters and transitions with timeline control and animation without using script.
Other Features	These links provide access to additional features of the object model exposed by the time2 behavior, including content control elements, system test attributes, timing attributes and properties, and several overviews on Introduction to HTML+TIME functionality.

HTML+TIME Overviews and Articles

Introduction to HTML+TIME	HTML+TIME, first released in Internet Explorer 5, adds timing and media synchronization support to HTML pages. Using a few XML-based elements and attributes, you can add images, video, and sounds to an HTML page, and synchronize them with HTML text elements over a specified amount of time.
Basics of HTML+TIME Animation	This article introduces you to the basics of HTML+TIME animation, so that you can create an exciting Web experience for your users.
Controlling Child Elements Using HTML+TIME: Time Containers	HTML+TIME?.0 comes equipped with three time containers that enable you to control how timed interactive child elements behave on your Web pages. These time containers enforce time relationships with their corresponding child elements, control the amount of time that children may be active, and define the relationships among a set of grouped child elements.
About Content Selection: System Test Attributes and t:SWITCH	HTML+TIME 2.0 provides authors with the option to display different elements based on system settings.
Incorporate the time2 Behavior	This tutorial explains how to incorporate the time2 behavior in your Web pages so you can begin using timelines, multimedia, and animation with HTML elements.
Initiating Timed Elements with the begin Attribute	This overview provides you with the syntax for the begin attribute and describes how to initiate timed interactive HTML+TIME elements using the time2 behavior implemented in Internet Explorer 5.5.
Getting Started with HTML+TIME	HTML+TIME enables you to support timed, animated, and multimedia content in your pages. Using a few XML-based elements and attributes, you can synchronize media playback with text and other elements and animate content in your Web pages without using script.
Spice Up Your Web Pages with HTML+TIME	HTML+TIME provides a declarative means for adding multimedia and interactivity to Web pages. You don't need to know script to use HTML+TIME, so you can focus on creating the content instead of learning a programming language.
Using HTML+TIME Transitions	It is now possible to create transitions with HTML+TIME quickly, without writing script. Internet Explorer 6 implements the inline transitions module of the SMIL 2.0 Transition Effects Modules  through the time2 behavior of HTML+TIME. To get started, you need only learn one new HTML+TIME element called t:TRANSITIONFILTER and a few of the t:TRANSITIONFILTER attributes.

HTML+TIME References by Name

Members Table

The following table lists the members exposed by the HTML+TIME 2.0 Reference object. Click a tab on the left to choose the type of member you want to view.

Attributes/Properties

Attribute	Property	Description
	abstract	Retrieves a description of the media file.
	abstract	Retrieves a description of the media file if available.
	Abstract	Retrieves the Abstract content of the entry banner in an Advanced Stream Redirector (ASX) file using the event object.
ACCELERATE	accelerate	Sets or retrieves a value that applies an acceleration to an element's timeline.
ACCUMULATE	accumulate	Sets or retrieves a value that indicates whether the animation is cumulative.
	activeDur	Retrieves the total duration of the timeline.
	activeTime	Retrieves the current point in time along the total active timeline, including repeats and time spent in reverse mode.
	activeTrack	Sets or retrieves the track, or playItem object, that is currently active in the playList collection.
ADDITIVE	additive	Sets or retrieves a value that indicates whether the animation is additive with other animations.
ATTRIBUTENAME	attributeName	Sets or retrieves the name of the element's attribute to be animated.
	author	Retrieves the name of the media file's author.
	author	Retrieves the name of the media file's author if available.
AUTOREVERSE	autoReverse	Sets or retrieves whether the timeline on an element begins playing in reverse immediately after completing in the forward direction.
	Banner	Retrieves the Banner content of an entry in an ASX file using the event object.
	Banner	Retrieves the Banner content of an entry in an ASX file.
	BannerAbstract	Retrieves the BannerAbstract content of an entry in an ASX file.
	BannerMoreInfo	Retrieves the BannerMoreInfo content of an entry in an ASX file.
BEGIN	begin	Sets or retrieves the delay time before the timeline begins playing on the element.
boundary		Sets when music should begin to play by using DirectMusic.
	bufferingProgress	Retrieves a value that indicates the current percentage of buffering completed.
	bufferingProgress	Retrieves a value that indicates the current percentage of buffering completed.
BY	by	Sets or retrieves a relative offset value for an animation.
BY	by	Specifies a relative offset value for the progress of the transitionFilter.
BY	by	Sets or retrieves a relative offset value by which to animate a color attribute or property with the t:ANIMATECOLOR element.
CALCMODE	calcMode	Sets or retrieves the interpolation mode for the animation.
CALCMODE	calcMode	Sets or retrieves the interpolation mode for the progress of the transitionFilter.
CALCMODE	calcMode	Sets or retrieves the interpolation mode for the animateMotion object.
CALCMODE	calcMode	Sets or retrieves the interpolation mode for a t:ANIMATECOLOR element.
	canPause	Retrieves a value that indicates whether the media file can be paused.
	canPause	Retrieves a value that indicates whether the media file can be paused.
	canSeek	Retrieves a value that indicates whether the media file is capable of locating a specific time in the media's duration.
	canSeek	Retrieves a value that indicates whether the media file is capable of locating a specific time in the media's duration.
CLIPBEGIN	clipBegin	Sets or retrieves the beginning point of a sub-clip of a continuous media object.
	clipBegin	Sets or retrieves the beginning point of a sub-clip of a continuous media object.
	clipDur	Outputs the effective media duration.
CLIPEND	clipEnd	Sets or retrieves the end point of a sub-clip of a continuous media object.
	clipEnd	Sets or retrieves the end point of a sub-clip of a continuous media object.
	copyright	Retrieves the copyright information associated with a media file.
	copyright	Retrieves the copyright information associated with a media file.
	currentFrame	Retrieves a value that indicates the currentFrame of the object.
	currTime	Retrieves the current playback time of the player.
	customObject	Allows the player to pass in a dispatch that implements the custom object model. This interface can be passed out to script.
DECELERATE	decelerate	Sets or retrieves a value that applies a deceleration to the end of a simple duration.
	downloadCurrent	Retrieves a value that indicates the current number of bytes downloaded from streaming content.
	downloadProgress	Retrieves the downloading progress of the media.
	downloadTotal	Retrieves a value that indicates the total size of the file (in bytes) downloaded.
DUR	dur	Sets or retrieves a value indicating the amount of time the element remains active or displayed.
DUR	dur	Sets or retrieves a value indicating the amount of time a transition is applied to an element.
END	end	Sets or retrieves a value indicating the end time for the element, or the end of the simple duration when the element is set to repeat.
ENDSYNC	endSync	Sets or retrieves the synchronization rule that specifies which child element is used to determine when the time container will end.
FILL	fill	Sets or retrieves the action an element takes if its timeline ends before the timeline on its parent element ends.
FROM	from	Sets or retrieves the starting value of an animation.
FROM	from	Sets or retrieves a progress value indicating the point from which to begin the transition.
FROM	from	Sets or retrieves the starting value of a color attribute or property animated by t:ANIMATECOLOR.
	hasAudio	Retrieves a Boolean value that indicates whether the media contains audio.
	hasAudio	Retrieves a Boolean value that indicates whether the media contains audio.
	hasDownloadProgress	Retrieves a Boolean value that indicates whether a media file has begun to download.
	hasDownloadProgress	Retrieves a Boolean value that indicates whether a media file has begun to download.
	hasMedia	Retrieves a Boolean value that indicates whether the element is an Introduction to HTML+TIME media element.
	hasPlayList	Retrieves a Boolean value that indicates whether the element has a playList collection.
	hasVisual	Retrieves a Boolean value that indicates whether the element can draw on the screen.
	hasVisual	Retrieves a Boolean value that indicates whether the element can draw on the screen.
higher	higher	Controls how elements with higher priority interrupt child elements of a priorityClass element.
immediateEnd		Sets a value that indicates whether a DirectMusic segment ends immediately or plays a transition before ending.
	index	Retrieves the index value of the playItem object in the playList collection.
	isActive	Retrieves a value that indicates whether the element is currently active on the timeline.
	isBuffered	Retrieves whether the media can be buffered.
	isDirectMusicInstalled	Retrieves a Boolean value that indicates whether DirectMusic is installed on the machine.
	isMuted	Retrieves a value indicating whether the element's audio is currently muted.
	isOn	Retrieves a value that specifies whether the element is active or holding on the timeline in its current state.
	isPaused	Retrieves a value that specifies whether the element is paused on the timeline.
	isStreamed	Retrieves a Boolean value that indicates if the source of the media object is streamed.
KEYSPLINES	keySplines	Sets or retrieves a set of Bezier control points that define the interval pacing of an animation.
KEYTIMES	keyTimes	Sets or retrieves a list of time values used to control the pacing of an animation.
	latestMediaTime	Retrieves a value that indicates the amount of time it takes for a media object to begin playing.
	length	Retrieves the number of objects in a collection.
longTransition		Sets whether to allow introduction and ending transitions longer than one bar with DirectMusic.
lower	lower	Controls how elements that are defined with lower priority interrupt child elements of a priorityClass element.
	mediaDur	Retrieves the duration of the element's media file.
	mediaDur	Retrieves the duration of the element's media file.
	mediaHeight	Retrieves the height of the element.
	mediaHeight	Retrieves the rendering height of the media.
	mediaWidth	Retrieves the width of the element.
	mediaWidth	Retrieves the rendering width of the media.
	mimeType	Retrieves the MIME content-type of the object.
MODE	mode	Sets or retrieves a variable that indicates whether an element transitions in or out.
modulate		Sets whether to attempt to modulate between keys when playing transitions with DirectMusic.
	MoreInfo	Retrieves the MoreInfo content of an entry banner in an ASX file through the event object.
motifName		Sets the name of the DirectMusic motif to play.
MUTE	mute	Sets or retrieves a value that indicates whether the audio is turned on or off.
	mute	Sets or retrieves a value that indicates whether the audio is turned on or off.
ORIGIN	origin	Sets or retrieves the origin of motion for the animation.
	parentTimeBegin	Retrieves the current element's begin time as an offset from the parent element's begin time.
	parentTimeEnd	Retrieves the current element's end time as an offset from the parent element's begin time.
PATH	path	Sets or retrieves a set of values that describe a path as a function of time.
peers	peers	Controls how child elements of a priorityClass element interrupt one another.
PLAYER	player	Sets or retrieves the object used to render the media associated with this element.
	playerObject	Retrieves the object that plays media files.
	playList	Retrieves playlist information if the player supports play lists.
	progress	Retrieves the current progress of the element's timeline.
	rating	Retrieves the rating of the media file.
	rating	Retrieves the rating of the media file.
	repeatCount	Retrieves the current iteration in the repetition loop.
REPEATCOUNT	repeatCount	Sets or retrieves the number of times an element's timeline repeats.
REPEATDUR	repeatDur	Sets or retrieves the number of seconds that an element's timeline repeats.
RESTART	restart	Sets or retrieves the conditions under which an element can be restarted on a timeline.
	segmentDur	Retrieves the duration of an element on a timeline in seconds, including autoReverse.
	segmentTime	Retrieves the current point in time along a segment of time.
segmentType		Sets whether to play a DirectMusic segment as a controlling or secondary segment.
	simpleDur	Retrieves the duration of a repeat iteration.
	simpleTime	Retrieves an object's current point along its timeline from zero to its dur value.
SPEED	speed	Sets or retrieves the playback speed of an element relative to its parent time container.
	speed	Retrieves the playback speed of an element at run time, which includes the cascading effect of the speed set for the parent time container.
SRC	src	Sets or retrieves the source URL of the media.
	src	Sets or retrieves the source URL of the media.
	state	Retrieves the current state of the element's timeline.
	state	Retrieves the current state of the media's timeline.
	stateString	Retrieves the current state of the element's timeline.
SUBTYPE	subtype	Sets or retrieves the name of the subtype that will be applied to the transition.
SYNCBEHAVIOR	syncBehavior	Sets or retrieves a value that indicates the synchronization rules for the element's timeline.
SYNCMASTER	syncMaster	Sets or retrieves whether the time container must synchronize playback to this element.
	syncTolerance	Sets or retrieves the time variance allowed on a timeline with locked synchronization.
systemBitrate		Retrieves the approximate bandwidth available to the system in bits-per-second.
systemCaptions		Indicates whether or not to display a text equivalent of the audio portion of the presentation.
systemLanguage		Indicates whether a given language is selected in a user's system preferences.
systemOverdubOrSubtitle		Specifies whether overdubs or subtitles render during a presentation.
TARGETELEMENT	targetElement	Sets or retrieves the target element to be animated.
TIMEACTION	timeAction	Sets or retrieves what action is taken on the element while the timeline is active.
TIMECONTAINER	timeContainer	Sets or retrieves the type of timeline associated with an element.
	timeElement	Used by the control to retrieve the time node
	timeParent	Retrieves the parent time container element of the current element.
	timeState	Used by the control to retrieve the time state.
	title	Retrieves the title of the media file.
	title	Retrieves the title of the media file.
TO	to	Sets or retrieves the ending value of an animation.
TO	to	Sets or retrieves a value that indicates the point in the transition's progress at which the transition ends.
TO	to	Sets or retrieves the ending value of a color attribute or property animated by t:ANIMATECOLOR
TRANSITIONTYPE		Sets or retrieves the type of DirectMusic transition to use between segments.
TYPE	type	Sets or retrieves the MIME type of the media object referenced by the SRC attribute.
TYPE	type	Sets or retrieves the type of transition to be applied.
UPDATEMODE	updateMode	Specifies or retrieves a value that indicates how the object is to be updated.
	URL	Retrieves the URL specified by the Advanced Streaming Format (ASF) file script command after the onURLFlip event is fired.
VALUES	values	Sets or retrieves a list of semicolon-separated values of an animation.
VALUES	values	Sets or retrieves a semicolon-separated list of one or more values specifying the progress of the transition.
VALUES	values	Sets or retrieves a list of semicolon-delimited RGB color values for a t:ANIMATECOLOR element.
VOLUME	volume	Sets or retrieves the volume of the media file.
	volume	Retrieves the playback volume of an element at run time.
	volume	Sets or retrieves the volume of the media file.

Collections

Collection	Description
activeElements	Returns a reference to the collection of all top-level child elements of the object that are currently active on the timeline.
playList	Retrieves a collection of playItem objects.
timeAll	Retrieves a reference to the collection of all timed elements.
timeChildren	Retrieves a reference to the collection of all timed, top-level children elements.

Elements/Objects

Element	Object	Description
t:ANIMATE	animate	Animates a specified attribute of an object.
t:ANIMATECOLOR	animateColor	Changes the color of an object over time.
t:ANIMATEMOTION	animateMotion	Animates the position of an element over time.
t:ANIMATION	animation	Defines a timed animation element in an HTML document.
t:AUDIO	audio	Defines a timed audio element in an HTML document.
	currTimeState	Contains information about an HTML+TIME timeline.
t:EXCL	excl	Defines a time container that allows only one child element to play at any given time.
t:IMG	img	Defines a timed image element in an HTML document.
t:MEDIA	media	Defines a generic, timed media element in an HTML document.
t:PAR	par	Defines a new timeline container in an HTML document for independently timed elements.
	playItem	Represents an individual media file in a playList collection.
t:PRIORITYCLASS	priorityClass	Defines a group of excl children and the pause/interrupt behavior of the children.
t:REF	ref	Defines a reference to a generic timed element in an HTML document.
t:SEQ	seq	Defines a new timeline container in an HTML document for sequentially timed elements.
t:SET	set	Sets the value of an object's attribute for a specified duration.
t:SWITCH	switch	Enables you to provide several choices and display content depending on which choice is true on the user's computer.
t:TRANSITIONFILTER	transitionFilter	Animates the progress of a transition on an element or elements with renderable content.
t:VIDEO	video	Defines a timed video element in an HTML document.

Events

Event	Description
onbegin	Fires when the timeline starts on an element.
onend	Fires when the timeline stops on an element.
onmediacomplete	Fires when the element's associated media finish loading.
onmediaerror	Fires when an element's media file causes any error.
onoutofsync	Fires when the element loses synchronization with its associated timeline.
onpause	Fires when the timeline on an element pauses.
onrepeat	Fires when the timeline repeats on an element, beginning with the second iteration.
onreset	Fires when the timeline reaches the value of the BEGIN attribute or when the resetElement method is called on the element.
onresume	Fires when an element's timeline resumes from a paused state.
onreverse	Fires when the timeline on an element begins to play backward.
onseek	Fires whenever a seek operation is performed on the element.
onsyncrestored	Fires when synchronization is resumed between the element and its associated timeline.
ontimeerror	Fires whenever a time-specific error occurs, usually as a result of setting a property to an invalid value.
ontrackchange	The event fires when a track changes in a playList defined in an ASX file.
onURLFlip	This event fires when an ASF file, played by a HTML+TIME?A HREF="elements/media.html">media tag, processes script commands embedded in the ASF file.

Methods

Method	Description
activeTimeToParentTime	Converts a value in the element's active timeline to the corresponding point in the parent timeline.
activeTimeToSegmentTime	Converts a value in the element's active timeline to the corresponding point in the segment timeline.
begin	Begins playback on the player.
beginElement	Starts the element on the timeline.
beginElementAt	Starts an element's timeline at the specified time.
Detach	Used by the host to control player lifetime.
documentTimeToParentTime	Converts a value in the document timeline to the corresponding point in the element's parent timeline.
end	Ends the progression of the media.
endElement	Stops the element on the timeline.
endElementAt	Ends an element's timeline at the specified time.
getControl	Retrieves IUnknown control.
Init	Used by the host to control player lifetime.
item	Retrieves an object from the specified collection.
nextElement	Advances the timeline so that the next element in the sequence begins playing.
nextTrack	Advances the media-playing container to the next track, or playItem object, in the playList collection, and begins playing that track.
parentTimeToActiveTime	Converts a value in the parent timeline to the corresponding point in the element's active timeline.
parentTimeToDocumentTime	Converts a value in the element's parent timeline to the corresponding point in the document timeline.
pause	Pauses playback on the player.
pauseElement	Stops playing an element's timeline at the current point.
prevElement	Resets the timeline so that the previous element in the sequence begins playing.
prevTrack	Sets the media-playing container to the previous track, or playItem object, in the playList collection and begins playing that track.
repeat	Player repeats playback.
reportError	Used by the control to report errors.
reset	The HTML+TIME host calls reset when it's time state has completely changed and the control needs to adjust it's internal state to match that of the HTML+TIME host.
resetElement	Removes any changes made to the element and returns the element to its original state.
resume	Resumes playback of media.
resumeElement	Restarts the element's timeline from a paused state.
seek	Seek to a specified point of media playback.
seekActiveTime	Locates a specified point on the element's active timeline and begins playing from that point.
seekSegmentTime	Locates the specified point on the element's segment timeline, and begins playing from that point.
seekTo	Locates a specified point on the element's segment timeline, including repetitions, and begins playing from that point.
seekToFrame	Locates a specified frame in the object.
segmentTimeToActiveTime	Converts a value in the element's segment timeline to the corresponding point in the element's active timeline.
segmentTimeToSimpleTime	Converts a value in the element's segment timeline to the corresponding point in the element's simple timeline.
setActive	Sets the playItem object as the active track in the playList collection, which causes the track to play.
simpleTimeToSegmentTime	Converts a value in the element's simple timeline to the corresponding point in the element's segment timeline.