Trouble With MP3 Links

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 13 Jun 2004 1:05 pm

If you follow the undernoted link you will find a link there to listen to an MP3 of my
Lap Steel Blues arrangement. http://www.houstonsteelman.com/RoyT/page2.htm
It should say " Click Here to hear this MP3"
My wife's computer shows the link but my computer does not???
Can anyone tell me what software I need to
get this link to activate on my computer?
I downloaded the free Shockwave software
but it does not help or solve my problem.
Hope someone can help.
(The player is Windows Media)

Roy[This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 13 June 2004 at 02:08 PM.]

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 13 Jun 2004 8:56 pm

Your HTML looks a little funny. It should link to the mp3 rather than to the page.

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 13 Jun 2004 10:49 pm

Thanks for the post Cal.
Joe McHam administers my site. The Link works
on my wifes computer.You click on the link,
,,,,, like you say it takes you to a new page and the MP3 is there and plays.
My trouble is,,,the link does not show on my computer to allow me to get to the MP3 page?
I am missing something,,a setting,,software,,
don't understand it??

Roy

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http://www.houstonsteelman.com/RoyT/

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 14 Jun 2004 5:34 am

You don't say what computer or OS you and the wife are using, but they handle links different ways. I got your mp3 to play on a Mac an a PC with several different browsers. However, it wouldn't play on a PC with a Firebird browser, although that same browser does play mp3's on other sites.

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 14 Jun 2004 5:56 am

Both of our computers are PC's using Windows 2000.
On mine,like I said previously
the link to the MP3 page is not there ( doesn't show)so I cannot even get to the page to try Mp3.
Many Thanks.
Roy

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http://www.houstonsteelman.com/RoyT/ [This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 14 June 2004 at 06:59 AM.][This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 14 June 2004 at 07:00 AM.][This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 14 June 2004 at 07:01 AM.]

Jeff Agnew · Post by **Jeff Agnew** » 14 Jun 2004 6:06 am

There are several problems with your HTML. Specifically, the link to the MP3 does not follow standard form. Some browsers will display it anyway, others will not.

First, you don't need a target parameter in the "A" tag. It's unnecessary and out of order, which is what is causing some browsers to refuse to show it.

Second, you don't need to embed the MP3 on a separate page. This only works if the user's browser is properly configured to launch MP3s within its own window. Many aren't and will fail. You can make the link on the first page go to the actual MP3 file, as Cal mentioned. This will launch the user's default player on either Windows or Mac. It's a safer and more dependable way.

Finally, just as a matter of style, you could combine the title and the link into a clickable title. No need to describe the MP3 file, then say "Click here".

So, taking the last two items together you could do the following:

Blues For An 8 String LapSteel

One last thing: you'll save yourself a lot of headaches if you'll avoid using spaces in the file names. It's okay in the text of the link itself, as above, but it's tricky in the actual HTML.

If you'd like to use this link, click "Edit" on this post and copy the HTML source, then paste it into your HTML file.

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 14 Jun 2004 7:27 am

Hello Jeff,
You seem to have the answer for my fix.

Very kind of you to offer your suggestions
and recommendations.
They are under advisement.

Roy

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http://www.houstonsteelman.com/RoyT/