Using RealPlayer Plus

Your RealPlayer Plus has several powerful features that allow you to make the most of the Internet.

Starting a Clip
Pausing a Clip
Stopping a Clip
PerfectPlay Mode
Muting a Clip
Recording a Clip
Changing the Size of the Player Window
Changing the Size of the Image Area
Setting a Preset Button
Selecting a Preset Button
Scanning RealMedia Content
Setting Destination Buttons

Starting a Clip

There are several ways to start a RealMedia clip. Do one of the following:

• Click a RealMedia link on a World Wide Web page. Your World Wide Web browser opens RealPlayer Plus and the clip is streamed to RealPlayer Plus immediately. After storing a few seconds of the clip (buffering), the clip begins.
  
• Access a World Wide Web site or select an action (click a link, open an html page) that automatically plays a clip. Your World Wide Web browser opens RealPlayer Plus and the clip is streamed to RealPlayer Plus immediately. After storing a few seconds of the clip (buffering), the clip begins.
  
• Click one of the Preset buttons, or the button on RealPlayer Plus. The clip is streamed to RealPlayer Plus immediately. After storing a few seconds of the clip (buffering), the clip begins.
  
• Click Open File or Open Location on the File menu on RealPlayer Plus. For more information, refer to File Menu.

Pausing a Clip

You can pause a clip while it is playing. If you pause a clip but do not resume playing after several minutes, the Server may terminate your connection. The length of time you can pause a clip without your connection terminating depends on the particular Server.

• Click the button. This pauses the clip. If you want to resume the clip at the same point it was paused, click the button.
  

Stopping a Clip

You can stop a clip while it is playing.

• Click the button. The clip stops playing. To play the clip again from the beginning, click the button.
  

Playing Clips in PerfectPlay Mode

PerfectPlay mode enables you to improve the playback quality by increasing the amount of the clip that is streamed to RealPlayer Plus before the clip begins playing. The time it takes to buffer the clip will be slightly longer, but playback quality, especially with 14.4 and 28.8 Kbps modems, should be improved.

You cannot use PerfectPlay mode with a live stream.

• Select PerfectPlay Mode from the File menu. Return to Regular mode by selecting this option again.

Note: Content providers may control whether PerfectPlay mode is available for a specific clip.

Muting a Clip

You can mute a clip while it is playing. The clip continues to play but does not play the audio.

• Click the button. To hear the audio, click the button again.
  

Recording a Clip

You can record your favorite RealMedia clips for later playback from your computer. Keep in mind that not all content can be recorded. Content Providers control whether or not you may record a clip.

Note: If you attempt to record a clip that has this feature disabled, the icon appears in the Status bar of RealPlayer Plus.

To start recording a clip during playback:

1. Click the button. A Save As dialog box appears.
2. Select the filename and location on your computer where you want to save the file.
3. Click the OK button when you have finished entering the information. RealPlayer Plus begins recording.
4. While RealPlayer Plus is recording, the icon appears in the Status Bar of RealPlayer Plus.
   

Some RealMedia clips are several files played one after the other. If you chose to save a clip that is a compilation of several clips, a new Save As dialog box appears at the beginning of each new clip.

Note: Content providers control whether or not you may record a clip. If you attempt to record a clip that has this feature disabled, the icon appears in the Status bar of RealPlayer Plus.

To set up recording a clip prior to playback:

1. Click the button.
2. Open the clip. A Save As dialog box appears.
3. Select the filename and location on your computer where you want to save the file.
4. Click the OK button when you have finished entering the information. RealPlayer Plus begins recording and playing the selected clip. While the clip is recording, the icon appears in the Status Bar of RealPlayer Plus.

Some RealMedia clips are several files played one after the other. If you chose to save a clip that is a compilation of several clips, a new Save As dialog box appears at the beginning of each new clip.

Note: Content providers control whether or not you may record a clip. If you attempt to record a clip that has this feature disabled, the icon appears in the Status Bar of RealPlayer Plus.

To stop recording:

• Click the button. RealPlayer Plus stops recording, but the clip continues to play.
  

To play a clip you recorded:

1. Select Open File from the File menu.
2. Select the .ra, .rm, or .ram file you recorded. RealPlayer Plus plays the file.
   

Changing the Size of the RealPlayer Plus Window

Do one of the following:

• Click the button to display the RealPlayer Plus in Compact view. This view displays a subset of buttons, a smaller status bar and the image window (if not playing an audio-only clip).
  
• From the View menu, select the appropriate option to modify the size of the RealPlayer Plus window.
  • Normal displays all the controls and buttons.
  • Compact displays a select group of buttons:

• Auto-Size looks like Compact when playing an audio-only clip or when the cursor is over the window. For non audio-only clips, only an image window is displayed when the cursor is not over the window.

If the video or RealFlash clip won’t fit on your RealPlayer screen using the current settings, RealPlayer will ask if you would like your settings changed automatically.

Change Current Settings Window

• Select Yes if you want RealPlayer to automatically change your settings.
• Select No if you don’t want RealPlayer to automatically change your settings.
• If you want RealPlayer to always resize in this situation, select Please don’t ask me again, and then select Yes.
• If you don’t want RealPlayer to offer this option, select Please don’t ask me again, and then select No.
  

Changing the Size of the Image Area

You can enlarge the size of a video or RealFlash clip image to double size. In addition, you can enlarge the size of a video clip image to full screen size (Windows 95 and NT only). However, these features increase the processing time required for playback. If your playback quality decreases or if your machine seems overloaded, you should return the clip image back to original size.

Note: In order to use the Full Screen feature, you must have Microsoft DirectX Tools with DirectDraw, and recent video drivers, installed on your machine. For information on downloading and installing the most recent version from Microsoft’s web site, refer to Troubleshooting, or select Full Screen Help from the RealPlayer Help menu.

Before you can use the Full Screen feature, the Player will ask you to run a short test to see if your DirectX and video drivers are functioning properly. The test involves switching into Full Screen mode for 5 seconds. Then, you are asked to confirm whether you saw the RealPlayer logo in Full Screen mode. If yes, then the Player resumes the clip, switches to Full Screen mode, and you will not be asked to run the test in the future. If no, then you are asked if you would like to refer to RealNetworks’ Full Screen and DirectDraw information page.

To increase the image area to double size:

1. Click the button.
2. Select the Double Size option from the menu.

To return to original size from double size:

1. Click the button.
2. Select the Original Size option.

Note: If you are running RealPlayer with Windows 3.1 or Macintosh, simply click the button to double the image area. Click it again to return the video clip to original size.

To increase the image area for video clips to full screen (Windows 95 and NT only):

1. Click the button.
2. Select the Full Screen option from the menu. The image will cover your screen entirely. Click anywhere on the screen to return to original size.

Setting a Preset Button

Preset buttons allow you to quickly jump to a RealMedia Internet address, much like the buttons on a radio jump to preset radio stations.

To set a Preset button to the clip currently being played:

1. In the RealPlayer window, right-click the Preset button you want to set to the current clip and select Set Preset to (current clip).
2. Type in a Preset Label for the Preset button and click OK.

To set a Preset button manually:

1. Choose the Preferences option from the View menu.
2. Choose the Presets tab.
3. Type in the full URL (Internet address) of the site for the Preset button.
4. You can also enter text for the Label of the Preset button.

To clear a Preset button:

• In the RealPlayer window, right-click the Preset button you want to clear and select Clear Preset.

To edit a Preset button:

• In the RealPlayer window, right-click the Preset button you want to edit and select Edit Preset Button. Type in any text changes to the URL or Label.

Selecting a Preset Button

To select a Preset button:

• Click the appropriate Preset button. RealPlayer Plus connects to the corresponding site and begins playing the clip.

To view other rows of Preset buttons:

• Click the up or down arrow next to the rows of presets to cycle through the preset rows.

Scanning RealMedia Content

The Scan feature allows you to sample RealMedia stations, similar to scanning stations on a radio. It plays each station for the amount of time specified on the Presets tab of the Preferences window and then continues to the next station.

To begin scanning stations:

• To scan a variety of available stations: click the button. RealPlayer Plus scans and plays the next station. It plays the station for the amount of time specified on the Presets tab of the Preferences window and then continues to the next station.
  
• To select a category of stations: right-click (Windows) or click and hold (Macintosh) the button. A pop-up menu appears, where you can select the category (for example: news, music, sports, international) or you can select to scan your Preset buttons. RealPlayer Plus scans for the next station that matches the category you selected.

To stop scanning when you find a station you like:

• Click the button again.

To set a Preset button to the station currently being played:

• Right-click (Windows) or click and hold (Macintosh) on the Preset button you want to set to the current station and select Set Preset.

To return to a previous station:

• Select Previous Clip from the Clip menu or press PAGE UP (on Windows) / CMD-1 (on Macintosh).

To skip to the next station:

• Select Next Clip from the Clip menu or press PAGE DOWN (on Windows) / CMD-2 (on Macintosh).

To stop scanning and stop listening to the current station:

• Click the button.
  

Setting Your Destination Buttons

Your RealPlayer Plus comes with six buttons that you can customize to access premium content with a push of a button.

To customize the Destination buttons:

• Click one of the buttons. RealPlayer Plus opens your default browser to the Customize Destination Buttons page where you can select specific content that you like. The buttons on your Player will then provide access to that content. Follow the directions on that web page.

To play Destination buttons content:

• Click the appropriate button. RealPlayer Plus plays the associated file.