File associations enable you to use SpeakOn as an audio player launched directly from a File Manager such as Windows Explorer or My Computer, as well as Internet browsers such as Internet Explorer or Firefox.
By default, SpeakOn does not associate itself with any file extensions. The best way for you to try using SpeakOn from your File Manager (Windows Explorer or My Computer) is to locate a supported file extension such as ‘.mp3’. Then, right click (or press the application key) to bring up the context menu. Navigate to the ‘Open with’ sub-menu and then select SpeakOn; SpeakOn will start with a short message and the focus is placed on the Player which starts to play.
You can also play a folder by placing the focus in Windows Explorer on a folder, and from the context menu selecting ‘Play with SpeakOn Media Suite’. Similarly, you can build a playlist by combining a number of folders by selecting from the menu ‘Add to SpeakOn Media Suite playlist’.
If you wish you can use SpeakOn to play audio streams and files from links in your favourite Internet browser; SpeakOn should appear as one of the options available when clicking a link.
You can save playlists made of local files or internet links to SpeakOn’s Library or the computer’s file system from the Player menu:
File > Save to Library
File > Save to file system
If you like the way SpeakOn plays your audio links on the Internet, you can configure SpeakOn to be your default player for specific file extensions and audio formats from within SpeakOn itself easily as explained
here
After you associate a particular file extension with SpeakOn, you can check that it works by clicking (pressing [Enter]) on any file with the extension you selected above in Windows Explorer.
Internet Explorer uses the file associations set in your computer so if you set SpeakOn to play for example ‘.mp3’ files, Internet Explorer will use SpeakOn to open these types of files including mp3 streams used by some radio stations. Otherwise, any other application such as Windows Media Player configured to use this file extension by default will be used instead. Depending on the file type, when you click a link which points to a media file or stream, a dialog pops up asking you if you want to open or save the file. A check box is available which you can check if you want the application (in this case SpeakOn) to be always used to open the media type. It is suggested that you leave this check box unchecked until you are sure that you want SpeakOn to always open this type of media. If you select the 'Open' button, SpeakOn will play the media in the usual way.
Firefox allows you to choose file associations independently of the one set in Windows. Usually when you click a link in the browser, the ‘Launch Application’ dialog appears. A list of possible applications including SpeakOn is usually available. If you press the character 's' you should get to it quickly. Press tab; the ‘Remember my choice’ check box is unchecked; leave it unchecked until you are sure that you want SpeakOn to always play this type of media. Note that if you tick this check box and make a mistake, you will need to reverse your choice from the Firefox preferences. Tab and select OK; SpeakOn should start to play the media.
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