VidToAsf and WavToAsf Command-Line Options

VidToAsf and WavToAsf come with a variety of command-line options. These command options, or flags, allow you to specify a particular setting or include additional files in the .asf file. Both command-line utilities come with an online listing of their flags. To view the options, open an MS DOS command window, type the name of the utility, and press ENTER. You will see explanations of the command options similar to the following tables.
VidToAsf Command Options
Flag name Flag argument Description

-audio stream If the audio file has more than one stream, use this flag to specify which stream you want to use. This is the same as the -video flag.

-audiofile filename Specify an audio file to take the place of the audio in the video file. You could use this option if you wanted to replace an .avi file's audio track with a compressed .wav file.

-eccspan on|off Use this flag to turn on error correction. Error correction is on by default for all .asf files below 150,000 kbps, and off by default for all .asf files above. You can override the default by setting the eccspan option on the command line.

-in filename.ext Specify the input video file (either .avi or .mov) that you are going to turn into an .asf file. This is the only required flag.

-leadtime # of milliseconds Specify the desired time that you want the .asf file to wait after it buffers but before it begins playing. The default is 1,000 milliseconds. If you are converting smaller bit rate AVIs (under 100 kbps), it is a good idea to increase the lead time (up to 3,000 milliseconds).

-out filename.asf Specify a name for the output file. If you don't give the output file a name, VidToAsf uses the name of the input file and substitutes the .asf extension.

-script filename If you want to add URLs, script commands, content information, or markers to your output file, use this flag to specify the name of the script file to use.

-seekable on|off Seeking allows you to fast forward or rewind through an .asf file. When you create an .asf file, VidToAsf may issue a warning, "No index built," if there aren't enough key frames for VidToAsf to generate an index. If this happens, you cannot seek in the .asf file. However, if you use the -seekable flag to turn seeking on, VidToAsf will allow seeking in the .asf file, but the .asf file will look imperfect during seeking. The default for this flag is off.

-video stream If the video file has more than one stream, use this flag to specify which stream to use. Because most video files have only one stream, the default is to use the standard video stream.

-wavespan # of milliseconds Wave span is the length (in milliseconds) over which audio will be smeared in the file. If packets are lost, audio smearing helps create better results. Unless you are sure that packets will not be lost, it is better to go with the default (400 ms).

WavToAsf Command Options
Flag name Flag argument Description

-eccspan on|off Use this flag to turn error correction on or off. The default setting for error correction is on.

-in filename.wav Specify the input audio file that will be converted to an .asf file

-leadtime # of milliseconds Specify the maximum time before file playing begins. If there is packet loss, lower values may result in poorer audio smearing. The default is 4,000 milliseconds.

-out filename.asf Specify a name for the output file. If you don't give the output file a name, WavToAsf uses the input file name as the name of the output file and then appends the .asf extension.

-script filename If you want to add URLs, script commands, or markers to your output file, use this flag to specify the name of the script file to use.

VidToAsf Command Options
Flag name	Flag argument	Description
-audio	stream	If the audio file has more than one stream, use this flag to specify which stream you want to use. This is the same as the -video flag.
-audiofile	filename	Specify an audio file to take the place of the audio in the video file. You could use this option if you wanted to replace an .avi file's audio track with a compressed .wav file.
-eccspan	on\|off	Use this flag to turn on error correction. Error correction is on by default for all .asf files below 150,000 kbps, and off by default for all .asf files above. You can override the default by setting the eccspan option on the command line.
-in	filename.ext	Specify the input video file (either .avi or .mov) that you are going to turn into an .asf file. This is the only required flag.
-leadtime	# of milliseconds	Specify the desired time that you want the .asf file to wait after it buffers but before it begins playing. The default is 1,000 milliseconds. If you are converting smaller bit rate AVIs (under 100 kbps), it is a good idea to increase the lead time (up to 3,000 milliseconds).
-out	filename.asf	Specify a name for the output file. If you don't give the output file a name, VidToAsf uses the name of the input file and substitutes the .asf extension.
-script	filename	If you want to add URLs, script commands, content information, or markers to your output file, use this flag to specify the name of the script file to use.
-seekable	on\|off	Seeking allows you to fast forward or rewind through an .asf file. When you create an .asf file, VidToAsf may issue a warning, "No index built," if there aren't enough key frames for VidToAsf to generate an index. If this happens, you cannot seek in the .asf file. However, if you use the -seekable flag to turn seeking on, VidToAsf will allow seeking in the .asf file, but the .asf file will look imperfect during seeking. The default for this flag is off.
-video	stream	If the video file has more than one stream, use this flag to specify which stream to use. Because most video files have only one stream, the default is to use the standard video stream.
-wavespan	# of milliseconds	Wave span is the length (in milliseconds) over which audio will be smeared in the file. If packets are lost, audio smearing helps create better results. Unless you are sure that packets will not be lost, it is better to go with the default (400 ms).

WavToAsf Command Options
Flag name	Flag argument	Description
-eccspan	on\|off	Use this flag to turn error correction on or off. The default setting for error correction is on.
-in	filename.wav	Specify the input audio file that will be converted to an .asf file
-leadtime	# of milliseconds	Specify the maximum time before file playing begins. If there is packet loss, lower values may result in poorer audio smearing. The default is 4,000 milliseconds.
-out	filename.asf	Specify a name for the output file. If you don't give the output file a name, WavToAsf uses the input file name as the name of the output file and then appends the .asf extension.
-script	filename	If you want to add URLs, script commands, or markers to your output file, use this flag to specify the name of the script file to use.

This section provides details and examples of the -script and -audiofile options.