
``winsound`` --- Sound-playing interface for Windows
****************************************************

*Platforms: *Windows

The ``winsound`` module provides access to the basic sound-playing
machinery provided by Windows platforms.  It includes functions and
several constants.

winsound.Beep(frequency, duration)

   Beep the PC's speaker. The *frequency* parameter specifies
   frequency, in hertz, of the sound, and must be in the range 37
   through 32,767. The *duration* parameter specifies the number of
   milliseconds the sound should last.  If the system is not able to
   beep the speaker, ``RuntimeError`` is raised.

winsound.PlaySound(sound, flags)

   Call the underlying ``PlaySound()`` function from the Platform API.
   The *sound* parameter may be a filename, audio data as a string, or
   ``None``.  Its interpretation depends on the value of *flags*,
   which can be a bitwise ORed combination of the constants described
   below. If the *sound* parameter is ``None``, any currently playing
   waveform sound is stopped. If the system indicates an error,
   ``RuntimeError`` is raised.

winsound.MessageBeep(type=MB_OK)

   Call the underlying ``MessageBeep()`` function from the Platform
   API.  This plays a sound as specified in the registry.  The *type*
   argument specifies which sound to play; possible values are ``-1``,
   ``MB_ICONASTERISK``, ``MB_ICONEXCLAMATION``, ``MB_ICONHAND``,
   ``MB_ICONQUESTION``, and ``MB_OK``, all described below.  The value
   ``-1`` produces a "simple beep"; this is the final fallback if a
   sound cannot be played otherwise.

winsound.SND_FILENAME

   The *sound* parameter is the name of a WAV file. Do not use with
   ``SND_ALIAS``.

winsound.SND_ALIAS

   The *sound* parameter is a sound association name from the
   registry.  If the registry contains no such name, play the system
   default sound unless ``SND_NODEFAULT`` is also specified. If no
   default sound is registered, raise ``RuntimeError``. Do not use
   with ``SND_FILENAME``.

   All Win32 systems support at least the following; most systems
   support many more:

   +----------------------------+------------------------------------------+
   | ``PlaySound()`` *name*     | Corresponding Control Panel Sound name   |
   +============================+==========================================+
   | ``'SystemAsterisk'``       | Asterisk                                 |
   +----------------------------+------------------------------------------+
   | ``'SystemExclamation'``    | Exclamation                              |
   +----------------------------+------------------------------------------+
   | ``'SystemExit'``           | Exit Windows                             |
   +----------------------------+------------------------------------------+
   | ``'SystemHand'``           | Critical Stop                            |
   +----------------------------+------------------------------------------+
   | ``'SystemQuestion'``       | Question                                 |
   +----------------------------+------------------------------------------+

   For example:

      import winsound
      # Play Windows exit sound.
      winsound.PlaySound("SystemExit", winsound.SND_ALIAS)

      # Probably play Windows default sound, if any is registered (because
      # "*" probably isn't the registered name of any sound).
      winsound.PlaySound("*", winsound.SND_ALIAS)

winsound.SND_LOOP

   Play the sound repeatedly.  The ``SND_ASYNC`` flag must also be
   used to avoid blocking.  Cannot be used with ``SND_MEMORY``.

winsound.SND_MEMORY

   The *sound* parameter to ``PlaySound()`` is a memory image of a WAV
   file, as a string.

   Note: This module does not support playing from a memory image
     asynchronously, so a combination of this flag and ``SND_ASYNC``
     will raise ``RuntimeError``.

winsound.SND_PURGE

   Stop playing all instances of the specified sound.

   Note: This flag is not supported on modern Windows platforms.

winsound.SND_ASYNC

   Return immediately, allowing sounds to play asynchronously.

winsound.SND_NODEFAULT

   If the specified sound cannot be found, do not play the system
   default sound.

winsound.SND_NOSTOP

   Do not interrupt sounds currently playing.

winsound.SND_NOWAIT

   Return immediately if the sound driver is busy.

winsound.MB_ICONASTERISK

   Play the ``SystemDefault`` sound.

winsound.MB_ICONEXCLAMATION

   Play the ``SystemExclamation`` sound.

winsound.MB_ICONHAND

   Play the ``SystemHand`` sound.

winsound.MB_ICONQUESTION

   Play the ``SystemQuestion`` sound.

winsound.MB_OK

   Play the ``SystemDefault`` sound.
