// The audioplayer variable is used as a reference
  // to the current AudioPlayer applet.

  var audioplayer

  // Assigns a reference to the AudioPlayer applet
  // to audioplayer.

  function initAudioPlayer() {
   audioplayer = document.applets["AudioPlayer"]
  }

  // Load and play the specified sound file.

  function playSound(fileName) {
   if(audioplayer == null) initAudioPlayer()
   if(audioplayer == null) {
    alert("AudioPlayer has not loaded.")
    return
   }
   audioplayer.stopAudioClip()
   audioplayer.playAudioClip(fileName)
  }

  // Load and play the specified sound file in a
  // continuous loop.

  function loopSound(fileName) {
   if(audioplayer == null) initAudioPlayer()
   if(audioplayer == null) {
    alert("AudioPlayer has not loaded.")
    return
   }
   audioplayer.stopAudioClip()
   audioplayer.loopAudioClip(fileName)
  }

  // Stop the playing of the sound file.

  function stopSound(fileName) {
   if(audioplayer == null) initAudioPlayer()
   if(audioplayer == null) return
   audioplayer.stopAudioClip()
  }