OpenAL/ALUT - Loading wav files

I'm using the following function:

_alutLoadWAVMemory_((ALbyte *)myBuf,&format, &data, &size, &freq, &loop);

I have 2 questions:

1. I've read online that the function is deprecated, does anyone know why? More important - what should I use instead?

2. Is the variable format assigned with data regarding the format after I call _alutLoadWAVMemory_?

Thanks a lot!

There are a few candidates for functions to use instead, see the Alut documentation on loading. I think the closest equivalent to LoadWAVMemory would be 'alutCreateBufferFromFileImage'.