Digital Workshop

I am having a problem viewing avi videos in exe publications and swf files in Flex publications with OpusPro XE 5.5. I did not have this problem with 4.0 and Windows 98 but I did when I switched to Windows XP several years ago and now with my new computer. When I view the avi files in Doc View it calls up Nero to view them. I can also see some swf files in a Flex publication but not others. In one instance I could hear the sound but I couldn't see the image.

Yes, I most likely will upgrade to 6 but I don't think that's the problem. I think it has something to do with video codecs or my security settings. My old computer crashed and I built a new one. I went back to Windows XP because I understand that Vista is not backwards compatable with my video capture card and with some of my other software and I don't want to start over again.

The funny thing is, I can view some avi files but not others in Opus. I have the same problem with a software called SWF Video Converter by Eitima. However, both Premiere 6 and Nero recognize the files and play them which suggests that its not a codec problem. Any suggestions as to where I begin to look to solve this problem?

Terry

Maybe it's a flash player version issue, at least for the SWFs. If your converted SWFs are higher than the player version you have that would be a problem. I can't speak to your AVIs.

I have version 9 for the Flash Player and 10 for Shockwave so that shouldn't be a problem. What about Direct X. Do I need to install the latest version of Direct X on the computer?

Terry

For some reason, I'm thinking that you have to match Opus's Flash version (I think 5) in order to get things to play properly. I'm probably wrong, but I swear I've had an issue like this in the distant past.

Terry,

I just tried a quick test. I first tried running a "video" of a Flash 8 SWF in Flex. It didn't play. I then republished the SWF as a Flash 5 SWF and republished the Flex file. This time it played. Maybe you could try a similar test and see if that's the issue with you.

Ok, I created two SWF movies: one Flash MX, which I believe is 7 or better, and the other Flash 3. Both played in Doc View, but neither one of them played in Flex.

I can play wmv movies in exe publications and some avi files but not all avi files.

Terry

One more interesting thing. I can't play any mpg movies, which makes it difficult to author DVDs. I do have an authoring package for that but it would be nice to play mpg 2 files in Opus.

Terry

Terry --

Something is wrong with your computer. I use MPEG-2 (DVD) quality videos within OPUS on a regular basis. This requires your computer to be able to play MPEG-2 (obviously). If you were able to view a DVD movie in the past on this computer, then something has changed which is preventing it now.

If this is a new computer, then you'll have to buy software which plays DVDs.

Terry make sure your Flash files that you want to play in Flex match the frame rate for which you have Flex set (Publish dialog box, General tab). Also in the Flex pub, I play the SWFs as videos.

I can play DVD movies in Nero and Windows Media Player and Premiere records and plays mpg files so I'm not sure that's that problem? I was able to view mpg movies in Opus on my old computer and I did have a different DVD player on that computer (not Nero) but I haven't been able to view them in Opus on this new computer. It has to be a setting somewhere but I don't know where to start looking.

As for the SWF frame rate, is there a way to reset the frame rate in Opus before you publish?

Terry

Terry --

Open your Windows Explorer, then on the top menu click on "Tools." Select "Folder Options" then click the tab "File Types." You'll see a list of file extensions and the default software package used to "OPEN" each one. Scroll the list until you see "MPG". Highlight MPG and it will give you details on which software package is being used. Mine says "Windows Media Player." If yours says something different, click on "Change" and scroll the list until you see Windows Media Player, then select it and click OK. Click "Apply."

You can test to see this is working by finding an MPG file using Windows Explorer, then double-click on it. The file should open using Windows Media Player, if not, there's a problem. Try using the "Restore" button under the FileTypes tab.

Let us know if this helps. If you select "On Top" within OPUS, it should then use Windows Media Player to play your DVD. Let us know if this solves the problem.

When you publish, on the dialog box you will at some point see a Settings button. Click on it and then click on the General tab. Then set the Frame Rate field to whatever you want.

I've reset everything and both avi and mpg play in Windows media player and they play in Opus within DocView but not within a video frame. Where is the "On Top" button in Opus?

Terry

the help file on unsupported features in flex says:

Video

Only animated GIF files work

Always on top option

I always took this to mean that video didn't work.

Then I found that if I insert a .swf file as a video object while I cannot preview in the editor it I can certainly publish it and it works. Unfortunately the whole movie has to download before my customised play/reset/etc on screen controls begin to work, although at least I am using my own player graphic design.

It seems that Flex creates a 'launcher' which calls the inserted swf file as an external file, which means I can substitute, by renaming, that file for any other of the same pixel dimesions and the player still works.