VCA225 Digital Production

Embedding Video Files

As with audio, the best way to get video on to a web page is through the use of the <object> tag. And we employ it pretty much the same way we did in the audio exercise; we just need to change the MIME types and other relevant file data (file name, location, etc).

That being said, we do need to pay close attention to the video display size (height & width). With audio, the physical size determined the size of the controller, which was pretty flexible. But with video, we need to make sure we set the height & width to the size of the actual video plus the height of the controller (typically 16-30 pixels). Thus a 320 x 240 Quicktime video should be set to 320 x 256 pixels.

Once again, the full code for embedding a file (in this case a Quicktime movie) will look something like this:

<object classid="clsid:02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B"
codebase="http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab" width="320" height="256">

<param name="src" value="yourMovie.mov" />
<param name="controller" value="true" />
<param name="autoplay" value="true" />
<param name="autostart" value="1" />
<param name="pluginspage" value="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/" />

<!--[if !IE]> <-->

<object type="video/quicktime" data="yourMovie.mov" width="320" height="256">
<param name="pluginurl" value="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/" />
<param name="controller" value="true" />
<param name="autoplay" value="true" />
<param name="autostart" value="1" />

<embed src="yourMovie.mov" type="video/quicktime" width="320" height="256" autostart="true" controller="true" ></embed>

</object>

<!--> <![endif]-->

</object>

 

As for the other video formats, you will need to change the "type" to the appropriate MIME type (see a partial list below):

 

As for "class id's," and "codebase's," see the list below:

Controller Sizes

The control bar on the standar Quicktime viewer skin adds 16 pixels to the height of the movie (so a 320 x 240 movie should be specified as 320 x 256).

Windows Media controls add up to 26 pixels from what I can determine.

Real Media controllers are actually embedded as separate elements (see below) but they seem to like being at least 25px tall.

Flash controllers are usually included within the movie itself, so no additional height should be needed.

Real Media Player Considerations

The Real Media Player has some unique parameters you have to use in the <object> tag. In order to see the video display you must include:

<param name="controls" value="ImageWindow">

<param name="console" value="video">

 

And the "controller" parameter does not do anything so you can dump it. To see a controller, you actually have to embed the controller separately. Basically copy and paste the entire <object> tag block that you used to embed the .rm file and change <param name="controls" value="ImageWindow"> to <param name="controls" value="ControlPanel">. Also change the height (try 30px).

Finally remove all references to Quicktime (or other player) plug-ins. Everything else stays the same, including the "src." To get it to appear below the video window you will have to use a <br> or a table or CSS.

Here's how your code should look for Real Media; Real Media changes are in red (note that I eliminated the annoying <embed> tags too):

<object id=RVOCX classid="clsid:CFCDAA03-8BE4-11CF-B84B-0020AFBBCCFA"width="320" height="240">

<param name="src" value="yourMovie.rm" />
<param name="controller" value="true" />
<param name="autoplay" value="true" />
<param name="autostart" value="1" />
<param name="controls" value="ImageWindow">
<param name="console" value="video">


<!--[if !IE]> <-->

<object type="application/vnd.rn-realmedia" data="yourMovie.rm"width="320" height="240">
<param name="controller" value="true" />
<param name="autoplay" value="true" />
<param name="autostart" value="1" />
<param name="controls" value="ImageWindow">
<param name="console" value="video">

</object>

<!--> <![endif]-->

</object>

<object id=RVOCX classid="clsid:CFCDAA03-8BE4-11CF-B84B-0020AFBBCCFA"width="320" height="30">

<param name="src" value="yourMovie.rm" />
<param name="controller" value="true" />
<param name="autoplay" value="true" />
<param name="autostart" value="1" />
<param name="controls" value="ControlPanel">
<param name="console" value="video">


<!--[if !IE]> <-->

<object type="application/vnd.rn-realmedia" data="yourMovie.rm"width="320" height="30">
<param name="controller" value="true" />
<param name="autoplay" value="true" />
<param name="autostart" value="1" />
<param name="controls" value="ControlPanel">
<param name="console" value="video">

</object>

<!--> <![endif]-->

</object>

Exercise

Create a set of web pages that conatin embedded video files (which I provide below). You should have an idex page with links to pages containing the various video formats. Here's an example.

Procedure

  1. Instead of giving you the actual files I am going to give you URLs to the files on my server; this way everyone won't have to upload the video clips which will save server space. Just put the URLs in the place of "yourMovie.mov" in the code above) and note the sizes (these sizes do not include controllers—you should add at least 16px to the height for Quicktime players, and 25px for Windows Media Players):
  2. Create a new folder called videoExercise (or something similar).
  3. Create a new HTML page. Save it as "index.html" into the videoExercise folder. This will serve as a main menu page with links to the different video format pages. Create the following list of links:
  4. Open a new HTML page and save it as "movPage.html."
  5. Using the <object> tags shown above, embed the Quicktime movie into your page. You should also label it "Quicktime mov."
  6. Create pages for each of the other formats. Label each accordingly.
  7. Link the main index page (with the menu) to each of the video pages.
  8. Put a "Back" button on each of the media pages so we can get back to the main menu.
  9. Recommendation: put a copy of the entire navigation menu on each video page to make it easier to jump from one format to another.

    Option: Put an iFrame on the main (index) page and load the video pages into it.

    Option: Turn the menu into a library item to make it easier to place & update of the video pages.

  10. Make the pages pretty (with CSS).
  11. FTP the "videoExercise" folder to your server space.
  12. Update your home page so that the Video Exercise link points to this page.

Hints

External Resources

Point Breakdown

10 pts

Went well above and beyond and created something special.

9 pts

Went above and beyond requirements (customized the pages; added styles, etc.).

8 pts

Did what was required.

7 pts

Missing one or more required elements or contains one or more errors.

0–6 pts

Poor showing; mostly incomplete or full of errors.

 

Example

Class Schedule

Syllabus

Student Resources