Displaying a Video on a Website?

Mr Dooby · 21st February 2005, 06:00 PM

I want to be able to play a recorded video on my website.

What format would I need it saved as and what code would I use to display it in a browser winodw?

**Mr. Tech** · 21st February 2005, 06:06 PM

There are plenty of formats you can display the video in: WMV, MOV, FLV, etc However there are a few things you need to think about as it Depends on your audience:

Do they more than likely have the most up-to-date versions of various software (Windows Media Player, Flash, Shockwave, QuickTime, etc.)? If they didn't, would they most likely be ABLE to update their browsers (ie, not my 90 year old grandmother). How large is the video file? Do you have the capability to encode in various formats to reach more people?

As far as displaying the video, try to keeep the file size as small as possible if you can.

You can either dislay the video by linking to it in a browser window or you can emded it. this code works with a WMV file... not sure about the others:

Code:

<embed width="320" height="240" src="file.wmv" align="middle"><noembed>Windows Media Player Required</noembed>

Mr Dooby · 21st February 2005, 06:11 PM

Thanks Mr Tech.

Is there any plugins viewers need to install to view the file?

Also, what about bandwidth? I have a 78.6MB video file. How much bandwidth will that use up per view?

**Mr. Tech** · 21st February 2005, 06:11 PM

No, the only thing they need installed is the program that is sued to view the video file. So if it is a WMV file, it requries Windows Media player. And your video will use exactly 78.6MB of bandwidth per view.

**Peter Sinclair** · 21st February 2005, 06:14 PM

It's better imo, to embed the player within your web page. This way, your visitors are not forced to launch a seperate application and can stay on the page without losing focus. Also they are not forced to download the player if they don't have it on their computer.

Your code could look something like this for a WMV file:

Code:

<OBJECTID="mediaPlayer" CLASSID="CLSID:22d6f312-b0f6-11d0-94ab-0080c74c7e95" CODEBASE="http://activex.microsoft.com/activex/controls/mplayer/en/nsmp2inf.cab#Version=5,1,52,701" STANDBY="Loading Microsoft Windows Media Player components..." TYPE="application/x-oleobject"> 
<PARAM NAME="fileName" VALUE="yourfile.wmv"> 
<PARAM NAME="animationatStart" VALUE="true"> 
<PARAM NAME="transparentatStart" VALUE="true"> 
<PARAM NAME="autoStart" VALUE="true"> 
<PARAM NAME="showControls" VALUE="true"> 
</OBJECT>

Anything in brackets <> should be on the same line. Also, the PARAM lines are customizable (true or false) depending on other preferences.

For additional information on video streaming using Windows Media check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Video

Everything you need to know is there to help provide a better experience for your target audience.

Ben · 21st February 2005, 06:17 PM

Flash full stop.

That would be your best option I think.

Not sure if this works but maybe you could try:

HTML Code:

<iframe src="moviename"></iframe>

Ben

Mr Dooby · 21st February 2005, 06:19 PM

Well thanks guys, I'll have a read in yuor links you gave and try some of the examples... I'll let you know of any problems