Tutorial CD problem- Links are opening folders instead playing the content

[src2206]

Hello

I have recently obtained a video tutorial on certain subjects. As I enter the tutorial disc in the drive, the autorun runs normally and the welcome page appears. As I press the "start", the next screen appears containing the links to different chapters starting from Chapter 1. But as I click on the chapter link, a new explorer window opens up pointing to the .mov file representing the video for that chapter. So I have play every video file manually .

Why does not the tutorial runs normally? Its a Lynda.com training video and I do not get any error messages while running.

Please help.

Thank you.

[Baldrick]

Maybe just a crappy authored tutorial. Email and ask them.

[src2206]

Crappy??!!! Sorry I am not very experienced, but I thought Lynda.com produces very good quality Video tutorials. Unfortunately, I have received it as a gift and I do not think that they are going to entertain my request unless i can provide them purchase related info.

[jagabo]

Media players can be configured to open within the browser window or in a stand-alone player. Your Quicktime player is configured for the latter.

[src2206]

Media players can be configured to open within the browser window or in a stand-alone player. Your Quicktime player is configured for the latter.

Hello jagabo

Thank you for your response.

Well the List of the links of the different chapters that are opened, are not opening in a browser window but the program window itself.

So, if your process is still applicable, please let me know how can I do that.

Regards

[AlanHK]

But as I click on the chapter link, a new explorer window opens up pointing to the .mov file representing the video for that chapter. So I have play every video file manually.

You need to set up your file association for .mov files so that the default action (what happens when you just click on it) is to "play" in the appropriate player. Most media players will have an option to make themselves the default player.

[Baldrick]

Yep, and that's a crappy menu tutorial. It should of course have a built in player and not just use internet exploder or your default browser... .

[src2206]

But as I click on the chapter link, a new explorer window opens up pointing to the .mov file representing the video for that chapter. So I have play every video file manually.

You need to set up your file association for .mov files so that the default action (what happens when you just click on it) is to "play" in the appropriate player. Most media players will have an option to make themselves the default player.

Hello AlanHK

Thank you for your reply. I believe that the file association is correctly configured, as because when I double click on any of the video files corresponding to that tutorial in opens up in QT player. As the files are .mov file, QT should and is the default player for those files.

Yep, and that's a crappy menu tutorial. It should of course have a built in player and not just use internet exploder or your default browser... .

Hello Baldrick

Thank you for your response.

I think I was not clear enough..., the files are not opening in the Internet Explorer window, but Windows Explorer window.

BTW, do you really think that this is a crappy tutorial? If so, could you please suggest some good (preferably video tutorial) tutorials for Encore CS3, Photoshop CS3 and Premiere CS3?

Regards....

[AlanHK]

Thank you for your reply. I believe that the file association is correctly configured, as because when I double click on any of the video files corresponding to that tutorial in opens up in QT player. As the files are .mov file, QT should and is the default player for those files.

Look at your "autorun" settings then.
"What to do when X kind of file".

It's a good idea and safer to turn off autorun for most things, but perhaps the CD expects it to be default on.

[Cornucopia]

I've done LOTS of autorun tutorials, and --although I would withhold ultimate judgement until a full IN PERSON user experience-- this sounds like it's crappily made.

Most of these in the past have been Director-made. Those are able to include things like QT support INSIDE ITS (director's) OWN PLAYER (as well as much more since Director is extensible with many different kinds of plugins).
(Flash can be similarly done)

-or-

You could easily do this completely WITHIN QT ITSELF, using a tool such as Adobe GoLive where the autoran Menu is a QT still picture with "wired sprites" overlaid, etc.

Of course, both of these ways require QT to already have been installed, but then you'd have to already have QT to view the movies anyway, so no biggie...

edit: (I could even do this with an Acrobat PDF as the menu--have done so before--with the QT movies linked to clickable items)

So, there are lots of more snazzy, streamlined ways of doing this kind of thing. Lack of these forms could mean:
Lack of ingenuity
Lack of skills to execute
Lack of correct software to execute
Lack of budget to devote to full completion
Low audience expectations
etc.

Doesn't surprise me though, lots of multimedia presentations aren't done to the extreme of professionalism devoted to feature movies or to high profile games.
No big deal--it works, doesn't it?...

(which brings us back to...)

OP: who's to say this isn't the expected "normal" experience? Other than this crude menuing device, does the rest of it work correctly/well? Do you want suggestions on how to change something? (If so, I'd suggest turning it into a DVD so it's playable OFF the computer as well as on).

Scott

[src2206]

Hello Scott

Thanks for your response,

Errr....I am sorry for my lack of understanding, but is there any way to solve this problem in a mundane way?

Regards

[Cornucopia]

Here's a fairly simple way to do it:

1. Copy contents of the CD to Hardrive, keeping relative folder structures. (Say Autorun is in root and movies are in \Media---You would now have "C:\temp\autorun.inf", etc and "C:\temp\Media\Movie1.mov", etc).
2. Create an HTML webpage using menu item selections (hotlinks) for each of the movies--using their relative references: "\Media\movie1.mov", etc. (they can open in-line or in their own window, however you set it up)
3. Download WinOpen.exe place in root of this temp area ("C:\temp\WinOpen.exe").
4. Using text editor change autorun to say:

[AUTORUN]
open=WinOpen.exe MainMenu.html
icon=MyIcon.ico (...or nothing)

Save
5. Burn a new CD, adding the revised Autorun.inf, the Winopen.exe, the MainMenu.html, the media, and whatever else you want--but not the old autorun.inf or the old menu.
6. That's it--just make sure your autorun capability is activated.

Scott

[src2206]

Just great Scott...though 1 little problem

2. Create an HTML webpage using menu item selections (hotlinks) for each of the movies--using their relative references: "\Media\movie1.mov", etc. (they can open in-line or in their own window, however you set it up)

How do I do this? I mean the Menu creation.....?

I have downloaded winopen.exe as you have instructed. Only the 2nd step is something which I could not figure out.

Please...help me out Scott...so near but yet so far

Regards

[Cornucopia]

Here is an example that I whipped up in a couple of minutes:

http://www.cornucopiadm.com/goodies/MainMenu.html

Obviously, the links don't work right.

You could use a text editor(Notepad), a text-based HTML editor (HotMetal), or a WYSIWIG HTML editor (like what I used-Komposer/NVU).

HTH,
Scott

[src2206]

Thank you very much Scott

You are great (and all others who relentlessly try to help)

I shall be out of station for few days as soon as I come back I shall post the feed back here.

Regards

[src2206]

Hello Scott

Thank you very much.

I have solved the problem using your method. In the course, I have also figured out a stop gap, easy solution. I used a free software named Playlist Creator and created an M3U playlist, which can be fed in players like VLC or WMPC and get the files playing.

But as I said, your solution is far more complte.

Thank you again.

Regards

[Cornucopia]

You're welcome.

Remember to continue passing around the goodwill along with the knowledge...

Later,
Scott

[src2206]

Sure Scott

Thanks again.