HELP ME PLEASE!!! Movie word documents??!

[lovegravy]

Hello all, I am a new to all this, so forgive me if this problem has already been answered somewhere.

I run a property investment company and as a great new service I have introduced video viewings. This involves me taking 15 sec video clips of each room on my digi camera (MOV file).

My theory was that I could insert all the clips into a word document that could be sent with text descriptions beneath each video, whereby you double click the photo to start the clip....easy.....NOT!!!

It works fine my end, but when I send the document to to my clients they just get the pic of the 1st frame of each clip.
I have even tried to do a presentation in Powerpoint and exported it with the pack and go feature, no such luck here either, the video is no included in the file.

If I have to send all the clips seperate to the word document it will confuse my clients as many do not know much about computers and look very unprofessional for my company.

Please could anyone suggest what text software will allow embedded video files.

Kindest regards

Jeff

[Tommyknocker]

I am thinking the problem may be in the codec. Try the same thing but with MPEG-1 files. Most PCs carry this codec from the factory.

[lovegravy]

Thanks very much for the reply, but I don't think you understood my question.

The video plays fine on my computer, because the clips are saved in my computer and "Word" seems to place a link to the video instead of the actual video into the document. I have sent the clips to my clients on their own and they work fine when sent, however when I send the clips in a "Word document" it turns the video into a jpeg image and no video is embedded.
I can also tell this by the size of the file, most of the clips are about 1mb, so the total file size should be about 7 -8mb, due to the amount of clips included, what I actually have is a 1.5mb file, so it surely does not have any video in it.

Hope this helps you, help me.

Thanks

Jeff

[guns1inger]

Using word XP, I have been able to embed a DV clip (20mb) by using Insert -> Object -> Create from file. Browse for the .avi. What I end up with is a reference on the page. If I right-c;ick on this, I get an option to activate the object. This gives me a warning, and then loads the avi into a seperate instance of media player.

If you insist on using word (a poor choice, in my opinion), this is the best you will get.

Other option to consider include

Flash
HTML pages
CD delivery

[alchemistresearch]

I agree. You're forcing your choice of Wordprocessor onto others. If you create a Flash document, there is a good chance the file size will be smaller and everyone can access the Flash player.

[lovegravy]

Now I am confused!!! I do not know the 1st thing about html and flash, could you suggest where I can find info on making a flash file of this type?
And is it easy?

Also thanks for the help so far......

Jeff

[lovegravy]

I have done the insert object and found the following, if the clip is a MOV file it will show the icon and give me the option to activate when I right click, after I activate the warning comes up and then another saying the file name is bad?! so it doesn't work.
If I insert an Avi clip, it shows the pic of the clip not an icon and I do not get the option to activate, and doesn't emded the video into the doc, so now what do you think I should do?

Regards

Jeff

[deckard8]

You could convert your movie files into animated gifs and embed them in the documents. This tool will do it.

http://www.heroshare.com/products/VideoConvert.php

[guns1inger]

How are you delivering this to the client ? I know I wouldn't be happy having 8mb+ word documents emailed to me.

What version of word are you using ? With Office XP (2002) avi files can be embedded and activated. Make sure the create link to file box is not checked.

I still think your problem is your delivery mechanism. Word isn't built to do what you are asking of it.

If the clips are 15 second pans around a rooom, you could try quicktime VR instead. Have a look at stitcher here http://realviz.com/products/st/index.php
The August edition of Computer Arts (UK mag) has 3.1 on the cover disk - full version

[housepig]

I second the web page / HTML suggestion, for a couple of reasons:

- not everyone uses Word, but most everyone has some kind of web browser

- unlike Flash, you can code HTML with a text editor, or with free tools (I like the Composer in Mozilla quite a bit).

- you can either embed the video in the page itself, or put in links that open the video in a new window.

I just did a project like this, and to send it to the client for checking the work, all I had to do was send him a zip file with the html page and the media files in it - he unzipped, played it, gave suggestions via email, I'd change stuff and send him a new copy... and by sending a .zip file, he was getting one attachment in his email, instead of 7 or 8.

[mats.hogberg]

Another solution would be to host the movies on a web server (several free options there) and just include a link to your clip in the document.

/Mats

[lovegravy]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone but, I just need something that is quick and easy for me to build the video reports, the reason I use word is that all my cleints are accountants and solicitors so all use office.

I have tried the embedded video thing in word a million times and when I transfer it to another pc, it asked for the video clips. As I mentioned in one of my last posts...it only gives me an option to activate the clip when it is in MOV format. When in any other format it just puts the link there.
And it wont activate anyway, it says the filename is bad. But the quicktime video works fine on its own.

I transfer these files though msn messenger by the way.

HTML is not realy an option as I haven't a clue about how to do it.

If someone can find a way with word or powerpoint it would be best.

I've just bought that Hero Video convert tool, thanks, I'm gonna try the animated gif thing next, I think.

If someone wants me to send them a useless video word doc to see what I mean with all this, let me know, I sooooo need to get this solved.

Keep on keepin' on

Jeff

[housepig]

HTML is not realy an option as I haven't a clue about how to do it.
If someone can find a way with word or powerpoint it would be best.

"I have a water balloon, and I want to drive nails. I know that a hammer will drive nails, but I don't want to learn how to use it. please tell me how I can drive nails with a water balloon."

If you want to spend a ton of time walking around in circles, bon apetit. from your previous description, you are trying to make Word do something it's not meant to do, with a file format it doesn't like, in a manner that's driving you crazy. so you are going to need to either

- find a way to get Word to work with the files you have, or
- change your file format, or
- change your application and use a document that supports more robust multimedia interaction (eg, HTML, Flash, Director, animated gifs, etc.)

if you want a quick fix and less headaches, hire it done. it'll be a lot easier on you.

[alchemistresearch]

If you want to stand out from the rest, put a bit of investment into a video server like Mats said.

Record your videos with a proper digital video camera - not a 15 second clip with your digi camera, it will look too tacky.

Then put the videos on your server and just give clients the web address. It really is quite easy and there are loads of people willing to help.

The idea you suggest just isn't very professional, and is sure to p*ss off some IT techies in the companies you are emailing. I know our sysadmin wouldn't stand for massive word documents coming into our systems this way.

Word is a word processor - not an all singing all dancing multmedia viewer. As a recipient I wouldn't be impressed to receive video in this way.

The HTML option is best. You can even improve on this by taking picture clips from the camera, in case people don't want to (or can't) view the video.

[TOMMO]

Why not simply use Power Point. That is the whole purpose of the program.

You can bundle the Microsoft Free Power Point Viewer with your presentation/report.

[Nelson37]

I agree with others on several points - you are using a tool that is not the best for the job, the pics are likely not of best quality, and the e-mailed file may be way too large. Web server probably the best solution.

I would bet money that the problem with your current method lies in the location of the files, is the message "invalid PATH or filename", or something similar? Check the properties of the embedded file, if they include a path then it won't work unless your client places the files in exactly the same location.

I would send a 720x480 MPEG1 still slideshow from a quality camera with voiceover. Can be made low bitrate, therefore small, and retain hi-quality because of the still shots. Voiceover commentary would eliminate the text altogether. Can easily apply menus for selectability. MPEG-1 means virtually any PC on the planet will play it right out of the box. Would strongly suggest NOT forcing client to install software of any kind on their PC just to view your presentation.

[Cornucopia]

Ok, I've just a couple of things to add...

1. The majority is right that Word isn't the optimal media player
2. But, it CAN do what you want it to, if you proceed correctly
3. You most likely have a problem with LINKING as opposed to embedding (read on...)
4. You probably also don't have compatible media infrastructures with your clients/audience
5. I just tried it and it worked ok (both AVI and MOV) on W98 & XP.

PowerPoint is better suited to what you want (if your main desire is multimedia presentation, along with some text documents). PPT comes with MOST versions of MSOffice, but not all.
An alternative would be to provide, as was previously stated, the free PPT viewer. 2 BIG problems with that.

1. It adds a good deal of extra SIZE to the equation.
2. PPT Viewer is crippled compared to PPT, particularly with regards to Multimedia and Object Linking/Embedding.

So... let's try out Word:

1. You must all have Word 97 or better (older versions have too many problems with media)
2. You must all have Directshow 3 or better (older versions don't allow correct media embedding for the various media types)
3. If you're using a .MOV file, you must have Quicktime installed on both the source computer and the client/audience computer. (Go with the latest--~v6+, don't use less than v4).
4. You must also have compatible video codecs on both source and destination computers--some are downloadable automatically, some aren't.
5. You MUST Embed the video, not link to it (unless you're doing a web link to a sharing internet server). If you do a local link, the link will break once you move the file off that computer. Sometimes this can be alleviated by creating the link when the DOC and MOV are in the same directory, but even this isn't foolproof.

Knowing all that--try this:

1. Open Word and Document.
2. Save Document if you haven't already
3. Move the MOV file to that same directory that the document is in
4. Do [Insert | Object] and Click [Create from File] tab
5. Click [Browse] button, should take you to same directory as file
6. Click to select and Click [Insert] button
7. DO NOT Click [Link to File] or [Display as Icon]
8. Save Your document

If THAT doesn't work--try this, it's almost foolproof:

1. --same as before--
2. --same as before--
3. --same as before--
4. Do [Insert | Object] and Click [Create New] tab
5. Scroll down to the [Package] Object (don't worry all Windows users have it)
6. Click [OK] button, "Object Packager" window will open
7. In Object Packager, Do [File | Import]
8. Scroll to MOV file, select and click [OK]. It will appear as Icon in OP window (left pane)
9. Do [File | Update] and then [File | Exit]
10. Save your document


You'll know you've done it right when your word doc is sized to include the media filesize + ~300kb for the embedding code + the size of the doc w/o any embedding.

HTH,
Scott