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(Streaming) Video in PDF Functionality and other fun things.

Christopher.sharples
Registered: Sep 15 2009
Posts: 6

Hi guys,

I'm creating an internal nationwide newsletter for my company Opening in Full Screen. I've have a four minute video introduction from the chairman at the top of the page.

The Plan in theory is that the user will read the blurb then click on the poster of the video.

Then the video should open in a floating video (in the middle of the screen) and play automatically. And close when finished.

I've just used the insert video action in PDF. Used "clicked on content" floating window. Auto hide controls.

My problems are:

The floating window always appears in the top right, there is no setting on how to correct this.

The video doesn't automatically play. You have to move the mouse over the window to unhide the controls and press play on what look to be a blank window. Once the window opens id really like the video to start playing. then once its finished for the movie to close.

Also on some machines the timeline bar on the player has a bright green hatch across it. The video plays fine. I just want to know what it is.

From the research ive done, it seems this could be possible to do all in flash and insert a floating swf with the video.

But im quite a basic user in flash. So im looking for advice/help/moral support or just a nudge in the right direction.

Im using adobe pro extend 9.1. Ive got a flv 320x240 with is stream from my companies internal web server.

Chris

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro Extended 9.1.3, Windows
UVSAR
Expert
Registered: Oct 29 2008
Posts: 1357
In no particular order...

1) There is no way to set the position of a rich media floating window - until Acrobat's updated, the Javascript function required simply isn't there.

2) Video *should* play automatically when the floater opens, not sure why it's not doing so in your case.

3) Strange color effects are usually a problem with video drivers - overlaying the controller on the video sounds simple but takes a lot of crunching on the graphics card, and some will fall over.

4) You *can* close a SWF floater using a series of Actionscript and Javascript commands, but it's not trivial as the timing of the function calls is crucial to avoid a big, blood-soaked crash. See Joel Geraci's blog for an example in Flex (near the bottom):

http://blogs.adobe.com/pdfdevjunkie/acrobat/rich_media_annotations/

In your case, you'd make the ExternalInterface call when your streamed movie fires the event for playback completing, stop the video and wait for JS to tidy up the asset. Because you need to add Actionscript to the Flash timeline, you have to make your own player SWF instead of using Acrobat's "add video" button, so it's a lot of work for a rather trivial end result.
Christopher.sharples
Registered: Sep 15 2009
Posts: 6
Thanks for the reply,

I think your right about its alot of work for a rather trivial end result. I promised my client id investigate.

The only question I have is about the auto play. As I mentioned before The first time the user opens the pdf and clicks the Poster to play. The movie player activates (poster dissapears) but doesnt automatically play the movie, until you actually press play on the controls. However if you open the pdf a second time it all works perfectly. i was unaware of this problem till i tested it on other machines.

As people are only going to open this probebly the once id love the auto play to work first time.

Any ideas?

C
joshcorey
Registered: Jul 14 2008
Posts: 79
Can you test this (the auto play in floating window not working) again in the latest Acrobat update? This should be working just fine. If it does not would you be able to share a/your file for me to test?
daddydoggy2010
Registered: Jan 10 2010
Posts: 1
I create multimedia e-books using Desktop Author. I understand that Acrobat 9 pro extended will enable me to add "Rich Media" (alias multimedia?). Can someone tell me what specific multimedia goodies are included with 9 Pro Extended? Can I create PDFs with Video, sound, animation, pop-ups, other ? I am wondering if I should change horses: drop Desktop Author, and take the Great Leap Forward from Acrobat 8 Standard to Acrobat 9 Pro Extended. Based on what I have read the cost of upgrading 8 Standard to 9 Pro Extended would be considerable.