Media Player

[Denise]

Why do my movies (.mov or .avi) open a Media Player Window rather than
inserting and playing directly in PowerPoint? I'm using PowerPoint 2003.

 

[John Wilson]

Did you use insert > movies & sounds to add them?

 

[Austin Myers]

Sounds like you are dragging and dropping the video on the slide. bad idea.
Instead use the Insert function from the menu.


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCPro, PFCMedia and PFCExpress
www.playsforcertain.com

 

[Denise]

Yes, I inserted by selecting: Insert / Movies and Sounds / Movie from file.
I had no problem achieving this in PowerPoint 2000, but since we upgraded to
PowerPoint 2003, the movie opens MediaPlayer rather than simply playing it
within PowerPoint. These .avi files are large, so they are linking, not
embedding. Is there some default setting within PowerPoint? Older
presentations that were created in PP 2000 that contained .avi or .mov files
will not play in 2003.

 

[Denise]

No, I inserted by selecting: Insert / Movies and Sounds / Movie from file.
I had no problem achieving this in PowerPoint 2000, but since we upgraded to
PowerPoint 2003, the movie opens MediaPlayer rather than simply playing it
within PowerPoint. These .avi files are large, so they are linking, not
embedding. Is there some default setting within PowerPoint? Older
presentations that were created in PP 2000 that contained .avi or .mov files
will not play in 2003.

 

[Michael Koerner]

FYI All files with the exception of WAV (depending on size and setting) are
linked and not embedded

 

[Michael Koerner]

FYI All files with the exception of WAV (depending on size and setting) are
linked and not embedded

 

[Denise]

Found the answer! In fact, my PC used Media Player, not the mplay32.exe
found in the Windows / System 32 / folder. Once I changed the application
used to open .mov, .mpg, and .avi to the mplay.exe, the files opened properly.

Thanks,

 

[Michael Koerner]

Great, thanks for getting back to us with your success.

 

[Austin Myers]

Let me ask, you say these are large files, how large is large?

Found the answer! In fact, my PC used Media Player, not the mplay32.exe
found in the Windows / System 32 / folder.

Umm, no, afraid it doesn't work like that, file association plays no real
part in it. I only wish that were the case.

Once I changed the application used to open .mov, .mpg, and .avi to the
mplay.exe, the files opened properly.

As I said, that really should have nothing to do with it and you should be
aware only very old mov files (QT version 2 or earlier) will play in
PowwerPoint. Not certain what you did do but glad you got it working!

Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCPro, PFCMedia and PFCExpress
www.playsforcertain.com