Trouble with Embedded Video Windows Media Player

[SMD1964]

I have read a lot of posts on this topic already and I think I've done
everything according to all past suggestions, but I'm still having trouble.
I have download the Windows Media Player Add-In v. 9&10 from the Microsoft
site. I have imported it into my website. I have opened up the page that I
want it to appear on and then selected INSERT>WEB COMPONENTS>ADDITIONAL
COMPONENTS>WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER ADD IN
I have then followed the Add In Wizard and selected the .wmv file from a
folder in my website. The player shows up on my unpublished page. I publish
the page out to the live server and when I open in Firefox, the page does not
show the player. When I look at the page in Explorer, the player is there,
however, it does not play my video. Can someone please tell me what I'm
doing wrong? You can look at the code at:
www.philipgulley.org/TESPAGE3.htm
Thank you!

 

[uisken]

I had the same results as you had, except that mine now plays OK with IE. I
managed to find a Media Player plug-in for Firefox, and installed it, but
still couldn't get the embedded media player to show on the screen, so I
gave up.

I also ran into the same problem that you are having with IE (player shows
up but no media will play). For the life of me, I'm not sure how I fixed
that, but I have a test page that works. As I recall, that problem arose for
me when I attempted to add a title, artist, track art to a page playing an
audio WMA file.

You can compare my code with yours if you like, to see if you can spot
anything obvious.

BTW, you gave an incorrect link to your page - you meant TESTPAGE3.htm - not
TESPAGE3.htm.

My test page http://valiantmusic.com/test.htm

 

[uisken]

I just thought of something else. In looking through your code, I noticed
references to the 'Media' folder. That reminded me of something. Some of
the advice that I received in this forum stated that I needed to have my
media file already in my hard drive web before I went through the WMP Wizard.
They advised to use File / Import to do this. When I did, I noticed that a
Media folder was generated and the file was put in there. So when the Wizard
asked for the location of my clip, I navigated to the Media folder. That's
when I got the same results you are getting - player shows, but can't connect
to the media. Since your code references a Media folder, I assume you did
the same thing.

Anyway, I ended up using good old copy/paste to put my file in the root
directory of my web on the hard drive, and directed the Wizard to that file
rather than the one in the Media folder. I don't know whether it was
coincidence or not, but it seemed to work OK after that. You might give that
a try when all else fails.

 

[SMD1964]

UISKEN
Thanks for your responses. I actually did not have it pointed to the video
in the media file, but had a separate file that I had created for Videos. So
I tried your suggestion, hoping it would help. Unfortunately, I am still
having the same problem. It does not show up at all in Firefox, the player
is in Explorer but won't play the video. I feel like I've beaten this to
death, but I'm sure that there is some easy fix that I am just not aware of.
Any other suggestions would be welcome!

 

[uisken]

Is the separate folder (Videos) that you use actually part of the web?
Everything I have read seems to indicate that it must be present in the web
(not in a separate location). I just looked at your code again (maybe you
haven't republished) and your WMV file is still in a 'Media' folder. Did you
try putting it in the root directory of your web?

If it's not too large, you could send me the clip and I will see if I can
figure out something. (e-mail address removed)

BTW, I assume the test page that I sent you works OK -right?

 

[Dan L]

A couple of points that may help. First, it appears that the video file that
you're trying to show has not been uploaded to the web server, it's
referenced on a local drive (C:\Stacey's Websites\GraceTalks\media\Philip
Gulley Windows Media web video.wmv). Make sure you import it into your web
before linking to it and uploading it to the web. Secondly, your file name
has spaces in it that may also cause problems when trying to link to it.

 

[SMD1964]

Dan L - I have fixed what you suggested, however, still not working Any
other suggestions? I have created a new test page with the fixes that you
suggested. Please see www.philipgulley.org/TESTPAGE
Thanks!

 

[SMD1964]

UISKEN - Yes, it is in my root directory. I had imported it in. I have
followed some additional suggestions from Dan L and I'm still having trouble.
BTW -I could not access your test page.

 

[uisken]

I just downloaded your code plus the 3 jpg files and then opened it with
Frontpage. I then deleted your MediaPlayer addin, and inserted my own.
Since I didn't have your WMV file, I used my own. I couldn't publish it on
my site, because I was afraid I would overwrite some of my files, so I used
'preview in browser'. It came up fine and played the WMV file. So it can be
done. Don't understand why you can't do it. Even though I couldn't publish
the page, I managed to get a snapshot of the page running in 'preview in
browser'. You can see an image in the Media Player.
http://valiantmusic.com/screenclip.gif

 

[SMD1964]

DAN L - Sorry, new test page is actually at www.philipgulley.org/TESTPAGE4.
Thanks!

 

[SMD1964]

UISKEN - I had never even been able to preview! BTW, when you did preview,
which browser(s) did you use? I have read other messages that say that this
is not compatible with Firefox at all.
Also, I wonder if because I have the latest version of WMP (11) on my
computer if this prevents me from viewing?? I am just stumped!
I actually have this video out on my website as a plug-in, so it is
publishable and useable, but not how I had intended to display it.
I had initially tried a different method for putting video out there -
Insert>Picture>Video, however when I would try that, I would get a broken
picture icon and it would not publish that way either.

 

[uisken]

I previewed it using IE7; I also have WMP11; so we seem to be in sync there.
And, you're right, it doesn't work with Firefox.

Since the video is on your web and is playable, you always have the option
of just having a 'link' on your home page to this video, rather than the WMP
addin. Granted, this opens another separate page, but if you can't get the
addin working, this is an option.

In the meantime, can you do me a favor? Open this site and tell me if it
plays the video clip. I don't have 'autostart' enabled so you'll have to
click the play button.
http://valiantmusic.com/test.htm

Based on your results, maybe I can send you step by step, detailed
instructions on what I did to get this to work.

 

[SMD1964]

Ok, Firefox was just a blank screen, it played just fine on IE, I also tried
to view it on Opera which just gives me a black box where the Media Player is
supposed to be and on Safari the Player is there, but the controls are greyed
out. So, it really does not seem very compatible with anything other than
IE, so maybe not the best option. That video you sent was pretty funny!

 

[uisken]

Based on your comments, it sounds like you are deciding to abandon the
embedded video approach and go with a link from the home page to your video.
(BTW, that's what I decided on also because so many people are using
Firefox). In any event, if you still want to go with the embedded aproach,
let me know and I will work with you until it works.

 

[SMD1964]

Thanks for taking the time to help me. I just don't know what else to do if
Firefox can't read it.