FAQ: Streaming QT media from a URL in Director 7.0.2 and Shockwave 7 via QT4
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Q: Can a Director 7.0.2 movie in Shockwave 7streamApple QuickTime media from a web server -- while the QuickTime media plays -- via Apple's QuickTime 4.x system extensions?
A: Yes. Streaming QuickTime media from a URL in Shockwave 7 via QuickTime 4 is a new feature of Director 7.0.2. This feature works on both Macintosh and Windows if QuickTime 4 is installed. Note that this streaming capability requires QuickTime 4 or higher -- QuickTime 3.x does not stream QuickTime media in Shockwave. There's information how to use this new feature in the Director 7.0.2 ReadMe and "Streaming QT media in Director 7.0.2 and Shockwave 7 via QT4" (TechNote 14016).
Q: Can QuickTime media play in Shockwave 7 in Netscape Navigator & Communicator and in Internet Explorer?
A: Yes. The implementation is the same for all browsers.
Q: Which version of Director, Shockwave and Apple's QuickTime system extensions are recommended for playing QuickTime media in Shockwave?
A: Director 7.0.2, Shockwave 7.0.2 and QuickTime 4 (or higher) system extensions are recommended. Previous versions of this software had different and more restrictive authoring and playback requirements.
Q: Does Shockwave 7 use Apple's QuickTime browser plugin to play QuickTime media?
A: No.
Q: To stream QuickTime media from a web server (URL), does Shockwave 7 require that Apple's QuickTime 4 (or higher) system extensions be installed?
A: Yes. The QuickTime 4 system extensions must be installed before attempting to stream a QuickTime sprite within a Director 7.0.2 movie in Shockwave 7, but the QuickTime system extensions do not have to be installed when the Director 7.0.2 movie itself begins playing.
Note: On Macintosh, a system restart is required after installation before the QuickTime system extension software is available to any application, including Shockwave. For details on installing and using the QuickTime system extensions, refer to Apple Computer.
Q: Can a Director 7 movie in Shockwave 7 detect if Apple's QuickTime system extensions are installed? How?
A: Yes. Use the Lingo "quickTimeVersion()". This command is described in Director 7's documentation and in "Streaming QT media in Director 7.0.2 and Shockwave 7 via QT4" (TechNote 14016).
Q: Can Shockwave 7 download or install Apple's QuickTime system extensions, automatically or otherwise?
A: No. Although a Director movie can use the Lingo "goToNetPage" to cause a browser to navigate to Apple's QuickTime web site, for security reasons Shockwave can not install 3rd party software. Follow Apple Computer's instructions for downloading, installing, distributing and licensing their QuickTime-related software.
Q: Should QuickTime media be flattened before use in Shockwave 7?
A: Yes -- if your audience includes Windows systems. Apple's QuickTime media must be flattened to play on Windows -- this is a QuickTime/Windows requirement, and not a Director-specific issue. Flattened QuickTime media can play on both Macintosh & Windows systems. Various applications can flatten QuickTime media, including Apple's QuickTime 4 "MoviePlayer Pro" and "Final Cut Pro", Macromedia's "SoundEdit 16 v.2.07", Adobe "Premiere 4 & 5" and so forth.
Q: Can a Director 7 movie control a QuickTime digital video sprite, even in Shockwave? How?
A: Yes. A Director 7 movie controls a QuickTime digital video sprite in Shockwave 7 the same way as in a projector. For the most part, the authoring techniques are identical. For example, you can use the QuickTime behaviors included in Director 7's Library Palette, and Lingo such as "movieTime", "movieRate" and so forth. For more information, refer to Director 7's documentation and "Streaming QT media in Director 7.0.2 and Shockwave 7 via QT4" (TechNote 14016) and "Digital video tips & tricks for Director (TechNote 12109).
Q: Does Shockwave 7 require that (linked) QuickTime media be located in a special directory when testing/playing from a local disk (e.g.: a hard disk, CD-ROM or non-TCP/IP LAN)?
A: Yes. QuickTime is always linked media, and for security reasons linked media on local disks must be in a directory named"dswmedia" when used with Shockwave 7. For more information, refer to "Director and Internet Security".
Q: What's the most common cause of poor QuickTime media performance in a Director 7.0.2 movie in Shockwave 7 via QuickTime4?
A: Using a QuickTime media file that has a data rate that is too high for the network connection or CPU. For related information, refer to "Streaming QT media in Director 7.0.2 and Shockwave 7 via QT4" (TechNote 14016). Achieving good picture quality and high frame rates at relatively low data rates may require the use of a 3rd party media optimization tool like "Media Cleaner Pro" from Terran Interactive. Refer also to Codec Central.
Q: Do older versions of Director, Shockwave and the QuickTime system extensions stream QuickTime media from a web server?
A: No. Using either Director 7.0 or QuickTime 3.x will not allow QuickTime media to stream in Shockwave 7.x. Only the combination of Director 7.0.2 and QuickTime 4 (or higher) allow streaming of QuickTime media in Shockwave 7.x.
Q: If Director 7.0 and the QuickTime 3.x system extensions can't stream QuickTime media from a web server URL while playing it, then what can they do with QuickTime media in Shockwave 7?
A: Director 7.0 and the QuickTime 3.x system extensions play QuickTime media in Shockwave 7 just like in the Director 7 authoring program or in a Director 7 projector -- they stream the QuickTime media from a local disk while it plays. However, the entire digital video file must first be completely downloaded from the server to the temp or cache folder on the local diskbefore the QuickTime digital video sprite starts to play from the local disk.
Downloading linked media under program control is handled (as with other linked media in Shockwave 7) using the Lingo "preloadNetThing" and "filename of member", as demonstrated in "Preloading QT media in Director 7.x and Shockwave 7.x via QT 3 or 4" (TechNote 13122). Normally, you wouldn't want or need to preload (download) the QuickTime media before playing it when using the combination of Director 7.0.2, Shockwave 7.x and QuickTime 4 -- instead, you'd play the QuickTime media while streaming it from the web server. But if you do want to download the linked QuickTime media before playing it, you must set the "streaming of member" property of the QuickTime cast member(s) "= FALSE" to disable the default streaming. This is also true if you're authoring in Director 7.0.2 for playback of QuickTime media in Shockwave 7 via QuickTime 3 instead of QuickTime 4. These and related topics are discussed in the Director 7.0.2 ReadMe, and "Streaming QT media in Director 7.0.2 and Shockwave 7 via QT4" (TechNote 14016) and TechNote 13122. Note: If a QuickTime digital video media file is large and the network connection slow, download times can be considerable. If this is the case, instead of downloading the QuickTime media before playing it, stream the QuickTime media while playing it using Director 7.0.2, Shockwave 7.x and the QuickTime 4.x system extensions (or higher) as described in TechNote 14016 -- or use a 3rd party digital video streaming technology.
Q: What are some other ways to stream digital video media from a URL in a browser?
A: There are 3rd party plugins and (Windows) ActiveX controls that support digital video streaming from a URL. For example, you can use Apple's QuickTime 4 plugin or the RealVideo player, etc. embedded in your HTML page, outside of and instead ofplaying the video in an embedded Shockwave 7 movie.
Q: So, what's the "best" or "easy" way to play QuickTime media in Shockwave 7 in a browser?
A: There isn't a "best" or "easy" way -- it depends on your design goals, intended target playback platform(s), media requirements, network connection, and so forth.
Q: What is the "QT3 Asset Xtra", and when is it needed?
A: Macromedia's QT3 Asset Xtra is included with Director 7 and is required at runtime if a Director 7 movie contains QuickTime media. Director 7 and Shockwave 7 can not play QuickTime media if the QT3 Asset Xtra is not installed at runtime. Also, Lingo such as "quickTimeVersion()" is provided by the QT3 Asset Xtra -- unless the Xtra is installed, the Lingo features of the Xtra are not available. The authoring version of this Xtra is only available as part of a Director 7.x installation; it's not available separately. The runtime version of the Xtra is also installed by Director 7.x, and is also available to Shockwave 7 end users as described below.
Q: Does Shockwave 7 automatically download and install Director 7's "QT3 Asset" Xtra from Macromedia's web site?
A: Yes. To enable this feature, the Director 7.0.2 movie must be authored with the "Download if needed" option selected in the Modify menu | Movie | Xtras dialog. If the user doesn't already have the "QT3 Asset" Xtra, Shockwave 7 downloads and installs it automatically when the end user loads an HTML page with embedded Shockwave 7 content that plays a Director 7 that contains QuickTime media. This is described in: "Streaming QT media in Director 7.0.2 and Shockwave 7 via QT4" (TechNote 14016) and "Xtras downloading overview" (TechNote 13653).
Q: Can I play QuickTime VR (QTVR-2) digital video media in a Director 7.0.2 movie in Shockwave 7.x via the QuickTime 4 system extensions?
A: Yes. Apple's QuickTime 4 system extensions can play QTVR-2 digital video media sprites in Director 7 movies in Shockwave 7.x. The authoring and runtime requirements are the same as with other QuickTime assets, as described above.
Q: Can Video for Windows (.AVI) digital video media play in Director 7.0.2 in Shockwave 7 via Apple's QuickTime 4 system extensions?
A: Yes. Apple's QuickTime 4 system extensions can play .AVI media on both Macintosh and Windows. To do this, use Apple's MoviePlayer Pro to convert the AVI to QuickTime media before importing it into Director 7.0.2. The authoring and runtime requirements are the same as with other QuickTime assets -- including streaming from a URL an so forth. -- as described above.
Q: Can MPEG-1 digital video media play in Director 7.0.2 and Shockwave 7 via Apple's QuickTime 3 & 4 system extensions?
A: Yes and no. Apple's QuickTime 3 & 4 system extensions can play MPEG-1 media on Macintosh only -- not on Windows. Before playing the MPEG-1 media on Mac, use Apple's MoviePlayer Pro to convert the MPEG-1 to QuickTime media before importing it into Director 7.0.2. The authoring and runtime requirements are the same as with other QuickTime assets, as described above. For information on the media types supported by the QuickTime system extensions, refer to the Apple's "QuickTime 4 Fact Sheet" on Apple Computer's web site.
Q: Can I play AVI media in a Director 6 - 7 movie in Shockwave 7.x without using QuickTime 3 or 4?
A: Yes, but only on Windows, and the AVI media must be completely downloaded to the end user's machine before it begins to play. For more information, refer to the note at the end of "Preloading QT media in Director 7.x and Shockwave 7.x via QT 3 or 4" (TechNote 13122).
Q: What about playing other digital video media types -- like MPEG-2 or RealVideo and so forth -- in Shockwave?
A: If the media format is one that is supported by QuickTime 3 or 4, then Director 7.x and Shockwave 7.x can probably play it. Currently, QuickTime 3 & 4 do not support MPEG-2 or RealVideo media. For information on the media types supported by the QuickTime system extensions, refer to Apple Computer.
Q: Are there Windows-specific configuration requirements for playing QuickTime media in Director 7.0.2 and Shockwave 7 via Apple's QuickTime 4 system extensions?
A: No. If Apple's QuickTime 4 system extensions are properly installed on the end user's Windows system, an appropriately authored Director 7.0.2 movie will stream and play QuickTime media in Shockwave 7.
Q: Are there Macintosh-specific configuration requirements for playing QuickTime media in Director 7.0.2 and Shockwave 7 via Apple's QuickTime 4 system extensions?
A: No. If Apple's QuickTime 4 system extensions are properly installed on the end user's Macintosh system, an appropriately authored Director 7.0.2 movie will stream and play QuickTime media in Shockwave 7.
Q: Wow, Director and Shockwave can do a lot, but I want more! Where can I Email Director and Shockwave product feature requests, suggestions, and comments?
A: Director and Shockwave product feature requests, suggestions and comments can be Emailed directly to the Director product development team via:
mailto:wish-director@macromedia.com.
TechNote revision history:
3/23/99 - Revised for Director 7 and Shockwave 7.
8/16/99 - Revised for streaming QuickTime media in Director 7.0.2, QuickTime 4.x and Shockwave 7.0.2.
8/23/99 - Correction: QT 3 & 4 do not support MPEG-1 playback on Windows. Refer to the Apple's "QuickTime 4 Fact Sheet" for details.
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