Embedding video

Once you have your video in a suitable format for online delivery, how do you embed the video clip onto a web page, rather than linking to an external player? This page explains how to get the best results.

Download the sample files: Video.zip

Step 1: Create and Upload Video

To deliver high quality video over the University network or over the internet, the video must be compressed into a web playable format. The University currently supports the Real Media format of video for the delivery of video in the way, as the file size is quite small compared to the high quality of the video clip.

To produce a piece of Real Media video, you need to capture video onto the computer from an existing source e.g VHS video tape, Mini DV. If the video has already been captured and can be viewed on a computer then the file must be changed into the Real Media format using the Real Producer software.

Real Producer is available on the University Network from : Application Explorer – Internet Utilities – Real Producer

You must install the application before you can produce your video files. A free version of this software can also be downloaded for home installation from the Real Networks website www.realnetworks.com/products/producer/index.html

Once the application has been installed, download the file guide1.rpjf and save to your computer. Open Real Producer (if it is not already open) and select: File – Open Job and select guide1.rpjf which you should have downloaded to your computer from this webpage. The file will now open in Real Producer, follow the instructions below to create a new video clip.

Select ‘Browse’ beneath the left hand video window, and locate the video clip on your computer you would like to run through Producer.
Double click the file ‘1.rm’ beneath the second video window, this will open a new window asking for a filename for the output video. Type in the filename you want and select the location on your computer where the new file will be created.
Click ‘Encode’ to begin the process. A percentage bar will be displayed displaying the progress.

Once the file is completed, you will need to send the finished file to your Faculty Technicians or to the LDU who will place the file onto the video server and provide you with a URL link to the file which can be placed in WebCT.

To access a full screen recording of how to produce Real Media files click the link:- http://breeze01.uclan.ac.uk/p17849664/

Step 2: Edit RPM File

Example RPM File:

rtsp://dolphins.uclan.ac.uk/Content/lbs/strategy/mk3032/goldfish.rm
--stop--
pnm://dolphins.uclan.ac.uk/Content/lbs/strategy/mk3032/goldfish.rm

The RPM file is a text file with an rpm extension. For example: technicians.rpm
The RPM file tells the Web browser where to find your video on the video server.
Notice the spacing between each line of text—do not delete.
You must change both video paths. (Shown in the example above in bold italics)
The LDU will provide you with the path to your video file.

Step 3: Create and Upload Web Page

Note: Two example Web pages templates are provided in the download files. You should use the one which matches your video size—either 320x240 pixels or 240x180 pixels.

The Web pages are fully commented so that you know exactly what you should change. Comments look like this:-

The Web page can be edited in a simple text editor such as Notepad or a full WYSIWYG program such as Macromedia Dreamweaver.
There are 8 things to change in the Web page template.

Page Title—displayed top left of browser window
Page Header—displayed top centre of the Web page
Name of RPM File—needs adding in 3 places
Name of Video (RM File)
Serverpath—the name of the directory on the server where your video is stored
Optional—A brief sentence or paragraph describing the video

IMPORTANT: Your Web page and RPM file must be in the same directory in your Web site.

Problems?

Contact: Kevan Williams / Mick Wood, Telephone: 01772– 892760 / 892763, email: kwilliams@uclan.ac.uk / mawood@uclan.ac.uk