Media Player

[Dermot]

I have created some software demo videos which are compiled as wmv file (need the small file size). I am using an AMS app with the MediaPlayer plugin to allow the user to browse and view the videos.

All works well except for one problem. The videos were recorded at 800 x 600. I display the videos in the MediaPlayer plugin on the page and I have a button you can click to make the video go full screen. The problem is that if the users screen is set to a higher resolution than 800 x 600 the videos are stretched to fill the screen which makes them look really bad.

Is there any way to force Media Player to play the video at the resolution it was recorded at even when set to full screen. I know this is not an AMS issue but rather a Media Player issue but I am hoping someone has solved this some how.

I am beginning to think I have wasted my time with WMV files and Media Player and need to switch to AVI and the Camtasia Player but the files are so much bigger

Thanks in advance.

[Corey]

Hi. What happens if you deploy them in a project which is set to 800 X 600, kiosk mode? I might be wrong but I think this would give you full screen at 800 X 600 and "original size" video with a black matte at higher resolutions.

[Worm]

Turn off the context menu and use something like this to resize the plugin in your button

Plugin.SetPos("MediaPlayer", YourX, YourY)
Plugin.SetSize("MediaPlayer", 800, 600)

[Dermot]

Thanks for the replies.

I am using the MediaPlayer action as below:

MediaPlayer.SetFullScreen("Player", true)

This basicaly opens Windows Media Player in full screen mode and it continues playing the video that is playing in the MediaPlayer object on the AMS page. When you close full screen mode in Windows Media Player the video just goes back to playing in the MediaPlayer object on the page. It's great feature but you have no way to specify the size.

Turn off the context menu and use something like this to resize the plugin in your button

Yes Worm this might be the best option, just resize the control to take up the full page at 800 x 600 and not use the SetFullScreen action.

I just wish there was a way to force MediaPlayer to play a video at the correct resolution. I don't mind if on larger resolutions there is empty space around the video, at least the video won't be distorted. I find it hard to believe that Media Player does not let you do this, unless I am missing something.

What happens if you deploy them in a project which is set to 800 X 600, kiosk mode? I might be wrong but I think this would give you full screen at 800 X 600 and "original size" video with a black matte at higher resolutions.

Thanks Corey, I can't use Kiosk mode but otherwise what you suggest is the same as Worm.

Thanks guys.

[Corey]

Perhaps creating a second [kiosk mode] app just to show the videos which launches and closes via your main app?

[Dermot]

Perhaps creating a second [kiosk mode] app just to show the videos which launches and closes via your main app?

After much testing I think yes Corey that is the only solution. A second app in kiosk mode to show the video. That way I can make the MediaPlayer object 800 x 600 and I don't have to worry about the task bar and the video will look perfect.

Thanks Corey, I was just about to scrap the whole Media Player thing.

[Corey]

No problem. If it makes you feel any better I've also wrestled with this very conundrum many times, particularly during the production of the Speedy Training CDs. For me the end solution was just to deploy everything as .AVI [Camtasia] and let people watch them in their own media player if they like, but that worked for us because we had enough room to fit all the content on the CDs... Tricky stuff. Glad to hear you got a workable solution.

[Dermot]

Works perfectly