MACROMEDIA DIRECTOR MX-USING DIRECTOR MX, Use Manual

Page: 332 / 624

Chapter 13 332
Importing digital video
When you import QuickTime, RealMedia, or AVI digital video, the cast members you create
always remain linked to the original external file, even if you select the Standard Import option.
When you distribute a movie, you must always include all digital video files along with the movie.
QuickTime must be installed on a computer in order to author or play back a movie that contains
QuickTime digital video. RealPlayer 8 or RealOne Player must be installed on a computer to
author or play back a movie that contains RealMedia digital video.
Director converts an AVI video to QuickTime when it plays on a Macintosh.
For security reasons, Shockwave will link to media on a local disk only if it is in a folder named
dswmedia. To test movies in a browser locally before uploading them to your Internet server,
place the movie, linked casts, and linked media in folders within a dswmedia folder, and use
relative links to refer to them. In order for them to be accessible from your server, you must use
file and folder names that do not have spaces or capital letters and that have recognized file
extensions such as .dcr and .gif. For more information, see the Director Support Center website at
www.macromedia.com/support/director.
To import a digital video:
1
Select File > Import.
2
Select QuickTime, AVI (Windows only), or RealMedia (Windows only) from the Files of Type
pop-up menu.
3
Select the digital video files to import.
Because digital video is always imported as linked, you do not have to select an option in the
Media pop-up menu.
4
Click Import.
When you import an AVI file, you will be prompted to select QuickTime or AVI as the
import format.
If you select QuickTime, Director imports the video as a QuickTime Asset Xtra, which
provides additional playback options. See “Setting digital video cast member properties”
on page 333.
Using the Video window
Whether a digital video is a cast member or a sprite on the Stage, you can preview it in the Video
window. There are different versions of the window for QuickTime, RealMedia, and AVI movies.
To open the Video window, do either of the following actions:
•
Double-click a digital video cast member.
•
Select Window > QuickTime; Window > AVI Video; or Window > RealMedia.
The Video window appears.
If you are working with a QuickTime digital video, a video controller bar appears that lets you
start, stop, rewind, or forward the movie. With AVI, you can click the movie to start and stop it.
With RealMedia, you can use control buttons to start, stop, and rewind the movie.