Powerpoint 2002 and mpeg files

[Tim Wentworth]

I have been unable to insert an mpeg video file into a Powerpoint slide.
I'm wondering whether PP is designed to handle them.

I have two versions of PP - both 2002, but one is SP2 and the other is not
updated. The older version allows me to insert the mpeg file, but won't
play the video in the slide show. In SP2, however, I can't even insert the
mpeg file - the list of video files it handles does not include mpeg, and
when I try to force it (by selecting "All Files" and then the mpeg video),
it says "Powerpoint couldn't insert a movie from the selected file."

So, my guess is that PP 2002 never could handle mpeg video files, but MS did
not realize this until after its release. By SP2, MS deleted even the
ability to insert an mpeg file.

Can anyone confirm this? Is the only solution to convert the mpeg to
another format, like wmv?

 

[Echo S]

Your conclusion isn't correct. PPT can indeed handle MPEGs.

You may have an issue with hijacked MCI settings or missing codecs or
something.

See http://www.soniacoleman.com/Tutorials/PowerPoint/multimedia.htm for info
on how PPT handles multimedia (including MPEG).
See http://www.pfcmedia.com for a nice utility that will probably solve your
playing problems.

 

[Tim Wentworth]

The mpegs play in both Windows Media 9 and 10 - so it's not a codec problem.
In my version of PP 2002 SP2, mpeg capability is clearly excluded. If you
go to Insert: Movies and Sounds: Movie from File, you'll see the list of
approved video types, and mpg is not one of them.

Your conclusion isn't correct. PPT can indeed handle MPEGs.

You may have an issue with hijacked MCI settings or missing codecs or
something.

See http://www.soniacoleman.com/Tutorials/PowerPoint/multimedia.htm for
info
on how PPT handles multimedia (including MPEG).
See http://www.pfcmedia.com for a nice utility that will probably solve
your
playing problems.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

I have been unable to insert an mpeg video file into a Powerpoint slide.
I'm wondering whether PP is designed to handle them.

I have two versions of PP - both 2002, but one is SP2 and the other is
not
updated. The older version allows me to insert the mpeg file, but won't
play the video in the slide show. In SP2, however, I can't even insert the
mpeg file - the list of video files it handles does not include mpeg, and
when I try to force it (by selecting "All Files" and then the mpeg
video),
it says "Powerpoint couldn't insert a movie from the selected file."

So, my guess is that PP 2002 never could handle mpeg video files, but MS did
not realize this until after its release. By SP2, MS deleted even the
ability to insert an mpeg file.

Can anyone confirm this? Is the only solution to convert the mpeg to
another format, like wmv?

 

[Echo S]

Did you try testing the MPEGs in the MCI Media player as described in the
first link I mentioned below? If not, do so, please.

If the files don't play in the MCI Media Player, they're not going to play
in PPT.

As far as MPEG missing from your Insert/Movies and Sounds/Movie From File
dialog, resize the dialog by dragging the left/right sides so you can see
everything in the list in the "files of type" area.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

The mpegs play in both Windows Media 9 and 10 - so it's not a codec problem.
In my version of PP 2002 SP2, mpeg capability is clearly excluded. If you
go to Insert: Movies and Sounds: Movie from File, you'll see the list of
approved video types, and mpg is not one of them.

Your conclusion isn't correct. PPT can indeed handle MPEGs.

You may have an issue with hijacked MCI settings or missing codecs or
something.

See http://www.soniacoleman.com/Tutorials/PowerPoint/multimedia.htm for
info
on how PPT handles multimedia (including MPEG).
See http://www.pfcmedia.com for a nice utility that will probably solve
your
playing problems.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

I have been unable to insert an mpeg video file into a Powerpoint slide.
I'm wondering whether PP is designed to handle them.

I have two versions of PP - both 2002, but one is SP2 and the other is
not
updated. The older version allows me to insert the mpeg file, but won't
play the video in the slide show. In SP2, however, I can't even insert the
mpeg file - the list of video files it handles does not include mpeg, and
when I try to force it (by selecting "All Files" and then the mpeg
video),
it says "Powerpoint couldn't insert a movie from the selected file."

So, my guess is that PP 2002 never could handle mpeg video files, but

MS
did

not realize this until after its release. By SP2, MS deleted even the
ability to insert an mpeg file.

Can anyone confirm this? Is the only solution to convert the mpeg to
another format, like wmv?

 

[Austin Myers]

If i can jump in for a minute. Comments in line.

The mpegs play in both Windows Media 9 and 10 - so it's not a codec

problem.

Sorry but no. The ablitiy to play them in WMP is meaningless when it comes
to PowerPoint or more accurately the MCI media player which is what
Powerpoint calls on for medai support.

In my version of PP 2002 SP2, mpeg capability is clearly excluded. If you
go to Insert: Movies and Sounds: Movie from File, you'll see the list of
approved video types, and mpg is not one of them.

Then as Echo suggested, some other application has changed your system
settings. I assure you, PowerPoint 2002 is fully capable of dealing with
Mpeg files. HOWEVER, you MUST have a DVD decoder installed on the machine
to play Mpeg-2. (That is the format for all DVD's and it does not ship
with Windows.) But if as you say, Mpeg is not listed as a possible file
types then something is wrong in your system settings.

If you can give me some idea of what multimedia applications you have
installed I'll see if I can lend a hand.


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Solutions to Multimedia in PowerPoint www.pfcmedia.com

 

[Tim Wentworth]

I'm obviously going to need more help, guys.

(1) No, there is no mpg or mpeg in the "files of type" area. The complete
list is: avi, cda, asf, asx, ivf, m3u, snd, wm, wmp, wmv, wmx, wvx, wpl.

(2) Yes, my mpegs play in MCI media player.

(3) Yes, I do have a DVD decoder on my system (Intervideo WinDVD4) -
otherwise I would not be able to play DVDs in WMP10, which I can.

As far as multimedia applications, I have many, many. Is there something
that's known to cause this behaviour?

 

[Echo S]

Since your files play in the MCI media player and you have many multimedia
applications, you might want to check this:

http://www.echosvoice.com/tshoot_video2.htm

 

[Tim Wentworth]

OK, I figured this out. It was a file type association problem. On my
computer, mpeg files were set to open with PowerDVD, not WMP. I changed it
back, and now PP lists mpeg files in the "files of type" area. I don't see
any reason why it should behave like this, but at least there was a fairly
simple solution.

Since your files play in the MCI media player and you have many multimedia
applications, you might want to check this:

http://www.echosvoice.com/tshoot_video2.htm

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

I'm obviously going to need more help, guys.

(1) No, there is no mpg or mpeg in the "files of type" area. The
complete
list is: avi, cda, asf, asx, ivf, m3u, snd, wm, wmp, wmv, wmx, wvx, wpl.

(2) Yes, my mpegs play in MCI media player.

(3) Yes, I do have a DVD decoder on my system (Intervideo WinDVD4) -
otherwise I would not be able to play DVDs in WMP10, which I can.

As far as multimedia applications, I have many, many. Is there something
that's known to cause this behaviour?

 

[Echo S]

Very interesting. I'd not heard of that before, and it's not something I
would have thought to suggest. (Obviously!)

Thanks for posting back with this information. I'm sure it will help others
in future.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

OK, I figured this out. It was a file type association problem. On my
computer, mpeg files were set to open with PowerDVD, not WMP. I changed it
back, and now PP lists mpeg files in the "files of type" area. I don't see
any reason why it should behave like this, but at least there was a fairly
simple solution.

Since your files play in the MCI media player and you have many multimedia
applications, you might want to check this:

http://www.echosvoice.com/tshoot_video2.htm

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

I'm obviously going to need more help, guys.

(1) No, there is no mpg or mpeg in the "files of type" area. The
complete
list is: avi, cda, asf, asx, ivf, m3u, snd, wm, wmp, wmv, wmx, wvx, wpl.

(2) Yes, my mpegs play in MCI media player.

(3) Yes, I do have a DVD decoder on my system (Intervideo WinDVD4) -
otherwise I would not be able to play DVDs in WMP10, which I can.

As far as multimedia applications, I have many, many. Is there something
that's known to cause this behaviour?



If i can jump in for a minute. Comments in line.


The mpegs play in both Windows Media 9 and 10 - so it's not a codec
problem.

Sorry but no. The ablitiy to play them in WMP is meaningless when it
comes
to PowerPoint or more accurately the MCI media player which is what
Powerpoint calls on for medai support.

In my version of PP 2002 SP2, mpeg capability is clearly excluded. If
you
go to Insert: Movies and Sounds: Movie from File, you'll see the

list
of

approved video types, and mpg is not one of them.


Then as Echo suggested, some other application has changed your system
settings. I assure you, PowerPoint 2002 is fully capable of dealing with
Mpeg files. HOWEVER, you MUST have a DVD decoder installed on the machine
to play Mpeg-2. (That is the format for all DVD's and it does not
ship
with Windows.) But if as you say, Mpeg is not listed as a possible
file
types then something is wrong in your system settings.

If you can give me some idea of what multimedia applications you have
installed I'll see if I can lend a hand.


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Solutions to Multimedia in PowerPoint www.pfcmedia.com