Video not playing properly in 2003 viewer

P

Peter B

I am trying to use Mpeg1 video files with PowerPoint 2003 and the
associated viewer.
However, I find they sometimes lock up during playback at about 30
seconds and sometimes advance to the next slide before finishing etc.

I have tried both automatic slide transition and timed to the video
length, neither seem to work, on automatic when the video freezes on a
frame it then progresses to the next slide. If timing is set it
freezes on that frame until the time limit is reached.

I have found 384x288 Constant bit rate 1150kb/s Mpeg1 work ok, though
their resolution is relatively poor as I need to play them full
screen. Historically I have only used these for people with NT
machines as other sizes will not play, but my preferred format is
800x600 (or 786x576) variable bit rate 2500kb/s (cannot use 2003
viewer with NT so might as well use better quality video). These do
not seem to like the 2003 viewer. I doubt it is the MCI as these files
play well with PowerPoint 2000 or XP.

I haven't tested it yet, but, previous versions of PowerPoint cannot
play AVI files using the Microsoft Mpeg4 v2 codec, I assume this is an
MCI issue so will not be different for 2003. Also I do not want to use
wmv, 1 they put black bars across the top and bottom forcing an aspect
ratio change and 2 this presentation will be distributed to a variety
of people and I do not want to force installation of Windows Media
Player 9 halfway through a presentation.

Ideally I would like a way of getting these Mpegs to play smoothly or
any suggestions for another video format/codec that supplies high
quality (relatively small file size as these will have to be read off
a CD) and playback with 2003 Viewer (without having to install any
third party software, therefore it would have to be available for
Windows 98SE or above). Any suggestions appreciated.

I have tested this on three machines, the slowest a PIII 500 up to a
P4 2500, both with 52X CDs, minimum 500MB Ram and also rebuild the
presentations on two different WinXP/Office 2003 machines. So far I
have not found any video format outside 384x288 CBR 1150kb/s Mpeg1
that will play with the 2003 Viewer?
 
P

Peter B

I am trying to use Mpeg1 video files with PowerPoint 2003 and the
associated viewer.
However, I find they sometimes lock up during playback at about 30
seconds and sometimes advance to the next slide before finishing etc.

I have tried both automatic slide transition and timed to the video
length, neither seem to work, on automatic when the video freezes on a
frame it then progresses to the next slide. If timing is set it
freezes on that frame until the time limit is reached.

I have found 384x288 Constant bit rate 1150kb/s Mpeg1 work ok, though
their resolution is relatively poor as I need to play them full
screen. Historically I have only used these for people with NT
machines as other sizes will not play, but my preferred format is
800x600 (or 786x576) variable bit rate 2500kb/s (cannot use 2003
viewer with NT so might as well use better quality video). These do
not seem to like the 2003 viewer. I doubt it is the MCI as these files
play well with PowerPoint 2000 or XP.

I haven't tested it yet, but, previous versions of PowerPoint cannot
play AVI files using the Microsoft Mpeg4 v2 codec, I assume this is an
MCI issue so will not be different for 2003. Also I do not want to use
wmv, 1 they put black bars across the top and bottom forcing an aspect
ratio change and 2 this presentation will be distributed to a variety
of people and I do not want to force installation of Windows Media
Player 9 halfway through a presentation.

Ideally I would like a way of getting these Mpegs to play smoothly or
any suggestions for another video format/codec that supplies high
quality (relatively small file size as these will have to be read off
a CD) and playback with 2003 Viewer (without having to install any
third party software, therefore it would have to be available for
Windows 98SE or above). Any suggestions appreciated.

I have tested this on three machines, the slowest a PIII 500 up to a
P4 2500, both with 52X CDs, minimum 500MB Ram and also rebuild the
presentations on two different WinXP/Office 2003 machines. So far I
have not found any video format outside 384x288 CBR 1150kb/s Mpeg1
that will play with the 2003 Viewer?




Well this is a little disappointing, it would appear PowerPoint 2003
Viewer is not capable of playing video (outside VCD compliant format)!
I had such high hopes…

I have now tested Microsoft Mpeg4 V2 and as expected it cannot play
properly, also WMV, no black bars or aspect ratio distortion, so that
is good, however, does not play smoothly and loses audio sync. Notable
is that the WMV file is smaller than the Mpeg1 (VCD compliant) and
therefore I conclude it is not the read speed of the CD-ROM that is
the issue, that leaves the Viewer.

Has anyone managed to effectively play Video with PowerPoint 2003
Viewer from a CD?
 

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