Looping not working for .mov inserted using InDesign in interactive pdf, viewed in Acrobat

[Mathew36218627pe4i]

Hi,

I have followed the instructions in this Adobe article: https://www.adobe.com/au/acrobat/roc/blog/how-to-add-gifs-to-pdf.html. I have inserted a .mov file into the InDesign file, and have selected the "Play in loop" option in the media controls. I have also selected the "Play on page load" option.

I then export as an Interactive PDF, and open in Acrobat (fresh install today). The file plays on page load only after giving the file permission.

The problem: The file does not play in a loop, it plays once and defaults back to the poster frame. There are also no controls that allow it to be restarted.

I believe I have followed only steps specified by Adobe, so I don't understand why this isn't working as expected. Any suggestions?

(I am on a Mac, if relevant)

[leo.r]

Interactive elements will not work reliably in PDF. Even if you manage to make it work in Acrobat, there's no guarantee they will work in the myriad of other PDF viewers that people are using. It's unfortunate that the Adobe article you linked to doesn't mention this.

[Mathew36218627pe4i]

I have seen this comment in other posts, I am aware of the issues with other viewers.

I am simply trying to get this working in Acrobat. I am operating entirely in the Adobe ecosystem, hence why I am confused with this issue. 

[leo.r]

I have seen this comment in other posts, I am aware of the issues with other viewers.

I am simply trying to get this working in Acrobat. I am operating entirely in the Adobe ecosystem, hence why I am confused with this issue. 

By @Mathew36218627pe4i

As far as I know, there's no guarantee it will work in Acrobat either. (If someone's aware of a proven way to make it work in Acrobat, I'm sure they'll chime in.)

[BobLevine]

Anyone who is actually getting it to work is jumping through some crazy hoops. Video in a PDF is a fool's errand at this point. 

[Frans v.d. Geest]

You mention inserting gif but then you say you inserted a .mov. ?

A .mov is not a gif, so I am a bit confused what you are asking now.
Anyway, a .mov will not work in a pdf, a gif should work but not in every pdf reader out there.

My advice, and Bob Levine will second this, forget 'interactive pdf' for this kind of stuff as 90% will not work. Use Publish online instead when you really want this interactivity.

[BobLevine]

90% is being awfully generous. It's a complete waste of time to even try.

[leo.r]

You mention inserting gif but then you say you inserted a .mov. ?

A .mov is not a gif, so I am a bit confused what you are asking now.

By @Frans v.d. Geest

That's because the Adobe blog OP linked to instructs to first resave the GIF as .mov, then work with the .mov file in InDesign.

[Mathew36218627pe4i]

Exactly, thank you.

[Mathew36218627pe4i]

I guess it just blows my mind that Adobe as created the workflow to do what I'm trying to do, has created a blog post about exactly what I'm trying to do, the software has tools to do what I'm trying to do, and yet it still doesn't work.

I don't think I'm being unreasonable to expect the software to do what it says it will do. But I've heard you and Bob loud and clear, "don't bother". Maybe Adobe can remove their blog post then, if they're not going to actually support the functionality they describe. 

[Frans v.d. Geest]

Adobe should really remove those out of date webpages...!

[BobLevine]

Yes, they should absolutely remove any reference to multimedia in PDF.

This is nothing new. I wrote about it almost 10 years ago: It's okay to say no to interactive PDF

[Mike Witherell]

BTW, it should not be a .mov file added to an Acrobat PDF. It should be a .mp4 file that is H.264 encoded. (If you really must embed a video file in an Acrobat-only desktop app world).