Playing Embedded Video without flash

[Sreekanth_S]

Hi

We are creating some interactive PDFs by embedded relevant videos at the end of each topic using Acrobat DC. However, when the end user opens the PDFs, Acrobat Reader asks for Flash Player. 

Now that Flash Player has officially been given a 'dead'line, is there any way we can play embedded videos without Flash Player? Or, is there any other workaround for embedding itself? We don't want to upload these to YouTube as our audience may not always have internet connection when viewing.

Regards

Sreekanth

[sreuter]

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@sreuter wrote:

Hi Himanshu, 

I am using Acrobat Pro Version 21.01.01 (20210204.105909).

I want to play an old file (attached) created with Adobe Presenter 7.0 - its just slides an voice.

Tried to make it work as per your discription - but failed. Could not find Acrobat Preferences either. 

Kindly advise

Stefan

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OK - found the preferences and did the changes, but still am unable to "play" the file (just blank white screen...)

Thank you

[hsagar]

@sreuter 

Unfortunately, your PDF is RichMedia Flash content i.e SWF file(actually a bunch of SWF files). As earlier stated, we cannot play this format because of reasons mentioned above.

[fatahd48592074]

its a very bad decession by Adobe

we also have hundreds of documents and which the video are embeded in the PDF so now no one cal play it.

Adobe had to find a solution before discounting to adobe flash.

so we have to find a solution from other companies PDF

[Derek Cross]

Blame Apple for not supporting Flash, not Adobe.

[USJeepGirl]

I'm using Windows. Not a Mac. For work at least. At home I prefer Mac. 

[USJeepGirl]

Hello-

Has anyone found a solution for this?

We have created a PDF file with Acrobat DC (we are up to date), and embedded an MP4 that was created with Adobe Captivate video.  We are having the following issues and could use some guidance:

1. When sending video to others for testing, some groups get the Flashplayer error (Note this is an MP4 we embedded not a swf or flv).  Image of error that appears in the PDF is attached below.  
2. Other groups have to make the file a trust file in order to see it play.
3. No playbar ability. Users cannot stop or pause video.
4. When I try to load a PNG as a poster I get an error message. 

The goal with interactive PDF is to create a manual where users can read the steps to perform an action and then watch a video tutorial of it being done.  Most of our users cannot watch it on line because they do not have connectivity all the time. So they need to be able to double-click and the PDF loads and plays the video(s) as needed.

Any help with this? 

Thank you!

[hsagar]

@USJeepGirl 

This Blue F-i Symbol means that Acrobat is trying to play with Flash player. This can mean two things:

1. You have not updated your Acrobat/Reader and you need to update it.
2. Your content is not mp4.

Please see to it that both of above situations are false. Please revert back after updating your installation.

Secondly, Trusting the file is an expected step for people who have NOT enabled playing of 3D and Multimedia content from preferences panel.

Thirdly, I have mentioned a registry "HonorControls" in one of my above replies which can enable playback controls.

Lastly, Can you share PDF and image you're trying to use as poster so that I can replicate behaviour? 

[USJeepGirl]

Thank you for your help! Very much appreciated.

Question: What if users don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader, but Nuance? 

"Trusting the file is an expected step for people who have NOT enabled playing of 3D and Multimedia content from preferences panel." Can you walk me through how to enable this from the preferences panel? Is this from the Control Panel on Windows or within Adobe? 

I know for a fact it is an MP4.  I created it with Captivate video and the file extension is MP4.  I can share the image but not the PDF.  This is for DoD and I have to maintain security. Here is the image (I blurred things intentionally since I am sharing). 

Thank you again! 

[USJeepGirl]

Great news! I found where Preferences panel is accessed (Through Edit > Preferences for those who are looking). And everything is playing correctly!

I just need to search for that playbar thread and get the poster to work. The original may be too large of a file? 292 KB and is a PNG? 

I think for my users that I send this particular job aid to, I will need to provide a set of instructions if the video doesn't play as to how to remedy that. But I'm willing to do that if it means more interactivity for them. 🙂 

[barkh_123]

Hi @USJeepGirl, Can you confirm that you were able to find a solution where embedded mp4 videos play in Adobe Acrobat without trying to access Flash, and that playback controls are active and usable, and that his behavior works on PCs and Macs as of May 12, 2021?  If yes, would you mind listing what you did? Looks like you perhaps referenced several threads. Thank you!

[USJeepGirl]

Hello,

Yes I can confirm the solution for MP4's for PCs.  I cannot confirm for MAC as we don't develop for Macs at all. I have not yet gotten playback controls to work but here are the instructions from previous threads. I am not going do this because honestly, the instructions are over my head with creating registry etc....

"...we have placed "playback controls" under registry lockdown till we figure out bug with Microsoft. We'll enable "playback controls" by default once bug is resolved.

Registry location :

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Adobe\<Product Name>\DC\FeatureState]
"HonorControls"=dword:00000001

While creating registry, "FeatureState" is key and "HonorControls" is DWord 32. Product Name would be "Adobe Acrobat" OR "Adobe Reader"."

1. The PDF with embedded video was on my desktop and I right-clicked and selected Open with Adobe Reader. 
2. I went to Edit > Preferences and under 3D and MultiMedia I checked the box.

3. I scrolled to where my video was and clicked to enable and play.

4. For users who DO NOT user Adobe Reader to view PDF's, well they need Adobe Reader! (Nuance has it set to try to play the video using FlashPlayer, which is doens't make sense at all. 
5. I'm playing around with my "poster" which is the image used before the user clicks to play. It's like a splash screen so that users do not just see a black box. 

If you need help learning how to embed the actual MP4 let me know and I can provide you with instructions. 

[hsagar]

I see you're having trouble with setting registries. I have attached a file for setting same registry in Adobe Reader. 

1. Download this file
2. Rename it and remove ".txt" from file name so that its name becomes "HonorControls.reg".
3. Double click on "HonorControls.reg"
4. It should set registry and now playback controls should appear upon playing.
5. Moreover, If you want this to work in Adobe Acrobat. simply replace "Reader" with "Acrobat" by editing attached file.

Secondly, If you want to set poster from image file in order to get rid of "black box", perform these steps:

1. Right Click on Annot i.e area where mp4 file has been embedded
2. Click Properties
3. Go to third section "Poster Image"
4. Click on "Create poster from file"
5. Pick your desired image.
6. Annot should have updated poster.

[geraldl2945901]

Dear USJeepGirl,

I am facing a similar problem with embedded videos in .pdf interactive.

Whenever I try to play them, Adobe Pro shows the following message : "To view the Flash technology content in this PDF file, please install the required version of Flash Player".

How did you avoid this problem? I followed your 4 steps, with no luck. Any idea?

Thanks in advance,

Gerald

[Derek Cross]

As mentioned throughout this thread, don't use PDF to embed a video (though you can include a hyperlink in your Interactive PDF to a YouTube, or similar, video), alternatively use FXL ePub, InDesign's Publish Online or in5, which are based on HTML5.

[geraldl2945901]

Dear Derek, 

Thank you for your answer. However, I must insist, since I have been producing .pdf with embedded videos for years for my students, and now, all this didactical material is not working anymore.

At the link below, Adobe mentions the fact that is still possible to incorporate embedded videos.

https://helpx.adobe.com/fr/acrobat/using/rich-media.html

Is that possible?

Yours,

Gerald

[geraldl2945901]

Dear USJeepGirl,

I have been trying to follow your steps on my PC, but I still don't get my embedded mp4 videos to play on either Adobe Pro or Reader.

All my videos were embedded with InDesign.

Yours,

Gerald

[Derek Cross]

Have a look at in5, not PDF but HTML5:

https://ajarproductions.com/pages/products/in5/

[USJeepGirl]

I can't use that for my client. 

[USJeepGirl]

Our products cannot be on line due to security reasons. 

[Derek Cross]

Users just need an HTML5 browser, they don't have to be online.

[viviennew64209894]

The problem with HTML is the difficulty in monetising the result. I thought that was the answer but have been most disappointed to find that it is not possible to deliver it to a customer unless you pay to produce an app. Interactive PDF format was perfect for downloading onto any platform.