[QuatermassX]

I've been looking into creating a little QuickTime-based movie display kiosk (to be run from within the QT movie player) and am having trouble putting the technological pieces into place.

I would like to have a Flash-based menu running down the left side of the QT window that loads different QT movie clips into the right side (or frame). To keep the initial file size down, I'd like the QT media be loaded as individual files rather than one big (really big) QT file.

1. Does this sound reasonable?
2. I know I can do something like this with LiveStage, but would prefer to use the vector-based Flash for my menu ;-) I've not tried the new LiveStage Pro (which can import Flash ... but doesn't scripting have to happen in Flash rather than LS Pro?)
3. Can someone please please point me to documentation on ActionScripts that can manipulate QT files in the manner described?

Thanks for all your help!!!

[wyz]

why don't you use Director, it's better (and more scriptable) than Flash, handles Quicktime, Flash, everything and the output is an executable that runs everywhere, mac/win.... I think it's the best choice for kiosks and multimedia stuff.

[QuatermassX]

Actually, I started out as a Director developer ;-) A few problems with using it in this instance:

Director executables must be generated on the target platform -- Mac Director can only output apps that run on Mac's ... you need TWO copies of Director to generate the proper files for inclusion on CD-ROM (and then burn a dual-partition disk, wasting some space). Part of my hope is to keep the end-user experience simple and scalable by using vectors (Flash) and high-quality Sorensen QuickTime within the QuickTime Player. The combined .mov file is seemlessly cross-platform.

[Feathers]

1) Yes it sounds reasonable! - The only way to keep the initial size down that I can think of is to save allowing dependencies, this makes your QT file just a reference file. All of the "material" should really be referenced through the Flash file, Flash uses the dependencies principle anyway, so you can have the Flash file forced through a QT wrapper with the various QT .movs separate anyway. You can compile the presentation in Flash and then export it as a QT.mov also. To be honest, there's a few routes to do it.

2) Documentation on QT is VERY scarce unfortunately and any of the Flash materials sadly approaches the issue from "the other side", if you know what I mean.

Er..I'm not sure if the dependencies thing will be preserved cross-platform. I have little experience of QT performance on the OTHER platform, sorry!

[active]

Tried Media Cleaner 5? This allows you to add 'EventStreams' to your QuickTime (or other media formats) movies, so you could add a Flash button and jump to another part within the movie...as an example.

I seriously suggest that you try Tribeworks iShell 2 for this project. It can quite easily be accomplished. There are players and editors available for Windows and Mac. Authour on one and play on both. The basic service (same program just different support options ) is FREE! I am a Gold Member (expensive but very good support) with Tribeworks and have been with this since early beta days a few years ago. I would be happy to help you through your first project if you wish to give it a try. Development times versus Director give a savings of about 40. A book on developing in iShell is available and this with the free version would do you for everything. There are still things that Director may do better but try iShell seriously.



------------------
Mark MacKenzie,
Interactive multimedia,
cross platform, new
web address
www.digitalservices.ca
email to:
mark.janet.mackenzie
@home.com

I've run into problems with Quicktime-Flash-Director integration and I recommend using Director for the Quicktime and menu problem. Also keep in mind that Quicktime 4 only supports Flash 3 so keep an eye on your menus if you give it a shot. Otherwise it should work well (that is Flash in Quicktime). Also watch out for how many video tracks are in your Quicktime as it often times hurt reliability and consistent delivery (I would flatten them into one and use the referencing to handle other vid. tracks). Have to wait for Quicktime 5 for Flash 4 support which will probably open another can of worms. Good Luck.

http://www.movieworks.com

Give Bill a shout...

MG

It's sound reasonable, an I've tried the Flash/QT-Integration several times, but there might be some difficulties and obstacles.

1.) I don't think it's possible to load different QuickTime Movies via Flash, because the length of the swf-Track has to be the same as the length of the QT-Track.

2.) The limitations of Flash 3 are sometimes REAL limitations.

3.) The Flash-Support of QT for Windows is buggy and gave me some very bad surprises...

It's very important to test your kiosk in every stage of development and even doing so can give you a bad surprise in the end. Using big transparent elements in the Flash-Track is a very effective way to slow down the performance even of a G4.

In many cases Tribeworks iShell is the better way to control QuickTime movies, but sometimes the performance is even worse. If the menu isn't too complex, the QuickTime-Editor of GoLive 5.0 can do.