You cannot insert QuickTime movies in PowerPoint 2000 (235950)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
This article was previously published under Q235950
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to insert an Apple QuickTime movie into Microsoft PowerPoint, you may receive the following error message:
PowerPoint couldn't insert movie from the selected file. Either the file is non-standard, or QuickTime is not installed properly.

CAUSE

Microsoft PowerPoint can only play back QuickTime movies (*.mov files) that use compression schemes with corresponding Media Control Interface (MCI) compatible codecs.

A codec (Compressor/Decompressor) is an algorithm or scheme used to record digital video or audio. For example, when you transmit video over the Internet, the video must be compressed on the sending end and decompressed on the receiving end. A codec can be chosen based upon the user's audio or image quality and image size preferences.

When you read a QuickTime movie, a Video for Windows decompressor decompresses the QuickTime files. If the decompressor does not support the compression method used by the QuickTime movie, it cannot render the movie onto the screen.

WORKAROUND

Create a Hyperlink to the .mov File

If you do not mind not having your movie play in-place, or not having it play automatically, you can create a hyperlink to the .mov file, and let the QuickTime Player for Windows play the file instead:
  1. Select the object or text that you want to assign the hyperlink to.
  2. On the Insert menu, click Hyperlink.
  3. Under Link to, click Existing File or Web Page.
  4. Under Browse for, click File, and locate the .mov file that you want to play.
  5. Click OK, and then click OK again.
During the slide show, all you need to do is click the linked object or text. If a valid player is available, it will start and play the QuickTime movie.

Verify That QuickTime Movies Are Not Compatible

If you don't want to create a hyperlink, then before proceeding with any conversions, verify that the QuickTime movie is not compatible with PowerPoint. There is a quick test for this: can Media Player play the movie?

Media Player, or Mplayer.exe, is not the same program as the Windows Media Player. Media Player is included with various versions of the Windows operating systems, and is an MCI-compliant device. However, Windows Media Player is a new technology that does not rely on MCI for its capabilities to play various forms of media. Windows Media Player can play a wider range of video and audio formats than can Media Player.

How to Verify If the Movie Is Not Compatible

To determine the compatibility of the movie, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type:

    mplayer.exe

  3. Click OK.

    Media Player is started.
  4. On the File menu, click Open.
  5. Select the QuickTime movie that you want to verify. Click Open.
If the QuickTime movie is compatible, Media Player will open it. If this happens, there may be a problem with PowerPoint or with the MCI settings. For more information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

212409 PPT2000: Unable to Insert a Movie from the Selected File

If the movie is not played and you receive an error message in Media Player, the movie is not compatible and cannot be played in PowerPoint. To make it compatible, convert it to a compatible compression format, by using either of the following methods.

NOTES: The following codecs are those that are present on both the Windows platforms and with QuickTime 4.0. Although there may be other codecs that are available on both platforms, this list contains those that are standard across both platforms and that you can use with little worry: Standard Compression Formats
  • BMP
  • Cinepak
  • DV-NTSC
  • DV-PAL
  • Intel Indeo Video R3.2
  • Intel RAW
  • None
The following steps make use of QuickTime 4.0 Pro and cannot be performed with the basic version of QuickTime 4.0. The steps are the same for both Windows and Macintosh versions of QuickTime 4.0. You can use other QuickTime editing programs in place of QuickTime 4.0 Pro; see the QuickTime documentation for the relevant steps.

Method 1: Convert QuickTime Movies to AVI Format

To convert the QuickTime movies to AVI format, follow these steps:
  1. Start QuickTime Pro, and open the file that you want to convert.
  2. On the File menu, click Export.
  3. Set the Export file type to Movie to AVI.
  4. Click Options, and then click Settings.
  5. In the Compressor group, click the list of compressors and choose one from the previous list. One of the more popular formats is Cinepak, but choose the one that you think works best with the movie.
  6. Make sure to change the extension on the file name to .avi, and then click Save.

Method 2: Recompress the QuickTime Movies with Compatible Codec

To recompress the QuickTime movies with compatible codec, follow these steps:
  1. Start QuickTime Pro, and open the file that you want to convert.
  2. On the File menu, click Export.
  3. Set the Export file type to Movie to QuickTime Movie.
  4. Click Options, and then click Settings.
  5. In the Compressor group, click the list of compressors and choose one from the previous list. One of the more popular formats is Cinepak, but choose the one that you think works best with the movie.
  6. Click Save.

MORE INFORMATION

Sometimes you can use Apple QuickTime Movie (*.mov) Files in PowerPoint presentations. To insert and play a QuickTime movie (*.mov) file in a PowerPoint presentation, the following conditions must be present on any computer that creates or inserts the .mov file in a PowerPoint presentation. These conditions must also be present on any computer that will play the .mov in a PowerPoint presentation. To insert a .mov file in a PowerPoint presentation, click Insert, click Movies and Sounds, click Movie from File, and then select the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file that you want to insert in your presentation.

The following three conditions must be present on the computer to insert or play, or both, a .mov file in a PowerPoint presentation. This section details the steps that you must follow make this occur.
  • The "mov" registry value must be present on the computer.
  • The video codec used to compress the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file must be present on the computer.
  • The codec used to compress the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file must be compatible with PowerPoint.
The following detailed instructions explain how to make these conditions present on your computer.
  1. The following "mov" registry value must be present on the computer playing the movie:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\MCIExtensions


    Value: mov
    Type: REG_SZ
    Data: MPEGVideo

    If this registry entry is not present, follow these steps to add the registry entry:

    WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
    1. Click Start, and then click Run.
    2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
    3. Locate and then select the following key:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\MCIExtensions

    4. Click Edit, click New, and then click String Value.
    5. Type the following name for the new value:

      mov
    6. Press ENTER.
    7. Right-click the new string value name, and then click Modify.
    8. In the Value data box, type the following:

      MPEGVideo
    9. Click OK.
    10. Exit Registry Editor.
  2. The video codec that was used to compress the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file must be present on the computer. Identify what codec the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file uses. To do this, use one of the following methods.

    Method 1: Determine Video Codec Using Media Player

    To determine video codec by using Media Player, follow these steps:
    1. Open the .mov file in Microsoft Windows Media Player.
    2. Click File, and then click Properties. The Video codec setting identifies which video codec was used to compress the movie.

    If Method 1 does not work, or the video codec is identified as "Unknown", try Method 2

    Method 2: Determine Video Codec Using QuickTime Player

    To determine video codec by using QuickTime Player, follow these steps:
    1. Download and install the free QuickTime Player from the following Apple Web site:

      http:// www.apple.com/quicktime
    2. Open the movie in QuickTime Player.
    3. Click Window, and then click Show Movie Info. The Format setting identifies which video codec was used to compress the movie.
  3. Determine if the codec used by the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file is installed on the computer that will be used to display the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file in a PowerPoint presentation. To do this, follow these steps.

    Microsoft Windows XP:

    1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Click Sounds and Audio Devices.
    3. Click the Hardware tab.
    4. Click Video Codecs in the Devices box, and then click Properties. This will open the Video Codec Properties dialog box.
    5. In the Video Codec Properties dialog box, click the Properties tab, and then identify if the codec is installed.

    Microsoft Windows 2000:

    1. Click Start, Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Click Sounds and Multimedia.
    3. Click the Hardware tab.
    4. Click Video Codecs in the Devices box, and then click Properties. This will open the Video Codec Propertiesdialog box.
    5. In the Video Codec Properties dialog box, click the Properties tab, and then identify if the codec is installed.
  4. Confirm that the codec used to compress the QuickTime movie (*.mov) file is compatible with PowerPoint.

    To test whether the movie codec is compatible with PowerPoint and whether the movie can be played in PowerPoint, test whether the movie can be played in Media Player (not Windows Media Player). Note that Media Player, Mplayer.exe or Mplay32.exe, depending on the operating system that is installed, is not the same program as the Windows Media Player. Media Player is included with various versions of the Microsoft Windows operating systems, and is an MCI-compliant device. However, Windows Media Player is a new technology that does not rely on MCI for its capabilities to play various forms of media, therefore Windows Media Player can play a wider range of video and audio formats than Media Player.

    To verify if the movie is or is not compatible and if the movie can be inserted or played, or both, in PowerPoint, determine if the movie will play in Media Player (not Windows Media Player). To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, and then click Run.
    2. In the Open box, type the appropriate command for your operating system.

      Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me):

      Type mplayer.exe

      Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP:

      Type mplay32.exe
    3. Click OK to start Media Player.
    4. On the File menu, click Open.
    5. Select the QuickTime movie that you want to verify, and then click Open.

      If the QuickTime movie is compatible, Media Player will open the movie and play it. If the movie opens and plays in Media Player (not Windows Media Player), but will not insert or play in PowerPoint, there may be a problem with PowerPoint or with the MCI settings.
The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products. Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:11/17/2005
Keywords:kbsetup kbtshoot kberrmsg kbmm kbpending kbprb KB235950
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.