how to handle large video size

Hello...I am new to this, video and flash. I am making a site that the client wants to be able to view videos they supplied me in Windows Media format.

The files are large...like 12mb each. Do I need to somehow reduce the file size???

Also..I want to have a thumbnail that when pressed will open the movie in its own window. Is that the best way to do this?

Quote:

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Originally posted by boney317
The files are large...like 12mb each. Do I need to somehow reduce the file size???

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Well if it is for a site, even though its not that big, for a video i mean, video sizes are usually large, yes i would reccomend to reduce the size, downloading 12 meg can be a pain in the @**, and it will need more work on the users computer.

[/B][/QUOTE] Also..I want to have a thumbnail that when pressed will open the movie in its own window. Is that the best way to do this? [/B][/QUOTE]

I guess that depends on your concept/idea for the site, that sounds ok, its doable, i guess how u present them its up to u.

Hope that helps.
Ask away if u think i left something out.

Thanks for the response....I am just so new to trying to access video from a website, everything seems a little foriegn. If the video that i want to have a link to is a window media file, can I just have the link open it in a new window and will it just stream in the users window media player?

I am sorry if this sounds basic, I am just learning about adding or accessing video from the website.

R u using flash to deliver?

I am using flash for the website...I would like the movie to open in its own window....just not quite sure how to go about it. I would like it to open in its own window with the media player playing the movie....I guess I don't need a full size window.

Any suggestions?

If u want the windows media player to stream you file u will have to create a windows media metafile, theres nothing to it really just a text file that act as a link to your windows video on a web server, and direct that content to the windows media player.
That souns bigger then what it is, open your text editor (notepad works) and type:
ASX version="3.0">
<Entry>
<ref HREF="http://yourdirection/path/videoname.wmv"/>
</Entry>
</ASX>
Save it as a .wvx

Now on that beautyfull flash botton type:

on (release) {
getURL("http://yourdirection/path/1.wvx", "_blank");
}

Thats it.

Here i made an example, set it to stream for adsl users, (225 kbps) dunno what your target is.

Hope that helps.

The wvx code that u cant see on the post.

what is the difference between that and setting it up like this....

have a html page for each movie and have the button call each html page to open in its own window, having the page set at the exact size of the movie in the html page...so there is no border.....does that make sense?

It will play the movie in its own window...right?

Here thats a link to microsoft SDK, thats where i check whenever i have a doubt, dont have the time to explain it right now, so check it.
I thought u wanted to open the file on the player, anyways, embedding it is easy, check the link, im sure theres the answer.