open AVI files

ajc718 · Post by **ajc718** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:47 am

Can anyone help with this problem? Every time I try to open an .AVI file it tells me the "file is not accessible". I can open the same file Quick Time and it plays fine.

Post by **Ron P.** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:03 am

Welcome to the forums Ajc718,

Since it plays in Quicktime, it must be a mov file. If not then what is the actual format, DivX, Xvid, MPEG4? Where did you get the file, and how did you get it into your computer?

Please read the following thread first, and return with as much information as you can. Read This First...

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:32 pm

FYI - AVI is not a single format. It's a "container" or "wrapper" format. (Lots of people get confused by this.) It can contain DV, MPEG, DivX, etc. There is a code in the AVI file header that tells the player-software which codec to use.

Some highly compressed formats seem to give the Ulead programs trouble. You may have to use a 3rd-party program to convert it to MPEG-2 or AVI/DV before bringing it into Movie Factory. You can try using SUPER (FREE!!!) to convert the file to MPEG-2.

If you are planning on editing, you may need to look for a program that can convert the file to AVI/DV. (I don't think SUPER can make a DV file.) Sometimes, even MPEG-2 can cause trouble if it's edited.

ajc718 · Post by **ajc718** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:26 pm

Guys thanks guys. When I get home I will get more information by opening with Quick Time and then looking at file properties. As to what program generates these files it is a video survailence program.

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:50 pm

Off topic?

...a video survailence program.

That reminds me of a News Story. A politician was accused of molesting a woman. He needed to get hold of the surveillance tapes to prove his innocence before the election. When he fnally got his hands on the tapes, he almost ran out of time trying to find the right playback equipment!

(Apparently he won the election and will be the new Governor of Nevada.)

ajc718 · Post by **ajc718** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:04 am

First off thank you for the welcome. Now the AVI file according to Quick time is Intel Indeo Video R3.2 format. As far as converting them I can use my Quick time but it makes for a longer process. I was looking for a cross platform software and was lead to beleive this would work on all formats. I dont mean to be a pain just tring to make my life easier with less effort.

Post by **Ron P.** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:06 am

Intel used to have rights to the Indeo video codec, however somehow lost it, and I don't recall why or how. It used to come with VS8. Indeo however now Ligos ® requires a fee for that codec, and I don't know if it is included with VS10 or 10+. I had a problem several years ago, and wound up buying the codec. It's not expensive. However if it plays in Quicktime, then the codec must be included with it.

In VS under Project Properties, click on the pull-down menu and change it to AVI. Then click on Edit, click on the AVI tab. Then using the pull-down menu for compression look for the Ligos® Indeo Video 3.2 codec. After setting the project properties (if you have that codec), then try inserting your video clip.

You can purchase the Ligos® Indeo XP codec here:
http://www.afreecodec.com/details.php?id=28