Posting Videos

[Anna Billings]

I'm needing some coaching and/or advice regarding the techno-tools for uploading videos. I hit a snag when I received a warning window asking if I "trust" or "don't trust" the "applet certifiicate" connected to the procedure. What's that? It advised that if I did, I gave it unlimited access to my computer. Yikes! Sounds scarey. I was using Firefox. And an apple computer.

So I never got to the next step which I'm also not sure of which requires that I find an "embed code." Where is that?

Thanks, Anna

[Ellen Pham]

Hi Anna,

I can help a bit with youtube videos- you will find the em bed code in the light gray box to the right of the video. In the box, it will say "About this video", there will be a short paragraph, and below that, the word Embed, with the code under it. Then all you have to do is copy the code and paste it into your post - viola, video!
(I made this screen shot to practice adding a photo to a post, not because I thought you needed it! : ))

I am still confused on how to find the embed code on videos that are not you tube. I just added one from my computer for practice, by using the Would you like to upload files link at the bottom right when we post. I will see if it works, and then repost.

[Ellen Pham]

Well, I can see it didn't actually add the video to the post, but added a link to the video. I have no idea where it is stored! (BTW, my daughter made me the video a few years ago.)

I admit, I haven't read all the FAQ's I could have on this one. Maybe someone will just tell us : )

An interesting note, the ning program reduced my image to 300 pixels wide, even though I had made a thumbnail of the image at 400 px. I wonder if there is a way to override this, since it seems like the max width of the post box is about 600px?

[Skip Zilla]

Ellen, your posts are great!

This reply regards your question of sizing a still image, not a video.

When you're inside a "Reply to This" entry box, if you click in the top menu the right-most icon, which looks like a photo, an "Add an image" input box opens on screen. If you click on the "Options" arrow in the middle of this input box, the input box lengthens to show several more controls available for controlling how the image will appear. See the image of an extended "Add an image" input box to the right of this text.

I placed and sized this image by first checking the box to "wrap text" and selecting the button toalign it to the right of any text I enter, then by unchecking the thumbnail option. Hope this helps.

Experiment a little on your own with the extra options available.

[Ellen Pham]

Thanks Skip, it is so nice to have someone point these things out. I have to learn to click on little option arrows more : )

[Anna Billings]

Thank you so much, Ellen and Skip. I've successfully posted my first video, Yay.

Ellen, a new question what is a Binary File? Firefox asks me what I want to do with your "love your mother" clip which is designated as a Binary File. Ah the endless fascinating world of technology. My options are to "save to disc" or "open" something, not sure what my choices for that will be.

Thanks, Anna

[Skip Zilla]

Anna,

Congratulations on your success in posting your first video! And was it an especially good one.

Actually all files are digitally encoded in a binary series of electrical "on" or "off" signals, but in this usage, "binary" means that it is not a humanly readable text file, but a computer program readable file which can be used to generate an image or a video or a audio of some kind. When you're asked to choose between "save to disc" or "open," you are being asked whether you want the program that reads that kind of binary file to "open" and display/play it as some output to screen or speaker, or you want to store it on your hard drive to open later with the appropriate program.

Thanks again, Anna, for the wonderful video, which I intend to keep handy for those times when I'm feeling discouraged or unappreciated.

[Ellen Pham]

Thanks for the explanation, Skip- I knew binary meant two, two of what is a different matter... Anna, I usually choose open if I just want to view something; I choose save to disk first if I know I want my own copy, then click open again after I have saved it for a quick view.

My point is : ), if you choose open, you can view the file, but it is not saved on your computer. Thanks for being a newbie with me!

[Anna Billings]

Hmmm. I tried to upload a video on Ted for that group and couldn't figure it out. Seems to be a different way to post videos to comment boxes. So I guess my question is: how do you post a video to a comment box? I found the embed code on Ted video, but what to do with it?

Thanks,
Anna