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Moodle Module |
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What is the config file ? |
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This file is created automatically by AutoView using the file name you supply when creating an instance of the module. The file chooser button is provided as a convenience so that you can also select a pre-existing file that may have been uploaded from elsewhere. |
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Category: |
Moodle Module |
Topic: |
Can I record a video using the Moodle Module ? |
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The GPL version of the Module is not able to record videos, you will need to create a suitable video with other software. If you want to record or broadcast video, you will need the AutoView Lecture Capture Live plugin. |
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Category: |
Videos |
Topic: |
I don't need video, just audio |
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All of the supported video plugins should be able to play audio only files if the file is converted into a suitable audio format for the plugin. |
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Category: |
Playback |
Topic: |
Why do my videos sometimes fail to auto-start ? |
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The video start should be triggered when the slides have finished downloading, however if the video plugin isn't ready when this happens it is likely that the video will fail to play. Unfortunately it is difficult to account for all possible circumstances when writing the auto-start feature. Normal auto-start mechanisms for video plugins can't be used in AutoView because they would in most cases cause the playback to start before the slides have finished downloading. Auto-start is not currently enabled for presentations with no slides and is disabled completely when in editing mode. |
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Category: |
Videos |
Topic: |
What is the point of having multiple video sources ? |
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This enables you to add additional copies of your video in different formats, bandwidths or languages from which the end user can choose if they have a problem with the first choice video. AutoView can detect the plugins installed on the end-users computer and will attempt to pick the video which is most likely to work with the available plugins from the list of configured sources. We have found this feature to be invaluable when dealing with company intranets which have restrictive policies regulating staff internet access. |
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Category: |
Videos |
Topic: |
Which video formats do you recommend ? |
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Unlike many other video presentation systems which restrict you to a choice of one or two video formats, AutoView is 'format agnostic'. We aim to support as wide a range of video formats and video plugins as possible so that the content creator can choose the format that is best for their purpose. When creating a presentation, you should take into account the likely capabilities of the computers and internet connections owned by your target audience.
MPEG 4 (.mp4, compatible with Quicktime and VLC) is a good first choice format, this format is widely supported and has been approved as an ISO standard which should give you some insurance against future changes in the computer industry. Flash Video is similarly widely supported, will work well for most users and is the format used by our Lecture Capture Live addon for AutoView. |
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Category: |
Playback |
Topic: |
Why does load position sometimes fail to change the video position ? |
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Unless you are using video streaming (see below), it may take several minutes (depending on the length/size of your video and available bandwidth) for enough of the video to have downloaded to enable you to move forward to a previously saved position. If you find that your users have this problem regularly, you should either reduce the bandwidth of your videos to speed up downloading, or consider using a streaming server for your videos. |
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Category: |
Videos |
Topic: |
Should I use streaming video servers ? |
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Video streaming allows you to move backwards and forwards in a video much more easily and quickly than is possible with a progressively downloaded video file. Video streaming is also much more efficient with bandwidth. If you have a lot of long videos, or you expect your users to make heavy use of the load/save position feature of AutoView, you should seriously consider streaming to improve video performance and reduce the server load.
Our Lecture Capture Live addon integrates video streaming capabilities for flash video directly into AutoView, making the addition of video steaming to your system very easy. |
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Category: |
Playback |
Topic: |
The video playback keeps pausing. |
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This can sometimes be caused by local network problems and other software on the computer downloading updates in the background. If you persistently experience poor playback performance, you may need to re-encode your videos to operate at a lower bit rate/quality. 512kb should be sufficient for a presentation with slides. Higher rates may exceed the capability of broadband connections in rural areas. |
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Category: |
Playback |
Topic: |
The video will not play. |
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We have come across cases where 3rd party windows security software will silently block the download of video files. Try temporarily disabling your security software and trying again. If the video now plays, you will may need to add an exception for the website hosting the AutoView presentation to your security software. |
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