How to view .mov files in preview?

[hulland]

Even though I have Quicktime installed when I try to preview .mov files in the preview, all I get is a progress bar movement and no audio or visual. Is there a way to add .mov files to the playable list please?

[nas8e9]

Even though I have Quicktime installed when I try to preview .mov files in the preview, all I get is a progress bar movement and no audio or visual. Is there a way to add .mov files to the playable list please?

Basically, XYplorer uses Windows Media Player's functionality to preview/play media files. .mov files are supported "out-of-the-box" in Windows 7 (though possibly not all permutations) but not in previous Windows versions. Apple's official Quicktime package unfortunately does not add playback support to WMP.

It used to be possible to add QuickTime support to WMP by way of CodecGuide's Quicktime Alternative package, but that's no longer available. Some quick searching finds some other packages, but I'd be very wary to even try them without a full (image) backup of your system: codec packages have a nasty reputation and Quicktime needs security patching often, which such alternative packages also need to do.

In short, if you have Windows 7 it may work; on other Windows versions the price of adding this functionality can be high. Personally, I'd associate VLC player with .mov files in XYplorer through Tools > List Management > Customize File Associations, and just double-click a file for a preview (albeit in a different window).

[hulland]

Thanks NasBe9--I do have Windows 7 Ultimate, and XYP preview does NOT work with the preview ( hence my post) I use GOM player normally, but when running through a few hundred pictures downloaded from the camera it is a pain to have to open a new app just to view the mov files. Be nice if there was a way to "add" mov files to the preview types.

[nas8e9]

Thanks NasBe9--I do have Windows 7 Ultimate, and XYP preview does NOT work with the preview ( hence my post) I use GOM player normally, but when running through a few hundred pictures downloaded from the camera it is a pain to have to open a new app just to view the mov files. Be nice if there was a way to "add" mov files to the preview types.

Do your .mov files play in WMP?

[hulland]

They play in GOM player--they play in Quicktime player--I don't have WMP installed ( remember in Europe we don't HAVE to install that bloat)

[nas8e9]

They play in GOM player--they play in Quicktime player--I don't have WMP installed ( remember in Europe we don't HAVE to install that bloat)

I take it that .mp3 and .wmv files do play in XYplorer?

If so, could you check in Configuration > Previewed Formats > Category: Audio & Video Files, whether .mov is present in that list and if so, what is listed after the comma? On my system I see:

Code: Select all

*.mov, VLC media file (.mov)

[hulland]

I have two identical entries, one above the other. They both read;- *.mov, QuickTime Movie

Thanks in advance.

[nas8e9]

I have two identical entries, one above the other. They both read;- *.mov, QuickTime Movie

I'd recommend making a copy of your XYplorer configuration (File > Settings > Backup Application Data Folder) and then removing both entries for .mov. After dismissing the Configuration window, re-open it and re-add one entry for .mov.

[hulland]

Thanks--I backed up my config OK but whether the two mov entries are ticked or not the delete button is greyed out--how exactly do I remove them please?

[nas8e9]

Thanks--I backed up my config OK but whether the two mov entries are ticked or not the delete button is greyed out--how exactly do I remove them please?

My bad: only extensions you add yourself can be removed.

I've done some testing with an Apple-supplied sample .mov on a clean Windows 7 installation and it seems that though WMP can play the file, XYplorer can't preview it. Adding the K-Lite Basic Codec Pack allows previewing, but whether that works correctly in combination with GOM Player I can't say. Should you want to try it, a HD image backup of your Windows installation might be handy.

[hulland]

Thanks for your research and knowledge sharing. As the previewing of mov files is now a "tri-daily" event for me ( Note nearly all latest digital cameras have changed their standard format from avi to mov) then I will indeed try the K-Lite and I am due to take another image of my C anyway ( aren't we always!) so later today I may give it a try. Thanks again.

[zer0]

The discrepancy between playback in WMP and preview in XYplorer could be occurring if WMP downloads QuickTime File Format parser on-demand and whatever API Don is tapping into doesn't allow for such activity.

[nas8e9]

The discrepancy between playback in WMP and preview in XYplorer could be occurring if WMP downloads QuickTime File Format parser on-demand and whatever API Don is tapping into doesn't allow for such activity.

I'm not familiar with the mechanism but based on your description, that would be a one-time thing? I've just retested XYplorer preview after successfully playing the .mov file with WMP, and XYplorer still can't preview it, unfortunately.

[hulland]

Yes even though I have installed the suggested codecs, and mov's play on GOM player as well as Q Time player- XYP only plays the soundtrack. This means that I can no longer use XYP to review my days photo assignments....a great pity.

[nas8e9]

Yes even though I have installed the suggested codecs, and mov's play on GOM player as well as Q Time player- XYP only plays the soundtrack. This means that I can no longer use XYP to review my days photo assignments....a great pity.

The one suggestion I can offer is to remove as much related software as possible (including Apple's QuickTime) and only reinstall K-Lite and see. The fact that you see two entries for .mov in Configuration > Previewed Formats makes it likely that more than one class definition is present for .mov files, with the dominant one not the right one for XYplorer's preview. Should this work, you could reinstall Apple's QuickTime if needed, and retest.

To reiterate, on a clean install of Windows 7 with just K-Lite installed, preview does work.