Integrating web-based videos in PDFs with FrameMaker

Integrating web-based
videos in your PDFs
with FM-to-Acrobat TimeSavers
& Multimedia Assistant
Shlomo Perets microtype.com
1
Overview
Enriching docs with videos applies to:
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Software documentation
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User guides
Online help
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Reference
Tutorials
Hardware documentation
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● User tutorials
Installation
● Part catalogs
Service manuals
Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals
(IETM)
2
Why use videos?
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Accommodate different learning styles
(visual demo vs. text-intensive)
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“Internet” generation
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International audience;
reduces text translation/localization
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Intuitive knowledge transfer to users
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Processes/products can be difficult to
describe, but easily understood visually
3
Web-based videos
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Pros:
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PDF file size is minimally affected
(as videos are not embedded)
Can update movies anytime
(without having to resend PDFs)
Cons:
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End-users need to have a web connection
Note: Can embed a low-res version of the video, but display
a web-based high-res version if a web connection is available
4
Adding videos in Acrobat
■
Can add video to PDFs in Acrobat
(or adjust its settings)
■
But… these features “disappear”
when you re-distill (after updating
FrameMaker source files)
■
It is not practical to re-create features
every time the source file is converted
to PDF
5
“Native media” MM-Asst shortcuts
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Require Acrobat / Reader 9 or later
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FLV/SWF/MP3 (played by built-in Flash
player included in Adobe Acrobat/Reader)
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Media is web-based or embedded in PDF
■
TimeSavers shortcuts can optionally
include activation/playback parameters
alert ~swf (http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/
swf/UPI-FINAL-APR.swf) /xi [478 336]
(cc_load_policy=1) (unpaidcase)
6
Default video playback location
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Floating Window
●
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Highly recommended for the optimal display
of screen capture demos (floating win
dimensions = intrinsic video dimensions)
In Document
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Fine with “photographic” videos
If you must use “In Document” with screen
capture demos, set the initial zoom for the
PDF (by default, 100% zoom = 96 dpi)
7
Video sharing servers
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Embedded SWF is the video player
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Movie parameters (site- and playerspecific) are specified through the
FlashVars parameter
Note: If possible, disable advertisements in
your video sharing server account settings
8
Examples
alert ~swf (player54-yt-as3) /vi9 [ ]
(file=youtube.com/v/1GQ0r5ufC4&autoplay=0&modestbranding=1&autohide=1&sho
winfo=0&rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0
&hd=1) (PeelTomato)
alert ~swf (http://vimeo.com/moogaloop) /xi [ ]
(clip_id=31933085&server=vimeo.com&autoplay=1&ti
tle=0) (drawappindoc)
alert ~swf (flvplayer-sc2) /xi [320 258]
(autostart=true&content=http://
content.screencast.com/users/ShlomoPerets/
folders/Default/media/0319bf51-946b-4397-8714a6ca6d7225af/CandleCue.FLV) (CandleExperiment)
9
Video activation through…
A
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Clicking in the media area
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“Page action” (through the media
parameters): when the page containing it
is opened or visible
10
Video activation through…
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B
Links (implemented via Acrobat JavaScript):
alert ~RmPlayLink (LetterParts.swf)
■
Bookmarks (implemented via
Acrobat JavaScript):
alert ~RmPlayBmk (Video of Experiment) /e3
(Candle.flv)
Note: bookmarks/links can activate a media only if that media
is present on current page. When activated by bookmarks,
media should be present on all pages, preferably through
master pages (this does not increase file size).
11
End-user one-time setup
End users need to configure their Adobe
Reader preferences to avoid security alerts:
1 Edit > Preferences (or Ctrl+K)
2 In the Categories panel, select Trust
Manager, then click Change Settings
3 In the Manage Internet Access, select
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“Allow PDF files to access all web site”, or
Custom / “Let me specify…”, indicate site
and select “Allow access”