Embed Video Into a PDF

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Hello Everyone:

I am wondering if anyone knows of any special tricks that they have learned with respect to embedding video that other can watch when you send them a PDF. Like do THEY have to have a certain kind of software to view or is there a way to put video and audio into the pdf so that a maximum number of people will be able to watch it easily. I am guessing that you can either embed the video or the link.

Charles
#programming #embed #pdf #video
  • Hi Charles,

    If the content embedded in the pdf is flash .flv or .swf format then flashplayer will be needed to view it. Nearly 99% of the world's internet users have flashplayer installed.

    Here is a tutorial video showing how its done:

    How to Add Video and Audio to a PDF document
    • [ 26 ] Thanks
    • [4] replies
    • You're the man, Josh.

      Charles

    • Cool Josh that is excellent to know

      Do you know how to create personalised pdfs so that the "owner" info is embedded somehow to avoid people sharing an ebook with others for example?
    • Its really interesting, i am also in searching of it. Very nice tutorial.
    • Great tutorial. Thanks for sharing. I never knew how to do this! I have always been adding in links manually not embedding the video.
      Thanks
  • Thanks Josh, I actually hadn't thought of embedding a video in pdf!
    Thanks for asking the question Charles.

    Leanne
    • [1] reply
    • If you use Adobe Acrobat 9 (I think it's the professional and the professional extended versions) you can embed video directly into the PDFs you create. The viewer only needs Acrobat 9 reader to view.
      • [1] reply
  • Josh thanks for the tips and the video... I'm on your site and trying to soak in some info... looking great and bringing up all sorts of cool ideas...
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  • Wow, that is awesome stuff. I always used to put my videos on a website and link it directly within my PDF, but actually EMBEDDING the video in the PDF itself ... would have never thought of that.

    That wouldnt even increase the filesize either due to the <embed> code.

    Will deifnitely try that for the future, thanks!
  • As David mentioned it is not possible... at least not with the video in it. However you can format the html page with everything in it except the video and then embed the video but linking to a remote file (you have two options with pdf compile the video in it or embed a remotely hosted video).

    Though attachments are not the smartest way to communicate via email because of the filtering issues you could attach a pdf with a remotely hosted video embedded in it and you would not have to worry about the video adding anything to its file size because the video is only loaded when it is viewed in the pdf and the pdf is only viewed once it is downloaded and opened from the email.

    In fact I would recommend embedding remote video files if you can as it will make the initial download of your pdf faster whether you are linking to it as a download online or attaching it to an email.
    • [1] reply
    • Hi Josh,

      I found out about you here on Warrior Forum and I followed several pages to your tutorial videos which eventually led me to your Total Web Videos program which I just purchased. Thanks for the program.

      I have an issue that I am still not able to solve. I am trying to embed a remote video file using Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro. I can get the video embedded properly and playing properly except I keep getting a security warning whether I trust the video file Adobe is trying to link to.

      Is there any way to get rid of the security warning when the video is remotely hosted? Please help.

      -Lethia Owens
  • I used to do pdfs with embedded videos years ago but it really wasn't worth it in the end because:-

    1) Acrobat is really funky about embedding any flv/swf 'actual' size so it never looks really crisp

    2) The file size increase is a real no-no unless you're only embedding one or two vids.

    Got so put off that I haven't tried it in Acrobat 9 yet, but that's probably because after Acrobat 5, 6, 7, 8... my wallet's starting to get the shakes every time it sees the words 'Adobe' and 'upgrade'.
  • Hi Josh,
    Your sage advice are awesome.

    I just found this old thread, and as you can see it's now 2011.
    Adobe now has the new Acrobat X Pro product. Can I still use
    their new product to embed video? Or has that now been eliminated?

    Thanks.

    Brent.
    • [1] reply
  • Do you happen to know the best software to embed video that is similar to Iworks - Pages for PC?
    • [1] reply
    • Just to clarify something...

      .... say I had a PDF ( that I did NOT own) and I wanted to embed a video into that PDF.

      It's obvious that I can't do that unless there is also a blank space within that PDF to add a video in because text can't be moved or or pages added to allow for a video
      • [1] reply
  • As noted, if you have Acrobat 9 Pro or AcrobatX, you can embed the video directly into the PDF file and nothing else is required.
  • I use OpenOffice. It's available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Solaris, in many languages, entirely free, with great support from the community forums. You can embed audio and movies in slide presentations as well as the more familiar document files, and save them as PDF files.

    OpenOffice.org - The Free and Open Productivity Suite
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  • Josh, you are a Guru man
  • It is a lot cooler and easier then creating an standard ebook. No more typing out tons of words to explain what a 2 min video can do.

    I've been embedding videos in my pdfs for years now, I it has saved me TONS of time. I can now create an entire course within a couple of days, instead of spending hours collecting images and typing out the instructions.

    Mark
    • [1] reply
    • HI

      Does anyone have any definitive numbers on how much the PDF file size will increase by embedding videos compared to the usual 'text and images ' only PDF

      I realize it depends on the length of the video, and also how many videos are embedded into the PDF in the first place.

      Mark, you indicated you were embedding videos into PDF's almost exclusively, so can I ask you this....

      ....I know it will vary, but can you say typically how many videos you might embed into one of your PDF's and what the files size ends up being.

      Thanks

      Glen
      • [1] reply
  • I'm in the process of creating PDF's for some of my offline clients, and need to add some videos. Making a huge file is not an option - So I did a bit of research. Turns out that Adobe released a free widget that allows you to stream youtube vid's from your PDF. I just tried it out & it is working great!

    The YouTube Widget for Acrobat – The PDF Developer Junkie Blog

    For those of you that don't have the full version of Acrobat - Download the 30 day trial..

    I hope that this helps out a few Warriors...
  • Hi Folks,

    I am trying to do this a little differently, and running into a problem.

    I do not want to host the video remotely. I want to embed it.
    However, I want the video to be an optional part of viewing this PDF, and not display a large video window in the PDF.

    I want the reader to click a video icon, and that launches the embedded video.

    So, You can do this with the Button Tool. You draw the button, specify the icon image to use, and in the Action tab, you tell it that on MouseUp, Play Media (Acrobat 6 and later Compatible).

    Two days ago, I did this with a test .mov file and it worked great!!!

    I thought I would try it with an MP4 file instead, since it's 1/3 the file size.

    However, today, when I try to do this with either an MP4 or MOV file, I get the message:

    "There is no Acrobat 6 and later compatible media in this document, therefore an action cannot be created."

    Thing is....I have both an MP4 and a MOV file attached and saved with the PDF.

    I can find no list of what makes a file "Acrobat 6 Compatible" nor any list of supported file types for this Media option.

    Any help?

    I swear, this worked 2 days ago with an MOV. :-)
    I also tried a .WMV and I got the same message.

    This is using Acrobat 7, but I just tested in Acrobat 8 and got the same results (tho they moved the Button tool under Advanced > Forms now.)

    Any thoughts appreciated!

    -The Craw
  • A quick question on this subject. If you are using an FLV video in the PDF will they play on the iBooks?
  • PDF Printer can do this. You can check it out.
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    • [1] reply
    • I wasn't even aware that this was possible!

      I might have to review a few reports of mine...
  • Thanks Charles for asking the question, Never thought of embedding a video in PDF before!

    and Thanks Josh, For Tutorial of embedding a video in PDF! really helpful.
  • Talk of Law of Attraction!

    I was mulling over how to make my pdf content even better for some of my clients and here is a complete thread about how you can insert a video. Really!

    This is the best thread by far for me on the Warrior Forum!
  • Thanks for the info on the video embedding
  • What you can do if you promote this way is offer a url to the most recent flash install / available encase some non techi people get a little confused.

    Something like: Dont have Flash Player? Download the latest version here!
    Hope this helps.
  • never thought of this before.. Smart idea
  • Hey, thanks, Josh.

    I've known for some time now that you are the 'go to' guy for video (and audio) and have meant to reconnect. Great running in to you again. You are awesome!

    LifeIsGood ~ It's About To Get Even Better!
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    Embed Video Into a PDF

    Hello Everyone: I am wondering if anyone knows of any special tricks that they have learned with respect to embedding video that other can watch when you send them a PDF. Like do THEY have to have a certain kind of software to view or is there a way to put video and audio into the pdf so that a maximum number of people will be able to watch it easily. I am guessing that you can either embed the video or the link.