Techsurvivors

Archives => 2003 => Topic started by: Mayo on October 15, 2003, 12:44:18 PM

Title: Problem Using RealPlayer At NPR Website
Post by: Mayo on October 15, 2003, 12:44:18 PM
At this website http://freshair.npr.org/day_fa.jhtml?today...Date=10/08/2003 I have selected RealPlayer as my preferred audio file player.  But the downloaded file npr859.smil starts-up QuickTime and QT will not play the file.

I imagine that all I need to do is add this file type to the Helper Apps. in Explorer 5, but I have never got the knack of how to enter the information in the appropriate fields.

At the same time, I am a tad confused as to why I am downloading a .smil file vs. a RealPlayer file...

This is happening on an iBook running OS 9.2 and RealPlayer Plus.
Title: Problem Using RealPlayer At NPR Website
Post by: Bruce_F on October 15, 2003, 01:06:30 PM
You could try Windows Media Player. It works well.

RealPlayer has not shown, to me anyway, that it wants to work favorably with the Mac OS... 9 or 10.
Title: Problem Using RealPlayer At NPR Website
Post by: sandbox on October 15, 2003, 02:11:49 PM
Hey mayo, I just tried it and like you got a QT file that doesn't work. (error 461 Unsupported transport)I have both Real and Windows Media 7.1 and even with it open on the desktop, it will not work.

I'll contact the site and see .....whats-up?
I can use all the players in different arenas, realplayer  works on C-Span and Qt does Mac Sites.
Title: Problem Using RealPlayer At NPR Website
Post by: Xairbusdriver on October 17, 2003, 11:00:12 AM
Had the same results at first. Tried changing the "Post-process with Application" to Real Player. Noticed that it simply created another item in the list of "Helpers" and it still showed QT! I deleted two of the duplicates, changed the "File Type" to also be Real Player and things worked as expected.

So, try changing both the File Type and the Handling to show Real Player (use the "Browse" button) the icons and the program name should then show 'correctly'.

I agree that the inteface is not too intuitive!  wallbash.gif

Jim C.
Title: Problem Using RealPlayer At NPR Website
Post by: Mayo on October 18, 2003, 12:42:56 AM
Jim, would your (or somebody else...) kindly specify what info needs to be entered in the different fields in IE's preferences regarding file helpers?  I have never figured out how to fill out the file helper prefs, and I would sure like to learn how to do it.
Title: Problem Using RealPlayer At NPR Website
Post by: Mayo on October 19, 2003, 01:39:26 PM
bump.gif

I am bumping this in the hope of getting an answer to my previous post...
Title: Problem Using RealPlayer At NPR Website
Post by: Xairbusdriver on October 19, 2003, 03:13:54 PM
Here you go: [part one - see next post for last image]

First, open the Prefs window by selecting it from the Edit Menu:

First, select the .smil' file helper and then click the 'Change' button.

You will probably have something like this:


Click the 'Browse...' button in the 'File Type' area to change to Real Player by navigating through your files/apps to find it. Ignore the fact that the button you need to select Real Player is actually labeled "Choose"!


Next, do the same thing as above by using the 'Browse...' button in the 'Handling' area.

Jim C.
Created with UBBWriter
Title: Problem Using RealPlayer At NPR Website
Post by: Xairbusdriver on October 19, 2003, 03:17:28 PM
[part two - apparently, one can use only three images per post]

You should end up with a screen like this:


Assuming all went as expected, you may see that you now have two 'Helpers' for a .smil file. One is the one you just edited/created, the second is the original QT version. Just delete the QT version, as we know it doesn't work.

Also, be aware that updating/upgrading QT software will probably mess these settings up (reverting to QT for the Helper). So, you will need to be careful or remember to do all this again! doh.gif

HTH biggrin.gif

Jim C.
Created with UBBWriter
Title: Problem Using RealPlayer At NPR Website
Post by: Mayo on October 20, 2003, 07:30:25 PM
I did the steps, but QT still starts-up!  As far as I can tell, there are no QT helpers listed that needed deleting; I changed three helpers settings for .smi, .smil. and .sml files.  I also tried quiting IE and got the same result the next time I tried.

Did I miss something?

  huh.gif
Title: Problem Using RealPlayer At NPR Website
Post by: Mayo on October 21, 2003, 01:10:42 PM
OK!  I looked at the problem with fresh eyes this morning, and I got it working.
The glitch?  The File Type was listed as .smi, etc. instead of MooV as illustrated in the screen shots.  I think that a step was left out of the instructions, because I don't see any info about changing that particular field.

Thanks for the help!

 biggrin.gif
Title: Problem Using RealPlayer At NPR Website
Post by: Xairbusdriver on October 21, 2003, 06:18:52 PM
QUOTE
I changed three helpers settings for .smi, .smil. and .sml files.

Not sure you should change the helper for .smi. As best I can tell, that is a "Self Mounting Image" which should be handled by ShrinkWrap (which I don't even have).

I suppose .smil will catch .sml? What I find strange is that a PC(?) file would have a four letter extension! Anyway, I don't even have a .sml listing, doesn't seem to be too common in my surfing! smile.gif

Just glad you got things working (for now!). Can't wait to see how this works in X! (but I will, of course, wait! blush-anim-cl.gif )

Jim C.
Title: Problem Using RealPlayer At NPR Website
Post by: Mayo on October 21, 2003, 06:41:45 PM
QUOTE
Not sure you should change the helper for .smi. As best I can tell, that is a "Self Mounting Image" which should be handled by ShrinkWrap (which I don't even have).


Now that is weird...The three file types I listed were listed together and QT was the helper for all three, so I assumed that I should change 'em.

 huh.gif