Import audio, video, and 3D objects

Learn how to import videos (including YouTube videos), audio, and 3D objects. Manage documents with 3D objects, set views and lighting schemes, poster files in FrameMaker.

Inserting multimedia files into your document is very easily and simple. FrameMaker allows you to insert or import audio files (.mp3), videos files (*.mp4), and even YouTube videos into your documents.

You can also import 3D objects (U3D format) into documents by copying or by reference. You can set parameters for the 3D object, such as default view, rendering mode, background color, and lighting scheme. You can also choose to render a 3D object in an anchored or unanchored frame.

For a series of tutorials and demonstrations on using rich media in FrameMaker authoring, watch the episodes on the Technical Communications channel on Adobe TV.

Supported audio and video file formats

Learn about supported audio and video formats, how to import videos, and how to set a poster image for an audio or video in Adobe FrameMaker.

You can add audios or videos to documents by embedding media files. FrameMaker supports the following media formats:

AIF/AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) WMV
ASF (Advanced Systems Format File)
AU (Audio File)
AVI (Audio Video Interleave File)
FLV (Flash Video File)
IVF (Indeo Video Format File)
KAR (Karaoke MIDI File)
M1V (MPEG-1 Video File)
M3U (Media Playlist File)
MID (MIDI File)
MOV (Apple QuickTime Movie)
MP2 (MPEG Layer II Compressed Audio File)
MP3 (MP3 Audio File)
MP4 (MPEG-4 Video file)
MPA (MPEG-2 Audio File)
MPE (MPEG Movie File)
MPEG (MPEG Movie)
MPG (MPEG Video File)
QT (Apple QuickTime Movie)
WAV (DTS-WAV File)
WMV (Windows Media Video File)
YouTube videos

For more information see Embed objects.

When you print a document containing a QuickTime movie, only the movie title appears.

Note: Don’t move or delete the original QuickTime movie file, even if you used the Copy into Document option when you imported it. Even with this option, the entire QuickTime movie is not copied into your document.

Import audio and video files

Learn how to import or insert audio and video files into your structured and unstructured FrameMaker documents.

FrameMaker supports importing audio (*.mp3) and video (*.mp4) files into your document. When you publish your document, these files are also embedded in the published output.

Place the insertion point in your document where you want the media file to appear.
Depending on the file type you want to insert or import, perform the following task:
- Choose Insert > Multimedia > Audio to insert or import an audio file.
  
  The following screenshot displays the audio file insertion dialog for an unstructured document:
  
  Figure 1. Audio file insertion dialog for an unstructured document
- Choose Insert > Multimedia > Video to insert or import a video file.
  
  The following screenshot displays the video file insertion dialog for a structured DITA document:
  
  Figure 2. Video file insertion dialog for a structured document
Navigate to, and select the file you want to insert.
Click Open.

The selected file is inserted in your document. The following screenshot shows the video and audio files inserted in a document.

Figure 3. Video and audio file inserted in a document

Insert YouTube videos

Learn how to insert YouTube videos in your structured DITA or unstructured FrameMaker documents.

Similar to how you insert an audio or video file, you can insert a YouTube video in your document.

Place the insertion point in your document where you want to insert the YouTube video.
Choose Insert > Multimedia > Online Video.
Depending on the type of document that you are working on, you will see one of the following dialogs:
- Unstructured document: If you are working in an unstructured document, the following Online Video dialog appears:
  
  Figure 4. Insert YouTube video in an unstructured document
  
  Enter the video’s short or complete URL or video embedding HTML code in the dialog.
  
  Note: For information on getting the short or complete URL of a YouTube video, check YouTube Help.
- Structured DITA or LwDITA document: If you are working in a structured DITA 1.3 or LwDITA document, the following Insert Online Video dialog appears:
  
  Important: This process of inserting YouTube videos is currently not supported for Specialized or custom XML applications.
  
  Figure 5. Insert YouTube video in a structured document
  
  Enter the video’s short or complete URL in the dialog.
  
  Note: Embedding HTML code of a YouTube video is currently not supported for structured documents.
Click Insert.

The YouTube video is inserted into your document.

Additional notes on inserting audio, video, and YouTube video in structured DITA documents

When you insert an offline video or audio file, or an online YouTube video in a DITA document, FrameMaker uses the <object> element to store the file’s link. The <object> element contains the <param> element with @name and @value attributes, which define the source and path of the inserted file. In case of a YouTube video, the @value attribute contains the URL or HTML code of the YouTube video.

The following screenshot shows the XML View of a DITA document with YouTube video, a local video file, and an audio file inserted:

Figure 6. XML View of the inserted YouTube, video, and audio file in DITA document
When you are working in a Lightweight DITA (LwDITA) document, then the YouTube video and a local video file is inserted within a <video> element and the audio file is inserted within an <audio> element. The <video> and <audio> elements contain inserted file's location within the <media-source> element's @value attribute. The <media-source>@value attribute contains the URL or HTML code of the YouTube video.

The following screenshot shows the XML View of a LwDITA document with YouTube video, a local video file, and an audio file inserted:

Figure 7. XML View of the inserted YouTube, video, and audio file in LwDITA document

Poster file for a media file

Learn how to set a poster image for a media file in FrameMaker.

In this topic

Introduction
Set a poster image
Reset the poster image

Introduction

You can set a poster file to an imported media file. FrameMaker displays the relevant placeholder image.

For structured documents, if an attribute is defined in the DTD with the name posterfile for a graphic object, the attribute is automatically mapped to the poster property of the anchored frame. You can also map any attribute to a poster using a rule in the read write file. The file referred in the attribute becomes the poster.

Set a poster image

FrameMaker sets the selected image as the poster. If the image that has been set as a poster is missing, FrameMaker sets a special image as the poster.

Right click the inserted media file.
Select Set Poster.
Select the image file (JPEG, PNG, BMP, or GIF) and click OK.

Reset the poster image

Right click the inserted media file.
Select Set Default Poster.