Bug 62408 - Cannot insert MP4 video files on Windows
Summary: Cannot insert MP4 video files on Windows
Status: NEW
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Libreoffice (show other bugs)
Version: 4.0.1.2 release
Hardware: Other Windows (All)
: medium normal
Assignee: Minh Ngo
QA Contact:
URL:
Whiteboard: BSA
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks: 68812 68813
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Reported: 2013-03-16 12:46 UTC by A (Andy)
Modified: 2014-06-25 10:43 UTC (History)
3 users (show)

See Also:
i915 platform:
i915 features:


Attachments

Description A (Andy) 2013-03-16 12:46:28 UTC
Problem Description: 
When trying to insert a MP4 file it is not inserted, although it is shown as a selectable supported video file type.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open IMPRESS
2. Go to INSERT -> MOVIE AND SOUND
3. Assure that ALL MOVIE AND SOUND FILES or MPEG VIDEO as type is selected
4. Go to a directory with a MP4 file and try to insert it

Current Behavior:
You receive the error message: "The format of the selected file is not supported".  With the Windows Media Player this file is played correctly.

Expected Behavior:
It should be possible to insert and play MP4 files in IMPRESS presentations.
Operating System: Windows 7
Version: 4.0.1.2 release
Comment 1 Jorendc 2013-03-19 18:43:37 UTC
Thanks for reporting.

I can not reproduce this behavior using Linux Mint 14 x64 with LibreOffice 4.0.2.1.
Comment 2 Thomas van der Meulen 2013-03-19 18:51:58 UTC
Thank you for reporthing this bug,
I can reproduce this bug running LibreOffice 4.0.2.1 on windows 7
Comment 3 Thomas van der Meulen 2013-03-19 18:53:44 UTC
BTW Windows only bug, can n't reproduce on mac
Comment 4 James 2013-09-01 10:58:40 UTC
Update: this is reproducible with LO 4.2 on OS X 10.8.4. When opening a .mp4 file in LO presentation media player I get "The format of the selected file is not supported.".

Interestingly this does not happen with LO 4.1.1.2 on OS X 10.8.4, where the file get's played. I do hear audio but don't see anything. Adding keyword "regression".

Setting platform to ALL.

Version: 4.2.0.0.alpha0+
Build ID: 9fed8a5e4a4c45d6a08260e9480ca6b43254b120
TinderBox: MacOSX-X86_64@43, Branch:master, Time: 2013-08-29_07:14:27

I'd love to raise the importance of this. If a dev agrees please proceed. If the legacy file formats wmf or avi are supported, much more the more frequently used mp4 format should be properly supported.
Comment 5 Petr Mladek 2013-09-02 08:59:32 UTC
These problems are typically caused by missing codecs. Well, it is strange that the Windows Media Player is able to play this on the user reporters machine. Also it is strange that it looks like a for that MAC user.

Adding Windows and Impress experts into CC.
Comment 6 James 2013-09-02 09:06:10 UTC
Peter, I didn't check wmf format but thought LO supported wmf, avi. Maybe a wrong guess. Not sure where to find a list of supported codecs.
Comment 7 Alex Thurgood 2013-09-02 15:14:10 UTC
There is an ongoing GSOC project to integrate VLC support into LO on all platforms, with the idea that if you have VLC installed, you will be able to use all media types supported by that instead of the piecemeal OS dependent support that is currently in place.


Alex
Comment 8 James 2013-09-02 15:18:28 UTC
Alex: that is imo the best approach. VLC is well spread and also worth installing if you want to use media stuff in LO. Great, hope it get's finished in the GSoC process. Also that would mean the most little overhead for LO devs so a very welcome solution.
Comment 9 Florian Reisinger 2013-09-25 18:03:05 UTC
Hi,

I guess the problem is the same for all unsupported formats is quite the same:
You don't have the corresponding codec installed. Could you please try installing the corresponding codec on your system. This is, lets phrase it this way, a workaround till VLC integration is final....
Comment 10 foss 2013-09-27 07:08:31 UTC
Hi Florian, I have no idea where to start when wanting to install e.g. the webm codec. Also on OS X I have quicktime and perian installed as well as VLC so somewhere on my system some codes already must exist.

Not sure why this is on NEEDINFO. Imo, this should stay on NEW until there is a real applicable solution (like using existing VLC codecs).

Let me know what you'd like to know so we can get this back to NEW. It's a very valid bug.
Comment 11 Florian Reisinger 2013-09-29 07:47:06 UTC
Okay giving some links:
Windows: http://codecguide.com/download_kl.htm
Ubuntu (Linux): In Terminal: sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
MacOS: http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/66277/codec-pack-for-mac#post_961756

Note: I am a Windows user - Have not tested other solutions by myself
Comment 12 ign_christian 2013-09-29 07:56:15 UTC
I can do MP4 insertion on LO 4.0.5.2 (Win7 32bit), with VLC 2.0.8 installed.
Comment 13 foss 2013-09-29 14:11:05 UTC
This is being worked on by Minh Ngo as part of GSoC 2013. Can't wait to see this available in a OS X nightly build (if those get builded again, that is). :)
Comment 14 Michael Stahl 2013-10-10 12:42:44 UTC
LibreOffice does not support _any_ video format.

It relies on OS components to play video and audio formats,
such as GStreamer on Linux, QuickTime on Mac and
DirectWhatever on Windows (and perhaps VLC too in a future release).

If you install the right codecs in the OS then it should work.

... so the description complains about problems on Windows,
and then comment #4 adds that it is not working on Mac OS X.

these are most likely 2 different bugs, and each one could
independently be either in LO or in the platform specific
backend that is part of the OS.

so please file a separate bug for the Mac OS X problem.

removing "regression" as that is apparently Mac OS specific.

for this bug, please test (on Windows only) that it works
in Windows Media Player (or whatever it's called nowadays);
if a file doesn't work there either it's not a LO bug
when it doesn't play in LO (and AFAIK there may be several
different codecs inside a ".mp4" file).
Comment 15 foss 2013-10-10 21:37:21 UTC
Michael, thanks for elaborating and sorry for bringing up OS X. Will test this closer with Quicktime and LO on latest OS X and if I run into trouble, open a separate bug. Excuse the noise.
Comment 16 foss 2013-10-11 07:04:44 UTC
Here's the OS X report: https://www.libreoffice.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=70365
Comment 17 foss 2014-04-13 10:20:48 UTC
Confirmed:4.3.0.0a0+:win8

Version: 4.3.0.0.alpha0+
Build ID: f9cc0daec26016722bf5260e4e2634e6dcfe25a2
TinderBox: Win-x86@39, Branch:master, Time: 2014-04-12_01:41:16

Still a problem.

Is this still being worked on? It's assigned, but GSOC 2013 is over. So should it be unassigned?
Comment 18 foss 2014-04-13 11:51:15 UTC
Talked to cloph about this. Adding some points of interest:

* http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd390679(v=vs.85).aspx → Note  Decoding of H.264 video requires Windows 7

* you need to * manually install a directshow compatible demuxer for mp4 container, and * at least have windows 7 (or additionally install a compatible codec for h264), so yes, notourbug). VLC support might also change that (but then you need to install vlc with appropriate codecs)

* win8 mediaplayer probably uses Media Foundation stuff, not Directshow

* the statement "anything that windows media player can play" is no longer true then

Let's keep this bug open, until we have a reliable solution that works for everybody.
Comment 19 Hadmut Danisch 2014-04-14 21:26:49 UTC
Yup, 

today's nightly build works with mp4 under Mac OS X. 

Thanks :-)
Comment 20 pranjit 2014-04-27 13:55:10 UTC
The same problem with libreoffice 4.2.3.3 mac osx 10.9
no video file can be inserted
Comment 21 pranjit 2014-06-06 04:45:22 UTC
roblem Description: 
When trying to insert a MP4 file it is not inserted, although it is shown as a selectable supported video file type.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open IMPRESS
2. Go to INSERT -> MOVIE AND SOUND
3. Assure that ALL MOVIE AND SOUND FILES or MPEG VIDEO as type is selected
4. Go to a directory with a MP4 file and try to insert it

Current Behavior:
You receive the error message: "The format of the selected file is not supported".  With the Windows Media Player this file is played correctly.

Expected Behavior:
It should be possible to insert and play MP4 files in IMPRESS presentations.
Operating System: mac os 10.9
Version: 4.2.4.2 release
Comment 22 pranjit 2014-06-06 04:45:44 UTC
it irritates the hell out of me
Comment 23 ign_christian 2014-06-19 05:00:40 UTC
@pranjit, based on comment 14 and comment 16 this report only refer to Windows.

So I change back the platform & status to oldest version problem seen.
Comment 24 foss 2014-06-19 10:33:57 UTC
ign christian: this has been confirmed on OSX as well with several users, so while setting version back to oldest is correct, OS platform indeed is "all".
Comment 25 ign_christian 2014-06-19 14:05:01 UTC
Sorry..I think it's Windows only since Michael & you stated so in comment 14, comment 15, comment 16
Comment 26 foss 2014-06-19 16:06:51 UTC
You are absolutely right. Sorry! Inserting of mp4 in LO 4.3beta2 works and also the video plays fine.

So win only. I just lost track of the current Impress video issues. There quite a few.


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