Support for local video files varies according to the output format you are using. This support is dependent on the output formats themselves, not on the capabilities of Help+Manual.
The bottom line is that if you want to be relatively sure that your movie will play on the user's computer then use online video services for CHM files, MP4 or online video services for WebHelp and M4V for videos in iBooks®/ePUB eBooks (only plays in Apple iBooks®). All other video formats will cause problems on at least some users' systems, even if they seem to be working for you.
Adobe Flash discontinued:
Adobe Flash has now been discontinued worldwide and on all platforms, among other things because of its horrendous security performance. Existing Flash videos in projects will still work on platforms that have Flash installed but you can no longer add new Flash content. We strongly recommend that you remove all Flash content.
Video with subtitles using the VTT MIME format
Video in the MP4 format including reference to text files for subtitles in the VTT MIME forum is supported in WebHelp and eWriter. If the subtitle files are available such videos can also be displayed with the subtitles when viewing WebHelp automatically after publishing. (This is achieved with Help+Manual's own HM2Go mini web server.)
Support for video files in output formats
HTML Help / CHM: |
Flash video is no longer supported worldwide and should be removed from all projects. HelpXplain presentations are embedded in the CHM file and will play reliably. See Animated HelpXplain presentations for details. Online video services will play reliably in CHM files. All other video formats will fail to play in CHM files on at least some users' computers. Online video does require an Internet connection, of course. However, Help+Manual inserts the videos so that the connection is only required when the user actually clicks on the video to play it. The iFrame with the video content is not loaded at all until then. When the user clicks, the preview image is replaced with the iFrame. MP4 video encoded with an Apple profile is the most reliable video format, if you must use local video. Note that the video will not and cannot be embedded in the CHM, as Microsoft now forbids this for all formats. |
WebHelp: |
Many video formats are theoretically supported, but we strongly recommend using only MP4 or online video services. Flash is no longer supported anywhere and should be removed from all projects if you have used it in the past. HelpXplain presentations are ideal for WebHelp and will play reliably. |
eWriter Exe eBooks: |
Same video formats supported in WebHelp, including HelpXplain presentations. |
iBooks®/ePUB eBooks: |
Only Apple iBooks® supports video in ePUB eBooks reliably and for it to work you must use properly encoded M4V video files created with a tool that supports Apple video profiles, like Apple QuickTime or the excellent free Some other ePUB readers may support video but you shouldn't rely on it yet. Some ePUB readers will support dynamic HelpXplain presentations but you shouldn't depend on it. Only use HelpXplain in ePUB if you are certain that all your users will have readers that support it. |
Kindle eBooks: |
No multimedia support. File links to external media files may work on Kindle apps in tablets and computers, but will fail on the original Kindle readers with e-ink displays. |
Adobe PDF: |
No multimedia support except as file links to external media files. |
Word DOCX: |
No multimedia support except as file links to external media files. |
See also:
Help Formats (Reference)
