Videos in PDF files?

[ZildjianKX]

This is a weird question, but one of my bosses asked me how to look up using Adobe Acrobat Prof. to embed a video in a PDF file. I have never heard of such a thing, and google doesn't appear to help. So... all you mac users out there... is this possible... and if so, how?

 

[robbieduncan]

I've never seen it done, and I'm not sure it's even possible. Acrobat is (at least in theory) designed to ensure that documents look the same on different machines and printers. It's not really a container for media in this way.

 

[4Italian]

Yes you can!

Full version of Acrobat has a lot more to offer than most people think. Yes, it is an electronic "print," but you can also use for different things. For example, there is a documentation review functionality that allows a team to review a PDF, make "Comments," then email just the comments to the writer. The writer can then import all of the comments into the master document. No more worries about versions and people changing a Word doc while in review!
You can add movies, sounds, buttons (even with rollover states), and internal and external links. What's more, it is SO simple to use! You can also create forms within Acrobat, but this is getting a bit more advanced. As of Acrobat 5, Movies will play within the document, but they are not "embedded" - in other words, if you were to email the pdf to someone, you would have to email the movies as well. I'm not sure if the newer versions allow for embedding.

 

[zim]

Interesting, I just made a pdf with an embedded movie, qt. Very easy to do, I have the CS version and it looks as if only acrobat 6 and reader 6 can understand embedded movies.

Some things to consider before moving towards embedded movies, only works with Acrobat reader 6, does not work with Apple's preview.

Process:
Start with a new PDF doc, I created a bland ai file to start.
Under Tools, select Advanced Editing.
Select the Movie tool, there is also a Sound tool.

Once you have the Movie tool, simply draw out a box and import your movie, if in CS, 6, select embed to embed, it did this be default for me. I imported an iPod commercial, like the dork I am, and ended up with a 1.6 MB pdf.

You can get pretty complex too, making navigation buttons, etc..

Not sure if I see the practical side to this, would rather build a website but it is neat knowing we have this option.