Video Streaming

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Video streams allow your viewers to watch video over the Internet without first downloading the file to their personal computers. The video is continuously displayed to your viewers while being delivered from the UWF server.

Mac Users: If you are creating your video using "iMovie" or "FinalCut," you need to convert your video to a Windows Media (.wmv) file to work with the UWF server. "WMV Studio" (available for purchase at http://www.flip4mac.com/wmv.htm) allows you to save your video to wmv. It can also be used to convert existing QuickTime (.mov) files to wmv.

Follow the instructions below to stream a Windows Media File. If you do not already have a video to be streamed and will be creating one, refer to Creating a Video File: Guidelines.

Step 1: Save the Windows Media File to a web folder

Save the .wmv file on your I: drive or your department/organization web folder.
Note: Several software programs are available to convert other file types to .wmv.

In the example below, John Doe saved his file "stream1.wmv" on his I: drive within a sub-folder named "mystreams."

Step 2: Create the stream file

The stream file connects your Windows Media file with the UWF streaming server so that your video can be viewed over the Internet.

1. Open Notepad (Start >> Programs >> Accessories >> Notepad). Type in the following text, replacing the red section with the file name and location that you chose in Step 1. (Note: If you are experiencing problems, try substituting "http" for "mms".)
   
   

   Faculty/Staff:	<ASX version = "3.0"> <Entry> <REF HREF=mms://streaming.uwf.edu/fsweb/jdoe/mystreams/stream1.wmv /> </Entry> </ASX>
   Students:	<ASX version = "3.0"> <Entry> <REF HREF=mms://streaming.uwf.edu/stuweb/jdd2/mystreams/stream1.wmv /> </Entry> </ASX>

   
   
2. Save the file on your I: drive or your department/organization web folder, then change the file's extension (the letters following the dot) from .txt to .asx. In this example, John Doe (jdoe) saved the .asx file "stream1.asx" on his I: drive within a sub-folder named "mystreams."
   
   

   Faculty/Staff:	\\argofiler\facstaff\web\jdoe\mystreams\stream1.asx
   Students:	\\argofiler\students\web\jdd2\mystreams\stream1.asx

Step 3: Create a link to your stream

Create a link to your stream to share with others. Use the web address below, replacing the red sections with the .asx file name and location that you chose in Step 2.