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User profile for user: RichardLeeSparks
RichardLeeSparks
User level: Level 1
(13 points)
iWorkSpeciality level out of ten: 0
Question:

Question: Standard audio and video controls missing in Pages.

Does Pages offer a scrubber, a timer, and an expansion window for audio and video controls?


I want to create a reflowable eBook and the UX for audio/video is too simple. The media player features Pages offer are only 'play', 'pause', an undefined circular countdown 'timer', and 'loops'.


I want the reader to be able to 1) scrub through the audio, 2) see a clock timer, 3) expand the media player, 4) have a cast option, and 5) fast forward/reverse controls. These features are all in a QuickTime media player, but they are either missing in Pages or simply non-existent as I cannot find them.


Anybody have an idea of how to achieve this? Or, is there an html5 code out there that I could insert into the .ePub file to achieve what I'm looking for? Any help would be appreciated!


More context: I've tried to create this in iBooks Author, but whenever the reader scrolls, the audio automatically cuts off. Just another critical compromise I'd have to make in the final product. I wish Apple iBooks Author offered the ability to scroll in a reflowable .epub without stopping the media from playing. Very frustrating!


Tech specs: Currently running Catalina 10.15.4, Pages 10.0

Posted on Apr 21, 2020 12:02 PM

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User profile for user: Joseph_S.
Joseph_S.
User level: Community Specialist

Apr 23, 2020 7:13 AM in response to RichardLeeSparks In response to RichardLeeSparks

Hello and welcome to Apple Support Communities, Richard!


I understand you want to have more control over the media within eBooks you create. I'd be happy to point you to where you can provide feedback for this.


Please leave feedback here: Product Feedback


Have a great day!

Apr 23, 2020 7:13 AM

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User profile for user: VikingOSX
VikingOSX
User level: Level 9
(79,706 points)
macOSSpeciality level out of ten: 1

Apr 23, 2020 7:24 AM in response to RichardLeeSparks In response to RichardLeeSparks

The answer to your first sentence is no. You are seeking advanced features that Apple has not chosen to include in a consumer-oriented word processing application. The feedback link is on your application menu.

Apr 23, 2020 7:24 AM

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User profile for user: RichardLeeSparks
RichardLeeSparks
User level: Level 1
(13 points)
iWorkSpeciality level out of ten: 0

May 20, 2020 10:44 PM in response to VikingOSX In response to VikingOSX

VikingOSX,


I found a work around:


  1. Create book in Pages.
  2. Use the media insert option for your audio files - do not drag and drop.
  3. Export file as .epub.
  4. Unzip .epub (using eCanCrusher) in order to access .epub contents. This will create a folder that lives in the same location as your .epub file.
  5. Open this folder using a code editor (I used Brackets).
  6. Delete .js file. This file contains Pages (poorly) designed audio player.
  7. Rezip folder (using eCanCrusher in order to update .epub file).
  8. Test .epub file by importing it into the Books application. I just used AirDrop.


Voila! The browser (in the Books application) renders a FULLY FUNCTIONAL audio player complete with scrubber, timer, start, and pause controls. And, you can scroll while listening to the audio!


Note: this will only work if your book ONLY includes audio, text, and images. I imagine if you have other interactive media such as videos or HTML5 widgets, then other .js commands may be within the .js file and you would have to determine which .js command lines to delete. In that case, you may have to parse the .js code and determine which structure is for the Audio Player and which structures are for other interactive features. This may require some testing by creating one simple document with an audio file and another with a video file (etc.) to see which .js command structures are for the audio player and which .js command structures are for video, HTML5 widgets, etc.

May 20, 2020 10:44 PM

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User profile for user: RichardLeeSparks

Question: Standard audio and video controls missing in Pages.