Quicktime 7 filename length

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Level 1

65 points

Quicktime 7 filename length

Pardon me if this is covered elsewhere, but I could not find this exact topic.

Quicktime 7's browser plugin apparently is unable to accept filenames longer than 31 characters when saving a file (browser is Firefox 1.0.7). This odd behavior is the same regardless if I use Firefox or Safari

Is this a programming error with Quicktime or the Quicktime plugin? Is Apple aware of it?

PowerMac G3 Blue & White/MACHSpeed G4-600 MHz Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on Dec 8, 2005 3:04 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 8, 2005 4:12 PM in response to Leonard Cole

I've never encountered any issue with file length limits.
Could you post a link to a page that has a QT file above 31 characters? I'd be glad to confirm (or dismiss) the issue.
Do you really need 31 letters in the saved files name? Or does the file having 31 letters just fail to be saved?

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Answer 2

Leonard Cole Author

Level 1

65 points

Dec 8, 2005 5:20 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Sure, I'll be glad to.

These are the specific files (and URLs) I was having trouble with earlier today:

http://www.radio4all.net/pub/files/echoesmaster@charter.net/1610-1-20051204-Echo esDayAfterDayOfInfamy.mp3

and

http://www.radio4all.net/pub/files/echoesmaster@charter.net/1610-1-20051204-Echo esPearlHarbor.mp3

They are podcast files and are 53 MB and 50 MB respectively.

Incidentally, I was able to come up with only one related topic:

QT 7.0.2 imports frames out of order if names are long??

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=211163&tstart=1035

I seem to recall this happening before but cannot be more specific since I only began using OS X 10.2 earlier this year and then switched to 10.4 shortly after its release. So I don't remember if I encountered the same thing under Jaguar or not.

Having long filenames allows me to retain the long filenames one typically gets with files originating on Windows platforms as well as unix/linux platforms. Even Apple's software downloads has files with long filenames (i.e., > 31 characters). So, yes, it is important at least as far as maintaining continuity.

I've been getting around it by renaming the files after downloading them, but that gets old fast.

PowerMac G3 Blue & White/MACHSpeed G4-600 MHz Mac OS X (10.4.3)

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Answer 3

Dec 8, 2005 6:12 PM in response to Leonard Cole

I'm sorry. I can't "test" my suspicion on such large files. I'm still using the Texas "tin cans with strings" dial-up Internet connection.
My original thought was that some "protection" was placed on the file. I was able to begin a download via QT Pro (Open URL feature) and then make a selection of the one hour file, use copy/paste to move it to a new "movie" wrapper. The file is not "protected".
If the character limit is indeed enforced I don't see a workaround.
I would use the "Control-click" (hold down the Control key while clicking on the link to the .mp3 file) and then "Save linked file as" menu.
This also gives you the option of saving and renaming the file but it bypasses the QuickTime plug-in.
Does this make sense? Would it work for you?

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Answer 4

Leonard Cole Author

Level 1

65 points

Dec 8, 2005 8:10 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

I get the URLs as links in emails. Eudora doesn't let me right (control) click on links to save them as files. At least I don't think it does. I only get something called "Launch Copy/Paste". The URLs came to me as "tinyurls" anyway. (For reasons that are irrelevant to this discussion, I use Eudora, not Apple Mail.)

Sure, option clicking on the link and downloading it as a file sidesteps the whole issue, which is how I would normally do things, but in this case it is not an option. When you click on the "tinyurl" link, the browser automatically attempts to load the file into Quicktime.

I don't know what kind of protection would be placed on the files. They are public domain or at least are free-use according to the person who made the mp3s (of his own radio broadcasts) and put them up on radio4all. He's the origin of the links as well.

I don't know what would be placing a restriction on the files either, QT or the web site?

I'm still mystified especially in light of the other discussion thread I referenced.

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Answer 5

Dec 8, 2005 8:40 PM in response to Leonard Cole

Even the "free" version of QT Player allows you to "Open link in new player"
Use the "Control-click" (hold down the Control key as you click) method as you visit the pages.
If you own "Pro" you'll see the pull down menu for "saving" the file.
Or open the link feature by copy/paste of the URL (those linked via email) and then use QuickTime Player's "Open URL" and pasting the address to the file in the dialog window.
Please let me thank your friends for sharing their work.
I can only hope that your service (and that war) is the last understanding of war they understand.

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Answer 6

Leonard Cole Author

Level 1

65 points

Dec 8, 2005 9:10 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

I would have to cut and paste between Eudora and Firefox, which is what I * am * doing anyway. Once I paste the URL into Firefox's address bar, Firefox passes it to the Quicktime plugin which automatically opens a player in a browser window.

Normally, I seldom use the Quicktime browser plugin to view non-streaming media online. I download the file and view/listen to it when I have the time. I have used the Quicktime player itself to view media online once or twice, again preferring to download the file and play it later. (I don't like being online more than I need to be.)

King Daevid MacKenzie has some pretty good programs and many of them can be found on the radio4all.net site. It is an interesting site with a lot more radio programming for immediate play or download and subsequent play. Check it out.

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