How can a .mov be an "unsupported file type"?

Question

Level 1

0 points

How can a .mov be an "unsupported file type"?

I've saved a PowerPoint presentation as a .mov and it plays fine on its own (as a quicktime movie.) It also shows up as availabe file in my "movies" pane. However, when I try to drag it into a drop zone, I get the following error message: "Unsupported File Type: Unknown Format" but it's a .mov file!??
What's going on?

MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Nov 6, 2006 9:51 AM

Reply

Answer 1

F Shippey

Level 7

21,500 points

Nov 6, 2006 10:06 AM in response to Lieselotte

.MOV is just a wrapper for content. The data inside the wrapper can be in many different forms.

Open the problem file in the QuickTime Player and select Window>Show Movie Info

What information is shown?

If you have QuickTime Pro you can export the file as DV content which will work in iDVD.

Reply

Answer 2

Lieselotte Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 6, 2006 10:41 AM in response to F Shippey

It says "Microsoft PowerPoint Movie" which is exactly what it is... So I guess that's the "unsupported file type" which I can't put on the DVD now, that's really too bad...
Wouldn't that be a simple fix in the software to allow all kinds of .mov files, no?
I don't have QuickTime Pro and I hate when I have to buy extra stuff just to make something work, arrgh! But thanks for your quick reply! I appreciate it.

Reply

Answer 3

F Shippey

Level 7

21,500 points

Nov 6, 2006 10:41 AM in response to F Shippey

I just made a .mov file out of PowerPoint and the Window>Show Movie Info gave no useful information. Sorry.

QuickTime Pro will let you create a useable file.

Reply

Answer 4

Lieselotte Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 7, 2006 8:49 PM in response to F Shippey

I'm going to answer my own question so others may benefit 😉
After some serious thinking I did the following and it worked: I imported the .mov file (in this case a PowerPoint presentation) into iMovie where it became a simple clip, then saved that as a new .mov, and now it's suddenly recognizable to iDVD! Simple, huh? I bet it works with all kinds of "unsupported file types" as long as you can get them into iMovie...

MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Reply