How to implement HTML5 video player -- do I need this script?

I have an interactive HTML teaching guide that was coded years ago. I would like to repackage it and include video files. To use the HTML5 video function, must I recode all my pages to be HTML5 compliant?

Is there a way to keep my pages as they are and simply drop in the new HTML5 video code?

Also, in previous versions of this teaching guide, I was calling videos using this script [below].
Is it still still needed given the enhanced functionality of HTMLexe 4.9?

procedure StartVideoUnit01(Filename: String);
var
EbookPath, MyProgram: String;
begin
// Read the path to the folder that contains our ebook .exe
EbookPath := IncludeTrailingPathDelimiter(GetGlobalVar(“HEPublicationPath”, “”));

// Construct the path to the mp4 file we want to launch.
// Video mp4 files are located in the [Resources\Unit_01] subfolder.
MyProgram := EbookPath + “Resources\Unit_01” + Filename + “.mp4”;
// Execute the program!
if OpenFile(MyProgram, “”, SW_SHOWNORMAL) < 32 then
begin
MessageBox("Unable to execute the external file: " + MyProgram, “Ebook Error”, MB_OK

+MB_ICONERROR);
exit;
end;
end;

The code you posted will still work in HTMLEXE 4.9.1.

But you can also have your ebook play MP4 files thanks to the HTML5 internal player. See our doc:
http://www.htmlexe.com/help/html5video

  1. To use the HTML5 video player, must the entire page be fully HTML5 compliant?

  2. Is it possible to add the HTML5 video tag to a legacy HTML page without changing other tags in the page?

  3. Also, if I use the HTML5 video player, how does the .exe app find the path to the video file? Do I still need a script of some sort?

  4. I don’t really understand script coding. Can you modify the script below so that if the system supports HTML5, then that video player will launch. But — if the operating system is of an older type that does not have the HTML5 resources, then the computer’s default video player will play the video?

procedure StartVideoUnit01(Filename: String);
var
EbookPath, MyProgram: String;
begin
// Read the path to the folder that contains our ebook .exe
EbookPath := IncludeTrailingPathDelimiter(GetGlobalVar(“HEPublicationPath”, “”));

// Construct the path to the mp4 file we want to launch.
// Video mp4 files are located in the [Resources\Unit_01] subfolder.
MyProgram := EbookPath + “Resources\Unit_01” + Filename + “.mp4”;
// Execute the program!
if OpenFile(MyProgram, “”, SW_SHOWNORMAL) < 32 then
begin
MessageBox("Unable to execute the external file: " + MyProgram, “Ebook Error”, MB_OK

+MB_ICONERROR);
exit;
end;
end;


  1. Does HTMLexe run on Mac also? Does the script need to allow for that?

To use the HTML5 video player, must the entire page be fully HTML5
compliant?
2.

Is it possible to add the HTML5 video tag to a legacy HTML page without
changing other tags in the page?
3.

Also, if I use the HTML5 video player, how does the .exe app find the
path to the video file? Do I still need a script of some sort?
4.

I don’t really understand script coding. Can you modify the script below
so that if the system supports HTML5, then that video player will launch.
But — if the operating system is of an older type that does not have the
HTML5 resources, then the computer’s default video player will play the
video?

procedure StartVideoUnit01(Filename: String);
var
EbookPath, MyProgram: String;
begin
// Read the path to the folder that contains our ebook .exe
EbookPath := IncludeTrailingPathDelimiter(GetGlobalVar(“HEPublicationPath”,
“”));

// Construct the path to the mp4 file we want to launch.
// Video mp4 files are located in the [Resources\Unit_01] subfolder.
MyProgram := EbookPath + “Resources\Unit_01” + Filename + “.mp4”;
// Execute the program!
if OpenFile(MyProgram, “”, SW_SHOWNORMAL) < 32 then
begin
MessageBox("Unable to execute the external file: " + MyProgram, “Ebook
Error”, MB_OK

+MB_ICONERROR);
exit;
end;
end;

No, the HTML page hasn’t to be fully HTML5 compatible. But you have to enable HTML5 features by using the appropriate DOCTYPE header in your HTML pages.
You can either compile your video files into the EXE or keep them external. Everything is explained here:
http://www.htmlexe.com/help/html5video
You’ll also find samples to copy.
If you embed your video files into your HTML pages, you don’t need the script StartVideoUnit01.

If a user is on an older machine, they will not have HTML5 ability.

Can you modify the script so that

IF they can’t view HTML5 video
THEN the script launches their normal video player.

Internet Explorer 9, 10 and 11 are not supported by Microsoft anymore

Why do you say that legacy users must have Internet Explorer 9 installed?

“On January 12, 2016 Microsoft announced end of support for IE10, IE9, and IE8 on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10. Internet Explorer 11 is now the last version of Internet Explorer on these platforms which will continue to receive security updates, compatibility fixes, and technical support.”

Please, Can you modify the script so that

IF they can’t view HTML5 video
THEN the script launches their normal video player.

End users of old Windows versions such as Vista must have IE9 to render HTML5 and play HTML5 video files.
Even if Microsoft ends support for IE x, they still maintain the MSHTML engine that is still included in Windows (even the last Windows 10). HTMLEXE publications use the MSHTML engine currently, and we’ll bring Chromium support very soon.
Your users with recent versions of Windows don’t need IE9 because the HTML5 components are already shipped with Windows itself.

I am making an educational DVD for schools – many of the schools still use Windows 7, so I will need to use the HE script to launch whatever video player is installed on the computer.

Is there a way to tell the player to close after the video is done playing?
Otherwise, the player window will stay full screen and block my HTMLexe project.

No, we can’t control the player software once it is launched.