Codecs are the programs that allow for the encoding (creation) and decoding (viewing) of videos. Depending on what codec was used to create your video (and its audio stream), you'll need that same codec on your PC to open the video.

vReveal automatically uses the correct codec to open a video, as long as the codec has been installed on your PC.

Windows 7 now supports a number of video formats natively, but there are several ways to increase vReveal's compatibility with various video file formats:

1) Install the latest version of QuickTime on your PC and adjust vReveal's settings.

Quicktime from Apple supports a number of common video formats from smartphones. vReveal will use Quicktime to decode videos if Quicktime is installed.  Download the latest version of Apple's QuickTime from http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/.

Once QuickTime has been installed, launch vReveal. From the Gears/Tools menu, select Options, then select  the checkbox for  "Try to open files with QuickTime, first." Click OK then try to import your video again.

2) Change the extension of .MTS and .MOV files to .MPG.

If you're still not having any luck importing an .MTS or .MOV video file into vReveal, try changing the extension of the file to .MPG, then try to import the file, again.

(For instructions on how to change the extension of a file, Google "change file extension in windows," where you add your version of windows [xp, vista, 7] to the end of the search string.)

Don't ask us why this sometimes works; Windows is just funny that way. :)

3) Install a codec pack on your PC.

For even "more" support of codecs (like support for VOB files), a reliable example of a codec pack is "K-Lite," which can be found at http://www.codecguide.com. The 32-bit "Full" version expands vReveal's compatibility with various video formats quite nicely.