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Technical Q&As
QuickTime is Apple's cross-platform multimedia technology for creating and delivering video, sound, animation, graphics, text, interactivity, and music. QuickTime supports dozens of file and compression formats for images, video, and audio, including ISO-compliant MPEG-4 video and AAC audio. QuickTime applications can run on Mac OS X and all major versions of Microsoft Windows. QuickTime content plays on Mac OS and Windows computers and many handheld devices, and can be served by progressive download from any web server or as realtime streams from streaming servers on all major operating systems.

QuickTime Resources
A guided introduction and learning path for developers new to QuickTime.   Essential information for developers using QuickTime.   Descriptions of the programming interface elements for QuickTime.
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Is the Open Firmware device tree object oriented? (HTML)
HW80: Discusses the object-oriented attributes of the Open Firmware device tree.
Hardware 1999-11-15
When to use PCMCIA, PC Card, and CardBus (HTML)
HW77: Explains the differences between PCMCIA, PC Card, and CardBus.
Hardware 1999-11-15
Endian Concerns When Playing 'snd ' Resources (HTML)
QTW97: Use the Resource Manager to avoid byte-swapping 'snd ' resources before playing under Windows
QuickTime for Windows 1999-11-08
QuickTime DirectDraw Surfaces (HTML)
QTW96: How to make QuickTime 4 for Windows draw onto a surface using your custom DirectDraw object.
QuickTime for Windows 1999-11-01
Playing a sound using QTJ (HTML)
Deprecated - QTJ01: Explains how to play sounds in Java using QuickTime for Java.
Java 1999-10-25
Sample code for allocating an amount of dictionary space (HTML)
HW71: Discusses the allocation and the setting of memory for Dictionary space in Open Firmware.
Hardware 1999-10-11
SGSetSettings unexpected results (HTML)
QTMTB55: Explains why subsequent calls to the SGSetSettings can fail after the first call to SGSetSettings completed successfully.
Movie Basics, Movie Creation 1999-10-11
What is the "dump" word and how do I use it? (HTML)
HW68: Describes the function of the Open Firmware word "dump" and how it can be used.
Hardware 1999-10-11
What numeric base is the default for the Open Firmware user interface? (HTML)
HW65: Describes how the default numeric base used by the Open Firmware user interface is hexadecimal.
Hardware 1999-10-11
Setting the movie background color (HTML) ()
QTMTB53: Describes how to apply a background color to an entire movie.
Movie Basics 1999-08-16
Playing memory-resident WAVE data using QuickTime 4 (HTML) ()
QTMTB52: Explains how to play memory-resident WAVE data in QuickTime 4 or later.
Import & Export, Movie Basics, Music & Audio 1999-07-21
ConvertMovieToFile unexpected results (HTML) ()
QTMTB51: Explains why white frames can occur in a movie that was saved using ConvertMovieToFile.
Import & Export, Movie Basics 1999-06-14
Determining Open Firmware configuration variables (HTML) ()
HW56: Discusses how to determine the Open Firmware variables on a system.
Hardware 1999-03-29
Expansion ROM device properties (HTML) ()
HW50: Describes the Open Firmware properties that should be included in a boot device's expansion ROM.
Hardware 1999-03-29
Getting started with Forth (HTML) ()
HW53: Describes where FCode driver developers can get information about the Forth programming language.
Hardware 1999-03-29
Difference between using Restart or Shut Down in the Finder's Special menu in Open Firmware (HTML) ()
HW47: Explains the differences between using Restart or Shut Down on Open Firmware
Hardware 1999-02-15
Playing QuickTime 3 Movie Sound Data (HTML) ()
QTMTB50: Explains why a movie's sound data can continue to play longer than video data.
Movie Basics, Music & Audio, QuickTime for Windows 1998-11-09
Decompressing IMA WAVE files (HTML)
QTMCC11: Describes how to use the Sound Manager to decompress and play Window's Microsoft ADPCM-compressed WAVE files.
Import & Export 1998-10-19
Calling InitializeQTML from DLL Main (HTML) ()
QTW89: Don't do anything significant in your QuickTime 3 for Windows DLL Main procedure.
QuickTime for Windows 1998-09-21
Checking For Presence of QuickTime 3 for Windows (HTML) ()
QTW88: Programatically checking for the presence of QuickTime 3 for Windows.
QuickTime for Windows 1998-09-21
CreatePortAssociation And WM_QUERYNEWPALETTE Message (HTML) ()
QTW91: Activating your custom palette under QuickTime 3 for Windows by calling NSetPalette and ActivatePalette.
QuickTime for Windows 1998-09-21
MSVC++ link error LNK4098 When Building QuickTime 3 for Windows Apps (HTML) ()
QTW94: Avoid MSVC++ link error LNK4098 when building QuickTime 3 for Windows applications.
QuickTime for Windows 1998-09-21
Using Custom Color Tables (HTML) ()
QTW93: Use a custom 236-color table for 8-bit movies with QuickTime 3 for Windows.
QuickTime for Windows 1998-09-21
Using Mac Toolbox routines Under Windows 98/95/NT (HTML) ()
QTW87: Some Macintosh Toolbox functions are available with QuickTime 3 for Windows.
QuickTime for Windows 1998-09-21
Using Mac-style Resources (HTML) ()
QTW86: Using Mac-style resources in a Windows 98/95/NT or DLL using QuickTime 3 for Windows FSpOpenResFile function.
QuickTime for Windows 1998-09-21
What is SetMovieDefaultDataRef? (HTML) ()
QTMTB48: Describes the routine SetMovieDefaultDataRef and includes sample code showing how to use it.
Movie Basics 1997-03-14
Saving QuickTime Movie Files (HTML) ()
QTMTB47: Explains a few complications one might face in creating and saving QuickTime movie files.
Movie Basics 1997-01-31
ImageDescription Extension Format (HTML) ()
QTMCC04: Gives a reference for information on image description extensions.
QuickTime Component Creation 1996-11-27
QuickTime Preview Behavior (HTML) ()
QTMCC10: Describes the expected behavior of the create/update preview button in the SFPGetFilePreview dialog.
QuickTime for Windows 1996-11-27
Derived Media Handler Components Update (HTML) ()
QTMCC08: Gives practical limits for data transfer rates under QuickTime 2.5.
QuickTime Component Creation 1996-08-21
Movie Import Component Selectors (HTML) ()
QTMCC09: Explains why there is no documentation on the movie import API selectors: kMovieImportGetFileTypeSelect and kMovieImportDataRefSelect.
QuickTime Component Creation 1996-08-21
QuickTime Music Architecture Header Update (HTML) ()
QTMA06: Explains missing and changed items in QuickTime 2.5.
Music & Audio 1996-08-21
Linked Movies with Different Color Palettes (HTML) ()
QTMRF07: Explains why a QuickTime movie shouldn't contain subMovies that have different color palettes.
Movie Internals 1996-02-15
Handling of Update Events While a Movie Plays (HTML)
Deprecated - QTMTB45: Describes timing issues that can be caused by applications calling WaitNextEvent while playing a QuickTime movie.
Movie Basics 1995-09-15
How to Compute Data Rate for QuickTime Movies (HTML)
QTMTB46: Describes two methods of measuring the rate of samples for Quicktime movies.
Movie Basics 1995-09-15
Incorrect Inside Macintosh Volume V documentation (HTML)
Deprecated - QD15: Identifies incorrect documentation in Inside Macintosh Volume V regarding the formats of PnPixPat and BkPixPat opcodes.
Carbon 1995-09-15
Compressed and Uncompressed Samples in the Same Track (HTML)
QTMTB43: Recommends not to mix compressed and uncompressed data samples into the same sound track.
Movie Basics 1995-08-01
Correction to SetMediaDataRef, short, not pointer (HTML)
QTMTB44: Makes a correction to the description of SetMediaDataRef in the QT2.0 CD.
Media Types & Media Handlers, Movie Basics 1995-08-01
Creating Sample Descriptor Atoms for a Non-Mac Device (HTML)
QTPC06: Lists a reference for information on QuickTime atoms and their formats.
Design Guidelines 1995-08-01
Image Compression Dialog Options (HTML)
QTICM14: Describes how to display an extra Options button in the normal Image Compression dialog.
Compression & Decompression 1995-08-01
MPEG Compression in QuickTime (HTML)
QTICM16: Describes extracting information from an MPEG movie file and placing it in a specific MPEG track.
Movie Creation 1995-08-01
Specifying Chunk Sizes (HTML)
QTPC08: Discusses the meaning of a QuickTime movie atom's chunk value.
Design Guidelines, Movie Internals 1995-08-01
Setting the option button in the ICM dialog (HTML)
QTMCC02: Describes how your codec can display an extra Options button in the Standard Compression dialog.
QuickTime Component Creation 1995-06-01
Accessing Decompressed Images (HTML)
QTMTB27: Demonstrates the use of a transfer procedure to access a decompressed image and manipulate it prior to display.
Movie Basics 1995-05-01
Adding QuickTime Movie Data to Non-QuickTime Files (HTML)
QTMTB31: Describes how to embed QuickTime movies into files, and play back on Windows or Mac.
Movie Basics 1995-05-01
Choosing the Position Where a Movie is Pasted (HTML)
QTMTB26: Explains how the position of a pasted movie is determined and shows how to force a given location.
Movie Basics, Movie Internals 1995-05-01
CompressSequenceBegin & Ethernet in QuickTime (HTML)
QTICM13: Describes resolving an issue with missing ImageDescription when sending compressed images over Ethernet using CompressSequenceBegin.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
Correct Time Values (HTML)
QTMTB32: Demonstrates finding correct time values for GetMoviePict to get all the frames of a QuickTime movie.
Movie Basics 1995-05-01
Creating Thumbnail PICTs (HTML)
QTICM08: Describes transforming the generic icons of QuickTime PICT-created files into thumbnail icons of these PICTs.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
Determining QuickDrawVideo Media Pixel Depth (HTML)
QTMTB17: Demonstrates how to retrieve the pixel depth of a QuickTime video media or movie.
Media Types & Media Handlers, Movie Basics 1995-05-01
Developing a QuickTime Musical Instrument (HTML)
Deprecated - QTMA05: Explains resolving the lack of QuickTime 2.0 API support for creating new music components.
Music & Audio 1995-05-01
Functions that Modify Movie Properties, QuickTime Track, and Movie Sound Volume (HTML)
QTMTB39: Explains movie volume values, and how to exceed the maximum level using Sound Manager 3.0.
Movie Basics 1995-05-01
GDGetScale (HTML)
Deprecated - QTICM04: Describes the function call GDGetScale, its parameters, and errors it may encounter.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
GDHasScale (HTML)
Deprecated - QTICM03: Describes the function GDHasScale; lists what it returns, its main purpose, parameters, and possible errors.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
GDSetScale (HTML)
Deprecated - QTICM05: Describes the function GDSetScale, its parameters, and the errors it may encounter.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
How to Get the First Video Frame (HTML)
QTMCC01: Describes how to get the first frame of a movie using GetMovieNextInterestingTime.
Movie Basics 1995-05-01
How to Tell Whether a Picture is QuickTime-Compressed (HTML)
QTICM02: Details how to determine whether a picture's QuickTime-compressed, contains QuickTime-compressed images, and type of compression used.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
MCSetClip and Clipping with the Movie Controller (HTML)
QTMTB18: Tells why the movie controller ignores the clip set by SetMovieDisplayClipRgn and shows a correct clipping technique.
Movie Basics, Movie Internals 1995-05-01
PICT, QuickTime-Compressed Testing (HTML)
QTICM09: Details how to determine whether a picture's QuickTime-compressed, contains QuickTime-compressed images, and type of compression used
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
Preroll Movies (HTML)
QTMTB42: Lists the advantages of calling PreRollMovie to improve the performance of QuickTime movies.
Movie Basics 1995-05-01
QuickTime & Noise Problems (HTML)
QTPC02: Talks about ways to reduce noise in movies created with the CinePak codec.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
QuickTime & PutMovieIntoDataFork, Offsets (HTML)
QTMTB34: Explains restrictions on moving movie data around in a file after creation; also gives work arounds.
Movie Basics 1995-05-01
QuickTime Sound (HTML)
QTMRF04: Explains what the sowt and the twos format is in QuickTime.
QuickTime for Windows 1995-05-01
QuickTime Toolbox GetMovieTime Call (HTML)
QTMTB38: Provides the calls to change the current time and to reposition a movie to play from the start.
Movie Basics 1995-05-01
Retrieving Audio from QuickTime Files (HTML)
QTMTB30: Describes how to retrieve audio from QuickTime files in 1 second chunks.
Import & Export, Movie Basics 1995-05-01
Setting a Movie's Clipping Region (HTML)
QTMTB23: Explains why ShowMoviePoster doesn't honor the clipping region when clipped to the cell size.
Movie Basics, Movie Internals 1995-05-01
Stepping Through QuickTime-Movie (HTML)
QTMTB28: Describes how to get the first frame of a movie using GetMovieNextInterestingTime.
Movie Basics, Movie Internals 1995-05-01