Daily Kos users know that embedding video from MSNBC is much trickier than embedding YouTube videos. The FAQ contains a link to a previous diary by wader, who deserves a lot of credit for coming up with the original workaround solutions using a Mozilla Firefox add-in called DownloadHelper and a program called Orbit Downloader.
But what if you don't use Firefox, or don't want to deal with downloading software? Well, I've stumbled across a new method -- one that takes only seconds to learn and use.
The following diary is a comprehensive how-to guide for embedding videos from any and all MSNBC programs into DKos diaries and comments, using a different method than the ones outlined by wader. It's a fast, easy process that requires no program downloads, and more importantly, works on any browser and operating system.
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Please consult the summary section at the end of this diary for the quick recap.
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Let's say you just watched a great segment on a program like The Rachel Maddow Show, like this one from December 9, 2009, called "Appreciating options other than the public option":
You want to embed it in a diary as soon as it's available, but you can't just use the embed text from MSNBC.
As wader described in his previous diary, one of the main problems with embedding MSNBC videos is finding the filename of the video you want. We want a simple method of getting it. So, here's what you do:
STEP #1: The video code
First, building off of wader's method, copy and paste the following code block into your diary:
<embed height="339" width="425" allowfullscreen="true" src="http://www.onlineflvplayer.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http://msnbc.vo.llnwd.net/e1/video/flash/INSERT FILENAME HERE"></embed>
Okay. Now that we've got that piece, we're going to have to find the video and its corresponding filename.
STEP #2: Finding the video you want
Go to the main page of MSNBC's website: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/.
On the left side of the page, you should see a link for Video (under Browse). Roll the mouse over the Video link. A box will pop up that includes the names to all MSNBC shows -- i.e. Countdown, Hardball, The Rachel Maddow Show, etc. Now, roll the mouse over the show's name, and click on the name of the clip that best describes the video you want. This will open a video player in your browser, which will play the video clip of your choice.
STEP #3: Getting the filename
Now that you're viewing the video you wanted, find the RSS link near the bottom-left side of the video player (indicated by the big red arrow in the picture below) and click on it.
This RSS link is basically the magic button that will give us the filename of the video. Once you click on it, it will open a window or tab that shows you the RSS feed and thumbnails of that program's videos dating back a couple of weeks.
Now, on the RSS feed page, scroll down to the video that you're looking for. Notice the box beneath the video that says "Media files"? It has a link to a thumbnail picture of the video. Look what that .jpg link contains: The filename!
For the video in this example, the filename is n_maddow_theint_091209. The filename includes all of the text in the "Media files" box EXCEPT for the .thumb.jpg extension at the end. The .thumb.jpg extension just indicates a picture. We want a video, so we'll need a different extension.
STEP #4: Embedding the video
Now, it's time to embed the video of our choice. Go back to your diary and replace INSERT FILENAME HERE in the HTML code from Step #1 with the filename from Step #3, and replace the .thumb.jpg extension with a .flv extension (or just add .flv to the end of the filename if you didn't include .thumb.jpg). Your final code should look like this:
<embed height="339" width="425" allowfullscreen="true" src="http://www.onlineflvplayer.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http://msnbc.vo.llnwd.net/e1/video/flash/
n_maddow_theint_091209.flv"></embed>
And with that, you should be good to go!
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Summary For Embedding MSNBC Videos in DKos Diaries
- Copy and paste the following code into your diary:
<embed height="339" width="425" allowfullscreen="true" src="http://www.onlineflvplayer.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http://msnbc.vo.llnwd.net/e1/video/flash/INSERT FILENAME HERE"></embed>
- Go to the main page for MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/). Find the video by rolling over the Video link on the left side of the screen, then rolling over the name of the TV program, and clicking on the title of the video you're looking for.
- In the video player that pops up, click on the RSS link underneath the video thumbnails near the bottom-left side to open the RSS feed page. In the RSS feed page, scroll down to the video you want, then then copy and paste the text from the "Media files" box into the code where it says INSERT FILENAME HERE.
- Replace the .thumb.jpg extension of the filename with a .flv extension.
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Cheers, and happy video hunting!