Tame your computer - play with pop up video

Around four years ago, I told you how to automatically add a URL in the Insert Hyperlink dialogue box, which is still one of my favourite tricks (although I’ve just noticed it doesn’t seem to work with Firefox; probably just Internet Explorer – but I digress).

What should you do if you want to link to a YouTube video, but don’t want to display all the distracting bits and comments on the page? Or,  like some of this week’s PowerPoint course participants wanted to do, add a link on a slide that automatically opens the video, as if it was an integral part of your presentation?

 
Here's how:

1.       Right-click the YouTube video you want to link to and select Copy video URL.

2.       In your document or presentation right-click the text, picture or cell you want to turn into the link and select Hyperlink.

3.       In the Insert Hyperlink dialogue box, paste the video’s URL you copied in step 1. (CTRL+V anyone?)

4.       Replace the watch? part of the URL by watch_popup.

5.       Click OK.

 

For example,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=k0q-_gWOYjY becomes

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?feature=player_embedded&v=k0q-_gWOYjY


or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0q-_gWOYjY becomes

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=k0q-_gWOYjY

 

PS I'm committed to sharing the best of what I know with others so please don't keep these tips a secret. If you enjoyed today's tip, please forward it to anyone you feel may benefit or reprint it (with full copyright and subscription information) in your newsletters and message boards. Got a tip to share? Submit it by emailing karen@roem.co.uk - if your tip is selected, I'll publish it along with your name; the bragging rights will last a lifetime.


18 March 2013

Karen Roem offers software training and support through her company Roem Ltd.  Contact her by email (Karen@roem.co.uk) or visit her website at http://www.roem.co.uk
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