AVI to iTunes

[noel105]

Windows Version?

Since Perian is a Mac software, is there any way that I can use it on my Windows PC? Because I want to do the same thing: import all my movies into my iTunes Library.

 

[penter]

I don't think Perian will actually allow you to import AVI into iTunes. It only allows playback of those files from within Quicktime.
You would still need to convert it for playback in iTunes.
Someone please correct me if i'm wrong

 

[luckas]

Nevyn, is the setfile still working in MAC OS 10.6.6 with itunes 10.1.2?

I ran the setfile from terminal and no error so I tried to add the file or drop it to itunes and nothing happens...

Then I used the apple script and I get the following errors:

----------------------
tell application "Finder"
set file type of file PATH to "MooV"
--> error number -1728 from file PATH
Result:
error "Finder got an error: Can’t set file PATH to \"MooV\"." number -10006 from file PATH to «class MooV»
-----------------------

I would not like to spend 30 bucks in the QT Pro to save the movie as a reference file

 

[luckyjames]

i have bunch of avi shows my brother gave me and i would like to have them in my iTunes lib, what program would you guys recommend to use to convert them to the compatable format for iTunes

thank you

Just google search Easy Solution to Convert and Import AVI to iTunes

you will find a nice to convert and import avi to itunes

 

[jmdinc]

I've been looking into using iTunes to manage some avi TV shows as well as music clips and ran into the same problem, and solution. Since I think using QT-Pro to make a wrapper for the file a bit of a hack I looked into other ways to get this to work.

The reason iTunes does not play avi files can be plainly seen in iTunes.app/Info.plist under "CFBundleDocumentTypes". iTunes can also recognise video files by the optional meta-data associated with the file in place of the extension. As there is no entry for .avi and most .avi files do not have the extra meta-data iTunes does not support them.

There are three ways to get .avi files to load into the iTunes library, these are packaging it in a supported format (QT-Pro workaround), adding extra entries to the CFBundleDocumentTypes (may cause problems when updating iTunes) or adding the movie-type meta-data to the file. Adding the movie-type meta-data to the file is the quickest, easiest and safest of all of these options (IMHO).

The file-type meta-data can be changed by using Terminal or Applescript/Automator by doing either of the following (note that iTunes does not check the creator type):

Terminal (requires Apple Dev Tools)

$ SetFile -t "MooV" /path/to/movie.avi

Applescript:

tell application "Finder"
   set file type of file this_file to "MooV"
end tell

That's it. You should now be able to drag and drop the movie into iTunes.

The next step would be to create a Folder Action or a Droplet that adds the movie-type meta and adds the file to iTunes, see below:

(*add movie to iTunes

The script will add OSList file-type information to a list of files.  This identifies them 
as movie files, the files are then imported into iTunes.

TO DO:
  Verification of file list passed as video files
  Growl integration (if installed)
  Move repeat loop into separate object script to clean-up code.
*)

--Folder Action [Attach to a folder in Finder]
on adding folder items to this_folder after receiving file_list
	repeat with each_file in file_list
		try
			tell application "Finder" to set file type of file each_file to "MooV"
		end try
	end repeat
	tell application "iTunes" to add file_list
end adding folder items to

--Droplet [Compile and drop items onto application]
on open file_list
	repeat with each_file in file_list
		try
			tell application "Finder" to set file type of file each_file to "MooV"
		end try
	end repeat
	tell application "iTunes" to add file_list
end open

Note: you can also use applescript to set the video type (ie movie, music video or TV Show).

I've reposted this at http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?t=214705 where it may eventually find it's way to Doug's Applescript page which is one of the first places I looked for something like this (instead of writing it).

Ive been able to follow these steps, however the file appears in iTunes but i am unable to play it. It refuses to start.

I believe I am missing something. If you could help me out, it would be greatly appreciated.