Does anyone know of a programme (free if poss) that will download videos from YouTube etc., so that you do not have to log on the Internet to view them. There are a lot of instructional videos that I am interested in all over the place and it would be good if I didn't have to log on and look for them each time.

Thanks

Chrisparkle

I assume by "log on the Internet" you mean the web based converters that there are around. Obviously, you must be connected to the Internet to see the videos and to download them.

There's two options.

1. If you have Firefox, there's an add-on that will download videos:

http://www.downloadhelper.net/

2. YouTube Downloader is a stand alone program that you can use with any browser:

http://download.cnet.com/YouTube-Downloader/3000-2071_4-10647340.html

Finally, if you don't want to bother with the conversion of files (they are all FLV format), you can download FLV Player.

http://www.applian.com/flvplayer/

All of the above are free.

Thanks Dave, I use Firefox but before I start clicking on the links you have posted, I just want to clarify what I mean.

I'd like to be able to go to YouTube select the videos I am interested in and store them on my computer, so next time I want to view them, I wont have to use the Internet. Will these links help me do this

Thanks


Chrisparkle

They will do exactly what you want to.

One other option, just for playing the saved videos, is to download and install VLC Player. This is another freebie, and it's a versatile media player that can handle the majority of multimedia formats, including FLV.

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Hi Dave, I have had a fiddle this evening couldn't fathom out how to get the video into the programme but did manage to convert a video to flv. Then I couldn't get it to open. I then tried the link in your last post and now I can watch the flv video off line, so thank you very much.

I will carry on what I am doing, if I can remember.

Thanks for all your help

Chrisparkle

If you need a step-by-step guide, let me know, I'll write it up for you.

Yes Please

Chrisparkle

OK, here's how to do it:

If you are using the Firefox add-on, Download Helper you will have an icon (animated) in your toolbar. Mine is next to the Home button.



When you are viewing a page that contains video, there will be a number showing next to the drop-down button to the right of the Download Helper button.



All you need to do is click on the arrow to see the list of videos that are available, select the one you want (usually top of the list) and then click save when the box pops up.


If you are using YouTube Downloader, you will need to open it along with your browser.



You then copy the address of the page with the video on.



And paste it into the Downloader box



Then click on OK to save the file.

With either of the above, you only need a suitable media player to view the videos now saved on your PC. FLV Player or VLC Player are fine, VLC being the more useful program.

Thanks very much Dave, that is very kind of you to go to so much trouble for me


I should have no problems now and I may have ago this evening, if I have time (work commitments ) If not definitely before I go on my hols tomorrow evening. I will let you know how I get on.

Thanks very much for all your help.

Chrisparkle

There's a coincidence - I'm off on a holiday too. I'm leaving Saturday morning though.
I'll be back the following weekend.

Hi Dave, got as far as clicking to download and a box came up saying 'No flash video found'

Don't know what this means. What next

We're off to our caravan for a week. hope the weather is a bit kinder. If you haven't time to answer before I leave this evening, I'll get back to you when I come back a week Sunday.

Hope you hAve a good holiday, where are you off to?

Chrisparkle

Hi Chrisparkle,

Dave has supplied you with excellent clear steps and when you are both back I'm sure you'll have your program sorted out.

I just wanted to post the program I use for downloading videos from Youtube (and various other video websites) as it may be helpful to others or yourself.

The program is called "Any Video Converter Free" ...

http://www.any-video-converter.com/products/for_video_free/screenshot.php

as above in Dave's example all you need to do is paste the url of the page the video is on into a box within the program
(if you want to just convert a video to another format you can use the add a video button to add a file that you already have on your own pc but we'll just cover downloading videos to keep for your own use for now)


How to use:


Go to the website where your video is that you want to download and *copy the url from the address bar, (*click once in the address bar, the text will turn blue meaning its highlighted, now right click the mouse within the blue text and select copy)

1) Now start by launching the program Any Video Converter Free ... you'll occasionally get a prompt asking if you would like the professional/full version but just decline,

2) next click the button for Youtube ... if you want a video file from elsewhere such as Google then click File then Import a video from the internet ,

3) now *paste the url into the space provided, (*right click the mouse in the box, select paste)

4) the url will now appear ... add more files by doing the same ...copy and pasting the url's of the website pages they are on, .. click the OK button when done.

5) now choose the format you want the videos to be by choosing a format from the drop down arrow at the "Profile" box over on the top right of the window .... for normal use/playback on your computer select .AVI or .MPG type of formats.

6) now you're ready to go .... hit the "Convert" button from the top of the window ... and sit back and wait.

7) when completed you will see the words completed for each file ... on the bottom left of the window is a "Output Folder" button, click this to find your videos.
To find this folder when the program is not open it is typically found at:
Start/Documents/Any Video Converter/AVI or WMV or Youtube or even MP3 etc but of course you can change this folder from the options button.

*A good feature of the program is to be able to take just the sound only from a video, example to take just the song from a music video and have it in .mp3 format you can select .MP3 from the "profile" button.

As you can see from my screenshot the program does have its own player also (with clipping ability) but you can still use your favourite player once you're done with downloading.

If it helps I have found this regarding the message you seen when trying to use the downloader Dave posted:

Q. Why do I get a "No Flash video found" error when trying to download video from Youtube?
A. This means Youtube Downloader could not find a video file on the web page you asked it to download from. The most common cause of this error from Youtube is by trying to download video from a web page that is not a single video page such as a Channel. Check the URL, it should be in the format "youtube.com/watch/v=SQkcD8j4...". One way to get to a single video page is to right-click on the video and select "Watch on YouTube" which will open that video in a single video page.

I use download helper (and its helper program download converter) works well - you still have to wait for the videos to download of course but then you have them on your harddrive whereever you want to save them to and can play them in windows media because it converts the files as it downloads. (as long as you tell it to!) I think this only works with Firefox but there are programs for IE as well. Cheers, Zante.