Loading a video in OpenCV in Python

Question

I'm desperately attempting to load a video file in OpenCV in Python (on OSX Lion) using the following code:

> import cv
> capture = cv.CaptureFromFile("in.avi")

However, i only get the following warning:

> WARNING: Couldn't read movie file in.avi

There is no explanation as to what the problem is (it can't find the file, wrong codec, etc). As far as Google is concerned I'm the only one in the universe getting this exact message in OpenCV.

I've read the 'codec compatibility docs' here and made sure to convert the video to the correct codec using mencode, but it still doesn't work.

Any ideas as to what I'm doing wrong?

have you tried using the full path? if the in.avi isn't in the current working directory of the script, then that will be a problem the way it is written. — platinummonkey
– platinummonkey, Commented Feb 22, 2012 at 14:23
That was exactly it! In my case it needed to be: /Users/lauge/Desktop/video.mov — laugejepsen
– laugejepsen, Commented Feb 22, 2012 at 14:36

platinummonkey · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-22 14:41:05Z

10

Answer: See my comment - Wrong path.

answered Feb 22, 2012 at 14:41

platinummonkey

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3 Comments

Kamyar Infinity Over a year ago

Same here. I don't get it why this method needs absolute path.

ssb Over a year ago

i think this is a problem with the mac os version... the same code runs perfectly on my ubuntu machine but crashes on my macbook

Eduard Feicho Over a year ago

Ideally someone could commit a patch and add #import os ... path = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(path))

Eduard Feicho · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-14 12:42:17Z

0

Alternatively, support home folders and replace relative paths to absolute ones using

#import os
...
path = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(path))

answered Mar 14, 2015 at 12:42

Eduard Feicho

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