When I view real player or other videos over the Web on my computer, is
there a way that I can save the files on my harddrive for later viewing?

Hi languageexpert-ga,

You first need the link to the video file.  Given that you have
that...

With a PC: 

- Position the cursor over the link of the file you want to save 
- Click on the link using the right mouse button. You'll see a pull
down menu
- Select the option "Save Link As' 
- Choose the directory you would like to save the sound to, and click
"Save"

With a Mac:

- Position the cursor over the link of the file you want to save 
- Click and hold down the mouse button over the link. You'll see a
pull down menu
- Select the option "Save This Link As" 
- Choose the folder you would like to save the sound to, and click
"Save"

Note that with RealPlayer files with a .ram extension, you are simply
saving a text file that contains a pointer to the actual video still
located on the server.

Saving QuickTime files will require QuickTime Pro which can be
purchased here...

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/

Search strategy: saving realvideo to hard drive

://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=saving+realvideo+to+hard+drive

regards,

rico

hi languageexpert-ga, 

if it is windows media player, i may have found something very
appropriate, but for realplayer, i will have to check further...

warm regards
vinod-ga

Dear languageexpert-ga 
I'm not a computer buff so I will post this as a comment. I believe
the answer to your question is found on this web-site.
http://www.redboots.net/bloopers/computer_tips.htm
Let me know if this is what you are looking for. I'll be interested to
know.
Many thanks.
answerfinder-ga

If it is a streaming realmedia (which many news sites use), and not
just a realmedia file for regular download, if you try to save it it
will only save a useless stub.

There are software programs to save "streamed" realmedia files,
although there will necessarily be loss, as the file can hiccup while
being streamed. This link purports to list software to help you save
realmedia of the "streamed" type. I have never used any of these
programs. There is probably not an ideal solution to your problem if
you are trying to download a streamed realmedia file.

by the way, if you just cannot find the link because the realmedia is
embedded in a webpage, just find the "view source" option in your
browser (try looking in help if you cannot find it) and then doing a
search for ".ra" or ".rm" on the file. Sometimes you can pull out the
address to the file, then cut and paste the address into the address
bar on your browser. This can be a little complicated sometimes.

Doh, link is:

http://www.thefab.net/articles/video_streaming.htm