# Trying to SaveAnimation in pvbatch with an MP4 fails

**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/trying-to-saveanimation-in-pvbatch-with-an-mp4-fails/12620
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Created:** [August 1, 2023, 2:55pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/trying-to-saveanimation-in-pvbatch-with-an-mp4-fails/12620 "2023-08-01T14:55:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![GregVernon](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/gregvernon/32/1494_2.png) [@GregVernon](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/GregVernon)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2023, 2:55pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/trying-to-saveanimation-in-pvbatch-with-an-mp4-fails/12620/1 "2023-08-01T14:55:43Z")

</div>

I have a Python script that I’m running in `pvbatch`, and when I use:

```auto
SaveAnimation( 'testing.mp4', render_view, ImageResolution=[1920, 1080], FrameRate=30 )

```

as derived from my trace, I get a `Failed to determine format` error:

```auto
3356899|> ( 3.567s) [pvbatch]vtkSMSaveAnimationProxy:396 ERR| vtkSMSaveAnimationProxy (0x1bcda4c0): Failed to determine format for 'testing.mp4'

```

If I export to an AVI file using the same overall structure:

```auto
SaveAnimation( 'testing.avi', render_view, ImageResolution=[1920, 1080], FrameRate=30 )

```

it works as expected. Any thoughts on what might be happening?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/mwestphal/32/17_2.png) [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2023, 6:51am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/trying-to-saveanimation-in-pvbatch-with-an-mp4-fails/12620/2 "2023-08-02T06:51:05Z")

</div>

Hi @GregVernon

Is this on the same paraview installation ?

Best,

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![GregVernon](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/gregvernon/32/1494_2.png) [@GregVernon](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/GregVernon)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2023, 2:59pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/trying-to-saveanimation-in-pvbatch-with-an-mp4-fails/12620/3 "2023-08-02T14:59:31Z")

</div>

I derived the trace from my Windows installation using the GUI to build the trace, and I’m trying to run `pvbatch` on a headless server.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/mwestphal/32/17_2.png) [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2023, 3:10pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/trying-to-saveanimation-in-pvbatch-with-an-mp4-fails/12620/4 "2023-08-02T15:10:05Z")

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ParaView on linux does not have the same video capabilities as on windows, I would suggest to save as multiple .png and create a mp4 using ffmpeg.