Why won't this divx file play?

What application are you trying to open it in and have you tried more than one?

DivX for OS X. I have not tried any other app.

Try VLC – it’s a pretty good player for most kinds of media.

that worked, thanks. i’d still like to know why divx the app is not working.

because a .dvix extension is nothing more than a container, so any file can be inside of it

ok. but why does it then play in VLC?

because you’re not reading my anwser…

the file inside the divx. container could be a file that the divX player can’t play, as it is mainly built for .avi’s, let’s say the format inside the divx file is..a Matroska file, an MKV, the divX player doesn’t have the right decoders for that, VLC has…

yes?

it plays in VLC because I’m not reading your answer? That’s so weird. How does it know….?