Can't find codec for AVI file

[Dave M G]

Ubuntu Users,

    I have an AVI file that a friend gave to me. He uses Windows and it 
plays there. However, when I try to open it in any media player on my 
system (Xine, Totem), it says it can't find the codec.

    My friend knows nothing about anything technical, so I can't just 
ask him how it was encoded.

    Is there some way I can probe or test the file to determine what 
codec it is in and what is required to play it? Is there a "codec pack" 
or similar like one gets for Windows that would possibly help the situation?

   Any advice would be much appreciated.

--
Dave M G