SLAVE MODE PROTOCOL
-------------------
The -slave option switches on slave mode, in which MPlayer works as a backend
for other programs. Instead of intercepting keyboard events, MPlayer will read
commands separated by a newline (\n) from stdin.
To try slave mode out by hand, run
mplayer -slave -quiet <movie>
and type slave commands into the console window.
You can also use a FIFO file (named pipe):
mkfifo </tmp/fifofile>
mplayer -slave -input file=</tmp/fifofile> <movie>
Most slave mode commands are equivalent to command line options, though not
necessarily under the same name. Detailed descriptions can be found in the
man page.
All commands can be prefixed with one of "pausing ", "pausing_keep ", or
"pausing_toggle ". "pausing " tells MPlayer to pause as soon as possible
after processing the command. "pausing_keep " tells MPlayer to do so only if
it was already in paused mode. "pausing_toggle " tells MPlayer to do so
only if it was not already in paused mode. Please note that "as soon as
possible" can be before the command is fully executed.
As a temporary hack, there is also the _experimental_ "pausing_keep_force "
prefix, with which MPlayer will not exit the pause loop at all.
Like this you can avoid the "frame stepping" effect of "pausing_keep "
but most commands will either not work at all or behave in unexpected ways.
For "set_mouse_pos" and "key_down_event", "pausing_keep_force" is the default
since other values do not make much sense for them.
Various tips and tricks (please help expand it!):
- Try using something like
pausing_keep_force pt_step 1
get_property pause
to switch to the next file. It avoids audio playback starting to play
the old file for a short time before switching to the new one.
- To ensure the user can't control MPlayer "behind your back" use
something like -input nodefault-bindings -noconfig all
Available commands ('mplayer -input cmdlist' will print a list):
af_add <filter_arguments_list> (comma separated list of audio filters with parameters)
(experimental) Load the given list of audio filters.
af_clr
(experimental) Unload all loaded audio filters.
af_cmdline <filter_name> <filter_arguments>
(experimental) Send new command-line options to a filter with the given name.
af_del <filter_name_list> (comma separated list of audio filter's names)
(experimental) Unload the first occurrence of the filters, if loaded.
af_switch <filter_arguments_list> (comma separated list of audio filters with parameters)
(experimental) Remove all the audio filters and replace them with the given list.
alt_src_step <value> (ASX playlist only)
When more than one source is available it selects the next/previous one.
audio_delay <value> [abs]
Set/adjust the audio delay.
If [abs] is not given or is zero, adjust the delay by <value> seconds.
If [abs] is nonzero, set the delay to <value> seconds.
[brightness|contrast|gamma|hue|saturation] <value> [abs]
Set/adjust video parameters.
If [abs] is not given or is zero, modifies parameter by <value>.
If [abs] is non-zero, parameter is set to <value>.
<value> is in the range [-100, 100].
capturing [value]
Toggle/set capturing the primary stream like -dumpstream.
Requires the -capture parameter to be given.
change_rectangle <val1> <val2>
Change the position of the rectangle filter rectangle.
<val1>
Must be one of the following:
0 = width
1 = height
2 = x position
3 = y position
<val2>
If <val1> is 0 or 1:
Integer amount to add/subtract from the width/height.
Positive values add to width/height and negative values
subtract from it.
If <val1> is 2 or 3:
Relative integer amount by which to move the upper left
rectangle corner. Positive values move the rectangle
right/down and negative values move the rectangle left/up.
dvb_set_channel <channel_number> <card_number>
Set DVB channel.
dvdnav <button_name>
Press the given dvdnav button.
up
down
left
right
menu
select
prev
mouse
edl_loadfile <filename>
Load new EDL file.
edl_mark
Write the current position into the EDL file.
frame_drop [value]
Toggle/set frame dropping mode.
get_audio_bitrate
Print out the audio bitrate of the current file.
get_audio_codec
Print out the audio codec name of the current file.
get_audio_samples
Print out the audio frequency and number of channels of the current file.
get_file_name
Print out the name of the current file.
get_meta_album
Print out the 'Album' metadata of the current file.
get_meta_artist
Print out the 'Artist' metadata of the current file.
get_meta_comment
Print out the 'Comment' metadata of the current file.
get_meta_genre
Print out the 'Genre' metadata of the current file.
get_meta_title
Print out the 'Title' metadata of the current file.
get_meta_track
Print out the 'Track Number' metadata of the current file.
get_meta_year
Print out the 'Year' metadata of the current file.
get_percent_pos
Print out the current position in the file, as integer percentage [0-100).
get_property <property>
Print out the current value of a property.
get_sub_visibility
Print out subtitle visibility (1 == on, 0 == off).
get_time_length
Print out the length of the current file in seconds.
get_time_pos
Print out the current position in the file in seconds, as float.
get_vo_fullscreen
Print out fullscreen status (1 == fullscreened, 0 == windowed).
get_video_bitrate
Print out the video bitrate of the current file.
get_video_codec
Print out the video codec name of the current file.
get_video_resolution
Print out the video resolution of the current file.
gui <message>
Send GUI skin message <message>. (See the skin documentation on GUI
messages for details.)
screenshot <value>
Take a screenshot. Requires the screenshot filter to be loaded.
0 Take a single screenshot.
1 Start/stop taking screenshot of each frame.
key_down_event <value>
Inject <value> key code event into MPlayer.
loadfile <file|url> <append>
Load the given file/URL, stopping playback of the current file/URL.
If <append> is nonzero playback continues and the file/URL is
appended to the current playlist instead.
loadlist <file> <append>
Load the given playlist file, stopping playback of the current file.
If <append> is nonzero playback continues and the playlist file is
appended to the current playlist instead.
loop <value> [abs]
Adjust/set how many times the movie should be looped. -1 means no loop,
and 0 forever.
menu <command>
Execute an OSD menu command.
up Move cursor up.
down Move cursor down.
ok Accept selection.
cancel Cancel selection.
hide Hide the OSD menu.
set_menu <menu_name>
Display the menu named <menu_name>.
mute [value]
Toggle sound output muting or set it to [value] when [value] >= 0
(1 == on, 0 == off).
osd [level]
Toggle OSD mode or set it to [level] when [level] >= 0.
osd_show_progression
Show the progression bar, the elapsed time and the total duration of the
movie on the OSD.
osd_show_property_text <string> [duration] [level]
Show an expanded property string on the OSD, see -playing-msg for a
description of the available expansions. If [duration] is >= 0 the text
is shown for [duration] ms. [level] sets the minimum OSD level needed
for the message to be visible (default: 0 - always show).
osd_show_text <string> [duration] [level]
Show <string> on the OSD.
panscan <-1.0 - 1.0> | <0.0 - 1.0> <abs>
Increase or decrease the pan-and-scan range by <value>, 1.0 is the maximum.
Negative values decrease the pan-and-scan range.
If <abs> is != 0, then the pan-and scan range is interpreted as an
absolute range.
pause
Pause/unpause the playback.
frame_step
Play one frame, then pause again.
pt_step <value> [force]
Go to the next/previous entry in the playtree. The sign of <value> tells
the direction. If no entry is available in the given direction it will do
nothing unless [force] is non-zero.
pt_up_step <value> [force]
Similar to pt_step but jumps to the next/previous entry in the parent list.
Useful to break out of the inner loop in the playtree.
quit [value]
Quit MPlayer. The optional integer [value] is used as the return code
for the mplayer process (default: 0).
radio_set_channel <channel>
Switch to <channel>. The 'channels' radio parameter needs to be set.
radio_set_freq <frequency in MHz>
Set the radio tuner frequency.
radio_step_channel <-1|1>
Step forwards (1) or backwards (-1) in channel list. Works only when the
'channels' radio parameter was set.
radio_step_freq <value>
Tune frequency by the <value> (positive - up, negative - down).
seek <value> [type]
Seek to some place in the movie.
0 is a relative seek of +/- <value> seconds (default).
1 is a seek to <value> % in the movie.
2 is a seek to an absolute position of <value> seconds.
seek_chapter <value> [type]
Seek to the start of a chapter.
0 is a relative seek of +/- <value> chapters (default).
1 is a seek to chapter <value>.
switch_angle <value>
Switch to the angle with the ID [value]. Cycle through the
available angles if [value] is omitted or negative.
set_mouse_pos <x> <y>
Tells MPlayer the coordinates of the mouse in the window.
This command doesn't move the mouse!
set_property <property> <value>
Set a property.
speed_incr <value>
Add <value> to the current playback speed.
speed_mult <value>
Multiply the current speed by <value>.
speed_set <value>
Set the speed to <value>.
step_property <property> [value] [direction]
Change a property by value, or increase by a default if value is
not given or zero. The direction is reversed if direction is less
than zero.
stop
Stop playback.
sub_alignment [value]
Toggle/set subtitle alignment.
0 top alignment
1 center alignment
2 bottom alignment
sub_delay <value> [abs]
Adjust the subtitle delay by +/- <value> seconds or set it to <value>
seconds when [abs] is nonzero.
sub_load <subtitle_file>
Loads subtitles from <subtitle_file>.
sub_log
Logs the current or last displayed subtitle together with filename
and time information to ~/.mplayer/subtitle_log. Intended purpose
is to allow convenient marking of bogus subtitles which need to be
fixed while watching the movie.
sub_pos <value> [abs]
Adjust/set subtitle position.
sub_remove [value]
If the [value] argument is present and non-negative, removes the subtitle
file with index [value]. If the argument is omitted or negative, removes
all subtitle files.
sub_select [value]
Display subtitle with index [value]. Turn subtitle display off if
[value] is -1 or greater than the highest available subtitle index.
Cycle through the available subtitles if [value] is omitted or less
than -1 (forward or backward respectively).
Supported subtitle sources are -sub options on the command
line, VOBsubs, DVD subtitles, and Ogg and Matroska text streams.
This command is mainly for cycling all subtitles, if you want to set
a specific subtitle, use sub_file, sub_vob, or sub_demux.
sub_source [source]
Display first subtitle from [source]. Here [source] is an integer:
SUB_SOURCE_SUBS (0) for file subs
SUB_SOURCE_VOBSUB (1) for VOBsub files
SUB_SOURCE_DEMUX (2) for subtitle embedded in the media file or DVD subs.
If [source] is -1, will turn off subtitle display.
If [value] is omitted or less than -1, will cycle between the first subtitle
of each currently available source (forward or backward respectively).
sub_file [value]
Display subtitle specified by [value] for file subs. The [value] is
corresponding to ID_FILE_SUB_ID values reported by '-identify'.
If [value] is -1, will turn off subtitle display.
If [value] is omitted or less than -1, will cycle all file subs
(forward or backward respectively).
sub_vob [value]
Display subtitle specified by [value] for VOBsubs. The [value] is
corresponding to ID_VOBSUB_ID values reported by '-identify'.
If [value] is -1, will turn off subtitle display.
If [value] is omitted or less than -1, will cycle all VOBsubs
(forward or backward respectively).
sub_demux [value]
Display subtitle specified by [value] for subtitles from DVD or embedded
in media file. The [value] is corresponding to ID_SUBTITLE_ID values
reported by '-identify'. If [value] is -1, will turn off subtitle display.
If [value] is omitted or less than -1, will cycle all DVD subs or embedded subs
(forward or backward respectively).
sub_scale <value> [abs]
Adjust the subtitle size by +/- <value> or set it to <value> when [abs]
is nonzero.
vobsub_lang
This is a stub linked to sub_select for backwards compatibility.
sub_step <value>
Step forward in the subtitle list by <value> steps or backwards if <value>
is negative.
sub_visibility [value]
Toggle/set subtitle visibility.
forced_subs_only [value]
Toggle/set forced subtitles only.
switch_audio [value] (currently MPEG*, AVI, Matroska and streams handled by libavformat)
Switch to the audio track with the ID [value]. Cycle through the
available tracks if [value] is omitted or negative.
switch_angle [value] (DVDs only)
Switch to the DVD angle with the ID [value]. Cycle through the
available angles if [value] is omitted or negative.
switch_ratio [value]
Change aspect ratio at runtime. [value] is the new aspect ratio expressed
as a float (e.g. 1.77778 for 16/9), or special value -1 to reset to
original aspect ratio (ditto if [value] is missing), or special value 0
to disable automatic movie aspect ratio compensation.
There might be problems with some video filters.
switch_title [value] (DVDNAV only)
Switch to the DVD title with the ID [value]. Cycle through the
available titles if [value] is omitted or negative.
switch_vsync [value]
Toggle vsync (1 == on, 0 == off). If [value] is not provided,
vsync status is inverted.
teletext_add_digit <value>
Enter/leave teletext page number editing mode and append given digit to
previously entered one.
0..9 - Append appropriate digit. (Enables editing mode if called from normal
mode, and switches to normal mode when third digit is entered.)
- - Delete last digit from page number. (Backspace emulation, works only
in page number editing mode.)
teletext_go_link <1-6>
Follow given link on current teletext page.
tv_start_scan
Start automatic TV channel scanning.
tv_step_channel <channel>
Select next/previous TV channel.
tv_step_norm
Change TV norm.
tv_step_chanlist
Change channel list.
tv_set_channel <channel>
Set the current TV channel.
tv_last_channel
Set the current TV channel to the last one.
tv_set_freq <frequency in MHz>
Set the TV tuner frequency.
tv_step_freq <frequency offset in MHz>
Set the TV tuner frequency relative to current value.
tv_set_norm <norm>
Set the TV tuner norm (PAL, SECAM, NTSC, ...).
tv_set_brightness <-100 - 100> [abs]
Set TV tuner brightness or adjust it if [abs] is set to 0.
tv_set_contrast <-100 -100> [abs]
Set TV tuner contrast or adjust it if [abs] is set to 0.
tv_set_hue <-100 - 100> [abs]
Set TV tuner hue or adjust it if [abs] is set to 0.
tv_set_saturation <-100 - 100> [abs]
Set TV tuner saturation or adjust it if [abs] is set to 0.
use_master
Switch volume control between master and PCM.
vo_border [value]
Toggle/set borderless display.
vo_fullscreen [value]
Toggle/set fullscreen mode.
vo_ontop [value]
Toggle/set stay-on-top.
vo_rootwin [value]
Toggle/set playback on the root window.
volume <value> [abs]
Increase/decrease volume or set it to <value> if [abs] is nonzero.
overlay_add <file> <id> <x> <y> <color>
Add an overlay bitmap. <file> must be a PGM file without comments.
<id> is an arbitrary integer used to identify the overlay.
overlay_remove <id>
Remove all overlays identified by <id>.
The following commands are really only useful for OSD menu console mode:
help
Displays help text, currently empty.
exit
Exits from OSD menu console. Unlike 'quit', does not quit MPlayer.
hide
Hides the OSD menu console. Clicking a menu command unhides it. Other
keybindings act as usual.
run <string>
Run <string> with properties expanded as shell command. In OSD menu
console mode stdout and stdin are through the video output driver.
Property expansion happens in the same way as for osd_show_property_text.
Note: MPlayer will do property expansion on anything of the form
${somevar} before it is passed to the shell.
This means that you cannot use this syntax for anything you actually
want the shell to handle, though any other form like $somevar will
be passed on to and processed by the shell.
Example:
run "echo ${filename} ${stream_pos} >> <path_to_file>"
Available properties:
name type min max get set step comment
=================================================================
osdlevel int 0 3 X X X as -osdlevel
speed float 0.01 100 X X X as -speed
loop int -1 X X X as -loop
pause flag 0 1 X 1 if paused, use with pausing_keep_force
filename string X file playing w/o path
path string X file playing
demuxer string X demuxer used
stream_pos pos 0 X X position in stream
stream_start pos 0 X start pos in stream
stream_end pos 0 X end pos in stream
stream_length pos 0 X (end - start)
stream_time_pos time 0 X present position in stream (in seconds)
titles int X number of titles
chapter int 0 X X X select chapter
chapters int X number of chapters
angle int 0 X X X select angle
length time X length of file in seconds
percent_pos int 0 100 X X X position in percent
time_pos time 0 X X X position in seconds
metadata str list X list of metadata key/value
metadata/* string X metadata values
volume float 0 100 X X X change volume
balance float -1 1 X X X change audio balance
mute flag 0 1 X X X
audio_delay float -100 100 X X X
audio_format int X
audio_codec string X
audio_bitrate int X
samplerate int X
channels int X
switch_audio int -2 255 X X X select audio stream
switch_angle int -2 255 X X X select DVD angle
switch_title int -2 255 X X X select DVD title
capturing flag 0 1 X X X dump primary stream if enabled
fullscreen flag 0 1 X X X
deinterlace flag 0 1 X X X
ontop flag 0 1 X X X
rootwin flag 0 1 X X X
border flag 0 1 X X X
framedropping int 0 2 X X X 1 = soft, 2 = hard
gamma int -100 100 X X X
brightness int -100 100 X X X
contrast int -100 100 X X X
saturation int -100 100 X X X
hue int -100 100 X X X
panscan float 0 1 X X X
vsync flag 0 1 X X X
video_format int X
video_codec string X
video_bitrate int X
width int X "display" width
height int X "display" height
fps float X
aspect float X
switch_video int -2 255 X X X select video stream
switch_program int -1 65535 X X X (see TAB default keybinding)
sub int -1 X X X select subtitle stream
sub_source int -1 2 X X X select subtitle source
sub_file int -1 X X X select file subtitles
sub_vob int -1 X X X select VOBsubs
sub_demux int -1 X X X select subs from demux
sub_delay float X X X
sub_pos int 0 100 X X X subtitle position
sub_alignment int 0 2 X X X subtitle alignment
sub_visibility flag 0 1 X X X show/hide subtitles
sub_forced_only flag 0 1 X X X
sub_scale float 0 100 X X X subtitles font size
tv_brightness int -100 100 X X X
tv_contrast int -100 100 X X X
tv_saturation int -100 100 X X X
tv_hue int -100 100 X X X
teletext_page int 0 799 X X X
teletext_subpage int 0 64 X X X
teletext_mode flag 0 1 X X X 0 - off, 1 - on
teletext_format int 0 3 X X X 0 - opaque,
1 - transparent,
2 - opaque inverted,
3 - transparency inverted,
teletext_half_page int 0 2 X X X 0 - off, 1 - top half,
2- bottom half
