4 The -slave option switches on slave mode, in which MPlayer works as a backend
5 for other programs. Instead of intercepting keyboard events, MPlayer will read
6 commands separated by a newline (\n) from stdin.
8 To try slave mode out by hand, run
10 mplayer -slave -quiet <movie>
12 and type slave commands into the console window.
14 You can also use a fifo file (named pipe):
16 mkfifo </tmp/fifofile>
17 mplayer -slave -input file=</tmp/fifofile> <movie>
19 Most slave mode commands are equivalent to command line options, though not
20 necessarily under the same name. Detailed descriptions can be found in the
23 NOTE: the following paragraph is mostly obsolete; tricky pause handling
24 was required in old MPlayer versions where all commands unpaused by default.
25 Now running commands does not require leaving pause state any more, and
26 the prefixes described here should not be required in normal use.
27 All commands can be prefixed with one of "pausing ", "pausing_keep ", or
28 "pausing_toggle ". "pausing " tells MPlayer to pause as soon as possible
29 after processing the command. "pausing_keep " tells MPlayer to do so only if
30 it was already in paused mode. "pausing_toggle " tells MPlayer to do so
31 only if it was not already in paused mode. Please note that "as soon as
32 possible" can be before the command is fully executed.
33 As a temporary hack, there is also the _experimental_ "pausing_keep_force "
34 prefix, with which MPlayer will not exit the pause loop at all.
35 Like this you can avoid the "frame stepping" effect of "pausing_keep "
36 but most commands will either not work at all or behave in unexpected ways.
37 For "set_mouse_pos" and "key_down_event", "pausing_keep_force" is the default
38 since other values do not make much sense for them.
41 Various tips and tricks (please help expand it!):
43 - To ensure the user can't control MPlayer "behind your back" use
44 something like -input nodefault-bindings -noconfig all
47 Available commands ('mplayer -input cmdlist' will print a list):
49 af_add <filter_arguments_list> (comma separated list of audio filters with parameters)
50 (experimental) Load the given list of audio filters.
53 (experimental) Unload all loaded audio filters.
55 af_cmdline <filter_name> <filter_arguments>
56 (experimental) Send new command-line options to a filter with the given name.
58 af_del <filter_name_list> (comma separated list of audio filter's names)
59 (experimental) Unload the first occurrence of the filters, if loaded.
61 af_switch <filter_arguments_list> (comma separated list of audio filters with parameters)
62 (experimental) Remove all the audio filters and replace them with the given list.
64 alt_src_step <value> (ASX playlist only)
65 When more than one source is available it selects the next/previous one.
67 audio_delay <value> [abs]
68 Set/adjust the audio delay.
69 If [abs] is not given or is zero, adjust the delay by <value> seconds.
70 If [abs] is nonzero, set the delay to <value> seconds.
72 [brightness|contrast|gamma|hue|saturation] <value> [abs]
73 Set/adjust video parameters.
74 If [abs] is not given or is zero, modifies parameter by <value>.
75 If [abs] is non-zero, parameter is set to <value>.
76 <value> is in the range [-100, 100].
79 Toggle/set capturing the primary stream like -dumpstream.
80 Requires the -capture parameter to be given.
82 change_rectangle <val1> <val2>
83 Change the position of the rectangle filter rectangle.
85 Must be one of the following:
92 Integer amount to add/subtract from the width/height.
93 Positive values add to width/height and negative values
96 Relative integer amount by which to move the upper left
97 rectangle corner. Positive values move the rectangle
98 right/down and negative values move the rectangle left/up.
100 dvb_set_channel <channel_number> <card_number>
104 Press the given dvdnav button.
115 Write the current position into the EDL file.
118 Toggle/set frame dropping mode.
121 Print out the audio bitrate of the current file.
124 Print out the audio codec name of the current file.
127 Print out the audio frequency and number of channels of the current file.
130 Print out the name of the current file.
133 Print out the 'Album' metadata of the current file.
136 Print out the 'Artist' metadata of the current file.
139 Print out the 'Comment' metadata of the current file.
142 Print out the 'Genre' metadata of the current file.
145 Print out the 'Title' metadata of the current file.
148 Print out the 'Track Number' metadata of the current file.
151 Print out the 'Year' metadata of the current file.
154 Print out the current position in the file, as integer percentage [0-100).
156 get_property <property>
157 Print out the current value of a property.
160 Print out subtitle visibility (1 == on, 0 == off).
163 Print out the length of the current file in seconds.
166 Print out the current position in the file in seconds, as float.
169 Print out fullscreen status (1 == fullscreened, 0 == windowed).
172 Print out the video bitrate of the current file.
175 Print out the video codec name of the current file.
178 Print out the video resolution of the current file.
180 screenshot <each_frame> <full_window>
181 Take a screenshot. Requires the screenshot filter to be loaded.
183 0 Take a single screenshot. (Default.)
184 1 Start/stop taking screenshot of each frame.
186 0 Save the video image, in its original resolution. Typically without
187 OSD or subtitles. (Default.)
188 1 Save the contents of the mplayer window. Typically with OSD and
189 subtitles. If not available (no VO support), this may act as if 0 was
192 key_down_event <value>
193 Inject <value> key code event into MPlayer.
195 loadfile <file|url> <append>
196 Load the given file/URL, stopping playback of the current file/URL.
197 If <append> is nonzero playback continues and the file/URL is
198 appended to the current playlist instead.
200 loadlist <file> <append>
201 Load the given playlist file, stopping playback of the current file.
202 If <append> is nonzero playback continues and the playlist file is
203 appended to the current playlist instead.
206 Adjust/set how many times the movie should be looped. -1 means no loop,
210 Toggle sound output muting or set it to [value] when [value] >= 0
214 Toggle OSD mode or set it to [level] when [level] >= 0.
217 Show the progression bar, the elapsed time and the total duration of the
220 osd_show_property_text <string> [duration] [level]
221 Show an expanded property string on the OSD, see -playing-msg for a
222 description of the available expansions. If [duration] is >= 0 the text
223 is shown for [duration] ms. [level] sets the minimum OSD level needed
224 for the message to be visible (default: 0 - always show).
226 osd_show_text <string> [duration] [level]
227 Show <string> on the OSD.
229 panscan <-1.0 - 1.0> | <0.0 - 1.0> <abs>
230 Increase or decrease the pan-and-scan range by <value>, 1.0 is the maximum.
231 Negative values decrease the pan-and-scan range.
232 If <abs> is != 0, then the pan-and scan range is interpreted as an
236 Pause/unpause the playback (use "set_property pause X" to set a particular
237 value regardless of whether the player is already paused or not).
240 Play one frame, then pause again.
242 pt_step <value> [force]
243 Go to the next/previous entry in the playtree. The sign of <value> tells
244 the direction. If no entry is available in the given direction it will do
245 nothing unless [force] is non-zero.
247 pt_up_step <value> [force]
248 Similar to pt_step but jumps to the next/previous entry in the parent list.
249 Useful to break out of the inner loop in the playtree.
252 Quit MPlayer. The optional integer [value] is used as the return code
253 for the mplayer process (default: 0).
255 radio_set_channel <channel>
256 Switch to <channel>. The 'channels' radio parameter needs to be set.
258 radio_set_freq <frequency in MHz>
259 Set the radio tuner frequency.
261 radio_step_channel <-1|1>
262 Step forwards (1) or backwards (-1) in channel list. Works only when the
263 'channels' radio parameter was set.
265 radio_step_freq <value>
266 Tune frequency by the <value> (positive - up, negative - down).
269 Run <value> as shell command.
271 seek <value> [type] [hr-seek]
272 Seek to some place in the movie.
273 type = 0 is a relative seek of +/- <value> seconds (default).
274 type = 1 is a seek to <value> % in the movie.
275 type = 2 is a seek to an absolute position of <value> seconds.
276 The hr-seek parameter controls whether to use precise seeks (not limited
277 to keyframe positions in video).
278 hr-seek = 0 means use default set with option -hr-seek (default).
279 hr-seek = 1 means force precise seek if possible.
280 hr-seek = -1 means force non-precise seek.
282 seek_chapter <value> [type]
283 Seek to the start of a chapter.
284 0 is a relative seek of +/- <value> chapters (default).
285 1 is a seek to chapter <value>.
288 Switch to the angle with the ID [value]. Cycle through the
289 available angles if [value] is omitted or negative.
291 set_mouse_pos <x> <y>
292 Tells MPlayer the coordinates of the mouse in the window.
293 This command doesn't move the mouse!
295 set_property <property> <value>
298 set_property_osd <property> <value>
299 Same as above, but show the new value on the OSD in the standard
300 manner defined for that property (if any).
303 Add <value> to the current playback speed.
306 Multiply the current speed by <value>.
309 Set the speed to <value>.
311 step_property <property> [value]
312 Change a property by value, or increase by a default if value is
315 step_property_osd <property> [value]
316 Same as above, but show the new value on the OSD in the standard
317 manner defined for that property (if any).
322 sub_alignment [value]
323 Toggle/set subtitle alignment.
328 sub_delay <value> [abs]
329 Adjust the subtitle delay by +/- <value> seconds or set it to <value>
330 seconds when [abs] is nonzero.
332 sub_load <subtitle_file>
333 Loads subtitles from <subtitle_file>.
336 Logs the current or last displayed subtitle together with filename
337 and time information to ~/.mplayer/subtitle_log. Intended purpose
338 is to allow convenient marking of bogus subtitles which need to be
339 fixed while watching the movie.
341 sub_pos <value> [abs]
342 Adjust/set subtitle position.
345 If the [value] argument is present and non-negative, removes the subtitle
346 file with index [value]. If the argument is omitted or negative, removes
350 Display subtitle with index [value]. Turn subtitle display off if
351 [value] is -1 or greater than the highest available subtitle index.
352 Cycle through the available subtitles if [value] is omitted or less
353 than -1 (forward or backward respectively).
354 Supported subtitle sources are -sub options on the command
355 line, VOBsubs, DVD subtitles, and Ogg and Matroska text streams.
356 This command is mainly for cycling all subtitles, if you want to set
357 a specific subtitle, use sub_file, sub_vob, or sub_demux.
360 Display first subtitle from [source]. Here [source] is an integer:
361 SUB_SOURCE_SUBS (0) for file subs
362 SUB_SOURCE_VOBSUB (1) for VOBsub files
363 SUB_SOURCE_DEMUX (2) for subtitle embedded in the media file or DVD subs.
364 If [source] is -1, will turn off subtitle display.
365 If [value] is omitted or less than -1, will cycle between the first subtitle
366 of each currently available source (forward or backward respectively).
369 Display subtitle specified by [value] for file subs. The [value] is
370 corresponding to ID_FILE_SUB_ID values reported by '-identify'.
371 If [value] is -1, will turn off subtitle display.
372 If [value] is omitted or less than -1, will cycle all file subs
373 (forward or backward respectively).
376 Display subtitle specified by [value] for vobsubs. The [value] is
377 corresponding to ID_VOBSUB_ID values reported by '-identify'.
378 If [value] is -1, will turn off subtitle display.
379 If [value] is omitted or less than -1, will cycle all vobsubs
380 (forward or backward respectively).
383 Display subtitle specified by [value] for subtitles from DVD or embedded
384 in media file. The [value] is corresponding to ID_SUBTITLE_ID values
385 reported by '-identify'. If [value] is -1, will turn off subtitle display.
386 If [value] is omitted or less than -1, will cycle all DVD subs or embedded subs
387 (forward or backward respectively).
389 sub_scale <value> [abs]
390 Adjust the subtitle size by +/- <value> or set it to <value> when [abs]
394 This is a stub linked to sub_select for backwards compatibility.
396 sub_visibility [value]
397 Toggle/set subtitle visibility.
399 forced_subs_only [value]
400 Toggle/set forced subtitles only.
402 switch_audio [value] (currently MPEG*, AVI, Matroska and streams handled by libavformat)
403 Switch to the audio track with the ID [value]. Cycle through the
404 available tracks if [value] is omitted or negative.
406 switch_angle [value] (DVDs only)
407 Switch to the DVD angle with the ID [value]. Cycle through the
408 available angles if [value] is omitted or negative.
411 Change aspect ratio at runtime. [value] is the new aspect ratio expressed
412 as a float (e.g. 1.77778 for 16/9).
413 There might be problems with some video filters.
415 switch_title [value] (DVDNAV only)
416 Switch to the DVD title with the ID [value]. Cycle through the
417 available titles if [value] is omitted or negative.
420 Toggle vsync (1 == on, 0 == off). If [value] is not provided,
421 vsync status is inverted.
423 teletext_add_digit <value>
424 Enter/leave teletext page number editing mode and append given digit to
425 previously entered one.
426 0..9 - Append appropriate digit. (Enables editing mode if called from normal
427 mode, and switches to normal mode when third digit is entered.)
428 - - Delete last digit from page number. (Backspace emulation, works only
429 in page number editing mode.)
431 teletext_go_link <1-6>
432 Follow given link on current teletext page.
435 Start automatic TV channel scanning.
437 tv_step_channel <channel>
438 Select next/previous TV channel.
446 tv_set_channel <channel>
447 Set the current TV channel.
450 Set the current TV channel to the last one.
452 tv_set_freq <frequency in MHz>
453 Set the TV tuner frequency.
455 tv_step_freq <frequency offset in MHz>
456 Set the TV tuner frequency relative to current value.
459 Set the TV tuner norm (PAL, SECAM, NTSC, ...).
461 tv_set_brightness <-100 - 100> [abs]
462 Set TV tuner brightness or adjust it if [abs] is set to 0.
464 tv_set_contrast <-100 -100> [abs]
465 Set TV tuner contrast or adjust it if [abs] is set to 0.
467 tv_set_hue <-100 - 100> [abs]
468 Set TV tuner hue or adjust it if [abs] is set to 0.
470 tv_set_saturation <-100 - 100> [abs]
471 Set TV tuner saturation or adjust it if [abs] is set to 0.
474 Toggle/set borderless display.
476 vo_fullscreen [value]
477 Toggle/set fullscreen mode.
480 Toggle/set stay-on-top.
483 Toggle/set playback on the root window.
486 Increase/decrease volume or set it to <value> if [abs] is nonzero.
489 Available properties:
491 name type min max get set step comment
492 =================================================================
494 osdlevel int 0 3 X X X as -osdlevel
495 speed float 0.01 100 X X X as -speed
496 loop int -1 X X X as -loop
497 hr_seek string X X X as -hr-seek
498 pts_association_mode string X X X as -pts-association-mode
499 pause flag 0 1 X 1 if paused
500 filename string X file playing wo path
501 path string X file playing
502 media_title string X filename or libquvi QUVIPROP_PAGETITLE
503 demuxer string X demuxer used
504 stream_path string X filename (full path) of stream layer filename
505 stream_pos pos 0 X X position in stream
506 stream_start pos 0 X start pos in stream
507 stream_end pos 0 X end pos in stream
508 stream_length pos 0 X (end - start)
509 stream_time_pos time 0 X present position in stream (in seconds)
510 chapter int 0 X X X select chapter
511 chapters int X number of chapters
512 angle int 0 X X X select angle
513 length time X length of file in seconds
514 percent_pos int 0 100 X X X position in percent
515 time_pos time 0 X X X position in seconds
516 metadata str list X list of metadata key/value
517 metadata/* string X metadata values
518 volume float 0 100 X X X change volume
519 balance float -1 1 X X X change audio balance
521 audio_delay float -100 100 X X X
527 switch_audio int -2 255 X X X select audio stream
528 switch_angle int -2 255 X X X select DVD angle
529 switch_title int -2 255 X X X select DVD title
530 capturing flag 0 1 X X X dump primary stream if enabled
531 fullscreen flag 0 1 X X X
532 deinterlace flag 0 1 X X X
534 rootwin flag 0 1 X X X
535 border flag 0 1 X X X
536 framedropping int 0 2 X X X 1 = soft, 2 = hard
537 gamma int -100 100 X X X
538 brightness int -100 100 X X X
539 contrast int -100 100 X X X
540 saturation int -100 100 X X X
541 hue int -100 100 X X X
542 panscan float 0 1 X X X
544 colormatrix choice X X X as --colormatrix
545 colormatrix_input_range choice X X X as --colormatrix-input-range
546 colormatrix_output_range choice X X X as --colormatrix-output-range
550 width int X "display" width
551 height int X "display" height
554 switch_video int -2 255 X X X select video stream
555 switch_program int -1 65535 X X X (see TAB default keybind)
556 sub int -1 X X X select subtitle stream
557 sub_source int -1 2 X X X select subtitle source
558 sub_file int -1 X X X select file subtitles
559 sub_vob int -1 X X X select vobsubs
560 sub_demux int -1 X X X select subs from demux
561 sub_delay float X X X
562 sub_pos int 0 100 X X X subtitle position
563 sub_alignment int 0 2 X X X subtitle alignment
564 sub_visibility flag 0 1 X X X show/hide subtitles
565 sub_forced_only flag 0 1 X X X
566 sub_scale float 0 100 X X X subtitles font size
567 ass_vsfilter_aspect_compat flag 0 1 X X X SSA/ASS aspect ratio correction
568 tv_brightness int -100 100 X X X
569 tv_contrast int -100 100 X X X
570 tv_saturation int -100 100 X X X
571 tv_hue int -100 100 X X X
572 teletext_page int 0 799 X X X
573 teletext_subpage int 0 64 X X X
574 teletext_mode flag 0 1 X X X 0 - off, 1 - on
575 teletext_format int 0 3 X X X 0 - opaque,
579 teletext_half_page int 0 2 X X X 0 - off, 1 - top half,