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 All commands can be prefixed with one of "pausing ", "pausing_keep ", or
24 "pausing_toggle ". "pausing " tells MPlayer to pause as soon as possible
25 after processing the command. "pausing_keep " tells MPlayer to do so only if
26 it was already in paused mode. "pausing_toggle " tells MPlayer to do so
27 only if it was not already in paused mode. Please note that "as soon as
28 possible" can be before the command is fully executed.
29 As a temporary hack, there is also the _experimental_ "pausing_keep_force "
30 prefix, with which MPlayer will not exit the pause loop at all.
31 Like this you can avoid the "frame stepping" effect of "pausing_keep "
32 but most commands will either not work at all or behave in unexpected ways.
33 For "set_mouse_pos" and "key_down_event", "pausing_keep_force" is the default
34 since other values do not make much sense for them.
37 Various tips and tricks (please help expand it!):
39 - Try using something like
40 pausing_keep_force pt_step 1
42 to switch to the next file. It avoids audio playback starting to play
43 the old file for a short time before switching to the new one.
44 - To ensure the user can't control MPlayer "behind your back" use
45 something like -input nodefault-bindings -noconfig all
48 Available commands ('mplayer -input cmdlist' will print a list):
50 af_add <filter_arguments_list> (comma separated list of audio filters with parameters)
51 (experimental) Load the given list of audio filters.
54 (experimental) Unload all loaded audio filters.
56 af_cmdline <filter_name> <filter_arguments>
57 (experimental) Send new command-line options to a filter with the given name.
59 af_del <filter_name_list> (comma separated list of audio filter's names)
60 (experimental) Unload the first occurrence of the filters, if loaded.
62 af_switch <filter_arguments_list> (comma separated list of audio filters with parameters)
63 (experimental) Remove all the audio filters and replace them with the given list.
65 alt_src_step <value> (ASX playlist only)
66 When more than one source is available it selects the next/previous one.
68 audio_delay <value> [abs]
69 Set/adjust the audio delay.
70 If [abs] is not given or is zero, adjust the delay by <value> seconds.
71 If [abs] is nonzero, set the delay to <value> seconds.
73 [brightness|contrast|gamma|hue|saturation] <value> [abs]
74 Set/adjust video parameters.
75 If [abs] is not given or is zero, modifies parameter by <value>.
76 If [abs] is non-zero, parameter is set to <value>.
77 <value> is in the range [-100, 100].
80 Toggle/set capturing the primary stream like -dumpstream.
81 Requires the -capture parameter to be given.
83 change_rectangle <val1> <val2>
84 Change the position of the rectangle filter rectangle.
86 Must be one of the following:
93 Integer amount to add/subtract from the width/height.
94 Positive values add to width/height and negative values
97 Relative integer amount by which to move the upper left
98 rectangle corner. Positive values move the rectangle
99 right/down and negative values move the rectangle left/up.
101 dvb_set_channel <channel_number> <card_number>
105 Press the given dvdnav button.
116 Write the current position into the EDL file.
119 Toggle/set frame dropping mode.
122 Print out the audio bitrate of the current file.
125 Print out the audio codec name of the current file.
128 Print out the audio frequency and number of channels of the current file.
131 Print out the name of the current file.
134 Print out the 'Album' metadata of the current file.
137 Print out the 'Artist' metadata of the current file.
140 Print out the 'Comment' metadata of the current file.
143 Print out the 'Genre' metadata of the current file.
146 Print out the 'Title' metadata of the current file.
149 Print out the 'Track Number' metadata of the current file.
152 Print out the 'Year' metadata of the current file.
155 Print out the current position in the file, as integer percentage [0-100).
157 get_property <property>
158 Print out the current value of a property.
161 Print out subtitle visibility (1 == on, 0 == off).
164 Print out the length of the current file in seconds.
167 Print out the current position in the file in seconds, as float.
170 Print out fullscreen status (1 == fullscreened, 0 == windowed).
173 Print out the video bitrate of the current file.
176 Print out the video codec name of the current file.
179 Print out the video resolution of the current file.
182 Take a screenshot. Requires the screenshot filter to be loaded.
183 0 Take a single screenshot.
184 1 Start/stop taking screenshot of each frame.
186 gui_[about|loadfile|loadsubtitle|play|playlist|preferences|skinbrowser|stop]
189 key_down_event <value>
190 Inject <value> key code event into MPlayer.
192 loadfile <file|url> <append>
193 Load the given file/URL, stopping playback of the current file/URL.
194 If <append> is nonzero playback continues and the file/URL is
195 appended to the current playlist instead.
197 loadlist <file> <append>
198 Load the given playlist file, stopping playback of the current file.
199 If <append> is nonzero playback continues and the playlist file is
200 appended to the current playlist instead.
203 Adjust/set how many times the movie should be looped. -1 means no loop,
207 Execute an OSD menu command.
209 down Move cursor down.
211 cancel Cancel selection.
212 hide Hide the OSD menu.
215 Display the menu named <menu_name>.
218 Toggle sound output muting or set it to [value] when [value] >= 0
222 Toggle OSD mode or set it to [level] when [level] >= 0.
225 Show the progression bar, the elapsed time and the total duration of the
228 osd_show_property_text <string> [duration] [level]
229 Show an expanded property string on the OSD, see -playing-msg for a
230 description of the available expansions. If [duration] is >= 0 the text
231 is shown for [duration] ms. [level] sets the minimum OSD level needed
232 for the message to be visible (default: 0 - always show).
234 osd_show_text <string> [duration] [level]
235 Show <string> on the OSD.
237 panscan <-1.0 - 1.0> | <0.0 - 1.0> <abs>
238 Increase or decrease the pan-and-scan range by <value>, 1.0 is the maximum.
239 Negative values decrease the pan-and-scan range.
240 If <abs> is != 0, then the pan-and scan range is interpreted as an
244 Pause/unpause the playback.
247 Play one frame, then pause again.
249 pt_step <value> [force]
250 Go to the next/previous entry in the playtree. The sign of <value> tells
251 the direction. If no entry is available in the given direction it will do
252 nothing unless [force] is non-zero.
254 pt_up_step <value> [force]
255 Similar to pt_step but jumps to the next/previous entry in the parent list.
256 Useful to break out of the inner loop in the playtree.
259 Quit MPlayer. The optional integer [value] is used as the return code
260 for the mplayer process (default: 0).
262 radio_set_channel <channel>
263 Switch to <channel>. The 'channels' radio parameter needs to be set.
265 radio_set_freq <frequency in MHz>
266 Set the radio tuner frequency.
268 radio_step_channel <-1|1>
269 Step forwards (1) or backwards (-1) in channel list. Works only when the
270 'channels' radio parameter was set.
272 radio_step_freq <value>
273 Tune frequency by the <value> (positive - up, negative - down).
276 Seek to some place in the movie.
277 0 is a relative seek of +/- <value> seconds (default).
278 1 is a seek to <value> % in the movie.
279 2 is a seek to an absolute position of <value> seconds.
281 seek_chapter <value> [type]
282 Seek to the start of a chapter.
283 0 is a relative seek of +/- <value> chapters (default).
284 1 is a seek to chapter <value>.
287 Switch to the angle with the ID [value]. Cycle through the
288 available angles if [value] is omitted or negative.
290 set_mouse_pos <x> <y>
291 Tells MPlayer the coordinates of the mouse in the window.
292 This command doesn't move the mouse!
294 set_property <property> <value>
297 set_property_osd <property> <value>
298 Same as above, but show the new value on the OSD in the standard
299 manner defined for that property (if any).
302 Add <value> to the current playback speed.
305 Multiply the current speed by <value>.
308 Set the speed to <value>.
310 step_property <property> [value] [direction]
311 Change a property by value, or increase by a default if value is
312 not given or zero. The direction is reversed if direction is less
315 step_property_osd <property> [value] [direction]
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 specifid 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 specifid 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 specifid 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.
397 Step forward in the subtitle list by <value> steps or backwards if <value>
400 sub_visibility [value]
401 Toggle/set subtitle visibility.
403 forced_subs_only [value]
404 Toggle/set forced subtitles only.
406 switch_audio [value] (currently MPEG*, AVI, Matroska and streams handled by libavformat)
407 Switch to the audio track with the ID [value]. Cycle through the
408 available tracks if [value] is omitted or negative.
410 switch_angle [value] (DVDs only)
411 Switch to the DVD angle with the ID [value]. Cycle through the
412 available angles if [value] is omitted or negative.
415 Change aspect ratio at runtime. [value] is the new aspect ratio expressed
416 as a float (e.g. 1.77778 for 16/9).
417 There might be problems with some video filters.
419 switch_title [value] (DVDNAV only)
420 Switch to the DVD title with the ID [value]. Cycle through the
421 available titles if [value] is omitted or negative.
424 Toggle vsync (1 == on, 0 == off). If [value] is not provided,
425 vsync status is inverted.
427 teletext_add_digit <value>
428 Enter/leave teletext page number editing mode and append given digit to
429 previously entered one.
430 0..9 - Append apropriate digit. (Enables editing mode if called from normal
431 mode, and switches to normal mode when third digit is entered.)
432 - - Delete last digit from page number. (Backspace emulation, works only
433 in page number editing mode.)
435 teletext_go_link <1-6>
436 Follow given link on current teletext page.
439 Start automatic TV channel scanning.
441 tv_step_channel <channel>
442 Select next/previous TV channel.
450 tv_set_channel <channel>
451 Set the current TV channel.
454 Set the current TV channel to the last one.
456 tv_set_freq <frequency in MHz>
457 Set the TV tuner frequency.
459 tv_step_freq <frequency offset in MHz>
460 Set the TV tuner frequency relative to current value.
463 Set the TV tuner norm (PAL, SECAM, NTSC, ...).
465 tv_set_brightness <-100 - 100> [abs]
466 Set TV tuner brightness or adjust it if [abs] is set to 0.
468 tv_set_contrast <-100 -100> [abs]
469 Set TV tuner contrast or adjust it if [abs] is set to 0.
471 tv_set_hue <-100 - 100> [abs]
472 Set TV tuner hue or adjust it if [abs] is set to 0.
474 tv_set_saturation <-100 - 100> [abs]
475 Set TV tuner saturation or adjust it if [abs] is set to 0.
478 Switch volume control between master and PCM.
481 Toggle/set borderless display.
483 vo_fullscreen [value]
484 Toggle/set fullscreen mode.
487 Toggle/set stay-on-top.
490 Toggle/set playback on the root window.
493 Increase/decrease volume or set it to <value> if [abs] is nonzero.
496 The following commands are really only useful for OSD menu console mode:
499 Displays help text, currently empty.
502 Exits from OSD menu console. Unlike 'quit', does not quit MPlayer.
505 Hides the OSD menu console. Clicking a menu command unhides it. Other
506 keybindings act as usual.
509 Run <value> as shell command. In OSD menu console mode stdout and stdin
510 are through the video output driver.
513 Available properties:
515 name type min max get set step comment
516 =================================================================
518 osdlevel int 0 3 X X X as -osdlevel
519 speed float 0.01 100 X X X as -speed
520 loop int -1 X X X as -loop
521 pause flag 0 1 X 1 if paused, use with pausing_keep_force
522 filename string X file playing wo path
523 path string X file playing
524 demuxer string X demuxer used
525 stream_pos pos 0 X X position in stream
526 stream_start pos 0 X start pos in stream
527 stream_end pos 0 X end pos in stream
528 stream_length pos 0 X (end - start)
529 stream_time_pos time 0 X present position in stream (in seconds)
530 chapter int 0 X X X select chapter
531 chapters int X number of chapters
532 angle int 0 X X X select angle
533 length time X length of file in seconds
534 percent_pos int 0 100 X X X position in percent
535 time_pos time 0 X X X position in seconds
536 metadata str list X list of metadata key/value
537 metadata/* string X metadata values
538 volume float 0 100 X X X change volume
539 balance float -1 1 X X X change audio balance
541 audio_delay float -100 100 X X X
547 switch_audio int -2 255 X X X select audio stream
548 switch_angle int -2 255 X X X select DVD angle
549 switch_title int -2 255 X X X select DVD title
550 capturing flag 0 1 X X X dump primary stream if enabled
551 fullscreen flag 0 1 X X X
552 deinterlace flag 0 1 X X X
554 rootwin flag 0 1 X X X
555 border flag 0 1 X X X
556 framedropping int 0 2 X X X 1 = soft, 2 = hard
557 gamma int -100 100 X X X
558 brightness int -100 100 X X X
559 contrast int -100 100 X X X
560 saturation int -100 100 X X X
561 hue int -100 100 X X X
562 panscan float 0 1 X X X
567 width int X "display" width
568 height int X "display" height
571 switch_video int -2 255 X X X select video stream
572 switch_program int -1 65535 X X X (see TAB default keybind)
573 sub int -1 X X X select subtitle stream
574 sub_source int -1 2 X X X select subtitle source
575 sub_file int -1 X X X select file subtitles
576 sub_vob int -1 X X X select vobsubs
577 sub_demux int -1 X X X select subs from demux
578 sub_delay float X X X
579 sub_pos int 0 100 X X X subtitle position
580 sub_alignment int 0 2 X X X subtitle alignment
581 sub_visibility flag 0 1 X X X show/hide subtitles
582 sub_forced_only flag 0 1 X X X
583 sub_scale float 0 100 X X X subtitles font size
584 tv_brightness int -100 100 X X X
585 tv_contrast int -100 100 X X X
586 tv_saturation int -100 100 X X X
587 tv_hue int -100 100 X X X
588 teletext_page int 0 799 X X X
589 teletext_subpage int 0 64 X X X
590 teletext_mode flag 0 1 X X X 0 - off, 1 - on
591 teletext_format int 0 3 X X X 0 - opaque,
595 teletext_half_page int 0 2 X X X 0 - off, 1 - top half,