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2012-02-15T20:16:39Z

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VLC HowTo/Make VLC the default player

2012-02-15T20:16:35Z

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In Windows after installation of VLC player(version 1.1) it can be made default by following way,

Open VLC player, Click on Tools in menu, Select "preferences",
single left Click "interface" button,on left side, single left Click on "setup associations"
Select types of files from the list that appears, and anyone need to use with VLC player as default, or "select all"

== Windows ==

[1]

On any folder with a toolbar, click on ''Tools'' then ''Folder Options''. Select the ''File Types'' tab.
One can select and set any default program for any registered file type from that section.

''E.g.'', if there is a "DVD Video" in the list as there is for MS Windows XP, select it then click the ''Advanced'' button.

A new window, ''Edit File Type'', will open and the list of known, compatible executable programs will be presented.

Select the one desired, in this case, ''Play with VLC media player'', and then click the ''Set Default'' button.

Next, click ''OK'' and then ''Close'' to close the ''Edit File Type'' window.

One can repeat that for as many files as needed before clicking the "Close" button. E.g., perhaps the "AudioCD" would be useful to set for VLC.

( Please note that this ''File Types'' location is *'''''not'''''* a place to play. Change what is needed and only that. I.e., one can look but do not touch unless you intend to buy it, :). )

[2]

Perhaps the easiest way is to set the VLC player as the default ''during the installation'' of VLC. As odd as it might sound, removing VLC from programs and then re-installing it will be the safest method for many people. All the file types are automatically selected, which you can change as desired.

During installation just make certain that you clear any box that would cause the installer to delete your preferences and cache.

If for some reason the installer fails to set the correct file types or gets overwritten by MS during an upgrade(or some other program), try [1] to fix it.

== Mac ==
Right click on the type of file you want to always open in VLC. Click 'Get Info'. In the 'Open With' section, select VLC from the drop down menu. To apply this change to all files of this type, click the 'Change All' button.

== Linux ==

=== Fedora ===

==== GNOME ====

Gnome uses two lists (located at '''''/usr/share/applications/''''') '''mimeinfo.cache''' and '''defaults.list''', to register applications to file types. 
So you could either edit it manually or use the tools that GNOME has for this. 

===== Instructions on how to do it in GNOME. =====

===== Changing the default application for videos using menus(the easy way): =====

Using Nautilus 2.30.1, from the top menu bar choose Places then Home Folder -> Edit menu -> Preferences -> choose Media tab -> in drop down list next to "DVD Video" choose "Open VLC media player". Voila.

Alternatively try: System -> Preferences -> Personal -> Preferred Applications -> Multimedia -> Custom -> Type this: vlc %U

ps: this alternative not tested yet.

===== Changing the default application for videos using menus(the not so easy way): =====

{| class="wikitable"
| * Right-click on the video file that you want VLC to open. * Choose properties. * Now in the properties window click on the tab named '''''Open With'''''. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Properties_window.png/800px-Properties_window.png 
|-
| * In the tab '''''Open With''''' just choose VLC as your player for that type of file. Just remember that you will have to do this for each an every type of video/audio file('''ex:''' mpg, avi, rm, mkv, ogg, mp3 etc) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Open_with_tab.png/800px-Open_with_tab.png 
|-
| * If the VLC icon don't show up on the '''''Open With''''' tab, click on the '''''add''''' button in the lower corner to the right of the window tha has a plus sign, and locate VLC on the window tha pops up that is called Add Application. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Add_app.png 
|}

===== Changing the default application for videos manually(the hard way): =====

In Fedora 10 the path /usr/share/applications/ will take you to these 2 files that configure what application open a type of file. 
 
'''defaults.list''' 
'''mimeinfo.cache''' 
 
ps:
Both files will point to a Desktop Entry file([name of the file].desktop) that is inside the ''applications'' folder, and the 2 important things inside that file are the configurations for what MIME Types the application can handle and how to launch the application.

A ''Desktop Entry'' file is a data file that provides information about an item in a menu.
The desktop entry specification describes desktop entries as files describing information about an application such as the name, MIME Types it handles, icon, and description. These files are used for application launchers and for creating menus of applications that can be launched. 
If you don't have the VLC ''Desktop Entry'' file or it disapear for some reason you will have to make one. Look [http://library.gnome.org/admin/system-admin-guide/stable/menustructure-desktopentry.html.en here] for some pointers.
 

You only need to modify '''mimeinfo.cache''', I hope. It works here if It don't work for you please edit this. 

So what you have to do is:

# Open ''mimeinfo.cache'' as root.
# Search for the MIME Types for video.
# Change all of them to use VLC.

ex: 
Registry of MIME Type (video/quicktime) in ''mimeinfo.cache'' to use VLC. 
 
video/quicktime=livna-vlc.desktop;totem.desktop;miro.desktop; 
 
The format is: 
[MIME Type]=[Name of the Desktop Entry file] 
 
'''Note:''' You can put more then one ''Desktop Entry'' but they need to be separated by a semi-colon (;), see the example above. 
Those extra entries will appear as options when you right-click on the video file and go to the ''Open With'' submenu. 
'''Tip:''' Nautilus don't show the real names of the ''Desktop Entry'' files. Either drag and drop it on gedit so you see the name on the tab or use '''ls''' to list the files on the command line.
===== References =====

[http://library.gnome.org/admin/system-admin-guide/stable/menustructure-desktopentry.html.en Desktop Entry Files]

[http://library.gnome.org/admin/system-admin-guide/stable/mimetypes-registering.html.en Registering Applications for MIME Types] (Editing defaults.list and mimeinfo.cache)

==== KDE ====

SoC 2008/OS X Integration

2012-02-15T20:16:27Z

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{{SoCProject|year=2008|student=[[User:dudiak|Eric Dudiak]]|mentor=[[User:Fkuehne|Felix Paul Kühne]]}}

=Mac OS X (Leopard) Integration=

==Abstract==

Unlike Windows and Linux, Mac OS X does not offer much in terms of alternatives to its built-in QuickTime media player. VLC media player represents the only Mac media player with significant support for various media formats and a tight integration with the OS, including a "Mac-like" user interface. As it is the only full, viable alternative to QuickTime on the Mac OS X platform, it is important that it stay current with various Mac technologies to offer users a comprehensive option for media playback.

Aspects of tighter Mac OS X integration:
*Quick Look Generator for Leopard (to generate thumbnails and full media previews from the Finder)
*Making most common preferences accessible in a Mac-style preference window organized with icon tabs across the top such as in Safari and Mail.
*Moving the Readme document and other help resources into a HelpViewer HTML document to allow better help searching in Leopard.
*Improvements in steaming server wizard to be more in-line with other Mac wizards and easier to use for personal streaming between Macs.
*Add better support for package files that contain media VLC can play, such as iMovie Projects and EyeTV recordings.
*Update the VLC file icons to the 512 by 512 size for Leopard.

==Detailed Description==

This project will use the libraries provided by Apple for creating a Quick Look Generator. Due to various restrictions placed on these by Apple, the method for generating the live preview may use the mozilla plugin if no better alternative can be found. Creating these enhancements will require a combination of C and Objective-C. The Quick Look function should generate a thumbnail when simply browsing the Finder or viewing with CoverFlow and should provide full playback when the spacebar is pressed (which actually opens the Quick View). For those not familiar with the details of Mac OS X, Apple provides very specific models for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) defined in documents on their [http://developer.apple.com developer site]. In addition to providing the Quick Look functionality, I will be attempting to bring VLC more in line with these usability guidelines. This will include updating the preferences window to have a more Mac OS X feel and organization to it for at least the most fundamental set of preferences (with the rest to be accessible in the traditional way). I will also be moving some of the documentation into HelpViewer format to allow easy searching of it directly from the menu bar in Leopard. Also, I will be designing a new Streaming/Transcoding Wizard that better matches the Mac OS X wizard look and feel, such as the in the Bluetooth Setup Assistant or Network Setup Assistant. The new icons should look more like other modern Mac OS X file icons since the current ones more closely resemble icons found in the Mac OS X Public Beta. These new icons should be included for several of the formats that are newer to VLC (and were not supported when the old icons were made) and should differentiate between types (audio vs. video) in the icon style.

==Development Plan==

*Research both Apple and community documentation on Quick Look Generators.
*Attempt to create a simple, dynamic Quick Look Generator to test the ability to create such generators.
*<s>Failing that, create a simple Quick Look Generator that uses a custom WebKit plugin.</s>
*Move to developing a Quick Look Generator for VLC that uses whichever method was more successful.
*Create Quick Look Generator that plays at least one VLC media format (no controls yet, just basic playback).
*Add support for additional formats.
*Add thumbnail generation for supported formats.
*Add basic playback controls (play/pause, possibly mute and scrubber)
*If ahead of schedule, add support for displaying relevant metadata, such as ID3 tags for MP3 files.
*Create new Mac OS X icon files.
*Evaluate icons/Quick View with community and sample end users.
*Work on new Mac OS X interface
*Perform think aloud evaluation on prototype.
*Refine prototype.
*Build fully functional version in VLC.

==Weekly Schedule==
This schedule only includes coding plans for about a month going forward because I will have to asses what has been completed of my plan for each week before planning additional weeks. It does, however, include all known conflicts for the entire period. 
'''Week 1 (May 26 – May 30)''' 
*Review Apple documentation for Quick Look development
*Review potential of VLCkit
*Review potential of VLC WebKit plugin
*Start building Quick Look Generator
''Completed:''
*Review Apple documentation
*Decided to start development with the VLC WebKit/Mozilla plugin
*Started coding on the generator
'''Week 2 (June 2 – June 6)''' 
*Finish alpha Quick Look Generator for previews
''Completed:''
*Alpha not yet ready. Will continue work into week 3.
'''Week 3 (June 9 – June 13)''' 
*Add thumbnail support
*Finish preview work from week 2.
''Completed:''
*Created new icon files at 512x512 resolution
'''Week 4 (June 16 – June 20)''' 
*Refine controls/appearance for Quick Look.
*Create new icons
*Evaluate Quick Look and icons
''Completed:''
*Made a quicklook preview by converting VLC files into QuickTime files
'''Week 5 (June 23 – June 27)''' 
*Start new interface design
'''Week 6 (June 30 – July 4)''' 
*Continue new interface prototype
*Away Tuesday onward (still online, just unlikely able to work)
'''Week 7 (July 7 – July 11)''' 
*Arrive back on Tuesday (still online, just unlikely able to work)
*Integrate new interface into existing VLC code
*Midterm evalutation
'''Week 8 (July 14 – July 18)''' 
*Get playback working in new UI
*Get basic controls working
*Create additional new icons for interface
'''Week 9 (July 21 – July 25)''' 
*Set up sidebar/source bar to act as expected
*Make resizing work correctly
*Finish setting up controls
'''Week 10 (July 28 – August 1)''' 
*Fix drawing errors
*Fix resize errors
*Allow dragging by background
*Fix/update git repository
'''Week 11 (August 4 – August 8)''' 
*Integrate playlist into new interface
*Add content to sidebar/sourcebar
'''Week 12 (August 11 – August 15)''' 
*Wrap up coding
'''After August 15''' 
*August 16: Leave for California (Apple Cocoa Camp)
*August 24: Leave for Sweden (Study Abroad Semester)
*Final evaluation
Note: I will still be within contact after leaving for Sweden. Also, since this is past the end of coding date (August 11 week), I should not have any problems not having a work visa (although my student visa does allow me to work). I will still be able to complete the final evaluation before September 1.

==New Icon Prototypes==
'''Current Icon:''' 
http://www.dudiak.com/VLC-Icons/generic.png 
'''New Icons at (reduced) 128 x 128 resolution:''' 
http://www.dudiak.com/VLC-Icons/Sample.png 
These new icons are designed to better highlight the contents of files and better meet the Apple Interface Guidelines for document icons. These icons are also rendered at 512 x 512 to support Mac OS X Leopard's higher resolution icon standard and can be scaled larger if needed (all graphics are vectors). Furthermore, the use of six generic icons instead of one allows future formats to be easily added without the need for more icons. As current users of VLC for Mac OS X know, the "blank" icon is often used for more newly supported formats in VLC such as MKV, FLV, FLAC, and others. When adding a format, an icon that matches the type of file could be used to be more specific without needing to make an icon that says "FLAC" on it. That being said, I intend to create titled icons for the majority of currently-supported files, but will also include these six generic ones for future file support. Also, it should be noted that the more of these 512 x 512 icons included, the larger the VLC download will become as they are much larger than the current 128 x 128. These icons range from 96 KB to 276 KB when exported as apple .icns files. The full resolution versions can be seen [http://www.dudiak.com/VLC-Icons/ here]. 
''Please email me all comments at [mailto:dudiak@gmail.com dudiak@gmail.com]. Thanks!''

==New Interface==
'''July 29, 2008:''' 
[http://www.dudiak.com/VLC-Icons/new_interface.mp4 First Prototype Functioning] 
'''August 12, 2008:''' 
[http://www.dudiak.com/VLC-Icons/new_interface_2.mp4 Feature Complete Version]

User:Altglass

2012-02-15T20:16:21Z

Spam cleanup script: Cleaning up links to www.d-gfx.net.tc

[[User:Altglass/Skin-Designer_Tutorial|Tutorial for the VLC Skin Editor]]