Documentation:VLC for dummies

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VLC for dummies

Introduction

Thank you for visiting this page to find out what VLC is about. Please note that this page is in construction and might change in a near future. VLC media player (or VLC for short) is an free and open source software media player. Features that make VLC the preferred media player for a lot of people is its excellent support for various audio and video codecs, the fact that it is cross platform and the open way of development.

This page will describe the steps to perform the basic steps of using VLC. For more advanced uses see the VLC Play HowTo for a complete user guide, or VLC Streaming HowTo for the advanced streaming features that VLC is capable of.

Understanding the VLC interface (0.9.8a)

Taskbar Icon

When you start VLC media player, the application appears on the screen and a small icon File:Vlc-win-taskbar.png appears in the taskbar. Click on the icon in the taskbar to show or hide the icon in the taskbar. Hiding the icon does not amount to quitting the application. It does run in the background even when you hide the interface.

Note: These screenshots are taken from the MS Windows XP version, on other systems they might appear slightly different.

The main interface of VLC media player looks as shown in the following figure.

Windows 0.9.x GUI

The icon in your taskbar can switch the main interface on or off by left clicking on to it. Also, if you close the main interface by using the close button in the window, you will be able to open the screen again by using the icon in the taskbar. Features like stopping or pausing playback or change track are also possible by right clicking the icon. This will give a popup menu where you can perform your wanted action.

Starting VLC media player

To start VLC Media Player:

1. Select Programs from the Start menu.
2. Select VideoLAN and select VLC media player.

Stopping VLC media player

To quit the application, right click on the icon in the tray and select Quit.

Or

Click the Close button in the main interface of the application.

The main interface contains a couple of sections:

Menu bar

The menu bar at the top contains all the options.

Track slider

The track slider is below the menu bar. It shows the progress of playing of the media file. You can drag the track slider left to rewind or right to forward the track being played. When a video file is played, the video appears between the menu bar and track slider.

Note: When a media file is streamed, the track slider does not move because VLC cannot know the total duration.

Control buttons

The buttons below the slider help in controlling the play.

Volume control

To the right of the control buttons is the volume control. The small speaker icon is a button to quickly mute or un-mute all sound. The slider to the right of it allows you to modify the volume to louder or softer. The percentage gives the amount of amplification.

Data field

In the bottom of the window, some additional information, like track name and length of the track, will be displayed for convenience.

Playing a media file (to be written)

Basic steps to play an audio file or movie is really simple.

Firstly open VLC media player by double clicking the program on the desktop or from the start menu. Secondly click on the menu button on the top left of the program and choose the first four options, all of options allow you to play media or audio files.

The first option is the simple one. The second is the advanced one. The third is just like the first one but with less options to choose from The forth one allows you to play media and audio files straight from the CD or DVD

By --Nemo 17:08, 29 November 2008 (CET)Nemo