Difference between revisions of "Command-line interface"

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:''See also [[VLC command-line help]], [[Console|Console interfaces]]''
 
:''See also [[VLC command-line help]], [[Console|Console interfaces]]''
  
 
This page describes how to access the terminal and start VLC in it.
 
This page describes how to access the terminal and start VLC in it.
  
A terminal is a text-based way to run programs. It is normally pre-installed on your computer. The command prompt may also be called:
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A terminal is a text-based way to run programs. It is normally pre-installed on your computer. The command prompt may also be called the "Command Prompt", "Console", "Terminal", "MS-DOS Prompt", or something similar.
* Command Prompt
 
* Console
 
* MS-DOS Prompt
 
* Terminal
 
  
 
Running VLC from the terminal gives you access to many commands and features in VideoLAN which you would not otherwise have: see the [[VLC command-line help]] page to find out more about options from the command line.
 
Running VLC from the terminal gives you access to many commands and features in VideoLAN which you would not otherwise have: see the [[VLC command-line help]] page to find out more about options from the command line.
  
Note that '''%''' is used on many of the examples in VLC Wiki to represent the prompt, so you don't need to type that in. Depending on your [[operating system]], the prompt could be a &gt;, %, $ or #. Read on for a detailed explanation.
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Note that '''%''' is used on many of the examples on the VLC Wiki to represent the prompt, so you don't need to type that in.<br>
 +
Depending on your [[operating system]], the prompt could appear as a >, %, $ or # symbol. Read on for a detailed explanation.
  
 
== Windows ==
 
== Windows ==
In windows, this is called the '''command prompt'''. To open the command prompt,
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In Windows, this is called the '''command prompt'''. To open the command prompt:
 
* Click on the Start Menu and select Run.
 
* Click on the Start Menu and select Run.
* In the Run box, type '''cmd''' (or '''command''' for older versions of windows) and press enter.
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* In the Run box, type '''cmd''' (or '''command''' for older versions of Windows) and press enter.
The command prompt will look something like this
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The command prompt will look something like this:
 
  C:\>
 
  C:\>
To run VLC, you will need to know where you installed VLC: the default is '''C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC'''. So to start vlc, type  
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To run VLC, you will need to know where you installed VLC; the default is '''C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC'''. So to start VLC, type
 
  "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\VLC.exe" ''options''
 
  "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\VLC.exe" ''options''
 
replacing ''options'' with the name of the file to play and its options.
 
replacing ''options'' with the name of the file to play and its options.
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You can run VLC on Mac OS X using a terminal application, such as '''Terminal.app''' in '''/Applications/Utilities'''. In the terminal window type
 
You can run VLC on Mac OS X using a terminal application, such as '''Terminal.app''' in '''/Applications/Utilities'''. In the terminal window type
 
  ../VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC ''options''
 
  ../VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC ''options''
replacing ''options'' with vlc options, commands, the name of the file to play and so on.
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replacing ''options'' with VLC options, commands, the name of the file to play, and so on.
  
To suppress the launch of any Mac-like interface, '''you have to add''' the Option '-I' or '--intf' followed by the interface you want to use instead.<br>
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To suppress the launch of any Mac-like interface, <u>you have to add</u> the Option '-I' or '--intf' followed by the interface you want to use instead.<br>
Available interfaces are ''rc'' (remote control) ''ncurses'' (command-line-gui) ''http'' (webinterface, usually on port [http://localhost:8080 8080]). VLC won't even appear in the Dock then.
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Available interfaces are:
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* ''rc'' (remote control)
 +
* ''ncurses'' (command-line-gui)
 +
* ''http'' (web interface, usually on port [http://localhost:8080 8080])&mdash;this interface will prevent VLC from appearing even in the Dock.
  
 
In older versions you could replace the "VLC" at the end of the path with "clivlc" to suppress the launch of any Mac-like interface.
 
In older versions you could replace the "VLC" at the end of the path with "clivlc" to suppress the launch of any Mac-like interface.
  
 
== Linux/Unix ==
 
== Linux/Unix ==
To get a linux terminal, you should probably run Konsole or Xterm. The terminal normally looks like a $ or a %. If you are logged in as root (generally a bad idea) it will probably be a #. To run VLC, you can normally type
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To get a linux terminal, you should probably run Konsole or Xterm. The terminal normally looks like a $ or a %.<br>
 +
If you are logged in as a root user (generally a bad idea) it will probably be a #.<br>
 +
To run VLC, you can normally type
 
  vlc ''options''
 
  vlc ''options''
 
replacing ''options'' with the name of the file to play and its options.
 
replacing ''options'' with the name of the file to play and its options.
  
 
[[Category:Documentation]] [[Category:Coding]]
 
[[Category:Documentation]] [[Category:Coding]]

Revision as of 08:02, 19 October 2014

See also VLC command-line help, Console interfaces

This page describes how to access the terminal and start VLC in it.

A terminal is a text-based way to run programs. It is normally pre-installed on your computer. The command prompt may also be called the "Command Prompt", "Console", "Terminal", "MS-DOS Prompt", or something similar.

Running VLC from the terminal gives you access to many commands and features in VideoLAN which you would not otherwise have: see the VLC command-line help page to find out more about options from the command line.

Note that % is used on many of the examples on the VLC Wiki to represent the prompt, so you don't need to type that in.
Depending on your operating system, the prompt could appear as a >, %, $ or # symbol. Read on for a detailed explanation.

Windows

In Windows, this is called the command prompt. To open the command prompt:

  • Click on the Start Menu and select Run.
  • In the Run box, type cmd (or command for older versions of Windows) and press enter.

The command prompt will look something like this:

C:\>

To run VLC, you will need to know where you installed VLC; the default is C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC. So to start VLC, type

"C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\VLC.exe" options

replacing options with the name of the file to play and its options.

Mac OSX

You can run VLC on Mac OS X using a terminal application, such as Terminal.app in /Applications/Utilities. In the terminal window type

../VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC options

replacing options with VLC options, commands, the name of the file to play, and so on.

To suppress the launch of any Mac-like interface, you have to add the Option '-I' or '--intf' followed by the interface you want to use instead.
Available interfaces are:

  • rc (remote control)
  • ncurses (command-line-gui)
  • http (web interface, usually on port 8080)—this interface will prevent VLC from appearing even in the Dock.

In older versions you could replace the "VLC" at the end of the path with "clivlc" to suppress the launch of any Mac-like interface.

Linux/Unix

To get a linux terminal, you should probably run Konsole or Xterm. The terminal normally looks like a $ or a %.
If you are logged in as a root user (generally a bad idea) it will probably be a #.
To run VLC, you can normally type

vlc options

replacing options with the name of the file to play and its options.