Help with external player

[AlphaUMi]

Hello everyone!

Maybe I have a chance playing videos with GameEx, or at least I would be able to try. Because I've tried everything using the internal player, now I'm trying to use an external player and see what happens. But I have problems sending the command line to the player (Media Player Classic Home Cinema). Ok, here is a screenshot of the command lines available:

If I use the Windows command line I am able to launch a video, but if I try to "translate" this command line for GameEx, the player starts but says "File not found".

For example:

"C:\Programs\K-Lite Codec Pack\Media Player Classic\mpc-hc.exe" "C:\Documents and Settings\AlphaUMi\Documents\Video\Mac vs PC.flv" /fullscreen /play

This command line works in Windows, the player starts and runs the video in fullscreen.

But if I add the following command line to GameEx.ini:

CMD="C:\Programs\K-Lite Codec Pack\Media Player Classic\mpc-hc.exe" "[ROMPATH\]\[ROMFILE]" /fullscreen /play

or even

CMD="C:\Programs\K-Lite Codec Pack\Media Player Classic\mpc-hc.exe" "[ROMPATH\]"\"[ROMFILE]" /fullscreen /play

the player starts in fullscreen but the video doesn't. The player says "File not found".

There must be a problem with [ROMPATH] and [ROMFILE] variables... please, any ideas? What am I doing wrong?

[Draco1962]

Shouldn't that be "[ROMPATH]\[ROMFILE]"? You show "[ROMPATH\]\[ROMFILE]" with the \ after ROMPATH in the brackets.

[fRequEnCy]

[ROMPATH] and [ROMFILE] are not valid parameters for the external player. Try instead.

i.e.

"C:\Programs\K-Lite Codec Pack\Media Player Classic\mpc-hc.exe" [VIDEO] /fullscreen /play

This is documented in the help context of this setting.

CMD Is the full command line including drive, path and file that will be used to launch the external DVD Player. Use in the cmd to pass the filename of the video..

But do be careful with your syntax as Draco pointed out when using parameters.

[AlphaUMi]

Thank you fReq! And don't worry Draco, that syntax error was only a typo a made posting here, my ini file is correct.

Now let's try the parameter!

[AlphaUMi]

Evidently I have no luck with videos.... The aforementioned command line launches the player, but it keeps loading the fine and never ends. Probably GameEx and Media Player Classic Home Cinema aren't friends, since that command line works in Windows....

Maybe can I try with WMP? Do you know if it supports command line?

Anyway, thanks as always fReq and Draco!

[Draco1962]

Not sure about Command Line support for WMP, but worth a go since WMP is an integral part of Windows Media Center for which GameEx can act as a plugin.

[AlphaUMi]

OK, listen to me please. Do you remember the old Windows Media Player that came with Win98? I found out that in C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player there is a mplayer2.exe which is the old, old Windows Media Player! I'm running WinXP SP3 with WMP 11: evidently Microsoft kept it in the newer versions, and this is good!

In fact I managed to launch videos using this old version. The command line I used is:

CMD="C:\Programmi\Windows Media Player\mplayer2.exe" /fullscreen /play /close

Hey guys, now I'm very happy! Firstly because GameEx doesn't crash closing and opening various videos (do you remember the old bug, don't you?).

But I have to report a bug in GameEx managing external player, I fear. This bug has happened to me both with Media Player Classic Home Cinema and Windows Media Player (old version), regardless of the fact that MPCHC was unable to play the video file in GameEx.

Follow me please, I hope my explanation is clear:

1. I launch GameEx.

2. I launch my first video.

3. I close the first video, no matter if I use the universal exit key combination or the internal exit command of the player.

4. The player closes but then reopens with the same video.

5. I close it a second time, and then GameEx reappears normally.

6. From this point, all is normal and I haven't to close the second, third... etc videos a second time, all is regular.

This seems to be a bug in the GameEx code to me. I hope Tom reads this post and take care of this little bug.

But, after all... I'm happy! Finally I can play videos in GameEx!!!!!!!

[fRequEnCy]

Please try adding the /close parameter to the mix as well. Report back. If not then we'll meet in chat and try to troubleshoot in real-time.

i.e.

"C:\Programs\K-Lite Codec Pack\Media Player Classic\mpc-hc.exe" [VIDEO] /fullscreen /play /close

GameEx should have no trouble launching this at all. I've used this player on my HTPC previously from the command-line and since that's how GameEx works, it shouldn't have any problems.

There is also a setting in the player that may be causing this behavior.

[AlphaUMi]

No way, same result. MPCHC loads in full screen, I can read "Opening..." in its status bar, and then something too fast to be read, then "Opening..." again. It seems that MPCHC goes in loop...

I solved this with another player, as you can read in my previous post, but I am at your disposal if you want to troubleshoot this problem. Just ask me...

P.S.: As I stated before, there is this bug making the first loaded video reopen a second time.

[fRequEnCy]

No way, same result. MPCHC loads in full screen, I can read "Opening..." in its status bar, and then something too fast to be read, then "Opening..." again. It seems that MPCHC goes in loop...

I solved this with another player, as you can read in my previous post, but I am at your disposal if you want to troubleshoot this problem. Just ask me...

P.S.: As I stated before, there is this bug making the first loaded video reopen a second time.

Ok. I'll try to troubleshoot on my end to confirm the bug so we can get Tom to fix. Thanks for the report and sorry for the inconvenience.

[AlphaUMi]

Sincerely, thank you fReq!

Please, let me know your results.

All you guys are fantastic! I try, and will try, to help other people too, but my knowledge goes not too far... mostly with emulator systems I don't know...

[Draco1962]

Alpha - can you confirm the following settings in MPC-HC are not selected?

Playback â?? Play XX time(s): If selected, MPC-HC will play the file XX times.

Playback â?? Repeat forever: If selected, MPC-HC will play the file in a loop, restarting the same file or playlist again and again.

Thanks!

[AlphaUMi]

Alpha - can you confirm the following settings in MPC-HC are not selected?

Playback – Play XX time(s): If selected, MPC-HC will play the file XX times.

Playback – Repeat forever: If selected, MPC-HC will play the file in a loop, restarting the same file or playlist again and again.

Thanks!

No, I have "Play 1 time(s)" and in consequence "Repeat forever" is not selected.

EDIT: I think (guess) those settings take action once the video has started... In this case the video doesn't start and remains in "Opening..." state.