1 Instructions to code your own VLC Lua scripts and extensions
7 Lua documentation is available on http://www.lua.org/ . The reference manual
8 is very useful: http://www.lua.org/manual/5.1/ .
10 All the Lua standard libraries are available.
16 Several types of VLC Lua scripts can currently be coded:
17 * Playlist and websites parsers (see playlist/README.txt)
18 * Art fetchers (see meta/README.txt)
19 * Interfaces (see intf/README.txt)
20 * Extensions (see extensions/README.txt)
21 * Services Discovery (see sd/README.txt)
23 Lua scripts are tried in alphabetical order in the user's VLC config
24 directory lua/{playlist,meta,intf}/ subdirectory on Windows and Mac OS X or
25 in the user's local share directory (~/.local/share/vlc/lua/... on linux),
26 then in the global VLC lua/{playlist,meta,intf}/ directory.
29 3 - VLC specific Lua modules
30 ============================
32 All VLC specifics modules are in the "vlc" object. For example, if you want
33 to use the "info" function of the "msg" VLC specific Lua module:
34 vlc.msg.info( "This is an info message and will be displayed in the console" )
36 Note: availability of the different VLC specific Lua modules depends on
37 the type of VLC Lua script your are in.
41 config.get( name ): Get the VLC configuration option "name"'s value.
42 config.set( name, value ): Set the VLC configuration option "name"'s value.
43 config.datadir(): Get the VLC data directory.
44 config.userdatadir(): Get the user's VLC data directory.
45 config.homedir(): Get the user's home directory.
46 config.configdir(): Get the user's VLC config directory.
47 config.cachedir(): Get the user's VLC cache directory.
49 config.datadir_list( name ): Get the list of possible data directories in
50 order of priority, appended by "name"
54 local d = vlc.dialog( "My VLC Extension" ): Create a new UI dialog, with a human-readable title: "My VLC Extension"
55 d:show(): Show this dialog.
56 d:hide(): Hide (but not close) this dialog.
57 d:delete(): Close and delete this dialog.
58 d:set_title( title ): set the title of this dialog.
59 d:update(): Update the dialog immediately (don't wait for the current function to return)
60 d:del_widget( widget ): Delete 'widget'. It disappears from the dialog and repositioning may occur.
62 In the following functions, you can always add some optional parameters: col, row, col_span, row_span, width, height.
63 They define the position of a widget in the dialog:
64 - row, col are the absolute positions on a grid of widgets. First row, col are 1.
65 - row_span, col_span represent the relative size of a widget on the grid. A widget with col_span = 4 will be displayed as wide as 4 widgets of col_span = 1.
66 - width and height are size hints (in pixels) but may be discarded by the GUI module
67 Example: w = d:add_label( "My Label", 2, 3, 4, 5 ) will create a label at row 3, col 2, with a relative width of 4, height of 5.
69 d:add_button( text, func, ... ): Create a button with caption "text" (string). When clicked, call function "func". func is a function reference.
70 d:add_label( text, ... ): Create a text label with caption "text" (string).
71 d:add_html( text, ... ): Create a rich text label with caption "text" (string), that supports basic HTML formatting (such as <i> or <h1> for instance).
72 d:add_text_input( text, ... ): Create an editable text field, in order to read user input.
73 d:add_password( text, ... ): Create an editable text field, in order to read user input. Text entered in this box will not be readable (replaced by asterisks).
74 d:add_check_box( text, ... ): Create a check box with a text. They have a boolean state (true/false).
75 d:add_dropdown( ... ): Create a drop-down widget. Only 1 element can be selected the same time.
76 d:add_list( ... ): Create a list widget. Allows multiple or empty selections.
77 d:add_image( path, ... ): Create an image label. path is a relative or absolute path to the image on the local computer.
79 Some functions can also be applied on widgets:
80 w:set_text( text ): Change text displayed by the widget. Applies to: button, label, html, text_input, password, check_box.
81 w:get_text(): Read text displayed by the widget. Returns a string. Applies to: button, label, html, text_input, password, check_box.
82 w:set_checked( bool ): Set check state of a check box. Applies to: check_box.
83 w:get_checked(): Read check state of a check box. Returns a boolean. Applies to: check_box.
84 w:add_value( text, id ): Add a value with identifier 'id' (integer) and text 'text'. It's always best to have unique identifiers. Applies to: drop_down.
85 w:get_value(): Return identifier of the selected item. Corresponds to the text value chosen by the user. Applies to: drop_down.
86 w:clear(): Clear a list or drop_down widget. After that, all values previously added are lost.
87 w:get_selection(): Retrieve a table representing the current selection. Keys are the ids, values are the texts associated. Applies to: list.
92 deactivate(): Deactivate current extension (after the end of the current function).
96 http( host, port, [cert, key, ca, crl]): create a new HTTP (SSL) daemon.
98 local h = vlc.httpd( "localhost", 8080 )
99 h:handler( url, user, password, callback, data ) -- add a handler for given url. If user and password are non nil, they will be used to authenticate connecting clients. callback will be called to handle connections. The callback function takes 7 arguments: data, url, request, type, in, addr, host. It returns the reply as a string.
100 h:file( url, mime, user, password, callback, data ) -- add a file for given url with given mime type. If user and password are non nil, they will be used to authenticate connecting clients. callback will be called to handle connections. The callback function takes 2 arguments: data and request. It returns the reply as a string.
101 h:redirect( url_dst, url_src ): Redirect all connections from url_src to url_dst.
105 input.is_playing(): Return true if input exists.
106 input.add_subtitle(url): Add a subtitle to the current input
107 input.item(): Get the current input item. Input item methods are:
108 :uri(): Get item's URI.
109 :name(): Get item's name.
110 :duration(): Get item's duration in seconds or negative value if unavailable.
111 :is_preparsed(): Return true if meta data has been preparsed
112 :metas(): Get meta data as a table.
113 :set_meta(key, value): Set meta data.
114 :info(): Get the current input's info. Return value is a table of tables. Keys of the top level table are info category labels.
115 :stats(): Get statistics about the input. This is a table with the following fields:
119 .average_input_bitrate
123 .average_demux_bitrate
138 msg.dbg( [str1, [str2, [...]]] ): Output debug messages (-vv).
139 msg.warn( [str1, [str2, [...]]] ): Output warning messages (-v).
140 msg.err( [str1, [str2, [...]]] ): Output error messages.
141 msg.info( [str1, [str2, [...]]] ): Output info messages.
143 Misc (Interfaces only)
144 ----------------------
145 ----------------------------------------------------------------
146 /!\ NB: this namespace is ONLY usable for interfaces.
148 ----------------------------------------------------------------
149 misc.version(): Get the VLC version string.
150 misc.copyright(): Get the VLC copyright statement.
151 misc.license(): Get the VLC license.
153 misc.action_id( name ): get the id of the given action.
155 misc.mdate(): Get the current date (in microseconds).
156 misc.mwait(): Wait for the given date (in microseconds).
158 misc.should_die(): Returns true if the interface should quit.
159 misc.quit(): Quit VLC.
163 net.url_parse( url, [option delimiter] ): Parse URL. Returns a table with
164 fields "protocol", "username", "password", "host", "port", path" and
166 net.listen_tcp( host, port ): Listen to TCP connections. This returns an
167 object with an accept and an fds method. accept is blocking (Poll on the
168 fds with the net.POLLIN flag if you want to be non blocking).
169 The fds method returns a list of fds you can call poll on before using
170 the accept method. For example:
171 local l = vlc.net.listen_tcp( "localhost", 1234 )
173 local fd = l:accept()
175 net.send( fd, "blabla" )
179 net.connect_tcp( host, port ): open a connection to the given host:port (TCP).
180 net.close( fd ): Close file descriptor.
181 net.send( fd, string, [length] ): Send data on fd.
182 net.recv( fd, [max length] ): Receive data from fd.
183 net.poll( { fd = events } ): Implement poll function.
184 Returns the numbers of file descriptors with a non 0 revent. The function
185 modifies the input table to { fd = revents }. See "man poll".
186 net.POLLIN/POLLPRI/POLLOUT/POLLRDHUP/POLLERR/POLLHUP/POLLNVAL: poll event flags
187 net.read( fd, [max length] ): Read data from fd.
188 net.write( fd, string, [length] ): Write data to fd.
189 net.stat( path ): Stat a file. Returns a table with the following fields:
198 net.opendir( path ): List a directory's contents.
202 object.input(): Get the current input object.
203 object.playlist(): Get the playlist object.
204 object.libvlc(): Get the libvlc object.
205 object.aout(): Get the audio output object.
206 object.vout(): Get the video output object.
208 object.find( object, type, mode ): Return nil. DO NOT USE.
212 osd.icon( type, [id] ): Display an icon on the given OSD channel. Uses the
213 default channel is none is given. Icon types are: "pause", "play",
214 "speaker" and "mute".
215 osd.message( string, [id], [position], [duration] ): Display the text message on
216 the given OSD channel. Position types are: "center", "left", "right", "top",
217 "bottom", "top-left", "top-right", "bottom-left" or "bottom-right". The
218 duration is set in microseconds.
219 osd.slider( position, type, [id] ): Display slider. Position is an integer
220 from 0 to 100. Type can be "horizontal" or "vertical".
221 osd.channel_register(): Register a new OSD channel. Returns the channel id.
222 osd.channel_clear( id ): Clear OSD channel.
223 osd.menu.show(): Show the OSD menu.
224 osd.menu.hide(): Hide the OSD menu.
225 osd.menu.prev(): Select previous/left item.
226 osd.menu.next(): Select next/right item.
227 osd.menu.up(): Move selection up.
228 osd.menu.down(): Move selection down.
229 osd.menu.activate(): Activate/validate current selection.
233 playlist.prev(): Play previous track.
234 playlist.next(): Play next track.
235 playlist.skip( n ): Skip n tracks.
236 playlist.play(): Play.
237 playlist.pause(): Pause.
238 playlist.stop(): Stop.
239 playlist.clear(): Clear the playlist.
240 playlist.repeat_( [status] ): Toggle item repeat or set to specified value.
241 playlist.loop( [status] ): Toggle playlist loop or set to specified value.
242 playlist.random( [status] ): Toggle playlist random or set to specified value.
243 playlist.goto( id ): Go to specified track.
244 playlist.add( ... ): Add a bunch of items to the playlist.
245 The playlist is a table of playlist objects.
246 A playlist object has the following members:
247 .path: the item's full path / URL
248 .name: the item's name in playlist (OPTIONAL)
249 .title: the item's Title (OPTIONAL, meta data)
250 .artist: the item's Artist (OPTIONAL, meta data)
251 .genre: the item's Genre (OPTIONAL, meta data)
252 .copyright: the item's Copyright (OPTIONAL, meta data)
253 .album: the item's Album (OPTIONAL, meta data)
254 .tracknum: the item's Tracknum (OPTIONAL, meta data)
255 .description: the item's Description (OPTIONAL, meta data)
256 .rating: the item's Rating (OPTIONAL, meta data)
257 .date: the item's Date (OPTIONAL, meta data)
258 .setting: the item's Setting (OPTIONAL, meta data)
259 .url: the item's URL (OPTIONAL, meta data)
260 .language: the item's Language (OPTIONAL, meta data)
261 .nowplaying: the item's NowPlaying (OPTIONAL, meta data)
262 .publisher: the item's Publisher (OPTIONAL, meta data)
263 .encodedby: the item's EncodedBy (OPTIONAL, meta data)
264 .arturl: the item's ArtURL (OPTIONAL, meta data)
265 .trackid: the item's TrackID (OPTIONAL, meta data)
266 .options: a list of VLC options (OPTIONAL)
267 example: .options = { "fullscreen" }
268 .duration: stream duration in seconds (OPTIONAL)
269 .meta: custom meta data (OPTIONAL, meta data)
270 A .meta field is a table of custom meta key value pairs.
271 example: .meta = { ["GVP docid"] = "-5784010886294950089", ["GVP version] = "1.1", Hello = "World!" }
272 Invalid playlist items will be discarded by VLC.
273 playlist.enqueue( ... ): like playlist.add() except that track isn't played.
274 playlist.get( [what, [tree]] ): Get the playlist.
275 If "what" is a number, then this will return the corresponding playlist
276 item's playlist hierarchy. If it is "normal" or "playlist", it will
277 return the normal playlist. If it is "ml" or "media library", it will
278 return the media library. If it is "root" it will return the full playlist.
279 If it is a service discovery module's name, it will return that service
280 discovery's playlist. If it is any other string, it won't return anything.
281 Else it will return the full playlist.
282 The second argument, "tree", is optional. If set to true or unset, the
283 playlist will be returned in a tree layout. If set to false, the playlist
284 will be returned using the flat layout.
285 Each playlist item returned will have the following members:
286 .item: The input item.
288 .flags: a table with the following members if the corresponding flag is
298 .duration: (-1 if unknown)
300 .children: A table of children playlist items.
301 playlist.search( name ): filter the playlist items with the given string
302 playlist.current(): return the current input item
303 playlist.sort( key ): sort the playlist according to the key.
304 Key must be one of the followings values: 'id', 'title', 'title nodes first',
305 'artist', 'genre', 'random', 'duration',
306 'title numeric' or 'album'.
307 playlist.status(): return the playlist status: 'stopped', 'playing', 'paused' or 'unknown'.
309 FIXME: add methods to get an item's meta, options, es ...
313 sd.get_services_names(): Get a table of all available service discovery
314 modules. The module name is used as key, the long name is used as value.
315 sd.add( name ): Add service discovery.
316 sd.remove( name ): Remove service discovery.
317 sd.is_loaded( name ): Check if service discovery is loaded.
318 sd.add_node( ... ): Add a node to the service discovery.
319 The node object has the following members:
320 .title: the node's name
321 .arturl: the node's ArtURL (OPTIONAL)
322 .category: the node's category (OPTIONAL)
323 sd.add_item( ... ): Add an item to the service discovery.
324 The item object has the same members as the one in playlist.add() along with:
325 .category: the item's category (OPTIONAL)
326 Returns the input item.
327 sd.remove_item( item ): remove the item.
329 n = vlc.sd.add_node( {title="Node"} )
330 n:add_subitem( ... ): Same as sd.add_item(), but as a subitem of n.
331 n:add_subnode( ... ): Same as sd.add_node(), but as a subnode of n.
333 d = vlc.sd.add_item( ... ) Get an item object to perform following set operations on it:
334 d:set_name(): the item's name in playlist
335 d:set_title(): the item's Title (OPTIONAL, meta data)
336 d:set_artist(): the item's Artist (OPTIONAL, meta data)
337 d:set_genre(): the item's Genre (OPTIONAL, meta data)
338 d:set_copyright(): the item's Copyright (OPTIONAL, meta data)
339 d:set_album(): the item's Album (OPTIONAL, meta data)
340 d:set_tracknum(): the item's Tracknum (OPTIONAL, meta data)
341 d:set_description(): the item's Description (OPTIONAL, meta data)
342 d:set_rating(): the item's Rating (OPTIONAL, meta data)
343 d:set_date(): the item's Date (OPTIONAL, meta data)
344 d:set_setting(): the item's Setting (OPTIONAL, meta data)
345 d:set_url(): the item's URL (OPTIONAL, meta data)
346 d:set_language(): the item's Language (OPTIONAL, meta data)
347 d:set_nowplaying(): the item's NowPlaying (OPTIONAL, meta data)
348 d:set_publisher(): the item's Publisher (OPTIONAL, meta data)
349 d:set_encodedby(): the item's EncodedBy (OPTIONAL, meta data)
350 d:set_arturl(): the item's ArtURL (OPTIONAL, meta data)
351 d:set_trackid(): the item's TrackID (OPTIONAL, meta data)
355 stream( url ): Instantiate a stream object for specific url.
356 memory_stream( string ): Instantiate a stream object containing a specific string.
357 Those two functions return the stream object upon success and nil if an
358 error occurred, in that case, the second return value will be an error message.
360 s = vlc.stream( "http://www.videolan.org/" )
361 s:read( 128 ) -- read up to 128 characters. Return 0 if no more data is available (FIXME?).
362 s:readline() -- read a line. Return nil if EOF was reached.
363 s:addfilter() -- add a stream filter. If no argument was specified, try to add all automatic stream filters.
367 strings.decode_uri( [uri1, [uri2, [...]]] ): Decode a list of URIs. This
368 function returns as many variables as it had arguments.
369 strings.encode_uri_component( [uri1, [uri2, [...]]] ): Encode a list of URI
370 components. This function returns as many variables as it had arguments.
371 strings.make_uri( path, [scheme] ): Convert a file path to a URI.
372 strings.resolve_xml_special_chars( [str1, [str2, [...]]] ): Resolve XML
373 special characters in a list of strings. This function returns as many
374 variables as it had arguments.
375 strings.convert_xml_special_chars( [str1, [str2, [...]]] ): Do the inverse
377 strings.from_charset( charset, str ): convert a string from a specified
378 character encoding into UTF-8.
382 var.inherit( object, name ): Find the variable "name"'s value inherited by
383 the object. If object is unset, the current module's object will be used.
384 var.get( object, name ): Get the object's variable "name"'s value.
385 var.get_list( object, name ): Get the object's variable "name"'s value list.
386 1st return value is the value list, 2nd return value is the text list.
387 var.set( object, name, value ): Set the object's variable "name" to "value".
388 var.create( object, name, value ): Create and set the object's variable "name"
389 to "value". Created vars can be of type float, string, bool or void.
390 For a void variable the value has to be 'nil'.
392 var.trigger_callback( object, name ): Trigger the callbacks associated with the
393 object's "name" variable.
395 var.command( object name, name, argument ): Issue "object name"'s "name"
396 command with argument "argument".
397 var.libvlc_command( name, argument ): Issue libvlc's "name" command with
400 var.inc_integer( name ): Increment the given integer.
401 var.dec_integer( name ): Decrement the given integer.
402 var.count_choices( name ): Return the number of choices.
403 var.toggle_bool( name ): Toggle the given boolean.
407 video.fullscreen( [status] ):
408 * toggle fullscreen if no arguments are given
409 * switch to fullscreen 1st argument is true
410 * disable fullscreen if 1st argument is false
414 vlm(): Instanciate a VLM object.
417 v:execute_command( "new test broadcast" ) -- execute given VLM command
419 Note: if the VLM object is deleted and you were the last person to hold
420 a reference to it, all VLM items will be deleted.
424 volume.get(): Get volume.
425 volume.set( level ): Set volume to an absolute level between 0 and 1024.
427 volume.up( [n] ): Increment volume by n steps of 32. n defaults to 1.
428 volume.down( [n] ): Decrement volume by n steps of 32. n defaults to 1.
432 This module is only available on Windows builds
433 win.console_init(): Initialize the windows console.
434 win.console_wait([timeout]): Wait for input on the console for timeout ms.
435 Returns true if console input is available.
436 win.console_read(): Read input from the windows console. Note that polling and
437 reading from stdin does not work under windows.
441 xml = vlc.xml(): Create an xml object.
442 reader = xml:create_reader( stream ): create an xml reader that use the given stream.
443 reader:read(): read some data, return -1 on error, 0 on EOF, 1 on start of XML
444 element, 2 on end of XML element, 3 on text
445 reader:name(): name of the element
446 reader:value(): value of the element
447 reader:next_attr(): next attribute of the element
449 The simplexml module can also be used to parse XML documents easily.