From bef1decea9daee414d6f9b1c97dfdbf486111a4e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: =?utf8?q?Lo=C3=AFc=20Minier?= Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2003 20:17:37 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] * attempt at a docbook-xml version of the FAQ with XSL customizations, if people want to help or just have a look (use "xsltproc faq-alone.xsl faq-alone.xml" with the docbook-xml-simple package installed or saxon if you feel bored) --- doc/faq/faq-alone.xml | 23 ++ doc/faq/faq-alone.xsl | 11 + doc/faq/faq.xml | 590 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3 files changed, 624 insertions(+) create mode 100644 doc/faq/faq-alone.xml create mode 100644 doc/faq/faq-alone.xsl create mode 100644 doc/faq/faq.xml diff --git a/doc/faq/faq-alone.xml b/doc/faq/faq-alone.xml new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..1a337b0492 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/faq/faq-alone.xml @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ + + +]> + +
+ + VLC FAQ + + 2002, 2003 + the VideoLAN project + + + This document is the VideoLAN Client (VLC) Frequently + Asked Questions. For a complete user guide, please have + a look at the VLC User Guide, available on the VideoLAN website + + + &faq; +
diff --git a/doc/faq/faq-alone.xsl b/doc/faq/faq-alone.xsl new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..01626cc6f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/faq/faq-alone.xsl @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ + + + + + + + + + + diff --git a/doc/faq/faq.xml b/doc/faq/faq.xml new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..a7deb32081 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/faq/faq.xml @@ -0,0 +1,590 @@ + +VLC FAQ + +Using VLC + + + +How do I read a DVD? + +Just launch VLC and use the "open disc" command from the graphical +interface. In case of trouble, you may want to use the command line. +For instance, provided your DVD device is /dev/dvd : + +% vlc dvd:/dev/dvd + + + + + +How do I read an encrypted DVD? + +It is exactly the same as for a normal DVD. You will +need write access to /dev/dvd, because of the key +negociation process. + +If you compiled your VLC by hand, please bear in mind that you also need +to install libdvdcss. It can be downloaded from the VideoLAN website. It +used to be distributed in the same package as VLC, but now you must install +them seperately. + + + + + +How do I switch to full screen display? + +Press f to toggle fullscreen mode. Note +that not all video output devices support full screen. + + + + + +How do I hide the mouse cursor? + +It should disappear after a few seconds if you stop moving +the mouse. + + + + + +How do I use VLC if I do not want to install Gnome and +all this #@!%*$@ยง% !@# bloat? + +You can run: + +% vlc --intf dummy myfile.mpg + + +Most commands are available from the command line, see +vlc --help for more information. + + + + + +VLC eats my buffer cache, how can I use raw device? + +If you do not know what is a raw device, do not even read +this answer :-). + +There is an experimental support for raw devices in libdvdcss. It +needs that you set up a raw device pointing to your DVD device (under +Linux, use the "raw" utility). Then pass the raw device as second +argument, for instance: + +% vlc dvd:/dev/dvd@/dev/raw0 + + + + + +How do I use VLC as a client for VLS +streaming? + +First you must set up a VLS stream. Please refer to the +documentation of the program. Then start VLC: + +% vlc udp: + +You should not need any option. If you are paranoid and want to control +everything, here is the exact syntax: + +% vlc udp:[<server>[:<server port>]][@[<bind address>][:<bind port>]] + + + + + +How do I uninstall / reinstall VLC? + +Why would you want to? ;) + +If you are using a source distribution of VLC, for example +a tarball or the CVS, then you have probably used make +install to install the compiled VLC. To remove it just +make uninstall. If you want to install a newer +version than the currently installed one, you should first uninstall +the first one. If you deleted the original source tree, a make +uninstall in the newer tree should still work. + +For binary packages, remove old packages first and install the new +ones (normally this should be handled automagically by your sytem). + + + + +Debian: what should I put in my sources.list for +videolan? + + + + +deb http://www.videolan.org/pub/videolan/debian $(ARCH)/ +deb-src http://www.videolan.org/pub/videolan/debian sources/ + + + + + + +How can I save my VLC configuration? + +In the graphical interface, go to Settings / +Preferences and click on Save. + + + + + +Where does VLC store its config file? + +Currently, a config file is created on a per user basis +(there is no global configuration file). If you modify the available +options in VLC and save the new configuration, then a configuration file +will be created in your user directory. The precise location of this +file depends on the Operating System you are running: + + + +Unices (Linux, etc.): +$(HOME)/.vlc/vlcrc + +Mac OS X: /Library/Preferences/VLC + + +Windows: Application Data\vlc\vlcrc +(Application Data is usually in C:\Documents and +Settings\your_name + +BeOS: +config/settings/vlcrc + + + + + + + +How do I join an IPv6 multicast stream? + +You often have to indicate the interface name on your system, for instance : + udp:@[FEDC:BA98:7654:3210:FEDC:BA98:7654:3210%eth0]:1234 + + + + +Troubleshooting + + + +VLC has a strange behavior... + +The first thing to do is to delete VLC's configuration +file : + + + +under unices, remove the file +~/.vlc/vlcrc; + +under Windows, remove the file +vlcrc in the vlc subfolder of +your Application Data directory. + + + +Then restart VLC ; if it doesn't get any better, read the +following questions ! + + + + + +When I start VLC, I do not see any interface +coming + +If you installed a binary package, make sure you also +installed an interface package such as vlc-gtk +or vlc-qt. If you installed from source, make +sure the development package for gtk 1.2 or qt is correctly installed +(often gtk-dev, gtk-devel or +libgtk1.2-dev) and recompile. + + + + + +Clicking on "disc" in the interface +does not do anything + +Wait a few seconds. Key discovering can take much time on +some discs. If it still does not work, you can have a more verbose +output using vlc -vvvvv. Here are a few things to +check for: + + + +Did you install the libdvdcss package? + +Do you have write access to your DVD device? +For instance, under Unix, chmod 666 /dev/hdc + + +Under Unix, does your kernel log contain line about your +DVD device? + +Under Unix, do you have a link from /dev/dvd to your real DVD device? For instance: +# cd /dev && ln -s hdc dvd + + + + + + + +The video runs but the picture is distorted + +There is probably a problem with the output layer. There +are several ways of troubleshooting it. First, try with another output +plugin, for instance: + + +% vlc --vout sdl +% vlc --vout x11 + + +Second, change your screen depth and/or definition. It quite +often helps. Lastly, if running Unix, have a look at your XFree86 video +driver (nVidia for instance releases optimized drivers for its boards). + + + + +Video is choppy + +Your system is too slow to decode all pictures. It might +be that your CPU basically is not fast enough. It can also be that the +subsystem is misconfigured/misdriven, this happens for example under +Redhat Linux. Here are some elements to improve speed: + + + + Turn on DMA on your DVD device, for instance: + + + Under Linux: + % hdparm -d1 /dev/dvd + + + Under Windows, go to the System + section of the control panel, and go to the Hardware + manager (it is sometimes in a separate tab, and sometimes, + you have to go to the Advanced tab. Then, + righ-click on your DVD player, and check the DMA + checkbox + + + + Upgrade to the latest driver for your video board + If you are running Linux, you can additionnaly upgrade to the + latest XFree86 version ; if supported, check that the xvideo plug-in is + effectively used with + % vlc -vvvv + + Kill other applications running... + + + + + + +Audio is choppy + +This is not normal; it is a known problem and is being +investigated. + + + + + +Audio and video are out of sync + +This is not normal. Try using another output plugin (for +instance --aout dsp), kill esd +or artsd if they are running. This is a known +problem and is being investigated. + + + + + +Sound volume is too low + +You can raise it with --volume command +line switch or in the preferences window of your graphical interface. + + + + + +I have no image under DirectX + +Check that your video card drivers are in their latest +version and that your DirectX is up-to-date. + + + + + +VLC crashes + +Increase the verbosity level (either in the preferences +or with a -vvvv command line option) and look at the +debug messages (in the terminal or in the Messages window). + +If you are convinced that it's a bug in VLC, have a look at the +bug +reporting page. + + + + + + + +Under Unices, i can only play a DVD as root + +Check that as user you have write access to your DVD drive +/ device. + + + + + +I do not have access to the GUI anymore + +If you change the default interface module in the +preferences menu to a non GUI module (ie. to a command line interface) +and then save the configuration, the only way to get VLC to show a GUI +again is to run it directly from the command line. + +For instance on Windows, you need to open a Command Line +console, go to the directory where you installed VLC (usually +C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VideoLAN Client) and then +type vlc --intf win32 You will then be able to modify +the configuration again and save it. + + + + + +I have just upgraded to VLC 0.4.5, and now I do not have +any sound with the streams coming from the VLS! + +This is a known problem. VLC 0.4.5 and later are now +compliant to general usage regarding A/52 sound, and the new behavior +is incompatible with the previous one. VLS version 0.4.0 and later now +fixes this problem. If, for any reason, you wish to keep VLS 0.3.3, you +can still read those streams by launching VLC (0.4.5 or later) with +--vls-backwards-compat. + + + + + +NO VIDEO!! or NO AUDIO!! + +DON'T PANIC! Use the verbose mode of VLC to search the +problem, you may either set the verbosity option in the interface +preferences or use the -vvvv command line switch to +increase the number of report/error messages given by VLC. If you are +not using a terminal, use the Messages window in the View menu. + + + + +Ports and features + +MacOS X port + + + +Does VLC support the ATI DVD hardware acceleration +cards? + +Currently it does not. We would be glad to support them, +but we lack technical information on them. + + + + + +Win32 port + + + +When moving the focus to another window, VLC network +input stops working properly! + +This is a known problem with Win 95-class systems (ie, +Windows 95/98/Me). Upgrade to an NT-class system (ie, Windows NT/2000 or +XP). + + + + + +I have selected a subtitle file, but nothing +happens! + +This is a known problem. To correct it, open the +preferences panel (in the View menu), and in the +Decoders tab click on subtitles decoder +module (spudec), without checking the box. Then, click on +Configure, and replace the given path with the +correct path to the font file. It should be something like this: +C:\vlc\share\font-eutopiabold36.rle. Then save the +preferences. + + + + + +Planned ports + + + +Do you have plans for a MacOS 9 / OS/2 / &{#!@}~ +port? + +No, nobody reported to be actually working on a MacOS 9 +or OS/2 port. If you feel like you could write it, we would of course +welcome it. Currently, the developers are more interested in supporting +the latest Operating Systems and completing the functionalities. + + + + + +Does VLC have dxr2 / dxr3 cards support? + +This support is currently being developed. + + + + +Does VLC support RTP? + +Yes. Just use vlc rtp:@<mcast addr>:<local port>. + + + + +Does VLC support DVD from all regions? + +VLC uses libdvdcss to read all +DVD, disregarding their zone. All regions are supported without any +constraint. However, libdvdcss might not be legal +in your country. + + + + + +How can I take screenshots? + +This is currently unsupported, but will be in a +near future. The latest developments concern recording the video +and the audio to a file. However, under XFree, you may use the +x11 video output to take normal screen capture of +the video displayed by VLC. + + + + + + + +Legal concerns + + +May I use the VideoLAN logo? + +You may freely use the VideoLAN logo using the following +copyright: + + + + Copyright (c) 1996-2002 VideoLAN. This logo or a modified version + may be used or modified by anyone to refer to the VideoLAN project + or any product developed by the VideoLAN team, but does not indicate + endorsement by the project. + + + + + + +May I redistribute VLC? + +You may distribute an original or modified version of a +VideoLAN software as long as you comply with its license terms. It is +the GNU General Public License Version 2 (referred herein as GPL), and +it is in the file named COPYING in our products. The easiest way to +conform to the GPL is to accompany the product you want to distribute +with its sources. For example, if you plan to distribute the 0.4.6 +binary version you should include: + + + http://www.videolan.org/pub/videolan/vlc/0.4.6/vlc-0.4.6.tar.gz + http://www.videolan.org/pub/videolan/vlc/0.4.6/contrib/ + + +You do not need to bother explaining where the sources are, but +the sources have to share the same media as the products. + +They are other ways to comply with the GPL, but this should be the +simplest because it does not rely on a contract. + +There is one additional issue you need to take care of. The VLC +binary from our website can also read encrypted DVDs with the help of +the libdvdcss library. Its use is controversial in +a few countries such as the United States because of a law called the +DMCA. If you are unsure about the legality of using and distributing +this library in your country, please consult your lawyer. + + + + +Miscellaneous + + + +How may I help your project? + +You might either contribute time, material, +or money. We are also always needing some translators. +You will find all information you need on the contribute page. + + + + + + +Why are your mailing-lists and your website in +english? + +VideoLAN's developers come from all around the world and +english is the only language they can use to communicate together. +Although great care is given to the translation of VLC in various +languages, maintaining translations of our documentation and website +costs too much more time than we can afford. + + + + + -- 2.39.5