Needless to say I have ignored all other media players since, as I have no need for any other!
I love to program very much so, I am kinda old school (I use VB 6 & VB .Net 2003), & I only have dial-up at the moment, so I do not have the patience to download VS .Net 2005 Express, even though I would like to (Does anyone know if MS is offering VS Express 2005 CD to lowly dial-up people like me or is it just the 48 hr. download?).
I found the following solution which everyone seems to be raving about, More LibVLC in C#.
The thing is though:
1.) It’s C# (Not a big problem)
2.) It’s dedicated to .Net 2005
3.) It’s a lot of code to convert
I would love to use this in my app, but as I have no access to a 2005 C# .Net compiler so, I am SOL… Bummer, as I bet this is a great solution also!
So I decided to dig around the forums here, with very little success of finding articles supporting VB .Net 2003, a few here & there, mostly vague though… But…
I came across this great topic created by Odysee, Usage of libvlc.dll in C#, which was a lot less to convert & a great place to start!
Here is a very simple conversion example:
Code: Select all
Imports System
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports Microsoft.Win32
Public Class LibVLC
Private m_iVlcHandle As Integer = -1
Private m_wndOutput As Control = Nothing
Private m_strVlcInstallDir As String = ""
Private m_strLastErr As String = ""
Public Enum Err
Success = -&H0
NoMem = -&H1
Thread = -&H2
Timeout = -&H3
NoMod = -&HA
NoObj = -&H14
BadObj = -&H14
NoVar = -&H1E
BadVar = -&H1F
Close = -&HFF
Generic = -&H29A
Execption = -&H3E6
NoInit = -&H3E7
End Enum
Enum Mode
Insert = &H1
Replace = &H2
Append = &H4
Go = &H8
CheckInsert = &H10
End Enum
Enum Pos
Close = -&H29A
End Enum
<StructLayout(LayoutKind.Explicit)> _
Public Structure vlc_value_t
<FieldOffset(0)> _
Public i_int As Int32
<FieldOffset(0)> _
Public b_bool As Int32
<FieldOffset(0)> _
Public f_float As Single
<FieldOffset(0)> _
Public psz_string As IntPtr
<FieldOffset(0)> _
Public p_address As IntPtr
<FieldOffset(0)> _
Public p_object As IntPtr
<FieldOffset(0)> _
Public p_list As IntPtr
<FieldOffset(0)> _
Public i_time As Int64
<FieldOffset(0)> _
Public psz_name As IntPtr
<FieldOffset(4)> _
Public i_object_id As Int32
End Structure
Public Sub New()
MyBase.New()
m_strVlcInstallDir = QueryVlcInstallPath()
End Sub
Public Property VlcInstallDir() As String
Get
Return m_strVlcInstallDir
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As String)
m_strVlcInstallDir = Value
End Set
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property IsInitialized() As Boolean
Get
Return (m_iVlcHandle <> -1)
End Get
End Property
Public Property VideoOutput() As Control
Get
Return m_wndOutput
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As Control)
' clear old window
If (Not (m_wndOutput) Is Nothing) Then
RemoveHandler m_wndOutput.Resize, AddressOf Me.wndOutput_Resize
m_wndOutput = Nothing
If (m_iVlcHandle <> -1) Then
SetVariable("drawable", 0)
End If
End If
' set new
m_wndOutput = Value
If (Not (m_wndOutput) Is Nothing) Then
If (m_iVlcHandle <> -1) Then
SetVariable("drawable", m_wndOutput.Handle.ToInt32)
End If
AddHandler m_wndOutput.Resize, AddressOf Me.wndOutput_Resize
wndOutput_Resize(Nothing, Nothing)
End If
End Set
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property LastErr() As String
Get
Return m_strLastErr
End Get
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property IsPlaying() As Boolean
Get
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return False
End If
Try
Return VLC_IsPlaying(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return False
End Try
End Get
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property LengthGet() As Integer
Get
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return -1
End If
Try
Return VLC_LengthGet(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return -1
End Try
End Get
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property TimeGet() As Integer
Get
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return -1
End If
Try
Return VLC_TimeGet(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return -1
End Try
End Get
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property PositionGet() As Single
Get
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return -1
End If
Try
Return VLC_PositionGet(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return -1
End Try
End Get
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property VersionInfo() As String
Get
Return VLC_Version
End Get
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property VolumeGet() As Integer
Get
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return -1
End If
Try
Return VLC_VolumeGet(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return -1
End Try
End Get
End Property
Public Property Fullscreen() As Boolean
Get
Dim iIsFullScreen As Integer = 0
If (GetVariable("fullscreen", iIsFullScreen) = Err.Success) Then
If (iIsFullScreen <> 0) Then
Return True
End If
End If
Return False
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As Boolean)
Dim iFullScreen As Integer = Value
'TODO: Warning!!!, inline IF is not supported ?
SetVariable("fullscreen", iFullScreen)
End Set
End Property
Private Declare Function VLC_Create Lib "libvlc" () As Integer
Private Declare Function VLC_Init Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer, ByVal Argc As Integer, ByVal Argv() As String) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_AddIntf Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer, ByVal Name As String, ByVal Block As Boolean, ByVal Play As Boolean) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_Die Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Err
Private Overloads Declare Function VLC_Err Lib "libvlc" () As String
Private Declare Function VLC_Version Lib "libvlc" () As String
Private Declare Function VLC_CleanUp Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_Destroy Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_AddTarget Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer, ByVal Target As String, ByVal Options() As String, ByVal OptionsCount As Integer, ByVal Mode As Integer, ByVal Pos As Integer) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_Play Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_Pause Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_Stop Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_IsPlaying Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Boolean
Private Declare Function VLC_PositionGet Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Single
Private Declare Function VLC_PositionSet Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer, ByVal Pos As Single) As Single
Private Declare Function VLC_TimeGet Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Integer
Private Declare Function VLC_TimeSet Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer, ByVal Seconds As Integer, ByVal Relative As Boolean) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_LengthGet Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Integer
Private Declare Function VLC_SpeedFaster Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Single
Private Declare Function VLC_SpeedSlower Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Single
Private Declare Function VLC_PlaylistIndex Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Integer
Private Declare Function VLC_PlaylistNumberOfItems Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Integer
Private Declare Function VLC_PlaylistNext Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_PlaylistPrev Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_PlaylistClear Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_VolumeSet Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer, ByVal Volume As Integer) As Integer
Private Declare Function VLC_VolumeGet Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Integer
Private Declare Function VLC_VolumeMute Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_FullScreen Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_VariableType Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer, ByVal Name As String, ByRef iType As Integer) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_VariableSet Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer, ByVal Name As String, ByVal value As vlc_value_t) As Err
Private Declare Function VLC_VariableGet Lib "libvlc" (ByVal iVLC As Integer, ByVal Name As String, ByRef value As vlc_value_t) As Err
Private Overloads Declare Function VLC_Err Lib "libvlc" (ByVal i_err As Integer) As String
Public Sub Dispose()
If (m_iVlcHandle <> -1) Then
Try
VLC_CleanUp(m_iVlcHandle)
VLC_Destroy(m_iVlcHandle)
VideoOutput = Nothing
Catch ex As System.Exception
End Try
End If
m_iVlcHandle = -1
End Sub
Public Function Initialize() As Boolean
' check if already initializes
If (m_iVlcHandle <> -1) Then
Return True
End If
' try init
Try
' create instance
m_iVlcHandle = VLC_Create
If (m_iVlcHandle < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = "Failed to create VLC instance"
Return False
End If
' make init optinons
Dim strInitOptions() As String = Split("--", _
"vlc--no-one-instance" & _
"--no-loop" & _
"--no-drop-late-frames" & _
"--disable-screensaver")
If (m_strVlcInstallDir.Length > 0) Then
strInitOptions(0) = (m_strVlcInstallDir + "\vlc")
End If
' init libvlc
Dim errVlcLib As Err = VLC_Init(m_iVlcHandle, strInitOptions.Length, strInitOptions)
If (errVlcLib <> Err.Success) Then
VLC_Destroy(m_iVlcHandle)
m_strLastErr = "Failed to initialise VLC"
m_iVlcHandle = -1
Return False
End If
Catch ex As System.Exception
m_strLastErr = "Could not find libvlc"
Return False
End Try
' check output window
If (Not (m_wndOutput) Is Nothing) Then
SetVariable("drawable", m_wndOutput.Handle.ToInt32)
wndOutput_Resize(Nothing, Nothing)
End If
' OK
Return True
End Function
Public Overloads Function AddTarget(ByVal Target As String) As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
enmErr = VLC_AddTarget(m_iVlcHandle, Target, Nothing, 0, CType(Mode.Append, Integer), CType(Pos.Close, Integer))
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Public Overloads Function AddTarget(ByVal Target As String, ByVal Options() As String) As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
' check options
Dim iOptionsCount As Integer = 0
If (Not (Options) Is Nothing) Then
iOptionsCount = Options.Length
End If
' add
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
enmErr = VLC_AddTarget(m_iVlcHandle, Target, Options, iOptionsCount, CType(Mode.Append, Integer), CType(Pos.Close, Integer))
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Public Function Play() As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
enmErr = VLC_Play(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Public Function Pause() As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
enmErr = VLC_Pause(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Public Function VLC_Stop() As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
enmErr = VLC_Stop(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Public Function SpeedFaster() As Single
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return -1
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
Return VLC_SpeedFaster(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return -1
End Try
End Function
Public Function SpeedSlower() As Single
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return -1
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
Return VLC_SpeedSlower(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return -1
End Try
End Function
Public Function PlaylistNext() As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
enmErr = VLC_PlaylistNext(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Public Function PlaylistPrevious() As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
enmErr = VLC_PlaylistPrev(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Public Function PlaylistClear() As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
enmErr = VLC_PlaylistClear(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Public Function TimeSet(ByVal newPosition As Integer, ByVal bRelative As Boolean) As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
enmErr = VLC_TimeSet(m_iVlcHandle, newPosition, bRelative)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Public Function PositionSet(ByVal newPosition As Single) As Single
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return -1
End If
Try
Return VLC_PositionSet(m_iVlcHandle, newPosition)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return -1
End Try
End Function
Public Function VolumeSet(ByVal newVolume As Integer) As Integer
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return -1
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
Return VLC_VolumeSet(m_iVlcHandle, newVolume)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return -1
End Try
End Function
Public Function VolumeMute() As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
enmErr = VLC_VolumeMute(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Public Function SetVariable(ByVal strName As String, ByVal Value As Int32) As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
' create vlc value
Dim val As vlc_value_t = New vlc_value_t
val.i_int = Value
' set variable
enmErr = VLC_VariableSet(m_iVlcHandle, strName, val)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Public Function GetVariable(ByVal strName As String, ByRef Value As Integer) As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
' create vlc value
Dim val As vlc_value_t = New vlc_value_t
' set variable
enmErr = VLC_VariableGet(m_iVlcHandle, strName, val)
Value = val.i_int
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Public Function ToggleFullscreen() As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
enmErr = VLC_FullScreen(m_iVlcHandle)
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Public Function PressKey(ByVal strKey As String) As Err
If (m_iVlcHandle = -1) Then
m_strLastErr = "LibVlc is not initialzed"
Return Err.NoInit
End If
Dim enmErr As Err = Err.Success
Try
' create vlc value
Dim valKey As vlc_value_t = New vlc_value_t
' get variable
enmErr = VLC_VariableGet(m_iVlcHandle, strKey, valKey)
If (enmErr = Err.Success) Then
' set pressed
enmErr = VLC_VariableSet(m_iVlcHandle, "key-pressed", valKey)
End If
Catch ex As Exception
m_strLastErr = ex.Message
Return Err.Execption
End Try
If (CType(enmErr, Integer) < 0) Then
m_strLastErr = VLC_Err(CType(enmErr, Integer))
Return enmErr
End If
' OK
Return Err.Success
End Function
Private Function QueryVlcInstallPath() As String
' open registry
Dim regkeyVlcInstallPathKey As RegistryKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\VideoLAN\VLC")
If (regkeyVlcInstallPathKey Is Nothing) Then
Return ""
End If
Return CType(regkeyVlcInstallPathKey.GetValue("InstallDir", ""), String)
End Function
Private Sub wndOutput_Resize(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
If (m_iVlcHandle <> -1) Then
SetVariable("conf::width", m_wndOutput.ClientRectangle.Width)
SetVariable("conf::height", m_wndOutput.ClientRectangle.Height)
End If
End Sub
End Class
Thank you very much Odysee, as this helped me with the media managing program for my girlies camera (She‘s been bugging me for day‘s about video access, as her digital camer produces images & video in MOV format, which VLC manages MOV flawlessly), and (hopefully) here’s a great start for you people who have not moved up from VB .Net 2003, yet!
- Juggz
