The VideoLAN Forums

Hi, I'm using the latest version of VLC (0.8.5) and the menus have no text... just blank buttons with no text (like where File or preferences would be)

Is there any reason for this?

Thanks

OS version?

Please read the sticky on how information to report in your bugreports/questions.

The language of your system and the language set for VLC do not match (IE the font is not installed) or there is a broken font on your system.

Open a DOS box and type: CD "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC" then type: vlc --language <data>

--language <data>
data=auto,en,en_GB,ca,da,de,es,fr,it,ja,ka,ko,nl,oc,pt_BR,ro,ru,tr,
zh_CN,zh_TW
Language
This option allows you to set the language of
the interface. The system language is
auto-detected if "auto" is specified here.

After selecting the two (or so ) letter code for your countries language press enter and when VLC opens check the menus. Assuming you can see everything go to preferences and press Save and close the player. The next time you ope the player normally you should see your language.

If this did not work, you have a broken font and this must be resolved at the system level by using your control panel to reinstall your primary language.

hi

thanks very much! I fixed it by adding --language en to the shortcut.

Thanks again

An interesting resolve! Kinky!

I am using VLC version 0.8.5 on OS X.

My question is: how can I change my menu language setting?
It is currently in Japanese, and I would like it to be in English.


Eric

The method described here is the same for any language. If you can read the menus go to Preferences, Interface, Language and from the pull down select your language. But be aware that the language you switch to must be supported and installed on your system.

Yes, I can open the Preferences, and find the Interface menu as you described - however I am unable to locate "Language." Also, I am certain that English is installed and supported on my system - that's what I am trying to change to.

Here is the menu structure I am given (and I've explored inside each of these with and without the Advanced-check-box checked:

Interface
-Main interfaces
--macosx
--HTTP
--Ncurses
--RC
-Control interfaces
--Gestures
--Growl
--Telnet
-Hotkey settings

The option is located in Preferences -> Interface and is under General in that menu, marked "Language" and has a pull down. You can also use the command line as described earlier and when VLC opens go to preferences and press Save.

The command line would be: vlc --language en

thank you! that worked. navigating menus that are in hiragana/katakana is very difficult when you don't read Japanese.

Eric

That is why I provided a way to do it from the command line.

That is why I provided a way to do it from the command line.

Just as hard to find the DOS prompt on a Japanese XP machine. That's why an exact description of the menu path is more useful.

Just as hard to find the DOS prompt on a Japanese XP machine. That's why an exact description of the menu path is more useful.

Speaking of, for any other people with the same problem:

1. On the main program window, click the third menu item from the left (Settings);
2. Click the last item on the drop-down menu (Preferences); the Preferences panel opens;
3. Highlight the last item on the list on the left (Interface);
4. Pull down the menu on the right and select English;
5. Click the button in the lower left corner of the panel (Save);
6. Close the program and re-open.

Menus should be displaying in English at this point.