Stop VLC from command line
Posted: 26 Dec 2008 17:05
Hi,
I have an application where I need to be able to start up a VLC process from a windows command line (easy!) and then at a later time stop it playing (less easy!).
How can I simply stop a running vlc from a windows command line? The only solution I've got so far is to go to "tools > preferences > interface" and enable the "allow only one instance" setting. Then, when I want to stop playout, I would do "c:\program files\videolan\vlc.exe dummy.mp3", where dummy.mp3 is a nonexistant file. This stops the existing playout, and generates an error. I suppose I could arrange for dummy.mp3 to be a real mp3 (short, silent) and that would lose the error.
Is there a better way? Something that actually closes vlc rather than just stops playout? Winamp has a /kill flag which accomplishes this - does vlc have anything similar?
Bruce.
I have an application where I need to be able to start up a VLC process from a windows command line (easy!) and then at a later time stop it playing (less easy!).
How can I simply stop a running vlc from a windows command line? The only solution I've got so far is to go to "tools > preferences > interface" and enable the "allow only one instance" setting. Then, when I want to stop playout, I would do "c:\program files\videolan\vlc.exe dummy.mp3", where dummy.mp3 is a nonexistant file. This stops the existing playout, and generates an error. I suppose I could arrange for dummy.mp3 to be a real mp3 (short, silent) and that would lose the error.
Is there a better way? Something that actually closes vlc rather than just stops playout? Winamp has a /kill flag which accomplishes this - does vlc have anything similar?
Bruce.
