Can't open media files using LAN plugin

Dmitro25 · Post by *Dmitro25 » 2014-01-18, 03:05 UTC

Hi.
I have the following problem. I installed and configured a LAN plug-in, so now I have normal access to my home PC content from a tablet. I normally can copy, delete files on the network, create folders, etc. However, when I try to play video on my tablet from my home PC (for example, using MX player or Mobo player) I get a message from the player, "I can not play this video." It's definitely not a problem with the video file itself, because after copying it to the tablet, it is played normally.
I would accepted with this (well, not running video playback over the network and that's it). But I tried an alternative file manager FS File Explorer (which also has the ability to connect to the local network), and it normally allows to open the same video file with an external player.

sqa_wizard · Post by *sqa_wizard » 2014-01-18, 18:52 UTC

Sorry, I can sucessfully play video on my tablet from a share over LAN plug-in.
Which version of TC do you use?
Is there something special with the path or the filename?

- length
- spaces within
- special characters

sqa_wizard · Post by *sqa_wizard » 2014-01-18, 19:01 UTC

One more: Do you use a password for your share access?

See LAN plugin with no password

Post by *ghisler(Author) » 2014-01-19, 14:44 UTC

What type of video? Not all types can be streamed, e.g. .AVI cannot be streamed because the list of frames is at the end of the file. TC can stream mp4 and 3gp.

Dmitro25 · Post by *Dmitro25 » 2014-01-20, 04:05 UTC

sqa_wizard
I use TC version 2.03.
LAN plugin also the latest version.
Specially for testing I tried to play video files with names and paths without spaces and national symbols - only English letters and numbers. The full path is not too long - typical file name is \\dvk\e\np\1\123.3gp.
On the Home PC I have Windows XP, connection without password. But I am able to see the contents of the folders, I can copy, delete files, create folders. Only the playback of files by network failed. It seems like if TC simply gives an invalid reference to a network resource to external program.

ghisler(Author)
3gp files are also failed. And same files are playing good when I use "ES File Explorer" program to access them. In both cases I use external player to play video (MX Player or Mobo Player). Connection parameters of TC and "ES File Explorer" are similar.

Post by *ghisler(Author) » 2014-01-20, 15:18 UTC

Strange, 3gp works fine here. Do you get any error messages? Did you try different players to stream to?

Dmitro25 · Post by *Dmitro25 » 2014-01-21, 01:39 UTC

ghisler(Author) wrote:Strange, 3gp works fine here. Do you get any error messages? Did you try different players to stream to?

Every player I use (MX Player, Mobo player, and Video Player which comes with my Android 4.1) shows error message similar like "Can't play this video"

Post by *ghisler(Author) » 2014-01-21, 10:43 UTC

Did you save the password in the plugin (with or without master password)? If not, the plugin cannot connect to the share for streaming.

I have just tried a 3GP file via LAN plugin in VLC, Google Video Player and ES Media Player, and they all played it just fine...

Dmitro25 · Post by *Dmitro25 » 2014-01-22, 03:59 UTC

ghisler(Author) wrote:Did you save the password in the plugin (with or without master password)? If not, the plugin cannot connect to the share for streaming.

I use connection without password.

Post by *ghisler(Author) » 2014-01-22, 10:53 UTC

I see - this doesn't currently work. I couldn't create an account without a password which would be accessible from outside (Windows doesn't allow that).

Dmitro25 · Post by *Dmitro25 » 2014-01-23, 03:55 UTC

I just do not understand one thing: why TC can copy a file over the network but can't stream it to another application?

PS: I looked carefully at the connection parameters:
Server name: dvk
User name: <empty>
password: <empty>
Additionally to TC settings connection settings in FS File Explorer contain checked checkbox "Anonymous".

Post by *ghisler(Author) » 2014-01-23, 15:02 UTC

The problem is that the plugin cannot currently distinguish the case where the user didn't want to enter the credentials, and the case where no credentials are needed.

Post by *ghisler(Author) » 2014-01-24, 16:46 UTC

The problem could be the empty "User name" field. Could you try with user name:
Guest

It may also be necessary to write it in the language of the target system instead of the English "Guest" - it depends on how the guest user is called on the target system.

Dmitro25 · Post by *Dmitro25 » 2014-01-28, 03:47 UTC

I have tried with "Guest" user name (in Russian translation) with empty password - result was the same as earlier. When I tried to use password "1" then the process of folders browsing became much slower, but video streaming still did not work.

Post by *ghisler(Author) » 2014-01-28, 11:07 UTC

It takes longer because the plugin first tries to connect with your credentials, and if this fails, with Guest credentials. However, I don't understand why streaming doesn't work then - it uses the last credentials used when browsing.

Could you try the latest beta of the plugin, please? It writes more details to the log file:
http://ghisler.ch/board/viewtopic.php?t=39339