Controlling Media Player Classic Remote with PHP

This tutorial will guide you though how to control your Media Player remote with PHP, This tutorial requires you to have PHP & Media Player Classic installed, if you havn’t got Media Player Classic then you can download it from here:

http://www.sourceforge.net/project/showfil...lease_id=403110

When you downloaded and installed Media Player Classic, press O or go to "View" > "Options" to open the option window. Select the menu "Web Interface" on the left.

Check the "Listen on port" checkbox, if you want to use another port than 13579 then enter it there. You can actually use this as webserver instead of Apache or Internet Information Services. But we don't want to here. If you want to install PHP then enter (if not already there) the index.php (make sure to remain index.html for Media Player Default pages) for php and this CGI handler:
.php=C:\Webserver\PHP\php-win.exe or .php=C:\Webserver\PHP\php-cgi.exe or where you have PHP Installed.

When you're done and click the Apply button, then Windows Firewall or whatever firewall program you have installed give you a notice and ask if Media Player Classic is allowed to port listen on TCP/UDP.


And now for the PHP! First let's make a simple function that checks if Media Player is running:

CODE

<?php
    // Try connect host
    $sock = @fsockopen('localhost', 13579, $errStr, $errNo, 10);

    if(!$sock)
    {
        die("Media Player is not running or web interface is turned off!");
    }
?>

Simply replace the 'localhost' and '13579' with your own values, these are just examples. The default file "command.html" sends a command that will be executed in Media Player. So we need to send some HTTP Post data to the script without loading our php page a couple of times, for that we need to connect via fsockopen and write some http code. So we can use the connect example above.

Let’s code our function to execute a command:

CODE

<?php
    // Execute function
    function execute($host, $port, $cmd)
    {
        // Try connect host
        $sock = @fsockopen('localhost', 13579, $errStr, $errNo, 10);

        if(!$sock)
        {
            die("Unable to connect Remote server");
        }

        $data = "wm_command=" . urlencode($cmd);

        fwrite($sock, "POST /command.html HTTP/1.0\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "HOST: localhost\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "Content-length: " . strlen($data) . "\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, $data . "\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "\r\n");

        // Close
        @fclose($sock);
    }
?>

The $cmd represents the command that can be executed, latest version of Media Player I'm running can handle these commands:

CODE

131 = Open File
132 = Open DVD
225 = Open Device
313 = Save As
32829 = Save Image
32830 = Save Image (auto)
134 = Load Subtitle
239 = Save Subtitle
32823 = Close
283 = Properties
135 = Exit
157 = Play/Pause
155 = Play
156 = Pause
158 = Stop
32773 = Framestep
32774 = Framestep back
222 = Go To
160 = Increase Rate
159 = Decrease Rate
32872 = Reset Rate
32821 = Audio Delay +10ms
32822 = Audio Delay -10ms
32790 = Jump Forward (small)
32789 = Jump Backward (small)
32792 = Jump Forward (medium)
32791 = Jump Backward (medium)
32794 = Jump Forward (large)
32793 = Jump Backward (large)
32778 = Jump Forward (keyframe)
32777 = Jump Backward (keyframe)
165 = Next
164 = Previous
332 = Next Playlist Item
331 = Previous Playlist Item
267 = Toggle Caption&Menu
136 = Toggle Seeker
137 = Toggle Controls
138 = Toggle Information
139 = Toggle Statistics
140 = Toggle Status
236 = Toggle Subresync Bar
242 = Toggle Playlist Bar
244 = Toggle Capture Bar
245 = Toggle Shader Editor Bar
308 = View Minimal
309 = View Compact
310 = View Normal
141 = Fullscreen
32788 = Fullscreen (w/o res.change)
142 = Zoom 50%
143 = Zoom 100%
144 = Zoom 200%
271 = VidFrm Half
272 = VidFrm Normal
273 = VidFrm Double
274 = VidFrm Stretch
275 = VidFrm Inside
276 = VidFrm Outside
32827 = Always On Top
152 = PnS Reset
146 = PnS Inc Size
148 = PnS Inc Width
150 = PnS Inc Height
147 = PnS Dec Size
149 = PnS Dec Width
151 = PnS Dec Height
255 = PnS Center
247 = PnS Left
248 = PnS Right
249 = PnS Up
250 = PnS Down
251 = PnS Up/Left
252 = PnS Up/Right
253 = PnS Down/Left
254 = PnS Down/Right
368 = PnS Rotate X+
369 = PnS Rotate X-
370 = PnS Rotate Y+
371 = PnS Rotate Y-
372 = PnS Rotate Z+
373 = PnS Rotate Z-
161 = Volume Up
162 = Volume Down
163 = Volume Mute
166 = DVD Title Menu
167 = DVD Root Menu
168 = DVD Subtitle Menu
169 = DVD Audio Menu
170 = DVD Angle Menu
171 = DVD Chapter Menu
32781 = DVD Menu Left
32782 = DVD Menu Right
32783 = DVD Menu Up
32784 = DVD Menu Down
32785 = DVD Menu Activate
32786 = DVD Menu Back
32787 = DVD Menu Leave
32795 = Boss key
32796 = Player Menu (short)
32797 = Player Menu (long)
32798 = Filters Menu
154 = Options
32799 = Next Audio
32800 = Prev Audio
32801 = Next Subtitle
32802 = Prev Subtitle
32817 = On/Off Subtitle
33302 = Reload Subtitles
32803 = Next Audio (OGM)
32804 = Prev Audio (OGM)
32805 = Next Subtitle (OGM)
32806 = Prev Subtitle (OGM)
32807 = Next Angle (DVD)
32808 = Prev Angle (DVD)
32809 = Next Audio (DVD)
32810 = Prev Audio (DVD)
32811 = Next Subtitle (DVD)
32812 = Prev Subtitle (DVD)
32818 = On/Off Subtitle (DVD)

So here a couple of examples for you to build or base your own scripts on

CODE

<?php
    // Execute function
    function execute($host, $port, $cmd)
    {
        // Try connect host
        $sock = @fsockopen($host, $port, $errStr, $errNo, 10);

        if(!$sock)
        {
            die("Unable to connect Remote server");
        }

        $data = "wm_command=" . urlencode($cmd);

        fwrite($sock, "POST /command.html HTTP/1.0\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "HOST: localhost\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "Content-length: " . strlen($data) . "\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, $data . "\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "\r\n");

        // Close
        @fclose($sock);
    }

    $host = 'localhost';
    $port = 13579;

    // We know that there’s a movie on pause at the server, so lets start it and stop
    // after 10 seconds.

    // Play movie
    execute($host, $port, 155);

    // Wait...
    sleep(10);

    // Stop movie
    execute($host, $port, 156);
?>

Close Running Media Player:

CODE

<?php
    // Execute function
    function execute($host, $port, $cmd)
    {
        // Try connect host
        $sock = @fsockopen($host, $port, $errStr, $errNo, 10);

        if(!$sock)
        {
            die("Unable to connect Remote server");
        }

        $data = "wm_command=" . urlencode($cmd);

        fwrite($sock, "POST /command.html HTTP/1.0\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "HOST: localhost\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "Content-length: " . strlen($data) . "\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, $data . "\r\n");
        fwrite($sock, "\r\n");

        // Close
        @fclose($sock);
    }

    $host = 'localhost';
    $port = 13579;

    // Close Media Player
    execute($host, $port, 135);
?>

Getting status codes:

CODE

<?php
    function getStatus($host, $port)
    {
        // Try connect host
        $sock = @fsockopen($host, $port, $errStr, $errNo, 10);

        if(!$sock)
        {
            die("Unable to connect Remote server");
        }

        // Close
        @fclose($sock);

        function onStatus($winTitle, $status, $currLen, $currTime, $totalLen, $totalTime, $muted, $volume)
        {
            $muted = (($muted) ? true : false);

            if($volume > 100)
            {
                $volume = 100;
            }
            elseif($volume < 0)
            {
                $volume = 0;
            }

            $title = str_replace(' - Media Player Classic', '', $winTitle);

            return(Array(
                    'windowtitle'        => $winTitle,
                    'title'            => $title,
                    'status'        => $status,
                    'currentLength'        => $currLen,
                    'currentTime'        => $currTime,
                    'TotalLength'        => $totalLen,
                    'TotalTime'        => $totalTime,
                    'muted'            => $muted,
                    'volume'        => $volume
                    ));
            }

            $statusdata = @file_get_contents('http://' . $host . ':' . $port . '/status.html') or die('Unable to open status file!');
            eval("\$status = " . $statusdata . "; ");

        return($status);
    }

    $host = 'localhost';
    $port = 13579;

    // Var_dump() it :P
    echo("<pre>");
    var_dump(getStatus($host, $port));
    echo("</pre>");
?>

Exampe output of above:

CODE

array(9) {
  ["windowtitle"]=>
  string(37) "Tusind ben.mp3 - Media Player Classic"
  ["title"]=>
  string(14) "Tusind ben.mp3"
  ["status"]=>
  string(7) "Playing"
  ["currentLength"]=>
  int(1126)
  ["currentTime"]=>
  string(8) "00:00:01"
  ["TotalLength"]=>
  int(179737)
  ["TotalTime"]=>
  string(8) "00:02:59"
  ["muted"]=>
  bool(false)
  ["volume"]=>
  int(54)
}

Putting player status on a image using GD:

CODE

<?php
    function getStatus($host, $port)
    {
        // Try connect host
        $sock = @fsockopen($host, $port, $errStr, $errNo, 10);

        if(!$sock)
        {
            die("Unable to connect Remote server");
        }

        // Close
        @fclose($sock);

        function onStatus($winTitle, $status, $currLen, $currTime, $totalLen, $totalTime, $muted, $volume)
        {
            $muted = (($muted) ? true : false);

            if($volume > 100)
            {
                $volume = 100;
            }
            elseif($volume < 0)
            {
                $volume = 0;
            }

            $title = str_replace(' - Media Player Classic', '', $winTitle);

            // Note the empty key and value here
            return(Array(
                    'windowtitle'        => $winTitle,
                    ''            => '',
                    'title'            => $title,
                    'status'        => $status,
                    'currentLength'        => $currLen,
                    'currentTime'        => $currTime,
                    'TotalLength'        => $totalLen,
                    'TotalTime'        => $totalTime,
                    'muted'            => $muted,
                    'volume'        => $volume
                    ));
            }

            $statusdata = @file_get_contents('http://' . $host . ':' . $port . '/status.html') or die('Unable to open status file!');
            eval("\$status = " . $statusdata . "; ");

        return($status);
    }

    $host = 'localhost';
    $port = 13579;

    // Get Status codes
    $status = getStatus($host, $port);

    // Create image resource, change the functions to
    // whatever format you wish to use.
    //
    // Also note that this requires GD Library to work!
    $im = ImageCreateTrueColor(300, 100);

    $black = ImageColorAllocate($im, 255, 255, 255);

    $start_x = 5;
    $start_y = 5;

    $x_increment = 0;
    $y_increment = 11;

    $not_increment = false;

    foreach($status as $key => $val)
    {
        switch($key)
        {
            case('windowtitle'):
                $response = 'Media Player Classic Status';
            break;
            case('title'):
                $response = "File: " . $val;
            break;
            case('status'):
                if(empty($val))
                {
                    $val = 'Not playing';
                }

                $response = "Status: " . $val;
            break;
            case('currentLength'):
            case('currentTime'):
                $currentTime = $val;
            case('TotalLength'):
                $not_increment = true;
            break;
            case('TotalTime'):
                if($currentTime != '00:00:00' && $val != '00:00:00')
                {
                    $response = "Time: " . $currentTime . " / " . $val;
                    $not_increment = false;
                }
            break;
            case('muted'):
                if($not_increment != false)
                {
                    $not_increment = false;
                }

                $response = "Muted: " . (($val) ? 'Yes' : 'No');
            break;
            case('volume'):
                $response = "Volume: " . $val . "%";
            break;
        }

        if(!empty($response))
        {
            ImageString($im, 2, $start_x, $start_y, $response, $black);
            $response = '';
        }

        if(!$not_increment)
        {
            ($start_x += $x_increment);
            ($start_y += $y_increment);
        }
    }

    @Header('Content-Type: Image/JPEG');

    ImageJpeg($im);
    ImageDestroy($im);
?>

The above example is using GD Library's JPEG support, read the inline comments for more information.

Example signature:


Generating XML Output:

CODE

<?php
    function getStatus($host, $port)
    {
        // Try connect host
        $sock = @fsockopen($host, $port, $errStr, $errNo, 10);

        if(!$sock)
        {
            die("Unable to connect Remote server");
        }

        // Close
        @fclose($sock);

        function onStatus($winTitle, $status, $currLen, $currTime, $totalLen, $totalTime, $muted, $volume)
        {
            $muted = (($muted) ? true : false);

            if($volume > 100)
            {
                $volume = 100;
            }
            elseif($volume < 0)
            {
                $volume = 0;
            }

            $title = str_replace(' - Media Player Classic', '', $winTitle);

            // Tiny change here, changed key values to bigger letters
            // so the XML dump will be abit more human read-able
            return(Array(
                    'WindowTitle'        => $winTitle,
                    'Title'            => $title,
                    'Status'        => $status,
                    'CurrentLength'        => $currLen,
                    'CurrentTime'        => $currTime,
                    'TotalLength'        => $totalLen,
                    'TotalTime'        => $totalTime,
                    'Muted'            => $muted,
                    'volume'        => $volume
                    ));
            }

            $statusdata = @file_get_contents('http://' . $host . ':' . $port . '/status.html') or die('Unable to open status file!');
            eval("\$status = " . $statusdata . "; ");

        return($status);
    }

    $host = 'localhost';
    $port = 13579;

    // Get Status codes
    $status = getStatus($host, $port);

    // Format into our own little XML format, so we
    // later can load it into PHP via simpleXML

    @Header('Content-Type: text/xml');

    echo("<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n");
    echo("<MediaPlayerDump>\n");

    foreach($status as $key => $val)
    {
        if($key == 'muted')
        {
            $val = ($val) ? 1 : 0;
        }

        echo("\t<" . $key . ">" . $val . "</" . $key . ">\n");
    }

    echo("</MediaPlayerDump>");
?>

Loading it into PHP via SimpleXML:

CODE

<?php
    $xmldump = simplexml_load_file('http://localhost/wmpl.php') or die('Unable to Load XML dump!');

    $array = Array();
    $array['windowtitle'] = $xmldump->WindowTitle;
    $array['Title'] = $xmldump->Title;
    $array['Status'] = $xmldump->Status;
    $array['CurrentLength'] = $xmldump->CurrentLength;
    $array['CurrentTime'] = $xmldump->CurrentTime;
    $array['TotalLength'] = $xmldump->TotalLength;
    $array['TotalTime'] = $xmldump->TotalTime;
    $array['Muted'] = $xmldump->Muted;
    $array['Volume'] = $xmldump->volume;

    foreach($array as $key => $val)
    {
        // UGLY Hack to force objects into strings =/
        ob_start();
        echo($val);
        $val = ob_get_clean();
        ob_end_clean();
        ob_end_flush();

        $array[$key] = $val;
    }

    // Print_r() it =o
    echo("<pre>");
    print_r($array);
    echo("</pre>");
?>

Example output of above example:

CODE

Array
(
    [windowtitle] => Safri duo vs Prima Donna and Linda Scott - Why havnt i told Baya(1).mp3 - Media Player Classic
    [Title] => Safri duo vs Prima Donna and Linda Scott - Why havnt i told Baya(1).mp3
    [Status] => Paused
    [CurrentLength] => 0
    [CurrentTime] => 00:00:00
    [TotalLength] => 302654
    [TotalTime] => 00:05:02
    [Muted] => 0
    [Volume] => 64
)

Bonus Stuff
Another thing that I havn’t yet got time to but I properly will be working on later is a get method so you can make a function to play a movie, yet what I've found out is if you send a valid local path to browser.html (eg. browser.html?path=C:\Local\Path\To\Movie.divx) then Media Player will play that movie, so its really just a matter of sending the right HTTP Code to the server.

Changing volume, send the post variable 'volume' with a value of 1-100 and the command code -2 to change the volume.

To seek, then send the post variable 'percent' with a value of how many % of the movie that you wanna seek into, use the command code -1

Commands can also be sent via GET format instead of POST as the examples

Not only movies are supported via this, but also music.

Command line execution:
You can use Media Player from command line too, for a overview of commands and their parameters, then go to "Help" > "Command Line Switches".

Use one of the PHP Program Execution functions that fits your needs at:
http://www.php.net/ref.exec


A little minus:
A personal little minus for me was that the snapshot image isn’t working well. Since I was excited to test that out with some PHP / Javascript integration. I can always hope that it will get fixed in one of the upcoming versions.

This file in a Word Document:
Click to view attachment


First post and first tutorial on Pixel2Life enjoy

Kalle Sommer Nielsen
Zesix Interactive / TK Web Technologies