Viewer - media - improve playback controls

[user0]

XnViewMP 1.6.0 64bit
Windows11 (22H2), display resolution 3840x2160, win scaling 150%

Viewer - audio/video/animation(multipage) files
playback controls are inconvenient or completely missing in case of multipage files

Suggestion
Viewport area

• improve controls
  
  • mouse
    • zoom shortcuts should not scroll to prev/next file
      (default zoom shortcuts: CTRL+Wheel, RMB/LMB+Wheel)
      - they either should zoom content (video/audio cover) OR do nothing
  • keyboard
    • add new shortcuts
      - space - play/pause
      - left/right buttons - go prev/next frame
      (maybe make them changeable to custom value, eg 5sec back/forward in Settings)
      - up/down - control volume
      - m - mute/unmute
    • show shortcuts
      via new 'Playbar' item in combobox in Settings > Shortcuts (related suggestion)

• improve context menu
  - move 'Loop video playing' and 'Auto play (video)' settings closer to user (remove them from Settings completely)
  - rename them to 'Loop' and 'Auto play'
  viewer_media_controls_context_menu_video.png

Playbar

viewer_improve_media_controls.png

• use playbar for animation(multipage) files
  - remove 'Start/Stop animation' from View menu and use Playbar instead

• rework layout
  into 2 rows layout (see FastStone, ACDSee)
  
  • seekbar
    - move seekbar to the top, so it takes whole space and looks fine even in small size
  • volume control
    - make volume control always visible
    - scrolling on volume control should regulate volume
    - clicking on sound icon should mute/unmute
  • enhance appearance
    - maybe make playbar transparent (see Youtube, Vimeo)
    - maybe make playbar disappearing after few seconds
    with ability to lock it via context menu
  • buttons
    - there is a lot of space in the 2nd row, so new buttons can be added later, eg 'rewind 10sec back'

• add replay functionality
  when media ends and loop is off, slider should jump to the beginning, so clicking on play button will start playing

Issue
Playbar

• fix scroll over playbar
  viewer_media_controls_scroll.png
  • inside red area
    it either should scroll properly or do nothing
  • outside red area
    it should not scroll to prev/next file

Example

other_apps_player_controls.png

[Oleksii]

Those are very reasonable suggestions !!!
I totally agree that they will improve user experience when exploring video files.

Will look forward when this will be implemented.

[Blossoms]

I am also in favour of these suggestions, as they would improve the user experience a lot. Especially the shortcuts to play/pause video.

I could not find a play/pause hotkey in Settings -> Interface -> Shortcuts.

Another suggestion: In full screen, the control bar should disappear, but reappear when the mouse is moved.

[jayboyjayboy]

YES YES YES - a play/pause shortcut for videos is critical imo

such a great program!

[aucora]

This is a really important feature, and we would greatly appreciate it if the developer could consider adding it.

[greenletter]

bumping this

agree the volume bar needs a rework

also for the Play button to turn into a Pause button when the video is paused

and add a Stop button because XnView MP can't move files while the video is playing and right now the only way to stop the video is to let it play to the end

[aucora]

Since someone has bumped the thread, I'd like to add a suggestion:

It would be really helpful if keyboard shortcuts could be added to move the progress bar left and right, as this is such a fundamental feature when browsing through media.