[HowTo] VLC as Default DVD Application

[rogabean]

I found this to be useful and thought others might as well.

 

Seeing as how a lot of us still have issues with the Apple DVD.app I took it upon myself to put VLC in it's place.

 

However I like the way DVD.app auto starts a movie and wanted this same functionality with VLC.

 

1. Download VLC from here VLC - Native x86. Unrar and place in your Applications folder.

 

2. Fire up Script Editor. (/Applications/AppleScript/)

 

3. Paste the following code into Script Editor:

 

tell application "VLC" to activate (open ":dev:rdisk1")

 

*NOTE: rdisk1 is what it is on my machine. Depending on your system it may be different. You can either get this info by opening up VLC and telling it to open a disk (it will display there) or by going into System Profiler and looking at your DVD drive.

 

4. Run with a DVD already in the drive to see if it works.

 

5. Compile and save.

 

6. Open up System Preferences and Select CDs & DVD's. For "When you insert a video DVD" select "Run Script". Browse to where you saved your new script, select it and hit choose.

 

That's it! From now on VLC should automatically open up and start playing a DVD whenever you insert one.

 

I'm thinking about modifying this when I have time to have a dialoge box asking if you'd like to autoplay the movie... If I do I will update this HowTo.

 

Cheers!

[Wenle Z.]

do you do this for changing the default video player to VLC?

[tops]

This is a very clever trick!

 

I am quite impressed, thanks for the how-to!

[Zulu.Walker]

Been looking for a solution similar to this for some apps. Great post! Gotta check out what else I can do with AppleScript...

[WestonH]

Hi,

 

The link to 'VLC - native x86' is no longer working. Any other resource? The VLC site?

 

Thanks!