Play the Frame by Frame (Step Forward, Back)

Feature Suggestions
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1

Does Plex have additional plans for frame-by-frame view?

I use PLEX installed at home in my workplace, and I often have to view videos in frame units for my job.

As I have completed the library for reference materials with PLEX for several years, I am writing a question on the forum because it is a function that I hope will be added.

I hope it can be implemented through keyboard operation, such as using the <, > key, like a YouTube player.

2

I don’t know if this will ever be possible in the web app, but for the desktop players there is a solution:

Plex for Windows/Mac/Linux:
Modify the solution in here Video Zoom (Crop) in Plex Desktop app - #6 by German
by replacing the file zoom-keybinds.lua with a file named step-keybinds.lua with the following content:

function stepFwd()
    mp.command("frame-step")
    mp.osd_message("frame +1", 0.5)
end

function stepBack()
    mp.command("frame-back-step")
    mp.osd_message("frame -1", 0.5)
end

mp.add_forced_key_binding(".", "stepFwd", stepFwd)
mp.add_forced_key_binding(",", "stepBack", stepBack)

(You can also add both files if you want the zoom functionality from the linked article as well.)

For PlexHTPC, take a look at this post: Using Plex HTPC on 21:9 aspect ratio screen - #2 by o_spring
Instead of adding the lines from the post, add these:

	// frame back and forth
	"\\." : "mpv:frame-step",
	"," : "mpv:frame-back-step",

Both methods use the . and the , keys for frame forward and back. You might be able to customize to other keys, but better avoid keys which are already in use in the player.

Resuming normal playback might require two presses on the Space bar, instead of just one.

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3

In addition to Otto’s comment… there’s already an existing feature suggestion discussing frame-by-frame mode on a video. So unless Otto’s approach is already covering what you’re looking for, I suggest you comment/vote in that thread in order to help us avoid distracting or cannibalizing votes.

Unless I’m missing some other unique aspect of your suggestion, I suggest we close this thread a s duplicate.

4

2023 clean-up: duplicate

5

I had to edit the commands for Plex HTPC above, to avoid remapping also a lot of other keys to frame-step.
. is a regex operator and matches to anything. :doh:

Sorry about that!
If you used the instructions for Plex HTPC, please go up and copy them again from my post.

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