Jellyfin-android: External Player not working with some files

[harry71019]

Describe the bug
External player fails to play for some files and shows "Invalid Play method"

To Reproduce

1. Try to play certain file
2. Playback shows error, external player not launched
3. Turn off transcoding for that user
4. Now playback works

Expected behavior
The file should be able to played without transcoding

Logs
This is the log when playback error occurs
log2.txt

This is the log playing the same file but turning off transcoding for that user
log3.txt

System (please complete the following information):

• App version: 2.0.1
• Android version: Android 9.0
• Device manufacturer and model: HTC U11
• Jellyfin server version: 10.6.4
• The type of video player implementation used: External player

Additional context
Keyakizaka46 - Keyaki Kyouwakoku 2018.chi.default.zip
Since the logs mention unsupported subtitles I'll include the subtitles here. But I have plenty other files with .ass subtitles working fine so I'm not sure what's causing the issue.

[CarlosOlivo]

Could you also share the metadata of the .mkv files? Preferably from 2 mkv with .ass subtitles, one that plays without problems and another that reports problems in the subtitles, You can use MediaInfoOnline.

[harry71019]

@CarlosOlivo
The file I just showed above was using external subtitles
folder structure:
Movie.mkv
Movie.chi.default.ass

Do I just show the mkv's mediainfo or should I add the mediainfo for the subtitles too

[Maxr1998]

Do I just show the mkv's mediainfo or should I add the mediainfo for the subtitles too

Only for the mkv. On Linux, you can also use the mediainfo tool for that.

[harry71019]

Now that you mention it, I think the problem might be because of external subtitles?
The mediainfo for the file with problems:
Keyakizaka46 - Keyaki Kyouwakoku 2018.mkv_MediaInfo.txt

The mediainfo for the file with ass sub but no problems (the ass is muxed in mkv)
KEYAKIZAKA46 Live Online, but with YOU ! [ZAIKO].mkv_MediaInfo.txt

I also tried playing another movie with external srt subtitles, the movie can be played in external players, but the subtitle will not show up in the external player.

[CarlosOlivo]

Now that you mention it, I think the problem might be because of external subtitles?

Bingo!

https://github.com/jellyfin/jellyfin-android/blob/148ea46a3fc51fb9c364914a06a9df0227b1ac58/app/src/main/assets/native/externalplayer.js#L193

https://github.com/jellyfin/jellyfin-android/blob/148ea46a3fc51fb9c364914a06a9df0227b1ac58/app/src/main/assets/native/externalplayer.js#L202

Adding 'ass' subtitle to externalSubtitleProfiles should fix this, maybe merge both lists?

I also tried playing another movie with external srt subtitles, the movie can be played in external players, but the subtitle will not show up in the external player.

This was recently fixed in #177. I guess it will be included in one of the next releases.

[harry71019]

Nice, that looks promising, hopefully the next release comes out soon so I can test that.

[CarlosOlivo]

You can test now if you want, download jellyfin-android.zip, extract and try to install jellyfin-android-v0.0.0-dev.1-debug.apk to see if #193 fixed this.

[harry71019]

I tested it with MX player / VLC / mpv-android, both MX player and mpv were able to read the external srt / ass subtitles.
I could play the video using VLC, but external subtitles will not get passed to VLC.

[CarlosOlivo]

Unfortunately VLC for Android does not allow external subtitles yet https://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/18736

[harry71019]

Thanks for the info, just wanted to make sure it wasn't another weird bug or anything.
Fortunately the fix works well with MX player and mpv.