Dutch subs don't play. Seems codepage problem. Solved by using VLC 2.2.1 as transcode engine

[Tonne M]

So far I have been unable to find what is wrong here.
When I start a .mkv file with embedded dutch subs (.srt) the video won't start at all. Tv says: "Cannot read file".
Going to "live subtitles" same thing with dutch subs.
However, when I choose English subs, everything is just fine. File plays and subs are shown.

This is with all the file I have tried. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

The attached file is a suspicious piece from the log.

[valib]

Please follow the Forum rules written in red above.

[Tonne M]

Here the Trace log.

[Tonne M]

Hope this is better. Could not find it in the first place...
Sorry

[valib]

It seems to me as a problem to load the Live subtitles. Can you download that subtitles store them in the video folder and rename them accordingly to the video name and test it?

[Tonne M]

Just got home from work.

I have tested many files with embedded Dutch subs. (All .mkv) and none of them will play unless I disable the subs.

One ore more of those tests should be visible in the logfile.
I might try separate subs in the same folder with the same name, apart from the extension.
All subs are subrip. (.srt)

This phenomenon did not occur until version 5.2. Although it took a long while to start.
Also tried to use an older FFMPEG too but to no avail.

[Tonne M]

I think I found the culprit.
Most of my subs are coded in "Western (ISO-8859-15)" and that does not work.

I changed some of the subs to Unicode (UTF-8) and everything works fine with those subs.

Now all I need is a working solution so I won't have to change hundreds of .srt files.

So it's not the language itself but the coding of the .srt file.

I tried to set UMS to Western 8859-1 (West European) when not unicode in subtitle settings but, again, to no avail.
Autodetect does not work either.

[Tonne M]

Changed the topic title because using VLC 2.2.1 works just fine with all my subs.
I realize it's a workaround but image quality is great and subs are too.

Wish I could use VLC as the default engine to play DVD images too. Mplayer won't do that on my system.
But that is for another topic.

[valib]

I think I found the culprit.
Most of my subs are coded in "Western (ISO-8859-15)" and that does not work.

Unfortunately the automatic codepage detection doesn't work for the "Western (ISO-8859-15)". If your subs are mostly coded in that codepage you can force that by setting the "Non-unicode subtitle encoding" at the Transcoding setting the Subtitles setting tab.

[Tonne M]

Thanks Valib but I did try several settings including ISO 8859-15 but no luck. Seems like FFMPEG is too stubborn to do what we want it to.