ncmpcpp(1) General Commands Manual ncmpcpp(1)
NAME
ncmpcpp - An ncurses Music Player Daemon (MPD) client.
SYNOPSIS
ncmpcpp [options]
DESCRIPTION
ncmpcpp is an ncurses client for MPD (Music Player Daemon), inspired by ncmpc.
Read more about MPD at http://www.musicpd.org
OPTIONS
-h, --host Connect to server at host [localhost]
-p, --port
Connect to server at port [6600]
-c, --config
Use alternative configuration file
-s, --screen <name>
Specify the startup screen (<name> may be: help, playlist, browser, search-engine, media-library, playlist-editor, tag-editor, out-
puts, visualizer, clock)
-?, --help
Display help.
-v, --version
Display version information.
--now-playing
Display now playing song [{{(%l) }{{%a - }%t}}|{%f}}]
play Start playing and exit.
pause Pause and exit.
toggle Toggle playing and exit.
stop Stop playing and exit.
next Switch to next song and exit.
prev Switch to previous song and exit.
volume [+-]<number>
Raise/lower volume by given number of percents and exit.
CONFIGURATION
When ncmpcpp starts, it tries to read user's settings from the ~/.ncmpcpp/config file. If no user's configuration is found, ncmpcpp uses
its default configuration. An example configuration file containing all default values is provided with ncmpcpp and can be found usually in
/usr/share/doc/ncmpcpp (exact location may depend on used distribution/OS/configure prefix).
Note: Each config option value must be enclosed in quotation marks (var = "example"). If you want to use quotation mark inside config
option, prepend character '' to it.
Note: COLOR has to be the name (not a number) of one of colors 1-8 from SONG FORMAT section.
Supported configuration options:
ncmpcpp_directory = PATH
Directory for storing ncmpcpp related files. Changing it is useful if you want to store everything somewhere else and provide com-
mand line setting for alternative location to config file which defines that while launching ncmpcpp.
lyrics_directory = PATH
Directory for storing downloaded lyrics. It defaults to ~/.lyrics since other MPD clients (eg. ncmpc) also use that location.
mpd_host = HOST
Connect to MPD running on specified host/unix socket. When HOST starts with a '/', it is assumed to be a unix socket.
mpd_music_dir = PATH
Search for files in specified directory. This is needed for tag editor to work.
mpd_port = PORT
Connect to MPD on the specified port.
mpd_connection_timeout = SECONDS
Set connection timeout to MPD to given value.
mpd_crossfade_time = SECONDS
Default number of seconds to crossfade, if enabled by ncmpcpp.
mpd_communication_mode = MODE
If set to 'polling', ncmpcpp will constantly poll mpd for its status. If set to 'notifications', ncmppcp will make use of 'idle'
command and wait for events. This is more efficient and responsive, but may cause some trouble with <mpd-0.15, so if you run such
version and encounter strange bugs (e.g. current track time not being updated), you will either have to use 'polling' or upgrade
your mpd.
visualizer_in_stereo = yes/no
Should be set to 'yes', if fifo output's format was set to 44100:16:2.
visualizer_fifo_path = PATH
Path to mpd fifo output. This is needed to make music visualizer work (note that output sound format of this fifo has to be either
44100:16:1 or 44100:16:2, depending on whether you want mono or stereo visualization)
visualizer_output_name = NAME
Name of output that provides data for visualizer. Needed to keep sound and visualization in sync.
visualizer_sync_interval = SECONDS
Defines interval between syncing visualizer and audio outputs.
visualizer_type = spectrum/wave
Defines default visualizer type (spectrum is available only if ncmpcpp was compiled with fftw support).
visualizer_look = STRING
Defines visualizer's look (string has to be exactly 2 characters long: first one is for wave whereas second for frequency spectrum).
system_encoding = ENCODING
If you use encoding other than utf8, set it in order to handle utf8 encoded strings properly.
seek_time = SECONDS
Base seek time to begin with.
playlist_disable_highlight_delay = SECONDS
Delay for highlighting playlist since the last key was pressed. If set to 0, highlighting never fades away.
message_delay_time = SECONDS
Delay for displayed messages to remain visible.
song_list_format
Format for songs' list.
song_columns_list_format
Format for songs' list displayed in columns.
song_status_format
Song's format for statusbar.
song_library_format
Format for songs in Media library.
tag_editor_album_format
Format for albums' list in Tag editor.
song_window_title_format
Song format for window title.
external_editor = PATH
Path to external editor used to edit lyrics.
browser_playlist_prefix = TEXT
Prefix for playlists in Browser.
default_tag_editor_pattern = TEXT
Default pattern used by Tag editor's parser.
now_playing_prefix = TEXT
Prefix for currently playing song.
now_playing_suffix = TEXT
Suffix for currently playing song.
selected_item_prefix = TEXT
Prefix for selected items.
selected_item_suffix = TEXT
Suffix for selected items.
alternative_header_first_line_format = TEXT
Now playing song format for the first line in alternative user interface header window.
alternative_header_second_line_format = TEXT
Now playing song format for the second line in alternative user interface header window.
color1 = COLOR
One of colors used in Song info, Tiny tag editor and Search engine.
color2 = COLOR
One of colors used in Song info, Tiny tag editor and Search engine.
colors_enabled = yes/no
No need to describe it, huh?
header_text_scrolling = yes/no
If enabled, text in header window will scroll if its length is longer then actual screen width, otherwise it won't.
fancy_scrolling = yes/no
If enabled, content of other columns will be updated immediately while scrolling, otherwise only after you stop scrolling.
cyclic_scrolling = yes/no
If enabled, cyclic scrolling is used (e.g. if you press down arrow being at the end of list, it'll take you to the beginning)
mouse_list_scroll_whole_page = yes/no
If enabled, mouse wheel will scroll the whole page of item list at a time, otherwise the number of lines specified by lines_scrolled
variable.
lines_scrolled = NUMBER
Number of lines that are scrolled with mouse wheel.
search_engine_default_search_mode = MODE_NUMBER
Number of default mode used in search engine.
playlist_show_remaining_time = yes/no
If enabled, time remaining to end of playlist will be shown after playlist's statistics.
playlist_shorten_total_times = yes/no
If enabled, total/remaining playlist time displayed in statusbar will be shown using shortened units' names (d:h:m:s instead of
days:hours:minutes:seconds).
playlist_separate_albums = yes/no
If enabled, separators will be placed between albums.
playlist_display_mode = classic/columns
Default display mode for Playlist.
browser_display_mode = classic/columns
Default display mode for Browser.
search_engine_display_mode = classic/columns
Default display mode for Search engine.
playlist_editor_display_mode = classic/columns
Default display mode for Playlist editor.
discard_colors_if_item_is_selected = yes/no
Indicates whether custom colors of tags have to be discarded if item is selected or not.
header_visibility = yes/no
If enabled, header window will be displayed, otherwise hidden.
statusbar_visibility = yes/no
If enabled, statusbar will be displayed, otherwise hidden.
titles_visibility = yes/no
If enabled, column titles will be displayed, otherwise hidden.
autocenter_mode = yes/no
Default state for autocenter mode at start.
centered_cursor = yes/no
If enabled, currently highlighted position in the list will be always centered.
progressbar_look = TEXT
This variable defines the look of progressbar. Note that it has to be exactly two or three characters long.
default_find_mode = wrapped/normal
If set to "wrapped", going from last found position to next will take you to the first one (same goes for the first position and
going to previous one), otherwise no actions will be performed.
default_space_mode = select/add
If set to "select", space will select items instead of adding them to playlist (although selecting by space is default and the only
one action for space in Playlist).
default_tag_editor_left_col = albums/dirs
If set to "albums", tag editor will display list of all albums from database, otherwise it'll allow you to browse the database.
incremental_seeking = yes/no
If enabled, seek time will increment by one each second of seeking.
follow_now_playing_lyrics = yes/no
If enabled, lyrics will be switched at song's change to currently playing one's (Note: this works only if you are viewing lyrics of
item from Playlist).
fetch_lyrics_for_current_song_in_background = yes/no
If enabled, each time song changes lyrics fetcher will be automatically run in background in attempt to download lyrics for cur-
rently playing song.
store_lyrics_in_song_dir = yes/no
If enabled, lyrics will be saved in song's directory, otherwise in ~/.lyrics. Note that it needs properly set mpd_music_dir.
lastfm_preferred_language = ISO 639 alpha-2 language code
If set, ncmpcpp will try to get info from last.fm in language you set and if it fails, it will fall back to english. Otherwise it
will use english the first time.
ncmpc_like_songs_adding = yes/no
If enabled, pressing space on item, which is already in playlist will remove it, otherwise add it again.
show_hidden_files_in_local_browser = yes/no
Trigger for displaying in local browser files and directories that begin with '.'
default_place_to_search_in = database/playlist
If set to "playlist", Search engine will perform searching in current MPD playlist rather than in music database.
display_screens_numbers_on_start = yes/no
If enabled, screens' names and their keybindings will be shown in header window until key is pressed, otherwise they won't be dis-
played at all.
screen_switcher_mode = SWITCHER_MODE
If set to "previous", key_screen_switcher will switch between current and last used screen. If set to "sequence:
user_defined_sequence", it will switch between given sequence of screens. Syntax clarification can be found in example config file.
locked_screen_width_part = 20-80
If you want to lock a screen, ncmpcpp asks for % of locked screen's width to be reserved before that and provides a default value,
which is the one you can set here.
ask_for_locked_screen_width_part = yes/no
If enabled, ncmpcpp will ask for % of locked screen's width each time you want to lock a screen. If you disable that, it'll silently
attempt to use default value.
startup_screen = SCREEN_NUMBER
Screen that has to be displayed at start (playlist by default).
jump_to_now_playing_song_at_start = yes/no
If enabled, ncmpcpp will jump at start to now playing song if mpd is playing or paused.
ask_before_clearing_main_playlist = yes/no
If enabled, user will be asked if he really wants to clear the main playlist after pressing key responsible for that.
clock_display_seconds = yes/no
If enabled, clock will display time in format hh:mm:ss, otherwise hh:mm.
display_volume_level = yes/no
If enabled, volume level will be displayed in statusbar, otherwise not.
display_bitrate = yes/no
If enabled, bitrate of currently playing song will be displayed in statusbar.
display_remaining_time = yes/no
If enabled, remaining time of currently playing song will be be displayed in statusbar instead of elapsed time.
ignore_leading_the = yes/no
If enabled, word "the" at the beginning of tags/filenames will be ignored while sorting items.
use_console_editor = yes/no
If your external editor is console application, you need to enable it.
block_search_constraints_change_if_items_found = yes/no
If enabled, fields in Search engine above "Reset" button will be blocked after successful searching, otherwise they won't.
mouse_support = yes/no
Self-descriptive, isn't it?
allow_physical_files_deletion = yes/no
If enabled, ncmpcpp will be able to delete files using its browser screen.
allow_physical_directories_deletion = yes/no
If enabled, ncmpcpp will be able to delete directories using its browser screen.
tag_editor_extended_numeration = yes/no
If enabled, tag editor will number tracks using format xx/yy (where xx is the current track and yy is total amount of all numbered
tracks), not plain xx.
media_library_display_date = yes/no
If enabled, dates of albums in media library will be displayed and respected in searching, otherwise not.
media_library_display_empty_tag = yes/no
If enabled, left column will contain entry for 'empty' tag, otherwise not.
media_library_disable_two_column_mode = yes/no
If enabled, pressing the key for the media library twice won't switch it to two column mode.
enable_window_title = yes/no
If enabled, ncmpcpp will override current window title with its own one.
regular_expressions = basic/extended
Type of currently used regular expressions.
user_interface = classic/alternative
Default user interface used by ncmpcpp at start.
media_library_left_column = a/y/g/c/p
Default tag type for left column in media library. Legend for possible letters is in SONG FORMAT section.
empty_tag_marker = TEXT
Text that will be displayed, if requested tag is not set.
empty_tag_color = COLOR
Color of empty tag marker.
header_window_color = COLOR
Color of header window.
volume_color = COLOR
Color of volume state.
state_line_color = COLOR
Color of lines separating header and statusbar from main window.
state_flags_color = COLOR
Color of MPD status flags.
main_window_color = COLOR
Color of main window.
main_window_highlight_color = COLOR
Color of main window's highlight.
progressbar_color = COLOR
Color of progressbar.
statusbar_color = COLOR
Color of statusbar.
alternative_ui_separator_color = COLOR
Color of separators used in alternative user interface.
active_column_color = COLOR
Color of active column's highlight.
visualizer_color = COLOR
Color of visualization.
active_window_border = COLOR
Color of active window's border.
KEYS When ncmpcpp starts, it tries to read user's keybindings from ~/.ncmpcpp/keys file. If no user's keybindings is found, ncmpcpp uses
its default keybindings. An example keybindings file containing all default values is provided with ncmpcpp and can be found usually
in /usr/share/doc/ncmpcpp (exact location may depend on used distribution/OS/configure prefix).
You can view current ncmpcpp's keybindings by pressing '1' (Help).
SONG FORMAT
For song format you can use:
%l - length
%f - filename
%D - directory
%a - artist
%A - album artist
%t - title
%b - album
%y - year
%n - track number (01/12 -> 01)
%N - full track info (01/12 -> 01/12)
%g - genre
%c - composer
%p - performer
%d - disc
%C - comment
$R - begin right alignment
You can also put them in { } and then they will be displayed only if all requested values are available and/or define alternate value with
{ }|{ } e.g. {%a - %t}|{%f} will check if artist and title tags are available and if they are, display them. Otherwise it'll display file-
name.
Note: If you want to set limit on maximal length of a tag, just put the appropriate number between % and character that defines tag type,
e.g. to make album take max. 20 terminal cells, use '%20b'.
Note: Format that is similar to "%a - %t" (i.e. without any additional braces) is equal to "{%a - %t}", so if one of the tags is missing,
you'll get nothing.
Text can have different color than the main window, e.g. if you want length to be green, write $3%l$9.
Available values for colors:
- 0 - default window color (discards all other colors)
- 1 - black
- 2 - red
- 3 - green
- 4 - yellow
- 5 - blue
- 6 - magenta
- 7 - cyan
- 8 - white
- 9 - end of current color
Note: colors can be nested, so if you write $2some$5text$9, it'll disable only usage of blue color and make red the current one.
BUGS
Report bugs on http://www.musicpd.org/mantis/
NOTE
Since MPD uses UTF-8, ncmpcpp needs to convert characters to the charset used by the local system. If you get character conversion errors
while you are running ncmpcpp, you probably need to set up your locale. This is done by setting LANG and LC_ALL/LC_CTYPE environment vari-
ables (LC_CTYPE only affects character handling).
HOMEPAGE
-> http://unkart.ovh.org/ncmpcpp
SEE ALSO
mpc(1), mpd(1)
ncmpcpp(1)