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"System.FormatException Msg=Input string was not in a correct format" trying to play files


StardogChampion
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StardogChampion

For a while now I've been having issues with none of my files playing in Emby WMC. I finally figured out that at some point, path substitution went away breaking backwards-compatibility with the library setup on the server so everything was being transcoded. Given my server is a C1037U-based system that of course would not work. After researching it, I followed the instructions for using an optional path and now nothing plays at all. When I hit play in Emby WMC it just sits there until I kill it.

 

I verified that my paths are correct and I am able to access the file directly using the path via Windows Explorer and also these shares are used via the Movie Library. I can also play the files in Emby Theater. I have the latest stable Emby WMC and Server.

 

When looking at the Emby WMC logs I see a string parsing exception with a stacktrace when it tries to play the file.

 

System.FormatException Msg=Input string was not in a correct format

 

Here are the relevant lines:

 

2017-12-21 09:31:53.8142,Info,,No intros found for Elf,1,Application
2017-12-21 09:31:53.8142,Info,,Generic about to play Elf(\\SERVER\Movies\Holiday\Elf\ELF.Title0.mkv) ,1,Application
2017-12-21 09:31:53.8142,Debug,,Having to get media experience by reflection due to bug in Windows 7,1,Application
2017-12-21 09:31:53.8142,Debug,,GetMediaExperienceUsingReflection was unsuccessful,1,Application
2017-12-21 09:31:53.8142,Info,,Generic playing Elf,1,Application
2017-12-21 09:31:54.0842,Info,,Received web socket message: PlaybackStart,5,
2017-12-21 09:31:54.0842,Error,,Error playing item:  ( Exception.  Type=System.FormatException Msg=Input string was not in a correct format. Src=mscorlib Method=AppendFormat Line=0 Col=0 [n] StackTrace= [n]    at System.Text.StringBuilder.AppendFormat(IFormatProvider provider,, String format,, Object[] args) [n]    at System.String.Format(IFormatProvider provider,, String format,, Object[] args) [n]    at MediaBrowser.Library.Playables.ExternalPlayer.ExternalPlaybackController.GetCommandArguments(PlayableItem playable) [n]    at MediaBrowser.Library.Playables.ExternalPlayer.ExternalPlaybackController.PlayUsingCommandLine(PlayableItem playable) [n]    at MediaBrowser.Code.ModelItems.BasePlaybackController.Play(PlayableItem playable) ),1,Application
 

Any help in debugging this is appreciated. My Emby ecosystem has been broken for a long time and I feel like I am finally getting things back to workable. All this time trying to rebuild clients, reinstall codecs, etc. and it comes down to this!

 

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StardogChampion

Hmmm, why is it trying to use an ExternalPlayer... funny what you see once you post something. I uninstalled/reinstalled Emby WMC and don't recall trying to setup an external player.

Edited by StardogChampion
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  • Solution

Open the configurator and check the external player settings there.  Looks like maybe the parameter string trying to be passed is a bad format.  Of course, if you don't want an external player, then you can just delete the configuration for it and that should solve the issue.

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StardogChampion

Ok, so at some point a while ago I must have been trying to debug the stuttering issue by trying to get an external player to work. When I uninstalled Emby WMC previously and then reinstalled today the previous uninstall must have let whatever settings stick around. Removing the entry made it work. This is the first time in over a year things are working!

 

I've been struggling with the stuttering issues in Emby WMC since last year. I had no idea until today that a server upgrade that removed path substitution was to blame. The change wasn't backward compatible with the library setup -- the feature just disappeared and fell back to streaming under the covers. I was playing around with the server console and saw these ffmeg transcode messages and that finally lead to the solution. I mean, I've reinstalled client OSs, tried different video cards, reinstalled drivers and just gave up on Emby for a long time and just opened movies manually via MPC-HC, etc. I recently discovered the Emby app on my TV which worked great -- no stuttering -- and then finally decided to look into it again this week.

 

I feel like I need a nap now.

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