SubsSupport – find and display external subtitles

SubsSupport is the subtitle add-on discussed here. It adds subtitle-file search, selection, separate text rendering and synchronisation tools. It is not the subservice menu: subservices are alternative programmes or, with ServiceApp, HLS quality variants.

Install and distinguish the three entry points

Package: enigma2-plugin-extensions-subssupport, installed through the feed. The plugin browser/extensions menu offers:

Entry point	Purpose
SubsSupport settings	Configure general behaviour, external/embedded subtitles, searching and the DVB player.
SubsSupport downloader	Search integrated providers and download subtitles.
SubsSupport DVB player	Select and synchronise external subtitles for the current DVB programme. It does not replace the DVB video decoder.

Installing it does not automatically take over every MoviePlayer, EMC or MediaPlayer. The playback interface must explicitly support integration. Without a SubsSupport menu there, the separate plugin entry points and native subtitle functions remain different paths.

Start with a local file

Use a matching Film.srt for an understandable first test. In this version, SubsSupport’s own parser supports SubRip/SRT and MicroDVD with .sub or .txt extensions. MicroDVD uses frame numbers and needs the correct frame rate. A binary VobSub file with the same extension is not MicroDVD text. ASS/SSA, PGS and WebVTT are not handled by these two own parsers.

1. Transfer the subtitle file to a readable HDD/NAS path.
2. In an integrated SubsSupport playback menu, choose Select subtitles and open the file. Without integration, use the separate SubsSupport DVB player for a current DVB programme.
3. Check format and language. Investigate encoding if characters look wrong.
4. Then adjust appearance and timing. Avoid displaying native subtitles and SubsSupport simultaneously.

The DVB player offers Auto sync to current event (config.plugins.subsSupport.dvb.autoSync). Programme information provides a time reference; incorrect EPG boundaries, adverts or a different edit can still require correction.

General settings and appearance

Native SubsSupport dialog with unsaved default fields. Open original image ↗

Option	Meaning
Pause video on opening subtitles menu	Helps with selection and synchronisation where the playback integration supports pausing.
Encoding	Group of additional text encodings used by the file reader. A wrong choice can break characters; it does not translate a language.

SubsSupport has its own renderer and font/layout options. These fields were not saved. Open original image ↗

Under External subtitles:

Group	Options and effect
Regular, italic, bold	Separate font type, colour and transparency. The required font must be available.
Font size and position	Size and vertical location, in pixels and percent respectively.
Shadow	Enable and select type; depending on type, size or X/Y offset and colour.
Background	Enable and select type; dynamic backgrounds expose X/Y offsets, plus colour and transparency.

Global settings mainly belong to config.plugins.subtitlesSupport.*, such as external.font.size. An integrating plugin can use its own configuration. Native config.subtitles.* settings therefore do not automatically control it. Embedded subtitles settings may direct you to Enigma2’s native subtitle setup on images with the corresponding dialog; this message may still name another image family.

Downloader and search options

1. Choose preferred subtitle languages 1–3 in search settings.
2. Select movie and TV-show providers and check their status/settings. An installed provider entry does not prove that its online service still works; authentication, service changes or timeouts can prevent searching.
3. Check title, year or season/episode. Current EPG information may suggest a search title but is not necessarily the correct movie name.
4. Select a file matching your edition and check its destination/name.
5. After loading, check synchronisation; a matching title may still refer to a different cut.

Search options	Purpose
Manual search / check parameters before searching	Correct search terms before requesting results.
Provider timeout / result sorting	Limit waiting and order results.
Save as / fallback name / append language	Generate filenames. A suffix such as .de.srt does not match every other player’s automatic sidecar discovery.
Save to / download and temporary paths	Separate permanent destination from working storage; the mount must be available and writable.
Ask before overwriting	Protect existing subtitles.
Load after download	Use immediately in a supported playback context.
Download history	Enable history and choose its path; its menu offers entry limit, removal action and confirmation.

Synchronisation

In the SubsSupport status dialog, Up/Down increases/decreases delay; Left/Right moves to the previous/next subtitle reference. Blue changes subtitle FPS; Red resets delay/FPS. This applies to that dialog; check HELP for the separate DVB controller.

Delay can correct a constant offset. Increasing drift suggests different frame rates; jumps after particular scenes suggest a different movie edition. No setting can create a missing translation.

Checked: installed version 1.5.8, commit 7d583fe, native DE/EN setup screens. Provider logins, downloads and synchronisation over a complete movie were not tested.