Skip steps
Video library | Video playback | Skip steps |
Skip steps is a new seeking function that has been implemented into Kodi and is a method of additive skipping (also known as additive seeking) that applies to both videos and music, it allows you to skip backwards and forwards with the left and right cursor keys (this is the default keyboard and remote mapping), and by pressing these keys multiple times you can skip with increasingly larger steps.
The following Action ID's are for now forwarded to the new seeking function:
- StepForward
- StepBack
- SmallStepBack - note this action is going to be removed as it is now redundant with the new seeking behaviour.
Configuration
The settings can be found in the Videos -> Playback section and Music -> Playback
Skip steps - This allows you to set the number of skip steps and the value for each step, the default values available here are -30 min, -15 min, -10 min, -5 min, -60 sec, -30 sec, -15 sec, -7 sec, 7 sec, 15 sec, 30 sec, 60 sec, 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 30 min.
Skip delay: This is the amount of time Kodi waits for you to press the left or right key again (if using the default keyboard and remote mapping) , before actually performing the forward or backwards skip, can be set to None and from there in 250ms steps until 3000ms.
Custom skip steps
The available skip step values can be further customised via the advancedsettings.xml file with the <seeksteps> entry. This is an optional step for users who want more granular control over what options are available.
Example:
<seeksteps>10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60</seeksteps>
This will result in the Skip step list in the GUI of -60 sec, -50 sec, -40 sec, -30 sec, -20 sec, -10 sec, 10 sec, 20 sec, 30 sec, 40 sec, 50 sec, 60 sec
Additive skipping
Additive skipping (additive seeking) is a method of having increasingly larger skip steps the more times you press either the left or right key, you need at least one skip step configured for either the positive or negative direction together with having a skip delay set. Note - If you press either the left or right key more times than there are configured steps for that direction, then the last configured skip size value will be summed up for each subsequent key press.
Example 1
Skip Steps: -30 sec, -15sec, -7 sec, 15 sec, 30 sec, 60 sec
Skip Delay: 750ms
This table shows what happens with multiple presses of either the left key or the right key:
Key Presses | Left Left Left Left Left | Left Left Left Left | Left Left Left | Left Left | Left | Right | Right Right | Right Right Right | Right Right Right Right | Right Right Right Right Right |
Time to be skipped | 90 seconds backwards | 60 seconds backwards | 30 seconds backwards | 15 seconds backwards | 7 seconds backwards | 15 seconds forwards | 30 seconds forwards | 60 seconds forwards | 120 seconds forwards | 180 seconds forwards |
Example 2
Skip Steps: -7 sec, 30 sec
Skip Delay: 750ms
This table shows what happens with multiple presses of either the left key or the right key:
Key Presses | Left Left Left | Left Left | Left | Right | Right Right | Right Right Right |
Time to be skipped | 21 seconds backwards | 14 seconds backwards | 7 seconds backwards | 30 seconds forwards | 60 seconds forwards | 90 seconds forwards |
It is worth experimenting with Skip Delay to find the optimal setting for your hardware and the type of response you wish, for 250ms allows use of the additive function while retaining an almost instant response however this needs very quick presses for multiple presses to be registered.
Instant skipping
With no more than a single negative or positive step configured, together with Skip Delay set to none, then Kodi will instantly skip without a delay.
Example
Skip Steps: -7 sec, 30 sec
Skip Delay: None
Key Presses | Left | Right |
Time to be skipped | 7 seconds backwards | 30 seconds forwards |