Launch and Play

The web app is able to trigger actions through the desktop app to launch and play files.

Only a small number of media formats have playback support in web browsers. To make it quick and easy to play these formats, we built two features: Play on Desktop and Launch on Desktop.

Play on Desktop - Plays supported video and audio formats in VLC running on a desktop with our app installed, with support for sending an organized playlist. No mounting of the storage is required, since the data is streamed into the player.
Launch on Desktop - Opens the selected file in the default application designated for that file type in your operating system settings, with folders opening in your OS file browser. The space is mounted automatically in this process and used to access the content.

Both of these require the same login credentials to be used between the web and desktop app along with an active authentication token.

<aside> ⚠️ WARNING

If the functionality isn’t working, refresh both apps to regenerate the token. You can use Cmd+R (MacOS) or Ctrl+R (Windows) to refresh.

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Use Cases

The Launch on Desktop feature is more recent than Play on Desktop and in most cases be used instead.

Here are a few use cases for these features:

Playing RAW video - Clips shot on cameras from RED, Sony, Blackmagic, ARRI and other vendors use proprietary formats that require specific applications to decode properly. You can use Launch on Desktop to play these formats automatically in the right app.
File-Based Projects - Applications, such as Premiere Pro, that use files as their project format can leverage the Launch on Desktop feature to not only launch the application and the project, but also automatically mount the space. So, you can bookmark the project you are working on in your web browser and jump right into them with a single button click.
Open in Finder/File Explorer - When you share links for the web app, you can open a folder in your OS’ file browser. So, if you want to reveal a file on your desktop, just go one level up to the parent folder and use Launch on Desktop. From the desktop app, you can just use the Reveal File or Open File actions.
Preview Media in a Snapshot - You need to recover a media file from a snapshot, but you’re not sure if it’s the right one. The format isn’t supported by web browsers. It isn’t in an active share, so you can’t mount or launch it. However, you can use Play on Desktop to stream it to VLC and even send an entire playlist to go through.

Benefits

Launch on Desktop and Play on Desktop are all about making your life easier. With just a click, you can open your files on your desktop, and yes, it’s as handy as it sounds.

Extensive Format Support - VLC supports a wide range of media formats and you can install additional applications to expand the number of file types you can open on your desktop.
Instant Access, No Fuss - Folders open right up in Finder or File Explorer, and files launch directly in the right applications. If you’ve got your media assets stored in the same space as your documents and project files that reference them, everything connects automatically – no extra steps needed.
Seamless Integration with Your Desktop - Forget about manual mounting. When you launch a project, creative.space automatically mounts the space for you if it’s not already mounted. This means you’re straight into editing mode without the usual setup hassle.
Bookmarking for Speed - In the world of post-production, every second counts. By bookmarking your project in your web browser, you get quick access and rapid launching capabilities. This means less time navigating and more time doing what you do best – editing.

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