ioctl VIDIOC_G_FMT, VIDIOC_S_FMT, VIDIOC_TRY_FMT

Name

VIDIOC_G_FMT, VIDIOC_S_FMT, VIDIOC_TRY_FMT -- Get or set the data format, try a format

Synopsis

int ioctl(int fd, int request, struct v4l2_format *argp);

Arguments

fd

File descriptor returned by open().

request

VIDIOC_G_FMT, VIDIOC_S_FMT, VIDIOC_TRY_FMT

argp

Description

These ioctls are used to negotiate the format of data (typically image format) exchanged between driver and application.

To query the current parameters applications set the type field of a struct v4l2_format to the respective buffer (stream) type. For example video capture devices use V4L2_BUF_TYPE_VIDEO_CAPTURE. When the application calls the VIDIOC_G_FMT ioctl with a pointer to this structure the driver fills the respective member of the fmt union. In case of video capture devices that is the struct v4l2_pix_format pix member. When the requested buffer type is not supported drivers return an EINVAL error code.

To change the current format parameters applications initialize the type field and all fields of the respective fmt union member. For details see the documentation of the various devices types in Chapter 4. Good practice is to query the current parameters first, and to modify only those parameters not suitable for the application. When the application calls the VIDIOC_S_FMT ioctl with a pointer to a v4l2_format structure the driver checks and adjusts the parameters against hardware abilities. Drivers should not return an error code unless the input is ambiguous, this is a mechanism to fathom device capabilities and to approach parameters acceptable for both the application and driver. On success the driver may program the hardware, allocate resources and generally prepare for data exchange. Finally the VIDIOC_S_FMT ioctl returns the current format parameters as VIDIOC_G_FMT does. Very simple, inflexible devices may even ignore all input and always return the default parameters. However all V4L2 devices exchanging data with the application must implement the VIDIOC_G_FMT and VIDIOC_S_FMT ioctl. When the requested buffer type is not supported drivers return an EINVAL error code on a VIDIOC_S_FMT attempt. When I/O is already in progress or the resource is not available for other reasons drivers return the EBUSY error code.

The VIDIOC_TRY_FMT ioctl is equivalent to VIDIOC_S_FMT with one exception: it does not change driver state. It can also be called at any time, never returning EBUSY. This function is provided to negotiate parameters, to learn about hardware limitations, without disabling I/O or possibly time consuming hardware preparations. Although strongly recommended drivers are not required to implement this ioctl.

Table 1. struct v4l2_format

enum v4l2_buf_typetype Type of the data stream, see Table 3-2.
unionfmt  
 struct v4l2_pix_formatpixDefinition of an image format, see Chapter 2, used by video capture and output devices.
 struct v4l2_windowwinDefinition of an overlaid image, see Section 4.2, used by video overlay devices.
 struct v4l2_vbi_formatvbiRaw VBI capture or output parameters. This is discussed in more detail in Section 4.7. Used by raw VBI capture and output devices.
 struct v4l2_sliced_vbi_formatslicedSliced VBI capture or output parameters. See Section 4.8 for details. Used by sliced VBI capture and output devices.
 __u8raw_data[200]Place holder for future extensions and custom (driver defined) formats with type V4L2_BUF_TYPE_PRIVATE and higher.

Return Value

On success 0 is returned, on error -1 and the errno variable is set appropriately:

EBUSY

The data format cannot be changed at this time, for example because I/O is already in progress.

EINVAL

The struct v4l2_format type field is invalid, the requested buffer type not supported, or VIDIOC_TRY_FMT was called and is not supported with this buffer type.