vlc regard the file path as a URL,so the subtitle won't be loaded automatically

I found the reason.The default Exec key of the vlc.desktop file(located in /usr/share/applications) have a %U argument,so the full file path passed to vlc will encoded as a URL automatically.To solve this problem,change it to %F,and everything will be fine.

The fix above works only for local files. After this fix VLC fails to play files on samba shares.

I can confirm this issue as present in up-to-date Hardy. The workaround given solves the problem (at least for local files).

Right click and open with... > use custom command: vlc %F

that way you have handy the original vlc launcher for samba files.

also could be solved using vlc param:
      --sub-autodetect-path=<string>
                                 Subtitle autodetection paths
          Look for a subtitle file in those paths too,
          if your subtitle file was not found in the
          current directory.
http://wiki.videolan.org/VLC_command-line_help

but couldn't find how to get the path as URI or local path from nautilus
http://standards.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/latest/ar01s06.html

I don't like drag and drop because when you try to pause the movie keeps playing and the subs are paused (ugly)

any ideas?

According to <a href="http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=775337&highlight=VLC+subtitles">this</a> thread, %m works better and is more appropriate in the "vlc.desktkop" file. It's what worked for me, as well.

Tested with Intrepid and the problem has gone. %U is still present in the desktop file, so something else must have changed. Can someone else test using Intrepid? Thanks in advance.

closing due to inactivity. reopen if the problem is still affecting you