add chapters to existing dvd, Next button not working

[flaviux]

Hi, I am quite new to dvd editing and video stuff generally speaking. Now I'm facing this problem and doing some google research I've found you, DVD Remake, but I still can't use it to fit my needs. In fact I have a DVD with 16 PGC. Every PGC has one title with one chapter. The "Next" button of the dvd player doesn't jump to the next chapter because every title has just one chapter. I would like to be able to jump to next and/or previous (title in my case) or to reorganize somehow the structure so I can use the dvd as I like but without losing the intro (the animation at the begining of the dvd). Can this be done with DVDRemake? If yes, would you please share with me the steps to do? I have downloaded the demo v3.6.3, you can see the attachment for more details. Thanks in advance!

[toaddub]

Are there any menus in the Video Manager domain that jump to each title in VTS1? If so, you will need to adjust menu navigation to repoint to the new target.

There is a couple of ways to do what you want but will require reorganizing the structure.

Method 1:
Make all the PGCs to have only 1 title and use Prev/Next PGC in Extras pane to jump to previous/next PGC as you see fit. Note that this method will not allow you to time seek or use the slider in the software player. To make all PGCs to have 1 title:

1. First delete Titles 2-16 under Titles pane. You will see PGC 2-16 will be highlighted in red.
   
2. Go to each PGC, right-click and select "Assign to title", and click OK. Only Title 1 is available.
   
3. In the Title pane add chapter for PGC 2-16.
   
4. For each PGC 2-16, go to the Extras pane and assign the Prev/Next PGC #.
   
5. In Video Manager/VMG Titles pane and delete all the red highlighted VMG title # as they are now unreferenced.

Method 2:
Copy PGC 2-16 and append to the end of PGC 1, then delete PGC 2-16 and any red highlighted items. This method results in seamless playback. Details:

1. For each PGC 2-16, select "Copy PGC", then go to PGC 1 and select "Append copied PGC".
   
2. In the Title pane, add chapters for the appended programs (use multi-select by selecting Program 2, hole Shift, and click on the last program) in Title 1.
   
3. In the Title pane, for each Title 2-16, select "Delete title with PGCs". If there are any red highlighted items such as commands, delete them also except for menu buttons.
   
4. In PGC 1/Programs pane, double-click on each appended program (2-16) and check the Seamless Playback flag. You'll see the Seamless column changes from "no" to "yes".
   
5. Now go to Video Manager/VMG Title pane and delete all the red highlighted VMG Title #.

Hope this helps you out.

[flaviux]

Thanks for your answer, toaddub. Using Method 1 I can't use Next or Previous button. Instead of jumping to the desired (Next or Previous) chapter, the movie is interrupted and I see the main windows of my DVD Player. Anyway, if I choose to Go to, it works well. Using Method 2 works closer to my desire. I can use the Next and Previous buttons but If I choose Go to, well now I have only one chapter, which is the first. It seems to me that I can't combine the two methods to have the dvd the way I want. If you think it could be done, please let me know.

You also asked: Are there any menus in the Video Manager domain that jump to each title in VTS1? If so, you will need to adjust menu navigation to repoint to the new target.
And I confirm, yes it's like that. The dvd was created using some trial version of Ulead DVD Movie Factory.

Thank you very much, toaddub. I know you'll recommend buying DVD ReMake, but what is the difference between the standard and pro version? Have a nice day, ciao!

[toaddub]

I have no problem with Method 1. Works fine in various software players and standalones. Prev/Next button works as expected. Even if I don't press anything the current PGC will play the next PGC. Did you follow the steps exactly? Are there any commands in PGC 2-16? If so, make sure you delete them all.

As for method 2, I forgot to add the step for adding chapters to appended progams. Check my previous post for revised steps. You cannot combine both methods together; it's either one or the other.

Since the menu points to each title, you will need to modify the button commands, possibly in other places as well, to reflect the change. I can't be specific unless you show a screenshot of the menu with the button commands showing in the Buttons pane. If you download the zip file and load the custom layout #1 in your project and capture as shown in the picture, it'll be perfect.

This customization requires the Pro version. The standard version has only simple editing. Download the demo and you'll see the difference.

[flaviux]

Hi, toaddub. I'm back and I'm sorry if I made you waiting for so long. Let's start from the begining. (I don't know the exact terms, I'll try to explain myself using my own language.)

My DVD is made like that: when inserted I have a screen with 2 buttons (play and next) and 3 links (to the first 3 PGCs). Pressing Play it plays the first PGC, when finished it plays the second and so on. Pressing Next takes me to another screen with the next 3 links for the next 3 PGCs. There are 16 PGCs at all, so I have 6 screens with links and buttons to go ahead or back for jumping directly to the desired part of the movie. The only problem I have is that the Prev and Next buttons are not available, which means I can't quickly switch to another chapter (in fact, every PGC has only one chapter), but the dvd plays smoothly from the begining to the end passing through all the PGCs.


After doing EXACTLY as you said for more than 5 times for each method you suggested and WITHOUT mixing them, I finaly have something to say. The exported DVD (15 seconds long only as I use the demo version) seem to work better with method 2. It jumps well to prev and next but ONLY if I start watching it from the first PGC (which became the only). If at the first screen I choose for example the second link, it stops playing. If I choose the 10th, the same thing. But if I choose the first link and want to jump to PGC (pardon, it became Chapter) nr 10, it works well.

Using method #1, instead, practicaly I should ONLY press Play at the first screen to have the first PGC playing. When finished, it stops. If I choose to play any other PGC (or chapter... as it's already a chapter), it stops. So I am not satisfied at all with method one, that's why I attach a screenshot of it after making CORRECTLY all the steps. Of course, I have some red items, but I don't know how to correct or re-address the jumps. So I am asking you again for your help, in case you need more screenshots, just let me know.

Thanks for your time, bye!

[toaddub]

You have to fix any red highlighted items. This is probably the reason why your button links do not jump to the desired PGC. From the screenshot above, change each red command to Jump VTS Title 1 chapter x, where x = 1-16 that points to the respective PGC1-16 that you defined in the Titles pane.

Are there any pre and post commands to VTS1/Program Chains/PGC1-16? If so, show me the screenshot. Did you define the Next/Prev PGC number in the Extras pane for each PGC?

With method 2, you have to fix the menu navigation if you're to start from any other buttons except the Play button.

[flaviux]

Thanks, toaddub. I almost did it! Yeah, but ... there is another but. The resulted dvd has only one (last) problem (I hope), at least it seems so (I remember you that I'm using the demo version).

When I play it for the first time and it finishes, it automatically jumps to the second chapter. OK, I watch it again until the end and it automatically jumps to the third chapter. OK, I watch it again until the end and it automatically jumps to the fourth chapter. And so on ... I am sure that somewhere I should change some jumps, but where do I have to go? Should I modify PGC2's jumps or PGC3's jumps. If you take a look to the taken screenshots, maybe it'll help to descifre the secret. Thanks.

[toaddub]

I'm not sure what problem you're trying to describe. You mean it does not play continuously? What method are you using? Perhaps if I can see your files I can help you better. So start from the beginning, no editing is done, select Video Manager/Menus en and "Convert menus to still". Then go to Audio Tracks pane and "Disable track in all PGC" - to reduce file size. Then select "File/Export modified files" to "original" folder. Zip up just the IFOs and VIDEO_TS.VOB.

As for your edited project like shown in your screenshot above, just convert menus to still in Video Manager/Menus en and disable the audio track. Do the normal export to "modified" folder. Zip up just the IFOs and VIDEO_TS.VOB.

Upload these 2 zip files to some file hosting site, like savefile.com. I'll compare these 2 and see what you have done.

[flaviux]

Hey, I was in some kind of hurry and I didn't make myself understood. OK, I used method 2 and corrected all the red highlited items following your instructions. The resulted DVD plays well, continuously, from begining to the end, it also jumps from a chapter to another like I wanted to. But when it reaches the end of the movie, it doesn't stop, it starts to play it again NOT from the begining but from the 2nd chapter (I have 16). If I let it play again until the end of the movie, it doesn't stop, it starts to play it again NOT from the begining but from the 3rd chapter. And so on. Got it now? Anyway, I could be satisfied even with this small defect. I think I'll try to mess up a bit again, maybe I'll find the way. Unfortunately I can't send you any zip file as I can't export the modified files with the demo version

The above screenshots are made from my resulted DVD. I thought they could help you see why it doesn't stop playing.

toaddub, I really appreciate your trouble and support. You're great!

[DimadSoft]

[flaviux]

[toaddub]

That's odd. You shouldn't be able to use Ctrl+T in the demo - just tested it. Ctrl+M is not supported either. Well, then do the normal export then. Thanks for the explanation, flaviux. I think it has something to do with R[7]. Maybe assign R[7]=16 in the post command of movie PGC. (Program Chains/PGC 1). Without the files I can't be certain.

[flaviux]

[toaddub]

In VTS1/Program Chains/PGC1, modify the post-command to Call "root" menu (resume cell 1). It shouldn't replay the chapters when you selected the Play or any chapter button.

[flaviux]

Finally the result I expected! I was convinced it was a stupid thing, but it's the first time I tried DVDReMake. By the way, I would like to go deeper learning to use it. What I mean is: using it it's not difficult, on the contrary. It's just, like in my case, I would like to know going straight to the point of the problem. I think I have to learn first about the structure of the DVD, about the commands, the links and all that stuff. Am I right? Do you know a place like this on the web where I can start? Of course, I read a bit all days this forum and found nice and prepared people, like you, but I would like to do DVD things on my own, possibly, and even share my experience with others on this forum.

I thank you a lot toaddub for your help and I hope we meet again. Ciao!

[CDR-Zone.COM]