Movie playback from custom menu

[Phe0nix_]

I haven't used DvdRemake in quite sometime but recently i noticed if i imported my dummy dvd into DvdReMake 1st and then imported my main feature the main feature wouldn't play from the play menu. The menu would just start over.

I noticed that the VMG had 2 Menu entries and this was the cause. I determined this by using a different a clut file. The 1st entry would play
and then when i hit play it would go to the second entry and then to a blank screen if i hit play again.

I ddidn't have this problem if i imported the main feature 1st and when doing so i would only have 1 menu entry in the VMG. Even tried to remove the menus and or disable them to no avail.

Anyone know why i would make any difference which was imported 1st , i've never had this happend before...

[toaddub]

This seems like a navigation issue. How do you import the main feature into the dummy dvd? Replace block? Copy & Paste? Append? Did you check the navigation from the dummy dvd to see where it goes - use the debug player to find out.

[Phe0nix_]

[toaddub]

Merging the 2 DVDs is not necessary in this case. You have 2 options: either 1) simply replace the dummy DVD's small clip with the main feature, or 2) add the customized menu to the main feature DVD, with the Play button pointing to the main feature.

Well, option 1 is easier so I'll show you this approach. With dummy DVD as project1 and main feature DVD as project2,

1. In project1, delete the video clip's PGC - use "Delete PGC".
2. In project2, copy the main feature PGC - use "Copy PGC".
3. Go back to project1. Right-click on VTS/Program Chains and "Add copied PGC".
4. Select the added PGC1 and "Assign to title". Check the box to "set PGC as entry for this title", and click OK.
5. Go to Titles pane, and fix Chapter 1 to point to PGC1/Program 1. Then add chapters for all the programs - use multi-select for programs 2 through N for the shortcut.
6. Select PGC1 (movie) and "Remove navigation" to delete all pre/post/cell commands.
7. Add post-command "Call VMG "title" menu (resume cell 1)". This goes back to the title menu when finished playing.

Hope this works out for you.

[Phe0nix_]

Thanks for your reply. Yes i have it working and didn't understand why, which is the reason for my post. It worked by importing the Main feature 1st. I tried Option 1 and that worked great and also did option 2 but i'm not familiar with Registers,pre-commands and post commands.

I see that the First Play pre command pointed to VMG PGC 18 which pointed to VTS 3 Root menu ( Title 1 ), which is the menu i created in my dummy dvd . So i changed the button command to point to VMG PGC 17 with a pre command of VMG Title 2 ( the main feature ).

Thanks for the time you took to answer my question. I will have to study on how a dvd navigates. I don't want to take the easy way out as i always want to know why and i'll spends hours trying to understand it.

Thanks again.

[toaddub]

That will also work, but sometimes use of the Merge feature is not necessary.

Here's a tip, when you highlight any Jump/Call/Link/if commands, if you want to see where it's going use "Open Destination" or Ctrl-Space. VM commands are simple, there's nothing much to learn. Here's one good place to learn about DVD structure: http://www.dvd-replica.com/DVD/index.php.

[Phe0nix_]

Just to let you know i did use your method ( option 1 ) as it's the easiest. I explored both options you gave me so as to have a better understanding. I have been searching for info on DVD Structures and just wanted to thank you for that link. I really appriciate your knowledge of DVD's and taking the time to help me understand it more.

1 last question:

My main feature was authored as one hudge chapter. I have been reading about inserting cells by moving the slider in the preview to
a desired area of the feature ( approx 230 MB for 5 Min of video ) and
right clicking in the preview to split to genenerate a new cell in the program pane. Then to right click on the new cell to insert program.
Then going to the Titles pane expanding the tree right clicking on a
chapter to add chapters. I know you know this but for someone who doesn't it may be usefull or i may refer back to it in 6 months.

My questions is, is there an automated way of adding chapters at 5 minute intervals throught the movie oposed to using the method above ?

[toaddub]

Sorry, there's no automated 5-min interval chapter insertion at the moment. This is on the to-do list: http://www.cdr-zone.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3537 Perhaps you can voice your desire in that thread.

[CDR-Zone.COM]