Why does ImgBurn only create "mds" images ?

[rapscallion]

I'm glad to see Lighting UK develope another highly usable tool. I am curious though why the mds image type (Nero, I think) is the only image creation option. I'd think that iso image (the most common) would be the logical choice, or at least a secondary one

Is there something special or more reliable about the mds type for dvd structure? Does Image Burn do a better job with this image format? Thanks

[LIGHTNING UK!]

I think you're a little confused here.

ImgBurn doesn't create ANY images. It's purely a burning tool.

What you're probably referring to is the option to create an MDS file BASED on an existing image.

This is for times where you have a split ISO file and need to logically join its parts back together without having to physically merge them.
It's also useful when you have a small DVD ISO image and want to 'mount' it in a virtual drive program. DAEMON Tools doesn't switch into DVD mode until an ISO image > 1GB in size is mounted. The MDS file gets around that limitation.

[rapscallion]

Thanks Lighting ! I guess I did misread/confused the purpose of that option. So, creating an iso with programs like Winiso, Ultraiso, etc are all about equal for dvd compliant video compilations ?

[r0lZ]

No! To create a DVD-Video ISO, you must use a tool that builds DVD-Video ISOs! Seems stupid, but most ISO maker programs are made only for DVD-ROM files. They doesn't work for DVD-Video files.
To build DVD-Video ISO, you can use the PgcEdit's burn function, or ImgTool Classic. ImgTool works ONLY for single layer DVDs!

[rapscallion]

Yikes !, I'm glad I asked before I went down that road. I've been decrypting in file mode, in the past, and then burning with ImgTool Burn v1.21. I understand from previous posts that ImgToolBurn, during processing, creates a dvd compliant iso on the fly, before burning.

Whether this is true or not I'm not positive, but I have used this method because I've been able to judge total target size easier.(plus this elimnates the step of creating the iso).

So far, to date, no problems. good burns, and no coasters. Very interesting re the dvd data setup of the other programs. Thanks again rOIZ ! Comments welcome

Edit: Incidentally, in ImageTool Burn, is it really necessary to check the box "reallocate Video_TS structure"? I've forgotten to do it a few times (unfortunately when inserting media it does not default to being checked). However those discs did play just fine in my standalone.

[r0lZ]

I don't use and don't know ImgTool Burn. But it uses the Nero burning engine, so, basically, burning with it or with Nero is exactly the same thing. Only the GUI differ.
Note that Nero and ImgTool Burn are not very efficient to burn DL DVD_Videos. For this reason, I prefer to use mkisofs (the engine behind ImgTool Classic) and ImgBurn. You can find good guides on my homepage explaining the benefit of the "classic" method.

[rapscallion]

Thanks rOIZ for all the good info (and obviously for you prog) so far I havn't ventured into DL yet, but have read what you mention re efficiency.