PgcEdit: Is it safe to remove Programs/Cells from killed menu PGC ?

[zacoz]

I've been killing menu playback in PgcEdit for a while now and always get the "Your killed a Menu PGC playback. Do you want to remove also the Programs and Cells from the PGC? This will allow to easily strip the cell with VobBlanker."

As I wasn't sure of implications, I've always said no, and blanked the cells in VobBlanker (figure it's harder to break something by blanking than it is by stripping).

Can someone please explain what this actually does (if I answered yes)? Does it leave the pre/post commands intact - essentially turning it into a dummy ? Is it always safe ?

Also, while I'm throwing my ignorance (including of correct terminology) out there, am I correct in thinking that one "program" refers to say "VMGM, LU1(--),17" ?

[jeanl]

zacoz, I'm not the best qualified to answer (r0lZ would be here) but here's what I know.
- Removing programs and cell from the PGC means that it will become a dummy PGC, one that does not reference ANY cell in the vob. When you double click on a dummy PGC, you can see there's no cell list, nothing. Nothing is removed from the VOB, mind you. Just removed from the cell list in the PGC, in the IFO file...
- This is not dangerous at all, PgcEdit made sure the PGC would never be played (I'm not sure what's supposed to happen if you attempt to "play" a dummy PGC - for example by putting a break command in the precommand area - I know PgcEdit complains but I don't know what a player would do, probably nothing bad).
- The pre-post commands remain the same whether you say yes or no. The "kill playback" is what changes the pre-post commands.
- No, "VMGM, LU1(--),17" is a PGC. In menus, you have to identify them by both the Language unit (LU) and the PGC number (17). The programs are indicated when you double click on a PGC in PgcEdit. You'll see one column for chapters, one column for programs etc...

jeanl

[blutach]

If it offers, say yes. Then at then end, before burning/shrinking, run the menus through VobBlanker to remove the unreferenced cells (if they are not re-used in another PGC). This will save space.

The pre/post commands are kept as PgcEdit left them.

Note: Do not use IfoEdit to strip Vob IDs, as it messes up the cell still times and cell command numbers in the cell table. Derrow is aware of this and hopefully, he will fix it soon.

Regards

[zacoz]

Only thing I've been using IfoEdit for has been to strip angles...unless you next tell me this is fraught with danger also.

[blutach]

Not that I can recall. IIRC, it does a pretty good job of it.

Regards

[r0lZ]

I have nothing to add. The explanation of Kill Playback by jeanl is perfect. Note that it is not allowed to convert the PGC to dummy in the title domain, because a dummy PGC is illegal here (unless it belongs to another PGC which is not a dummy and share the same TTN number).