ImgTool Classic problem, TitleWriter problem

[Morlock]

Update: okay, I figured out an answer to #1. I haven't really figured out what absurd rules this app works by, but I've found one way to make it work. Okay, for posterity my solution is below in red.

I have two problems (latest version of each program):

1) I've been getting a lot of burn errors (observable in playback) lately - I say a lot, I mean usually it's just one little annoying error but it's been happening to a lot of discs. So, I want to try burning ISOs instead of files to see if that helps (and use something that will let me burn at 1x instead of crapola InstantCD/DVD 7 and 8 which won't let me burn under 4x unless I'm burning slower-rated media).

I've never created an ISO and getting it done is giving me a migraine.

I'm trying to use ImgTool Classic. This program is going to give me an embolism. You can't set the target folder anywhere but inside the source folder, but when you do it spits out some crap about not being able to find the folder in the target directory? Why would it need a file from the source directory to be in the target directory?

Here's what I mean. I've got my files in c:\MOVIE\VIDEO_TS. I set that directory as my source. I set c:\MOVIE\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS as my target directory so I don't get the stupid "this directory must be" blah blah. When I click the "image" button I get:

Missing needed file: c:\MOVIE\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS\video_ts.ifo

God only knows why we get a file browser function just so we can hear endless messages about how we can't choose a directory, but I don't care. I just want to know how to make this app work. I can't use DVDShrink to create the ISO because I'm using TitleWriter to "reauthor" for episode discs and DVDShrink chokes on the resulting movies.

What do I use for a target directory (please be specific).

Solution: select the directory holding your VIDEO_TS folder, not the VIDEO_TS folder itself, for your source. Everything else seems to work okay after that.

2) TitleWriter is messing up the end of projects. I use a simple DVD-Lab project, a VMG menu with a still image background and two buttons, each of which leads to one of two VTS menus, each of which has two buttons; the first is a play button for a single episode and the second is a return to VMG button. The project plays fine with the dummy 100 meg videos, but after using Titlewriter the second VTS' movie doesn't automatically return to the main VMG, instead it stops the player (the first movie works as it should, returning to the VMG when finished). PowerDVD and my set top Emerson both do this, but not with the project before TitleWriter "authors" it.

Also, DVDShrink won't open movies "authored" by TitleWriter. Otherwise TitleWriter works swimmingly.

[Carpo]

its easy to use

you have 3 boxes

source
output
volumeID

source is oviously the files you want to iso up for example x:\dvdfiles\film - as long as the film dir has an audio_ts and video_ts folder in it your fine.

in out put select where you want to make the iso - pref not in the same folder as you are trying to iso for exmaple x:\dvdisos

in volumeid you put what you want the disc name to be

click image and off you go

[Morlock]

Actually no, it isn't easy to use because it's hard to figure out at first. The error message for not selecting the right source directory is ambiguous (I'm being generous). Plus there's a weird error message that seems to indicate that there's a problem with the target directory when in fact it's a problem with the source.

The trick is to select not the folder containing the movie, but the one above it.

I figured out problem #1 already though. Does anyone have an answer for problem #2?

[Taelon]

Please take a look at PgcEdit, as it has several functions that are perfectly suited to your needs.
#1) it will take your reauthored content and create an ISO using ImgToolClassic\mkisofs.exe by simply pressing the button, even including 32k padding if desired.
#2) it has a powerful "trace mode" which will allow you to trace the functions of the dvd and determine where the authoring problem is, and allow you to alter the VM commands to make it work properly.
#3) it will automatically update VTS sectors when the dvd project is saved. DVDShrink should then open the project without trouble.
#4) has a whole lot of other cool reauthoring features I'd be lost without.

[Morlock]

Please take a look at PgcEdit, as it has several functions that are perfectly suited to your needs.
Yeah, I've been using PgcEdit to correct the problem. Apparently TitleWriter has a bug where it cuts off the Post commands from the last Title, but it's easily fixed (by by cutting and pasting the proper Post commands from the menu sourced by TitleWriter if the project has only one Title, or from the first Title if it has two or more).

Thanks for the good tip. :thanks:
#4) has a whole lot of other cool reauthoring features I'd be lost without.
Is there a way to change the directory (and naming convention) PgcEdit uses for backup when you save an edited DVD? I prefer how TitleWriter does it, by making a new folder (named after the old folder with _undo appended) at the same level as the old one, rather than as a nested folder within the Video_TS folder.

It's no biggie, it's just that I have to move it before burning and to save time I just delete it. I'd rather move it instead but what with having to move and rename it (so I know which project it corresponds to) it isn't worth the effort (since if I'm careful the folder isn't necessary anyways).

I've noticed that PgcEdit has scads of features and it seems pretty nifty. Trouble is I'm not into experimentation except by necessity. Others here are way more adventurous than I am. I just want a nice, simple menu system that's quickly performed.

That's why I'm so in love with my new workflow for episodic DVDs: rip with DVD Decrypter; encode with DVDShrink; open my ready-made menu in DVDLab, type in the episode title, compile (takes about a minute with 50mb dummy vids); run TitleWriter on my encoded episode(s); run PgcEdit to correct the broken Post commands; check the result in my software player; make ISO and burn it with ImgTool Classic.

Only the parts in italics are made necessary by episodic DVDs. They add up to less than five minutes, which is a HUGE reduction in both time and effort over my previous method for episodic DVDs (the full DVDLab treatment). The full DVDLab treatment had put me off even trying to back up my episodic DVDs any more, what with demuxing every episode, rewriting the GOP Timecode for every episode, frame-indexing every episode, adding the chapters back in for every episode, then remuxing every episode during compile...URG! Just thinking about it gives me a headache. :D

So, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR TITLEWRITER!!! (and PgcEdit too).

[Fallen]

Morlock. Just checked readd menus episodic -- seems I've introduced a bug in the vts sector realignment(Re DvdShrink -- Open Post TW files --Ifoedit GetVts sectors Fixes it). Working on it.

What Ver TW is broken 2.02?
I have a question did you create a link from the tail of your movie to the vmg menu (in DvdLab)
And did you select Use Vmg navigation in start play options

FAllenAngel

[Fallen]

Morlock -- Bug re DvdShrink fixed. Lost the code for 2.02. Below ver (2.05) is in beta. To change the import menu double click on top entry in list. and make sure add menu checkbox is clicked. You should probably check the Use menu as is box if the menu has been designed for TW readd (as in the DVDLAB menus you created)

Re your second navigation prob TW will use Original VTS pgci commands in source file (created by DVDshrink) unless you click add Vts Ifo navigation checkbox in Settings (don't select this when readding orig menus strange and deadly things happen). TW will not remember this setting (Defaults to false) when closed.

Simply Stomp on old ver of TW with new

FAllenAngel

[Morlock]

Yes, I'm using 2.002. Thanks again for your efforts, I looove TW! :D

I have a question did you create a link from the tail of your movie to the vmg menu (in DvdLab)
Yes I did. I know going back to the VTS seems more stylistically consistent but I find my way more practical (for me) since I never want to watch an episode twice, rather I want to get on to the next one. Actually I only include a VMG and a pair of VTS because that's what TW seems to like - my preference is a simple VTS with a link to each movie. (actually that's not entirely true - my previous preference was that way, but now that I'm used to the "TW method" I think I prefer it).
And did you select Use Vmg navigation in start play options
Yes, I do this for all my episodic DVDs. Btw, if it matters I'd prefer that this selection be default or remembered by TW (it doesn't matter much at this point since I've become trained to switch it by now).

[Morlock]

Could a mod approve Fallen's attachment please?

[Morlock]

Could a mod approve Fallen's attachment please?

[Fallen]

Just Uploaded 2.05Beta to TW download site.
http://www.dvdshrink.info/titlewriter/

Guess I don't post enough here to rate attachments.

I'm usually over/watch the DigitalDigest forums here
http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?t=39486



FAllenAngel

[Morlock]

Thanks a lot Fallen.

:thanks:

[Taelon]

Is there a way to change the directory (and naming convention) PgcEdit uses for backup when you save an edited DVD? I prefer how TitleWriter does it, by making a new folder (named after the old folder with _undo appended) at the same level as the old one, rather than as a nested folder within the Video_TS folder.
...
make ISO and burn it with ImgTool Classic.Morlock, I don't think there's a way to change the default PgcEdit backup beyond whether it's in the parent folder or not. But why not just create the ISO directly from PgcEdit and not worry about it, since it looks for it's own as well as MenuShrink and VobBlanker backup folders and will ignore them when creating the ISO.

[Fallen]

Morlock
Another solution (If you still use Pgcedit at all in your workflow) to the Pgcedit folder backup location is to turn backup off. TW's Undo will restore files to post Shrink content if it hits the fan.

FAllenAngel