FirstPlay to MainMenu in Scenarist 2.6

[tomeczek]

Using Scenarist 2.6

I'm creating the DVD from my own DVC movie (small digital casette).
I have following "assets":
1. Main movie - in VTS_1/Title_1
2. FirstPlay movie - in VTS_2/Title_1_1
3. Main Menu - in VTS_1/Title_1
4. Scene Selection Menu - also in VTS_1/Title_1

I have following questions:
1. How to make my Main Menu a Root Menu (respond to "Menu" on remote)
2. How to make my Scene Selection Menu a Title Menu (respond to "Title" on remote)
3. What should I do to jump to Main Menu after FirstPlay
4. Are the locations of my menus OK or should I create a language folder(s) and put my menus there?

Many thanks in advance!

[rubic42]

1. How to make my Main Menu a Root Menu (respond to "Menu" on remote)

In each VTS make a language folder, this is where you need to put menus that respond to the Menu button. Each PGC in the language folder can have a special designation, ie. root menu or angle menu or subtitle menu.

Alternatively, if you wanted to leave the menu in the title, you could use a dummy PGC as the root menu in the language folder and have it link to your menu inside the title. When the user presses the menu button, it will first go to this dummy PGC which will direct it back to the menu in the title. Personally I'd go with the first option since it's simpler and more clearly separates the two kinds of assets. You might also have a problem if your menu is of a different resolution than your video, the DVD spec doesn't allow you to mix media types within a title.

2. How to make my Scene Selection Menu a Title Menu (respond to "Title" on remote)

I thought the title button traditionally takes you back to the disc's main menu, eg. this button is called "top menu" on my Pioneer remote control. But if you wanted to do this anyway, you would have to put the scene selection menu into the Video Manager and designate it as the title menu. Additionally, I am not sure if you can link to specific title chapters from within the Video Manager domain. You would have to do some extra programming with dummy PGCs or use the scene selection PGC as a dummy PGC that just routes to the real menu residing in the language folder of the VTS.

3. What should I do to jump to Main Menu after FirstPlay

In the Post or Pre (depending on whether or not this PGC has any content) areas of the First Play PGC, you should be able to make a link to any PGC in the Video Manager. Just use a dummy PGC in the Video Manager to link to the main menu.

4. Are the locations of my menus OK or should I create a language folder(s) and put my menus there?

You need a language folder, or else some DVD players won't be able to play the title. I'd say yeah, put your menus in there. The DVD spec was designed to work better this way. If you choose to work another way, you won't be able to take advantage of some of the features in the spec and will have to create more programming in order to achieve the same effect.

I tend to ramble. Does this help?

[tomeczek]

Thanks rubic42!

I will try to re-cap now:

1. "Title menu" goes to VideoManager/Language folder. It will have selections like "Scene Selection", "Languages", "Special Features" and "Play". It will respond to Menu button on remote.

2. "Scene Selection" and "Languages" menus go to VTS_x/Language folder. The movie should be put in VTS_x/Title_x. Will it respond to Title button on remote?

And now the question (actually four) you may find stupid:
What is "dummy PGC", how you create it, where you put it and why would you need it?

Thanks in advance for your respnse(s)!

[rubic42]

A dummy PGC is a PGC that has no tracks and no media elements. You can create one anywhere you'd create any other PGC that does have a menu or a movie, in the Video Manager or in the VTS/Language folder or in the VTS/Title.

The dummy PGC is used to add extra programming, linking, etc. when there's just no other way. You can use the Pre and Post command areas of dummy PGCs just as you would on any other PGC.

[tomeczek]

I created a "Place Holder" in the Title folder.

Is it enough to call it "Dummy PGC" or do I have to actually put something in it?

Will the "Dummy PGC" take space on the DVD?