MenuEdit - Tool to edit DVD Menus

[Dimad]

Is it possible to completely remove the button after deleting the button's function?

Answer is yes, but to do this is not one click procedure. Neither too complicated, all depends on what authoring tool you have and how familiar you are with editing pictures, movies.

You will need to do few things:
1) split cell with button you want to delete into components: video, audio, subpicture;
2) edit video (if it is a motion menu) or image (if it is a still menu) to grey out or somehow else indicate that button is deleted;
3) author everything together into new vob/cell;
4) "replace cell" with using MenuEdit (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?threadid=55261). MenuEdit 2.1.1 is especially helpfull since you can copy buttons from the original cell into new one!

Done! :)

[SplinterMgs]

Dimad, thanks for a great tool (and the reply).

Unfortunately, it wasn't for language or subtitle selection menu, it was in fact for the main menu.

I was trying to keep the button which actually goes to a submenu (Extras). Strange thing is I managed to track down a rather old version 1.1.2 which worked and didn't cause this behaviour.

The latest version has lot more features but somehow they must work differently. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem (with the latest version), I'm just doing basic buttons removal.

I'd like to use the latest version, so any ideas?

Many thanks in advance.

[Dimad]

Terminology might be confusing. From your post it looks like you "remove" buttons (which would reduce amount of buttons shown by MenuEdit). Have you tried to just "hide" them?

Also you might want to check commands associated with the buttons.

[VidHack]

Be carefull using Vers. 1.1.2 it had a "misplaced highlight bug", so it actually may be working due to the highlights being located 'off' your screen. Please try your test with a minimum of Version 1.2.0 and report back if it still works.

VidHack

[cracksloth]

here is my rather specific experience with menuedit (perhaps this means someone else can duplicate it). i am trying to remove the button leading to the language menu in the first dvd of band of brothers. i am testing my changes in windvd5 and powerdvd5 within winxp. i can edit the menu in vobid 5 of VTS_01_0.VOB. unfortunately, nothing seems to work. i use menuedit to "hide" the button (with jumping enabled) but the button is not disabled and i can navigate and select it normally. when i activate the button, i go to language menu as one would expect. however, when i return to the "previous menu" the language button is now properly hidden and i cannot select it (the menuedit changes seem to have been suddenly engaged). in other words, when I go to the menu the first time, it appears that menuedit has not made any changes, but when you activate the button and go to the language menu, you can then return to the previous menu and the menuedit changes suddenly appear. have i stumbled upon a weirdness of band of brothers or menuedit? and can this be resolved?

[Arianos]

Have you checked whether there are more than one instances of the menu? On more than one occasions, I found that the main menu, when you first insert the disc to a player, is different than the one it pops out when you select "menu" on remote when playing the movie, though it looks exactly the same.

[cracksloth]

although that would seem to make sense, i have not found any duplicate menus in this dvd. i had already thought of this because that is exactly how it is behaving, however, i don't believe a second cloned menu exists. thanks though, it is good advice and shows a good understanding of what i am talking about.

[Arianos]

@ Dimad:
Is there a way to open 1 Gig Vobs? Sometimes a nagging-warning screen(s) is in the first or last VOB of the main movie titleset. When I try to open it, I get a "not enough storage space" or something message. Sometimes, I succeed after 5-6 tries, but most times I fail. I have a 1.8 G P4, 512 RAM and 120Gig HD, XP Pro. Is it a Menuedit shortcoming, or should I upgrade something?.
And once again:
Menuedit is the best thing since sliced bread, for us backuppers!

[cracksloth]

it is still acting as if there was a second cloned menu that menuedit isn't detecting and thus i cannot edit... but who knows. has anyone else experienced similar problems? i have also looked at the hex code for the audio stream i kept (dolby 5.1) and in each button for a different audio channel, i switched it to the hex code for dolby 5.1. still when i select a language channel other than 5.1 i just get silence (because the audio track has been previousy ripped out). i even tried the methods on an unaltered dvd rip (without removing the audio channels) but i got the same results. at any rate, i am at a loss.

[cracksloth]

sorry for all the posts but i noticed a new weird happening. i set the dts audio button to go to the previous menu (using a hex code). when i run the dvd, i navigate to the language menu and activate the dts button and the audio skips (as if it were switching audio tracks). then i activate it again and it goes to the previous menu. menuedit's changes did not work the first time i pressed it but it did the second. very odd. i guess there has to be cloned menus within the dvd but i have checked every vob with no results. is it possible menuedit is not showing every menu? can anyone verify this? well, if anyone wants to give menuedit a trial by fire, then band of brothers d1 is it!

[Arianos]

D1 ok, but R1 or R2?

[Dimad]

Originally posted by Arianos
@ Dimad:
Is there a way to open 1 Gig Vobs? Is it a Menuedit shortcoming, or should I upgrade something?.


Yes, MenuEdit is capable of handling vob files large then 1Gb.
But sometimes Win works against it. It seems that it is necessary to have continuos chunk of virtual memory bigger then the size of the file you want to open. If you have not defragmented your disks for a while it might be a good time to do so. Sometimes it is possible to open a big file only once. When you try to open next big one - error message pop-ups. This is also due to the way windows handles memory. MenuEdit does release all used memory.

[Dimad]

Originally posted by cracksloth
very odd. i guess there has to be cloned menus within the dvd but i have checked every vob with no results. is it possible menuedit is not showing every menu?

Sometimes one cell contains segments with different amount of buttons. Say, there is an "introduction" at the begining without buttons, followed by the "menu" with buttons. Unregistered version of MenuEdit does not split such cells into segments.

[Arianos]

@ Dimad;
My HD was heavily fragmented. Defragged, everything OK now. Thanks!

On a new matter now:
Not really a problem, but I think it might answer many "mystery menus" questions:
Columbia Greece produced DVDs have the Greek copyright screens on a titleset of their own, even though all the other European languages are in a different titleset.
They (Greek) come on when you hit play, show for some seconds, and then the movie starts.
The tricky part is, that these screens CANNOT BE PREVIEWED by any software!! (Power DVD,Menuedit,WMP etc)
I discovered this by suspecting that a 1MB VOB simply cannot be a blank screen, so I replaced the "blank" cells with my usual blanks, and presto! No more Greek warning screens!
On Power DVD and Cyberhome 212, they play OK. On Philips 743(extra fussy), when I hit play, screen goes blank for a couple of secs, then it gets back to menu screen. I hit play again, couple secs blank, then movie starts. I know things can be improved here, but as I am a little Ifoedit challenged, I'm quite content for now.
The thing I noticed is that with these "blanks" the preview bar can be slided, though nothing shows. Maybe those eluding menus reside within "false blanks"?

[roach76]

I have the registered version of MenuEdit and I used it to change the the 'Button Commands' on some buttons in the Chapter Selection Menu.

With my movies, all I like keeping is the main movie and the Chapter Selection Menu. I changed the 'First Play PGC' to jump straight to the movie and changed the commands in some of the 'PGC Menu's' within the IFO files so when someone pushes the 'Menu' Button it goes straight to the first Chapter Selection Menu Screen. That works fine.

But when I change the button's commands within the menu screen so they jump to the correct chapters using MenuEdit and I select a button in the menu I get 'Illegal Navigational Commands' and IfoEdit stops the movie playback.

Within each PGC Menu that is navigated through, like the movie's PGC and the 'First Play PGC' I deleted all the previous Pre and Post Commands, the same with all the commands in the PGC Menus that are called when you push 'Root Menu' or 'Top Menu' buttons on the remote. All those ones that are called when you push a remote button jump/link straight to the Chapter Selection Screen, and with all the commands deleted except my jump/link commands all the GPRegs = 0.

But as soon as I change a command in a button to something as simple as a 'LinkPGCN' command I get the error. I had a 'LinkPGCN' command on a Button to Link to a 'PGC Menu' which only has 'JumpTT to Title 7' (the movie) command and that's it. But if the command is changed to a 'JumpTT to Title 7' on the button it jumps to the start of the movie like it should. I even tried the 'JumpTT to PTT' (Jump to Title and Chapter command) and it didn't like it.

The only commands that I left were the 'If GPReg = 1, then LINKPGCN Program 1', 'If GPReg = 2, then LINKPGCN Program 2'...... in the movies PGC as Pre-Commands. I was going to use those to make the Chapters Menu work using a 'LinkPGCN' command combined with a set GPReg = 1,2,3.... to link to another 'PGC Menu' that just jumps to Title 7 but it doesn't work!!!

Frustrating! I hope someone can tell me what I'm doing wrong.

Thanks

[voo_doo99]

Is there a way to restore functions in buttons deleted with MenuEdit?. I managed to delete the wrong button without backing up the VOB :mad: . I used v1.12, can I get the buttons restored in VOBedit or some tools?. Thanks for any help.

[roach76]

If you deleted (not hide) then I think it is bye bye button.

[Black Hole]

@roach76:

If you get "Illegal Navigational Commands" maybe you tried to access some domain that is not accesible. You can't jump everywhere from anywhere. Sometimes you have to go to Video Manager (VGM) domain first. Sometimes you can't use local links and you have to use Jump commands.

Check Virtual Machine Jumps and Calls (http://mpucoder.kewlhair.com/DVD/vmi-jmp.html) page at MPUCoder's web.

[roach76]

Thanks for the reply, Black Hole.

I'd never seen that page before on MPUCoder's site, it seems that I have to go to the VMG PGC Menus first. I'll give it a go. Thanks Black Hole and MPUCoder for the information.

[Alphaloop]

Well, I was long time absent, now here again. :)
But my problem is still not solved. I really don't know where I can look for an answer anymore. My vts_xx_00.vobs aren't write protected, but menuedit loads them, and quits without any information. Seems that I'm the only one with this problem. :confused:
shite.

[Dimad]

Seems that you are the only one with this problem. If you are a registered user send me (menuedit@dimad.net) your registration info and we will discuss what can be done. If you are not ... hmm ... well ... hmm ...

[Alphaloop]

Well, yeah, I'm registered. :cool:
Before I start mailing, I'll make some more tests also on my notebook (nearly same configuration as my desktop has). If it runs there, I'll be completely confused. :o

At the moment I only guess that there is a dll or ocx of Windows missing? Or my MPeg2-Decoder is corrupted? But PowerDVD (and all other MPeg2-tools) run fine.

Has anyone a dump of the menuedit.exe which external function calls are in it?

[VidHack]

MenuEdit uses the standard MFC libraries, a core dump was sent to Dimad, and there are NOT any problems. Turn of your debugger, and MenuEdit will work fine, if you are not aware of a debugger running, check for trojans/ viruses.

VidHack

[Alphaloop]

I GOT IT!!! *jumping and dancing around*

I always used the tool in the same way as other tools like ifoedit and vobedit: I copied it into my "tools" folder, which is part of my PATH-variable. So I could start it in any folder (I'm a CLI fan ;)). This was okay until version 1.3.x From there on the error occured by doing it this way. Now tried "the good old way": Jumped into Tools folder, started MenuEdit here, and then opened the vob in some other dir. And this was successful. :)

Did you change something in the path handling?

[VidHack]

Dimad,

Problems at your website (29 Jul 03)..........


Bandwidth Limit Exceeded
The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to the site owner reaching his/her bandwidth limit. Please try again later.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apache/1.3.28 Server at menuedit.dimad.net Port 80


VidHack

[Dimad]

I'm on it. Thanks.

Update(July 30): It is fixed.

[VidHack]

Problem with website has returned. Seems your website is getting "Hammered", perhaps some anti-hacker scripts are needed. Good-Luck. (31 Jul 03).

VidHack

[misiek]

I've got the same problem as roach76 with the film "Magdalene", PAL version. I use the registered version of MenuEdit to redirect menu link to the right chapter, which are messed up on 2nd disc after splitting, but it doesn't work. I've tried to look at the menu commands of the original non splitted film, and for all menues related the command of each button is link PCN tail. Maybe it's not a stuff for MenuEdit, but for Ifoedit, maybe the jump commands on scene menu are on its ifofile, but how to locate and change it? Please help me, I'm still a newbie in this stuff. Thank you in advance:(

[Dimad]

Originally posted by misiek
... for all menues related the command of each button is link PCN tail...
If buttons on menu have same commands it means you need to look into ifo file, usually in this case, action is selected based on button index.

[misiek]

Thank you very much Dimad; I have gone to VTSM_PGCI_UT of the VTS_01_0.ifo which is the ifo of menu, and selected the right menu but I'm not able to fix pre and post commands which involves jumps and I don't know the logic to modify them with hex editor. Exactly I don't know which commands determine jumps to scenes and how to select the "code" of the correct scene. I realize it's quite large stuff, but please help me with some other information. If you can please give me the link to a guide introducing the programming of ifo files. thank you very,very much

[Dimad]

DVD navigation could be implemented many different ways in ifo files(as with any other program). A good source of the information may be MPUCoder himself :) (or at least his web site http://www.mpucoder.com ).

[NobbyNobbs]

I see in your Q&A that you describe how to change the background picture in a menu.
I have tried a much easier way to do that, when you have finished recoding your DVD, load it in Nero Recode, set desired size a little bigger then your finished DVD ( so Recode does not change anything else.)
Make a profile where you keep all audio/subtitles, and where you have unchecked the box that says "Remove all audio tracks and subtitles for disabled video".
Under configure, select the graphic you want to replace your meny with.
Then you find the menu you want to change, select disable.
Now you can save your DVD, the background of the menu has changed.
:D

[hellfire]

It probably doesn't work with motion menus though... Correct me if I'm wrong.

[canti]

I'm having a strange problem... basically: I'm a DVDMaestro user, but the dvd I'm copying has more than 25 buttons per menu - I don't want to alter this...so, using registered MenuEdit, I'm able to copy the 29 buttons from the original DVD to my dvdmaestro'd dvd. This is fantastic :) I can even fix the button sizes. This is also fantastic. Unfortunately, for some reason, when I do this change, the buttons no longer have a highlight color. Is it possible for a future version to allow color changes? (button color, highlight color, action color) If there's an existing way to edit these colors that doesn't require additional MenuEdit code, could you let me in on that information as well? Thanks so much.

[Dimad]

I'm able to copy the 29 buttons from the original DVD to my dvdmaestro'd dvd. This is fantastic I can even fix the button sizes. This is also fantastic. Unfortunately, for some reason, when I do this change, the buttons no longer have a highlight color.

Rectangles you see on "Edit" screen are used by DVD players to cut part of the subpicture of this menu and show that on top of the menu video. So you need to have a subpicture stream in the menu cell corresponding to your buttons layout to have button highlighted when it is selected.

Is it possible for a future version to allow color changes? (button color, highlight color, action color) Yes, I'm planning to add this in one of the next releases.

[canti]

I had a corresponding subpicture in the original vob... does MenuEdit remove it, or is it copied over with the other vob's background?
I'm not sure I understand exactly what all is copied over when I use the replace function.

[Mort]

Originally posted by hellfire
It probably doesn't work with motion menus though... Correct me if I'm wrong.

If you want to get rid of a motion menu, make a screen capture of the menu in PowerDVD, and use this as a new background. (should be done before you recode the DVD, if you want to gain space.):D

( I am assuming that you answered the post before you)

[Dimad]

Originally posted by canti
I'm not sure I understand exactly what all is copied over when I use the replace function.

Resulting cell has:
- from replacemnt cell: all streams (video, audio, subpicture);
- from original cell: button information (if checked), vob/cell id (if checked);

[2COOL]

Dimad,

When I delete a Cell Id in a non-menu VOB, the processing window's cancel button is greyed out. It's assume you can't cancel but in fact, you still can. Just paying attention to details. You may want to check out deleting VOB-IDs too.

It takes forever for MenuEdit to cancel and eventually I get have Windows giving me a "Not responding" message.

[MackemX]

well I've just coughed up the dough to buy this tool initially more out of interest than to use as I can do most stuff for free anyway using IFOEdit

but after playing with it I find it's a very powerful tool that makes the job of editing a DVD as simple as pie

compliments to the Chef :D

p.s. anyone got any more guides to use this tool apart from the ones on the website?

[2COOL]

Welcome to the darkside MackemX!:p If you using the registered version with great success doesn't convince others that it's a power tool then they are missing out BIG time!:eek: :eek:

I was just playing with it to see if I can create new buttons on a original menu but to no avail though. I can manually do it in VOBedit but there are a lot of nav packs to hexedit, especially if it's a motion menu. I was trying to create a hidden button that I could manipulate to play an inserted easter egg video. I know it's possible but it's too time consuming. MenuEdit can export buttons and menus but can't import.:(

[MackemX]

this just get's better

I've downloded a free macro tool and it now takes seconds to replace a cell with a blank 0.xx file instead of loads of clicking as I just use a macro to replace the 20 clicks or so

this is how fast and easy I have got it. If I open Ifodit and Menuedit and highlight the cell I wish to replace then this is what I need to do

mouse clicks = 1 but could be easily eliminated
key presses = 3 hotkeys

total time in Menuedit = a few seconds while it does it's job
total time in Ifoedit = a few seconds while it does it's job

it's unreal how fast it is when it's automated

I'd sent an email to Dimad previously as I had a few suggestions and I'm waiting for him coming back but I want him here ASAP now after playing with this :D

I didn't realise how simple it could be once it was automated and if anyone is interested in this simple automation right now then just PM me

it's nearly a one click solution and if Dimad can do it and I think he can then this will be the tool I actually asked for way back in April :D

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50555
2. then it gives selection (with preview) of what video/audio/subs to remove (from Titleset level right down to VOB ID level), but still maintains original PGC structure and audio/subs streams mapping by creating dummy entries (cropping feature also would be nice if poss)

...that's a lot to ask, but basically it would be simliar IC but with the facility to go downto VOBID level and replace the VOB ID's or complete PGC/Titleset's with 0.xx sec files and maintain DVD structure. If a tool did this then it should never really fail on playback as the complete DVD structure will always be maintained. Granted there may be the occasional hiccup but that would be user inflicted if they removed the wrong thing...

Dimad where are you???? :)

[2COOL]

I wanna try but your inbox is full.:(

[MackemX]

just emptied it

[MackemX]

Originally posted by 2COOL
Welcome to the darkside MackemX!:p If you using the registered version with great success doesn't convince others that it's a power tool then they are missing out BIG time!:eek: :eek:
I have seen the light, I'm in the Ifoedit forum and yep I finally buckled and forked out the cash to get this tool but it was more out of curiosity after reading the menuedit's site descriptions for the umpteenth time

I should have really asked to be a beta tester earlier this year when I was 1st tempted but I could do most things using Ifoedit and didn't know what I would be capable of using this tool especially with the macro hotkeys. People have recommended it but sadly it fell upon deaf ears

I do have some suggestions for Dimad that should help improve this already excellent tool but it will cost him $16.50 for me to tell him what they are :D, but I'm sure they are worth it

[2COOL]

Originally posted by MackemX
I do have some suggestions for Dimad that should help improve this already excellent tool but it will cost him $16.50 for me to tell him what they are :D, but I'm sure they are worth it LOL! :D :D :p I haven't read a funny post in a long time.

[MackemX]

He can have them for free if he will be my Beta programmer :D

[VidHack]

Welcome to the wonderfull world of MenuEdit!

I am glad you enjoy Dimad's excellent VOB tool. Dimad has been very open about adding features to his tool. Many of the idea's I have proposed have made into MenuEdit. (Thank Dimad) He has been also very responsive to bugs. So, I am sure if you have any ideas about adding features to the app, he would enjoy the input. One quick note, If I understand you correctly, you are asking for MenuEdit to control/send commands to IFOedit. I am not sure if Dimad would want to add this feature. It involves "Hooking" / retrieving Windows system messages to recieve a windows Hwd (Handle) from IFOedit, then respond to the proper messages/events. From a programming standpoint, this would open up MenuEdit for a rash of new bugs. Simply said, MenuEdit is a self contained App., and works as advertised. If you read prior posts in this thread, Dimad wanted to keep MenuEdit a self-contained App, using internal libraries. So, please share your dreams of MenuEdit with us, but keep an open mind, if Dimad chooses a different coarse for his App. Good Luck.

VidHack

[MackemX]

thanks for the welcome ;)

[vtwin0001]

Just another suggestion

Hello, first of all thanks for creating a really needed application like that one, however, I would like to give you a great suggestion which will help a lot of people in disgrace (like me), and that is Remapping of the links from the buttons; what I mean by that is that I (along with many people) am trying to make a whole DVD backup (PAL) and transfer it to a whole NTSC DVD Backup.... I had succesfully recreated the whole dvd from PAL to NTSC (sound and video) however, had absoultely no luck at all trying to put the menus and all together so my dvd work as it should.

By the moment the DVD (IFO) says its time to choose for a menu link button, the video is not there, or is moved or simply no buttons at all.

Thanks