VobBlanker 1.5.1.0 is out: A tool to blank, cut or replace titles and Menus

[jsoto]

Hi all,

I've been working in a tool able to blank, replace and strip titles. I decided to publish the tool before finish it, because seems preview pane will take me some time to develop (BTW, any help will be much appreciated :) )

Before use it, I'd like to advice you:
- I'm almost a newbie in VC++ programming, so I'm slow, may be not in solving bugs, but in including new features.
- Although I've some basic knowledge in DVD structures and tables, I'm very far to be an expert, so I can do something unintentionally wrong. That means, please test carefully your backups before burning them. Don't flame me if you produce a coaster.
- The tool has been designed for "simple VTSs". No multiangle, no BOV, etc

Well, these are the features supported:
- Blank titles
- Replace titles with an external one
- Strip audio tracks
- IFO tables adjusting, including "the famous" TMAPTI
- Works per VTS: can process a single VTS, some VTS or the complete DVD.

VobBlanker needs an unencrypted (ripped) DVD as input.

jsoto
BTW, the tool is freeware and the sources will be available after some code cleaning.

[2COOL]

Up to v1.0.0.6 now? Cool! I'll see if I can find time to test it out. ;)

[jsoto]

Ooops, found a major bug: VobBlanker crashes if VTSM_PGCI_UT doesn't exist.

I'll do some additional tests before update the exe.

jsoto

[jsoto]

VobBlanker1.0.0.8_exe (http://www.iespana.es/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_exe.zip)
VobBlanker1.0.0.8_src (http://www.iespana.es/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_src.zip)

Vers 1.0.0.8 (28-03-2004)
- Bug Fix: Some PGC/Titles mismatches
Vers 1.0.0.7 (24-03-2004)
- Bug Fix: Crash if VTSM_PGCI_TU does not exist

jsoto

[ookzDVD]

Is this app have the same function like TitleSetBlanker ?

[2COOL]

Originally posted by ookzDVD
Is this app have the same function like TitleSetBlanker ? If you know how TitleSet Blanker works, VobBlanker is better because it can also completely blank a VTS or partially blank out specific titles within a VTS. ;)

[sarahjh69]

FANTASTIC!

finally a way to edit a 2 disk DVD onto one dvdr, keeping the menu
from the first DVD. It works a treat! Combine the 2 movie
sections of the DVDs using DVD Author. Replace the original
movie in the titleset using Vobblanker, with the new VOBs.
Shrink to size with dvd2one, and it works perfectly.

Only nasty bit is all the chapters from the 2nd dvd get
shoved into one huge chapter on the end of the original DVD.

thanks a lot m8

[Backwoods]

Just wanted to say thanks!

[Macanudo]

sarahjh69,

This may be a bit presumptious, but I think many of us would benefit from a guide on How to Join a 2 DVD set to 1 DVD while keeping the original menu. I would love it if you could put one together.


FANTASTIC!

finally a way to edit a 2 disk DVD onto one dvdr, keeping the menu
from the first DVD. It works a treat! Combine the 2 movie
sections of the DVDs using DVD Author. Replace the original
movie in the titleset using Vobblanker, with the new VOBs.
Shrink to size with dvd2one, and it works perfectly.

Only nasty bit is all the chapters from the 2nd dvd get
shoved into one huge chapter on the end of the original DVD.

thanks a lot m8


Like you, and I am sure several others in this forum, I have been searching for a simpler way to accomplish a 2 DVD to 1 Backup. I have been using DVDShrink in ReAuthor mode, but it Main Movie only.

I would also like to add my thanks to jsoto for the program.

Later,
Macanudo

[tedybear]

so with this app i can do this ?

Insert new subtitles while keeping original menu ?????

Can i find anything usefull here ? ...any help ? thanks

[sarahjh69]

create a "complete movie" VOB titleset using dvd2one (join movie)
or dvd author (load 2 videos on 1 track) to give you the "joined" movie. If using DVD author, note total chapters on first movie disk
and delete a few here and there on both to give slightly more chapters than you had on the original disk 1. (have less and you're screwed)

transfer disc 1 to HD
transfer your "joined" movie vobs to HD

run Vobblanker and load up disk 1
find the PGC with the movie in and replace with your "joined" VOBs

shrink with dvd2one if required

you now have all the movie on 1 disk with all the menus

NOTE
you cannot have more chapters than your original disk 1 had
If you started off with 30 chapters, you will end up with 30,
but the last one may be a BIG one. If you delete too many chapters
it will still work, but dvd2one, dvd shrink, etc will give an error
and not work........I would aim to have 32 chapters in my joined movie VOBs and ignore any errors in Vobblanker, as extras just get absorbed in the final chapter.

[doktor motte]

thnx lot to jsoto.

After your great work on your mdvdauth another fine piece of software.

After many success with TitleSetBlanker i waited alot for this, coz sometimes the extras are in the same titleset as the main movie, so with TitleSetBlanker i haven't the wanted success. Anyway also lot thnx to shh for his TSB.

Will try your VobBlanker.

Wish for future version: If it is possible can you also make blanking to single cells or chapters within a vob?
:confused:

[Macanudo]

sarahjh69,

Thank You for the Guide. I am going to give a try on The Two Towers.

Macanudo:cool:

[DMagic1]

Nice tool.

[doktor motte]

tried VB at Finding Nemo to blank the extras out as they're part of the VTS of the main movie. Worked like a charm. After used your VB i were able to become Finding Nemo (with Menu) with DVDShrink from 71% up to 82% :D :D

Also made Rising the Sun with your VB to get rid of the space consuming trailers out, as they are in the same VTS as the starting Logo of 20th Century Fox, that starts before the menu. Worked also fine.:D

So again thnx lot to jsoto for his great tool. :cool:

[jsoto]

Thanks all for the reports, but....

Does anyone test the "replace" feature?. I use replace capabilities of VobBlanker + dvd2svcd (+mdvdauth).

This is my way to do a full backup:

- Select the titles you want to keep and blank the others. Also blank the main movie. This will give you a DVD (no-movie) with a small size.
- If you want, reencode with dvd2svcd the extras you want to keep (you can change the resolution to CVD or even VCD) to reduce the space. I use OPV with Q 35-40. No D2SRoBa is required for this. An alternative is dvdshrink for this "no-movie DVD". Apply VobBlanker to replace the extras.
- Calculate the disc space available (4477 MB less DVDno-movie size)
- Launch D2V2SVCD with mdvdauth and D2SRoBa with the estimated size. Use mdvdauth035 selecting in chapters automatic CellTimes extraction and mark keep audio checkbox.
- Apply VobBlanker to replace main-movie.

If all goes fine, you will get a full 1:1 backup with CCE encoded movie/extras. Remember CCE/D2SRoBa is quality based, so, let me say, you will have "the best" possible encode.

jsoto

[Fairhope]

Is there another place to download this program? The link at the beginning of this thread appears to be dead.

[2COOL]

Originally posted by Fairhope
Is there another place to download this program? The link at the beginning of this thread appears to be dead. The link works as I just downloaded it again. Maybe a ISP or firewall issue?

[Fairhope]

You're probably right. I get the error "The Page Cannot Be Displayed" each time. I'll try it from home tonight.

Thanks.

[Joergen]

Great tool jsoto! Just what I was looking for (same function but more options than titlesetblanker, which is also great).

[jsoto]

New Web space, courtesy of geffroman:

www.posunplugged.com/jsoto

jsoto

[redfive19]

Love the tool. Used it on a couple DVD's already.

Trying it on R1 NTSC Wonderland DVD. Freezes at 98% when processing VTS 02. No error messages. I've reripped the dvd numerous times. Any ideas?

-redfive

edit
I used TitleSetBlanker first, then ran VobBlanker and it worked. Must have run into an error in that second vts that TSB just erased.
/edit

[sweetness]

i have another question. i have a dvd which has reuse cells, now when i try to replace the "shunk" title do i blank out these reused ones or leave them alone. It looks like the main movie repeats 5 times and then there are some others. One more thing all the reused cells a 0by except for one main move which is 340MB. thanks (no time to play around today i'm having burn problems:( )

[jsoto]

@redfive19
Freezes at 98% when processing VTS 02. Could you give me more info?. Which action were you doing? Has VTS_02_0.IFO file been created in the destination directory?
@sweetness
Not sure if VobBlanker manages well PGCs with reused cells in all the cases. I only tested it when main movie is the first PGC, and blanking the others PGCs
It looks like the main movie repeats 5 times Not sure, but seems it is a multiangle DVD. VobBlanker does not support multiangle VTS. Of course you still can use it with other no multiangle VTSs of the same DVD
jsoto

[jsoto]

I'm busy at work lately and I only found time to fix some bugs

Vers 1.0.0.9 (22-04-2004)
- Bug Fix: Only one message when replacing title with more cells than the original
- Bug Fix: bug in V/C ids when replacing title with less cells than the original
- Bug Fix: VTS sector pointer 0xC0 was 0 if Menu lenght=0.
- Improvement: Dialog now can be resized.

jsoto

[MattO]

jsoto,

I wonder if you would be able to add this litle request to VobBlanker:
When selecting PGC's in Selected TitleSet, would it be possible to Select All PGC's? either via a button or the standard use of the Shift key.

thanks if you can add this, and thanks for a great program.

MattO

[johnmeyer]

I am being stupid. Since the preview function isn't hooked up yet, what is the easiest way to preview, say, PGC7 in VTS_01? I am trying to do this in IFOEdit, using it's "Preview" function and am not able to figure out how to preview a specific PGC. I'm sure the answer is on this forum somewhere, but I searched and didn't find it.

Thanks!

[Edit]

Oh, there is a smarter way to do this ... I just need to look, in VOB Blanker, at the "T in VMG" column. This corresponds to the numbers in DVD Shrink, so I can preview there.

Nevermind.

[johnmeyer]

Problem:

I used VOB Blanker 1.0.0.9 to blank titlesets 3-5, 6-8, and 17 from the Monterey Pop (Disc 1) DVD. I then use DVD Shrink 3.17 to remove a few audio channels and slightly shrink the menus to get to 100% (no shrinkage) for the main movie. The resulting movie plays just fine in WinDVD version 4.

However, when I try to burn the movie in Nero 5.5.10.56, I get a "File reallocation" error. I tried continuing with the burn (it was on DVD-RW), but I then got a "possible read" file error.

I then started over and tried again, but got the same error.

I have backed up over fifty DVDs to DVD-RW (so I could watch them a few days after the rental return was due) using DVD Decrypter, followed (optionally) by TitlesetBlanker, followed by DVD Shrink. I have never had any problems at all. Therefore, I think there may be a problem wtih VOB Blanker.

(Edit) I went ahead and burned to DVD-RW, despite the two warnings, and it seems to play OK on my Pioneer DV-525.

Any ideas on what I should do?

[Joergen]

The file reallocation error is not the error. It's a statement before the actual ERROR is displayed.

File reallocation failed.
nnnnn.VOB is not referenced and should not be present.

And then you delete the unreferenced VOB and burn. :rolleyes:

[johnmeyer]

The file reallocation error is not the error. It's a statement before the actual ERROR is displayed.

File reallocation failed.
nnnnn.VOB is not referenced and should not be present.

And then you delete the unreferenced VOB and burn.

Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to my case. The actual error message given by Nero is:

"DVD-Video files reallocation failed. The resulting DVD-Video might be unplayable. Do you want to continue?"

There is no reference to a specific VOB file.

In addition, if I continue, I get yet another error message. The exact text of that message is:

"There has been a possible read error during the operation, which may result in a defective write. Do you wish to continue the write anyway?"

[jsoto]

@johnmeyer
About your problem. Do you have a VTS_XX_0.VOB (a menu VOB) with 0 bytes lenght?. Nero checks if all files are exact multiplo of 2048 bytes and does not like 0 bytes files.

jsoto

[johnmeyer]

Do you have a VTS_XX_0.VOB (a menu VOB) with 0 bytes lenght?. Nero checks if all files are exact multiplo of 2048 bytes and does not like 0 bytes files.

No, I do not have any zero byte files. Here is the exact file listing of the VIDEO_TS directory that was created by DVD Shrink. The input to DVD Shrink were the files that were created by VOB Blanker.
============================

Filename Size Modified
------------ ----------- -----------------
VIDEO_TS.BUP 12KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VIDEO_TS.IFO 12KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VTS_01_0.BUP 160KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_01_0.IFO 160KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_01_0.VOB 137,756KB 4/25/2004 9:04 AM
VTS_01_1.VOB 1,048,574KB 4/25/2004 9:06 AM
VTS_01_2.VOB 1,048,574KB 4/25/2004 9:07 AM
VTS_01_3.VOB 1,048,574KB 4/25/2004 9:08 AM
VTS_01_4.VOB 1,048,574KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_01_5.VOB 137,896KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_02_0.BUP 16KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_02_0.IFO 16KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_02_0.VOB 80,800KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_02_1.VOB 22KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_03_0.BUP 24KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VTS_03_0.IFO 24KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VTS_03_1.VOB 16,650KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VTS_04_0.BUP 16KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VTS_04_0.IFO 16KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VTS_04_1.VOB 70KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM

[jsoto]

@johnmeyer
Could you try to burn the files provided by VobBlanker?. Just use Nero's "image recorder" and see if Nero fails in it's files reallocation phase. And with the original ones?

If the problem is located in VobBlanker, please tell me which operation are you doing with VobBlanker, and if you have checked (default) all the checkboxes.

jsoto

[Joergen]

I havent seen non-explanatory nero re-allocation errors since ifoedit came out :)

[johnmeyer]

@johnmeyer
Could you try to burn the files provided by VobBlanker?. Just use Nero's "image recorder" and see if Nero fails in it's files reallocation phase. And with the original ones?

If the problem is located in VobBlanker, please tell me which operation are you doing with VobBlanker, and if you have checked (default) all the checkboxes.

jsoto

OK. Good idea.

In response to your suggestion, I had Nero start a burn using all the files that had been ripped to my hard drive by DVD Decrypter (3.2.1.0). Even though they were way over the 4.3 GByte limit, Nero started, and in the Nero message box it said:

"DVD-Video files reallocation started"
"Required file VTS_03_0.VOB is not present"

I did NOT get a files reallocation error message.

Hmmm.

Even though Nero didn't complain, that one file definitely isn't there. However, despite this, everything plays OK (using WinDVD) and no content appears to be missing. I've navigated to every menu (I think) using WinDVD, and didn't see any problems.

Next, I tried the exact same thing with the files created by VOB Blanker. This time, I immediately got the "DVD-Video files reallocation failed" message. I also got the same message about the missing VTS_03_0.VOB file.

Thus, there is no problem between Nero and the original files (as far as the file reallocation message), but the problem DOES exist in the VOB Blanker-created files, prior to DVD Shrink doing anything.

Finally in answer to how I am using your program, I have ALL the boxes checked. I specify an output folder on a different physical disk in order to speed copying. I select, in turn, each VTS file in the "Titleset" box, and then in the "PGCs in Selected TitleSet" box below, I select each PGC I want to remove, and then select the "Blank" button. When I am finished, I click on the "Process!!" button.

Summary

Thus, the missing VTS_03_00.VOB file is a little suspicious, but until processed by VOB Blanker, Nero doesn't complain.

I am using Nero 5.5.10.56.

[jsoto]

Yeah, seems there is something wrong in VTS_03_0.IFO which confuses VobBlanker.

In fact, your DVD does not have menus in VTS03 and VTS04, (files VTS_03_0.IFO and VTS_04_0.IFO are not present) but Nero only complains for the first one.

Just a last test, to confirm:
-Copy original VTS_03_*.* files to destination folder (drag them)
-Run VobBlanker again without processing VTS03 (skip it).
-Try to burn (image recorder) and see what happens

jsoto

[johnmeyer]

I have responded to your private email and sent the IFO files.


files VTS_03_0.IFO and VTS_04_0.IFO are not present) but Nero only complains for the first one.

I am confused by this comment. If you scroll back and look at the file listing I posted a few posts back, it includes both these files.

[sweetness]

hi, i never got a reallocation error in nero with vobBlanker even when i replaced a different titleset in another one. but to solve your problem try a mock strip with ifoedit. also try the older version of vobBlanker(you never know).

[jsoto]

@johnmeyer
Sorry, my mistake,
files VTS_03_0.IFO and VTS_04_0.IFO are not present) but Nero only complains for the first one. I wanted to say VTS_03_0.VOB and VTS_04_0.VOB, not IFOs.
Anyway, thanks for the IFOs. I'm now at work but I've seen an error in them, probably introduced in VobBlanker 1.0.0.9 when fixing 0xc0 pointer bug. I'll look into it this night.
Thanks for your support.

@sweetness
Yes, a mock strip probably solve the problem. IFOedit recalculates all the pointers (BTW, a fantastic work!!).
But the key is to find where is the bug, to fix it.
jsoto

[sweetness]

yes i knew that wouldn't fix your bug problem but just wanted to help johnmeyer out. And most likely the bug is only in the new version becuase i never seen that in 1.08.
One more thing this the reused cell thing is bugging me. just bought kill bill vol.1 R1 and and VST_02 and 03 have resused cells but there are movie trailers that only happen once. wait just opened up ifoedit and now i see the reused cells are the blank ones at the end of the trailers. not all cells are reused just one of the two.

PGC_1 (program chain): [Title(TTN): 1] [00:02:18.15 / 30 fps] (Programs: 2) (Cells: 2)
[Ch 01] [Pg 01] [Cell 01] [V/C Id: 1/ 1] : time: 00:02:18.00 / 30 fps
[Ch 02] [Pg 02] [Cell 02] [V/C Id: 4/ 1] Layer Br.: time: 00:00:00.15 / 30 fps

PGC_2 (program chain): [Title(TTN): 2] [00:02:40.05 / 30 fps] (Programs: 2) (Cells: 2)
[Ch 01] [Pg 01] [Cell 01] [V/C Id: 2/ 1] : time: 00:02:39.20 / 30 fps
[Ch 02] [Pg 02] [Cell 02] [V/C Id: 4/ 1] Layer Br.: time: 00:00:00.15 / 30 fps <reused cell from PGC_1 ch 02 (cell 2)

OK, now i know i can blank them out with on problems( i thought the reused cells might effect another part of the movie if i blanked it out)so the question is how does vobBlanker know it is a reused cell.(you don't have it tell me if you don't want to give away anything)
thanks

[jsoto]

VobBlanker 1.0.0.10 is online
Vers 1.0.0.10 (26-04-2004)
- Bug Fix: VTS sector pointer 0xC0 was not 0 if Menu does not exist. Introduced in 1.0.0.9. (stupid error between int/UINT)
jsoto.

[doktor motte]

@jsoto :D first to reply

thnx again to jsoto. Again another new version of VobBlanker.

Will go and test it. Made about 10 DVD's with VobBlanker and have to say that all worked fine, even hard ones like Nemo or Pirates of the Caribbean worked like a charme.

thnx again.

[johnmeyer]

jsoto,

Yep, that fixed it. No more "reallocation" failures in Nero. The DVD plays just fine.

You have written an excellent program, one that is VERY useful. I can't thank you enough. Also, thanks for the quick response in tracking down the bug.

[jsoto]

@sweetness
Sorry, but I didn´t see your post due it's the last in previous page.
About the "reused cell" issue:

It's very simple. When reading IFOs (just when you fill input IFO), VobBlanker analyzes the PGCs and records in memory every Cell id (V/C). For each new cell, it compares if it is already stored in memory or not. If it is, then this PGC is marked as "reused cells"

Why?. Because VobBlanker currently is not able to replace a PGC with "reused cells" due its internal logic. I'm thinking about how to eliminate this limitation, but it's not so simple.

Hope this explanation is clear enough.

jsoto

EDIT:
I forget to clarify what VobBlanker does in the case of blanking a PGC with reused cells.
- Blanking a PGC with the first ocurrence of a shared cell (that is, the first PGC which uses it) blanks the Cell. Note this PGC is not marked as "reusing cells".
- Blanking a PGC with NOT the first ocurrence of a shared cell (that is, a PGC marked as reusing cells) does not blank the Cell, but blanks all the not shared ones.

[Wheelie4]

Is there a guide of any kind on VobBlanker? I'll like to try it but unsure what I'm doing when I make a choice in it. Just something that somewhat details (explains) what each button is doing and how it affects the outcome, especially to the menu options (there are a couple buttons self explanitory like Blank & Process). I can use DVDShrink, DVDStripper, DvdReMake(to a minimal degree) fine but VobBlanker just has me scratching my head (and yes my heads been washed). :D

[johnmeyer]

I am sure that someone who know the inner workings will chime in, but I have found the following works pretty well:

1. Open the VIDEO_TS.IFO for the movie you are going to blank.

2. Specify an output folder. I prefer picking one on a different hard disk (if you have one) because you are going to copy gigabytes of stuff, and this goes MUCH faster if you go to a different hard disk.

3. Open the movie in DVD Shrink. Open the extras and, of course, the main movie and play each title. If you find something you don't want to keep, write down the title number (or range of title numbers).

4. Go back to VOB Blanker, and select VTS_01_*.VOB in the Titleset box.

5. Scroll through the entries in the bottom box (the one labeled "PGCs in Selected Titleset). Here's the key thing. Look at the third column, the one with the column heading "T in VMG." These are the numbers that match what you wrote down from DVD Shrink.

6. As you already figured out, click on the item you want to remove, and then click on the "Blank" button.

I keep all the checkboxes checked. Don't know what they do. Also, I haven't played around with "Replace" but I assume it lets you specify a VOB that has an alert that something has been removed. A few seconds of blank time works for me, so I haven't tried this.

Hope that helps!

[Wheelie4]

johnmeyer,

Thanks alot, I really appreciate the instructions. They clarify VobBlankers usage quite a bit. :D On my next dvd task I'll give it a go with your steps. :)

[digidragon]

Thanks to jsoto for the software. It's very easy to use, and does exactly what it's meant to.

I made a short guide for someone who wanted to use it, and thought I would post the link here in case it's useful to anybody.

Quick guide to VOB Blanker (http://www.users.totalise.co.uk/~yyyyyy/vob_blanker/vob_blanker.html)

[jsoto]

Thanks to digidragon & johnmeyer for the guides.

@digidragon
May be you can improve your guide with some comments:
- Step 2 of johnmeyer. It's really MUCH faster if you uses a diferent Hard drive.
- Preview: I'm also use IfoEdit preview (in fact it has two different previews, seems one coded with mpeg2enc and the other with Directshow).

Partial processing (only one VTS):
Select destination folder.
-------TitleSet list----
Click "skip all"
Select the VTS you want to process.
Click "Process"
-------PGCs list-------
Select the PGCs you want to blank/replace

Process!

Substitute the original files of this VTS with the new ones.
Open IFOEDIT and "Get VTS sectors".

jsoto

[digidragon]

Originally posted by jsoto
@digidragon
May be you can improve your guide with some comments:
- Step 2 of johnmeyer. It's really MUCH faster if you uses a diferent Hard drive.
- Preview: I'm also use IfoEdit preview (in fact it has two different previews, seems one coded with mpeg2enc and the other with Directshow).
No problem. I can alter the guide.

But to preview using IfoEdit, you have to open each IFO. As far as I can see, you can't preview each title just by looking at the VIDEO_TS.IFO?

[Wheelie4]

Thanks alot for all the info. It's much appreciated. Is IfoEdit sometimes required when using VobBlanker?

[jsoto]

But to preview using IfoEdit, you have to open each IFO. As far as I can see, you can't preview each title just by looking at the VIDEO_TS.IFO? True. But you can open only one and then click "Get VTS sectors" and IFOEdit will open all of them for you

Is IfoEdit sometimes required when using VobBlanker? No if you process the whole DVD. But, for me, IFOEdit is "the tool", I really cannot live without it.

EDIT: If you do a strip with VobBlanker (not recommended), you need to do a mock strip with VobEdit after, to adjust DSI pointers.

jsoto

[blueboyec]

Thanks jsoto for the great program.

Is there a way to use your program to blank out the end credit which is usually located in the last/few chapter of the movie? I have seen Credits as large as 500mb. If this is not presently possible, I would like to put this on a wish list for this program: blanking of single cells or chapters within a vob.

Thanks again for this great program.

[johnmeyer]

I would like to put this on a wish list for this program: blanking of single cells or chapters within a vob.

If you don't need all the menus, etc. you can use DVD Shrink's "Re-Author" mode. This lets you create a DVD that has just the chapters you want. You can even delete portions of a chapter -- basically you can delete anything you want, at any place you want.

There is probably a way to re-combine the result of re-authoring with the original menu system (or at least the "Play All" portion of it), but it would probably require quite a bit of work with something like IFOEdit.

[blueboyec]

johnmeyer,

Thank for your response.

I have done as you suggested with DVD shrink many times but I am starting to use DVD Rebuilder, one/three click DVD backup using CCE. Being able to blank out credit with vodblanker would keep the DVD structure intact and add an average of 5% in quality to the final backup DVD using DVD Rebuilder.

Any other suggestion/comments are welcomed.

[Kedirekin]

DVDReMake can blank individual cells.

[sweetness]

@blueboyec
try demuxing the main movie by cells with vobedit then replace the credits with blank ones (you can do even the intro) then join(remux) them back. Now use vobBlanker to replace the main movie with the one you just edited and blank out anything else you want(the extras) and your done.

Not a good idea to blank out stuff before running it threw DVD Rebuilder you might get errors. But try useing the rejig mode first to test it out then use CCE. If you want to play around with the bitrate try using these add-ons for DVD Rebuilder RB-Opt (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75202&perpage=20&pagenumber=1) and ECL Optimiser (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75260)(I see you already found them). If you really want to play around use dvdshrink to transcode the menus and use no compression on everything else or use Numenu4U.

PS. it never hurts to do a mock strip now and then. :D

[blueboyec]

Kedirekin,

VODblanker does everything I need with the exception of blanking out those end credit and removing a menu set (some DVDs have the same menu set in two languages therefore doubling its size) for free/Donation. Can not see myself spending $30 for DVDRemake just to have those capabilities but I do believe DVDRemake is a very good product. I would rather use the $30 to buy upcoming double layer DVD burners. But thanks for the suggestion.

Sweetness,

Demuxing and muxing is too much work and a little be on my capabilities. I would rather use RB-Opt and ECL Optimizer as you also suggested.

Jsoto,

Was hoping you would have responded to my request with a yes or maybe.

Thanks for all the suggestions

[jsoto]

@blueboyec
It's not so difficult to replace a complete cell, but I'm also thinking in adding the posibility to blank part of a cell (complete VOBUs). But I need my time, as I said, I'm a newbie programmer.

Currently working in preview pane with still no success. :(

So the answer to your question is:
Blank a cell: Yes. It will be supported in any case.
Blank part of a cell: Maybe, if I find the way.

jsoto

[blueboyec]

jsoto,

Thanks for the reply. For a newbie programmer your put out some great programs!

[MattO]

jsoto - Currently working in preview pane with still no success.

I am no programmer but a while back I created a Delphi program which incorporated a video preview by calling functions in MPEG2DEC.DLL , I can't remember the functions (search the forum). My hard drive crashed a while back and I lost the sources :( so I can't post them. I know these functions were removed from MPEG2DEC , but nic put them back, but not sure if they still remain in neurons latest build. If they do exist previewing should be easy using these functions.

Hope this helps

PS: Are you able to implement my previous request?

[jsoto]

@MattO
Are you able to implement my previous request?
Do you mean a button to blank all PGCs in a VTS? I can do it, but
I'm not going to change from a single selection (as it is now) to a multiple selection list.

jsoto

[jsoto]

VobBlanker 1.1.0.1 is out. Same links apply
http://www.posunplugged.com/jsoto
http://www.iespana.es/jsoto

This is the changelog

Vers 1.1.0.1 (12-05-2004)
- Preview: Finally!! . Done using DVD2AVIdg110 "as it is".
- Cutting titles ability: It allows to select a start and an end point per PGC
- Popup menus in lists (mouse right click).
Known issue: Preview (DVD2AVI) is managed using Windows SendMessage. If several messages are sent in a short time (i.e. when selecting the cell) Preview does not always process them correctly. For this reason, Preview has not its buttons hidden
which was initially my intention.

Well, although I have a todo list (see below), I’m also accepting suggestions...
Remember I’m very far to be an expert and I can do/code something unintentionally wrong, so TEST IN DEPTH your DVDs before burn.

TODO list:
1.- Bug fixing. First priority.
2.- After, but not in order:
- Save/load projects
- Change video attributes
- Detect video attributes mismatches when replacing titles
- Log window instead of message boxes
- Do something with PGCs reusing cells, but without changing too much the code...
- Fix pointers when striping audio tracks: Last priority (Really needed?. It's a lot of work and it is already supported by IFOEdit and dvdshrink.)

Enjoy...
jsoto

EDIT:
I forgot to mention:
Using cutting abilities of VobBlanker it is an easy way to split a DVD-9 in 2 DVD-5. I didn't test it, but it should work.

[DMagic1]

Nice work

[blueboyec]

jsoto,

For series disks, can I use the cut titles ability to cut the intro to the show and also cute the end credits? With an average of 5 shows per disk and the intro & credits the same on all shows there can be some saving of disk space!

Will try this update tonight! If this update works as described, I believe this software is just as good as DVDRemake but with out the menu ability!

Thanks for the update and hard work.

[jsoto]

@blueboyec

Please report back. I do not have any series disk

jsoto

[redfive19]

jsoto

I can report that I cannot cut from one cell to the next. What I mean by that is, in Cell one of a PGC 2 I cut about half of it off (the last 30 seconds, so you can see where my problem is!) and since the beginning and ending sectors are both in cell 1, the rest of the cells get cut out leaving me with a very small dvd since I have to do this for every vob! Basically there's this advertisement attached to the show opening. The show is Frontier House disc 2. I was able to successfully do this same operation in DVDReMake 1.4.6 BUT DVD-RB didn't reauthor it correctly (probably because it does it's process on a CELL level and this cut just didn't work in the reauthoring process.) Thanks for the tool!

-redfive

[jsoto]

@redfive19

Not sure if I understand what are you asking for. Are you reporting a bug or just asking for a new feature?

Let me explain how VobBlanker works



Initial Mark Ending Mark
| |
------------------------------------------....------------------------------------------
| Cell #1 | Cell #2 | Cell #3 | | Cell n-2 | Cell n-1 | Cell n |
------------------------------------------....------------------------------------------
| | |
|<--Discarded---->|<---------------------Kept---------------------->|<----Discarded---->


Currently, you cannot select an ending mark before the initial (seems obvious), but I believe I can (easy) change the code to do the following:

Ending Mark Initial Mark
| |
------------------------------------------....------------------------------------------
| Cell #1 | Cell #2 | Cell #3 | | Cell n-2 | Cell n-1 | Cell n |
------------------------------------------....------------------------------------------
| | |
|<------Kept----->|<-----------------Discarded--------------------->|<-------Kept------>


So you will be allowed to discard part of a cell in the middle of the title. Is it useful for you?
jsoto

EDIT: For the record:
Discarding part of Cell means delete the VOBUs from the VOB and delete the pointers in the IFOs.
Discarding completely a Cell means substitute the whole cell with a single Blank VOBU.

[redfive19]

I am reporting a semi bug as I don't know if you planned it like that on purpose. That second method would be VERY helpful!
Thanks

-redfive

[blueboyec]

jsoto,

Just like to report that the cut titles ability works great on series disks. Did the same cutting/editing with DVDremake and it took it twice as long to process the DVD. It took VobBlanker about 5 mins and DVDremake over 10 mins to process the save dvd.

Great Job!

[redfive19]

so is that method going to be in the new version of VOB Blanker?

[jsoto]

@redfive19
Yes, with some additional things related with video attributes.
Just wait a few days, I'm in testing/debugging phase.
jsoto

[The X]

@jsoto : Can ur sw strip the Vob-id of Preselect Language Menù and correct the Ifo's structure to able to start with my own menù language ?

[jsoto]

@The X
No, actually VobBlanker is not able to do anything with Menus (well, except remove POUPs). May be in a future...
jsoto

[sweetness]

hi jsoto if you're far then i'm light years away.
Remember I’m very far to be an expert
you did a great job on this new version. i did some extreme testing and things seem ok. only one thing when you cut a part of the program chain the screen slightly jumps at the beginning.
@everyone
now about those reused cells. i came across a "real" reused cells not just blanks at the end of a PGC (as i posted on page 2). this one uses a part of the main movie.

PGC_1 (program chain): [Title(TTN): 1] [02:16:04.06 / 30 fps] (Programs: 51) (Cells: 80) (uses VOB-IDs: 1,2,3,4,2,3,4,5,6,7)
[Ch 01] [Pg 01] [Cell 01] [V/C Id: 1/1] : time: 00:00:21.00 / 30 fps
............. middle was taken out to condence.........
[Ch 39] [Pg 39] [Cell 61] [V/C Id: 6/32] : time: 00:00:33.25 / 30 fps
[Cell 62] [V/C Id: 6/33] : time: 00:00:35.16 / 30 fps <<original cell
[Cell 63] [V/C Id: 6/34] : time: 00:00:28.00 / 30 fps
[Cell 64] [V/C Id: 6/35] : time: 00:04:44.29 / 30 fps

PGC_2 (program chain): [Title(TTN): 2] [00:00:36.16 / 30 fps] (Programs: 3) (Cells: 3) (uses VOB-IDs: 8,6,9)
[Ch 01] [Pg 01] [Cell 01] [V/C Id: 8/ 1] : time: 00:00:00.15 / 30 fps
[Ch 02] [Pg 02] [Cell 02] [V/C Id: 6/33] Layer Br.: time: 00:00:35.16 / 30 fps <<reussed cell
[Ch 03] [Pg 03] [Cell 03] [V/C Id: 9/ 1] Layer Br.: time: 00:00:00.15 / 30 fps

you cannot blank out a reused cell only the original one (in this case it's the one in PGC_1 ch 39.) so in ifoedit i changed the VST_PGCITI/VST_PGC_2/ Cells Postion in VOB: cell 2 VOB ID to 10 and CELL ID to 1. now when you start up vobBlanker it dosen't reuse the cell and you can blank it out (mind you it is already a blank cell).
keep up the great work jsoto.

[jsoto]

First of all, thanks to everyone who reports back. I appreciate it.

@sweetness
only one thing when you cut a part of the program chain the screen slightly jumps at the beginning. I've found (and fixed in next version, I hope) a bug when cutting in the first/last sector of a cell. Is it your case?
jsoto

[sweetness]

no. but i did cut the first and last sectors of the same cell and you are right it is a bug. the video keeps repeating. funny, about the jump i can't recreate it any more. it might have to do with what part of the movie i selected to cut(between scenes)or just that disc?:confused:

[burnout]

just thought i would let u know jsoto that the replace feature works fine for me, i have used it quite a few times. one thing that would be good is to check if the cell counts match on all frames being replaced before the output starts, as i was replacing the last vob and found out a couple of times i had messed up the cell count on my new vobs after most of the dvd had been output.

cheers for the great program m8, really like it ;)

[MattO]

jsoto,

I cut the end credits from 'The Core' with VobBlanker 1.1.0.1 and now DVDShrink will not open the resultant DVD.
DVDShrink reports this error:
'DVDShirnk encountered a error. Invlaid data in file "D:\CORE\VTS_08_6.VOB" '
- this is this main movies last VOB, i.e. where the cut was made.

Has anyone else had a similar problem?

[jsoto]

Change log:
Vers 1.2.0.2 (23-05-2004) is out...
- Added: Load/Save project
- Minor changes in File Open/Save and BrowseForFolder Dlgs.
- Cutting titles: Now you can discard the selection and keep the rest.
- New Blank Cells: VobBlanker generates now a diferent Cell per resolution and DAR (4 PAL cells and 4 NTSC cells)
- Video attributes management:
1.- VobBlanker allows now to change IFO video attributes
2.- VobBlanker detects mismatches between video attribues of replacing titles and attributes stored in IFOs
3.- Blank cells are hacked with the correct DAR
Known issue (still not solved): Preview (DVD2AVI) is managed using Windows SendMessage. If some messages are sent in a short time (when selecting the cell) Preview not always process them correctly. For this reason, Preview has not its buttons hidden which was initialy my intention.

@MattO
Please try again with 1.2.0.2 and report back. One of the reasons to manage video attributes was this problem. Dvdshrink does not like changes of video attributes (which are illegal, btw) in the same title.

jsoto

[MattO]

----------
@MattO
Please try again with 1.2.0.2 and report back. One of the reasons to manage video attributes was this problem. Dvdshrink does not like changes of video attributes (which are illegal, btw) in the same title.
----------

jsoto,

still get the same error message :(

[jsoto]

still get the same error message
Well, I'll look into it, but I'd like to have more info:
- Please save the project with VobBlanker 1.2 and send me the ini file [EDIT: May be you can post it]

In the meantine, please do a mock strip with IFOEdit over the VobBlanker output. Do you need help for this?. You can use the same folder, it is not needed to strip to other folder. I do not believe this is the problem, but VobBlanker does not adjust the DSI pointers... (IMO, not really needed for cutting the last part of a title, like credits)

jsoto

[johnmeyer]

I just realized that I have been rather stupid in my use of VobBlanker. My stupidity was in not recognizing that I can select "Skip" in the top window to skip the major parts of the movie. I was actually copying gigabytes of stuff that wasn't being changed at all (I have a fast, two disk computer, so it only took ten minutes). Most of you are doubtless much smarter than me, but in case there is someone else equally as clueless, you don't need to process the whole movie, just the VIDEO_TS files, plus the VOBs that contain titles that you are going to blank or cut. I then manually move the files -- the ones that match the ones created by VobBlanker -- from the original folder to a backup folder, and then copy the ones create by VobBlanker back to the original folder. This way, I can always go back to the original files.

It might be a useful option to do this backup and move operation within the program. Just a thought.

[blueboyec]

Originally posted by jsoto
Well, I'll look into it, but I'd like to have more info:
- Please save the project with VobBlanker 1.2 and send me the ini file [EDIT: May be you can post it]

In the meantine, please do a mock strip with IFOEdit over the VobBlanker output. Do you need help for this?. You can use the same folder, it is not needed to strip to other folder. I do not believe this is the problem, but VobBlanker does not adjust the DSI pointers... (IMO, not really needed for cutting the last part of a title, like credits)

jsoto


Having the same problem as MottO. Need help with the IFOEdit procedures. Thanks

[louv68]

VOBBLanker always crashes when I try to process files.
Does Windows 98 not support it?

[jsoto]

@louv68
I didn't test it in Win98. I'll look into it, but I have to install an environment... Does it crash "always"?. Try a simple operation, let say, skip all VTS except one and blank completely it.

@blueboyec
Ifoedit procedure:
- Open IFO
- Push Vob Extras button. A new dlg will popup:

Options unchecked
Re-Mux
Strip Streams
Strip VobId
Create new IFO....
Split to 2 DVD

Options checked
X Correct Vob-Unit (Nav pack pinter....
X Correct original IFO files

Also, uncheck AutoCopy Menu files to destination.

Push OK and wait.

After IfoEdit finished its work,
- Save the IFO
- do "GetVTS sectors"
- Quit

@blueboyec & MattO
I tried but I was unable to reproduce the problem. I'll test it more in depth, but could you give me more info?

jsoto

[blueboyec]

Thanks for the instructions.

Below is what I did:

Movie was Somethings Gotta Give, blank-out everything except the main movie vobs with titlesetblanker then the backup files were moved to a different folder. Use VOBBlanker to cut the end credits which started in the middle of the last cell (+240megs). Then tried to process files through shrink were the error popped up in the last (6) VOB of the movie.

There were 6 vob after vobblanker processed the main movie, originally had 7, possible cause of the problem?

Also credits were not in their own cell but started in the middle of a cell, possible cause of the problem?

Hope this helps.

[MattO]

jsoto,

I followed your instructions, but the resultant DVD still did not open in DVDShrink :(

I am no IFOEdit expert but I opened my main movies .IFO file, VTS_08_0.IFO, in IFOEdit and went VTS_PGCITI > VTS_PGC_1 and looked at cell 20 (the cell I cut).
The 'start sector of last VOBU' and 'last sector of this cell' both have the same value (dec), but a few other films, whose last cell I checked, had differing values. Not sure if this helps, or if I am looking at something totally the wrong way, I know nothing about using IFOEdit properly ;)

regards MattO

Oh ... A few post ago you said you are accepting suggestions for VobBlanker, well have you considered trying to integrate, or call, Requant (sources are available in the big Rejig thread)? So we could compress titles as well as cut and blank them, all within One great program. Also would it be possible to cut/blank certain menu/intro titles like DVDRemake?
Sorry if this is too much ... but I had to ask ;) as it would be so useful.

[jsoto]

@MattO

The 'start sector of last VOBU' and 'last sector of this cell' both have the same value (dec), but a few other films, whose last cell I checked, had differing values.

You are right. They MUST be different. In fact, in a blank cell (5 sectors) 'last sector of this cell'='start sector of last VOBU'+4.
Are you sure about this? May be you are confused with the 'entry point sector' and 'start sector of last VOBU' which must be the same in blank cell?

These pointers, (and also many others) are corrected by IFOEDit running a mock strip, so seems something is wrong in the VOB file.

The problem is I'm not able to reproduce it, although I've tried three different movies and different cutting points....

BTW, I've found a bug in save project. The last VTS is not saved (so it defaults to keep). But, if your main movie (the one you are cutting) is not in the last VTS, could you post your ini project? In this way I can see exactly what are you doing, the attributes of your video, and so on.

And, about the new features....
Sorry, but you are dreaming. I'm not able to do what you are asking for. But, I also have my own dreams (easier), like launch D2S/D2SRoBa automatically and do all the encoding in batch mode..., but as I said, at least at the moment, it's a dream and I'm not going to work on it.

Menus seems more feasible. I've to check it, but I believe their structure is more or less the same than a PGC.

Anyway, first priority is bug fixing.

jsoto

EDIT:
To 'save a project', do all the settings, and before Process (or after,its the same) use Menu File-->Save Project as
and save it in a 'ini file'

[MattO]

jsoto,

> Are you sure about this?
Yes, but as I said I am no expert ;)

> Sorry, but you are dreaming.
I like to dream ;)

> Menus seems more feasible.
This would be good.

> Anyway, first priority is bug fixing.
Absolutely.

I will cut another DVD, and follow your IFOEdit method. I will post my results, and my .INI file.

[sweetness]

i too could not reproduce the problem blueboyec & MattO are having.
i did many different types of cutting. beginning of a cell, last sectors of a cell and even in the middle. i even keeped one cell in the middle of the movie creating one vob 389MB and still no error in shrink. i also tried burning(simulation) with nero and there was no reallocation error.

try different versions of DVD Shrink or even Recode? maybe it's a DVD shrink problem.

[jsoto]

Please define if you are PAL or NTSC users. Also the attributes of your video (resolution & AR).

I'm a PAL user, and don't have access to any NTSC material..

Just to clarify:
Nero checks VTS sector pointers in file reallocation
Shrink "checks" VOBU pointers in IFOs because it uses IFO VOBU pointers to access the VOB files.

jsoto

[MattO]

jsoto,

I am PAL as well, although I do have NTSC I can test.

Tried again with 'Timeline', this is the contents of my VobBlanker .INI file, (saved just before hitting the 'process' button):
------------------------------

[General]
InputPath=E:\TIMELINE\VIDEO_TS
OutputPath=D:\NEWTIMELINE
nIFOs=3
nTitles=3
CheckIfof=1
CheckMenu=1
CheckVobPuops=1
CheckIfoPuops=1
CheckTmapti=1
[VTS01]
nPGCs=1
ActionVTS=PROCESS
VideoAttr=5E00
ActionT01_01=CUT
Replacing Title_01_01=
Replacing Size_01_01=3915810816
CutInfo_01_01=0 -1 -1 19 37226
StripInfo_01_01=80 81 82 83 84 85 0 87
[VTS02]
nPGCs=1
ActionVTS=PROCESS
VideoAttr=5E00
ActionT02_01=KEEP
Replacing Title_02_01=
Replacing Size_02_01=0
CutInfo_02_01=0 -1 -1 -1 -1
StripInfo_02_01=0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

----------

Opening the resultant DVD with DVDShrink 3.1.7.6 I get:
"DVDShrink encountered an error and cannot continue. Invalid data in file 'D:\NEW\VTS_01_4.VOB'"

I followed your Ifoedit procedure and DVDShrink opened the resultant DVD :) (I must have followed the IFOEdit step wrongly last time)

So from this, the problem is with the VOB file VobBlanker cuts.

I hope this helps to solve this problem.

[sweetness]

Just to clarify:
Nero checks VTS sector pointers in file reallocation
Shrink "checks" VOBU pointers in IFOs because it uses IFO VOBU pointers to access the VOB files.
i did not know that. you learn something new every day.
i'm from the NTSC land and the disc i tested seem OK. the last ones i tested were Star Wars Phanton Menace and Jackie Brown.
one request: can we have a blank all option. Star Wars has 14 PGC in one titleset and 8 in another. just getting lazy i guess.

[jsoto]

@MattO
Thanks for the info. Now, I see what you are doing, and I'm doing the same (with other dvds) but still unable to reproduce... Seems like there is something not under control in the SW (a not initialized variable or something similar). I'll continue trying to reproduce.

@sweetness
were Star Wars Phanton Menace Be careful, PAL version is a multiangle (seamless branch) and VobBlanker does not support multiangle (I do not know what could happen)... So its better to manually copy the main movie VTS.

can we have a blank all option Done, you have it, Simply right click in the desired VTS in VTS list. In the popup menu there is a "blank" option, which does a "blank all PGCs". I'm also lazy :)

jsoto

[sweetness]

The NTSC version is multiangle too and so is Jackie Brown. but those are the only images i have on my hard drive right now.(some of us don't have 1TB hard drives :D )
Ya your right, vobblanker just doesn't handly multiangle very well, the video skips.
One more thing i remmember(i could be wrong) you saying something about don't use the stripping option, was that fixed?
And thank you for the blank all option.

[jsoto]

Multiangle:
You still can process other VTS PGCs. In a multiangle DVD not all VTS are multiangle (I've never seen extras/logos in multiangle...). To do this, just manually copy the multiangle VTSs related files to the destination folder, and select skip those VTSs in VTS list. The other VTSs will be processed/blanked/etc, and VIDEO_TS.* will be also adjusted, so in the destination folder you will have the whole DVD.

Strip:
Yes, DSI nav pointers are not adjusted. Still in the TODO. But you can do a strip with VobBlanker if after you do a mock strip in the same VTS with IFOEdit. Just follow the instructions a few posts above.

jsoto

[louv68]

JSOTO,

I've tried what you suggested and the program continues to crash in Windows 98.

-Louv68

[jsoto]

@louv68
Please be more specific, i.e:
a) Win98 you are using. I'm just tested VobBlanker in Win98 SE (An old PC I have) and I didn't found any problem. It worked to me although I have to confess I did a simple operation, my old PC is not powerful at all.

b) When does it crash?. Just starting? When you browse a file? When start process? Is it able to display the VTS and PGC infos?. Does it crash "always" in the same point?

You know, so short report like yours does not help me much to find the problem...

jsoto

[jsoto]

I've received this mail from a new user. As conclusion, use cut feature with care...

----------------------------------------------
I just registered at doom9 yesterday and it won't let me post to the VOBBlanker forum for 5 days, so I thought I'd try contacting you directly. First off, let me say VOBBlanker is a great program! Thanks for the efforts.

I've been using the 'cut' feature recently but noticed a few problems. I think all these problems are related, so don't get discouraged.

1. Sometimes, when I just set the End Mark to get rid of ending credits, the first few minutes of the title also get chopped. This only happens maybe 1 out of 5 times. If I go back and do exactly the same thing again, everything is fine.

2. After cutting from the beginning of a title to get rid of the studio logos, if I repoen the file with VOBBlanker I sometimes get the following warning:
"Warning: Opening GOP is not closed. The first few frames may not be decoded correctly." Seems to play ok though. I've tried running the title through Ifoedit doing a "VOB Extras" without stripping anything hoping it would get corrected but it does not.

3. I noticed that the time display on the dvd player is not right for titles which have had some part cut. For instance, I cut the beinning studio credit and can see (using PowerDVD) that as the movie begins
the "total time" is 17 seconds. This lasts for a very short time until the non-cut portion of the movie is reached and then the total time changes to whatever the movie lenght is. If I cut something from the middle, you get the same kind of effect and trying to fast forward or rewind over this section causes the player to
get confused.
4. On some titles where I cut from the beginning of the title, when I play the disk in my stand alone player about 1 second of the title will play and then it will freeze. I have to press the "next chapter" button on the remote and then the title restarts showing the 1 second that it did before, but then continuing with the rest
of the title just fine.
-----------------------------------------------

1.- Seems the problem I'm trying to find.
2.- Yes, it can happen. VobBlanker cuts in a VOBU, but does not check in it is a closed one. May be I can add a warning...(IIRC, GOPs must be closed in DVD standard, although nobody is following this rule..). I'll check it.
3 and 4.- True, You need to correct the DSI nav ponters when cutting in the middle or in the begining of a title... So, in the meantime, do a mock strip with IFOEdit. It should fix the problems.

jsoto

[louv68]

JSoto,

Thank you for testing it with Win98 SE I'm using Win98 1st Edition on an old Athlon 900mhz with 256mb 133sdram.

The program always crashes when I try to process the files. I'm able to carry all operations without a hitch but when it comes time to process, that's when the program crashes.

I'm saving my pennies to upgrade in the near future. Thanks for looking into it.

-LouV68

[sweetness]

jsoto,
i don't know if this is only my problem or a bug but when i try to use the replace option vobblanker crashes at 99% just before creating the VIDEO_TS.IFO.(i have the VTS_01_0.IFO) this also happens when i try replaceing the same vob's(the original ones). the funny thing is it crashes when i use version 1.0.0.9 and 8 too. guess i'm having a bad day.

[jsoto]

@sweetness
Are you working with originals (that means, decripted but not modified) IFOs and VOB files? VobBlanker expects right info in the IFOs. If there is something wrong in the IFOs, probably it crashes.

Just to confirm, does it crash with different DVDs or always the same one?

jsoto

[burnout]

i have only had that problem when trying to replace some titles on the output from scenarist using dif4u in the 0 folder. i then used ifoupdate and completed dif4u process, then tried the replace feature again and there were no problems :)

[sweetness]

after different test methods i came to the conclusion that vobblanker does not like ifo's processed by dvdshrink.
@burnout
i will try ifoupdate when i get home form work.
ps. are there any guides on ifoupdate on all the features?

[burnout]

well ifoupdate isn't really for using with dvdshrink as it should take care of it all, but no harm in trying.

my post on http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=76713 tells u which options to use, but doesn't go through what each option means.

hope it does work with a simple step like this though ;)

edit: not sure what it would make of the newly authored menu's though, give it a try, u will have to copy all vob files from shrink into a folder of original ifo's (although VIDEO_TS.VOB might not like that).

[Malcolm]

hello jsoto,
i recently discovered vobblanker. looks like a really good and useful tool to me! :) (i didn't had the real need to use it yet, just played around a bit with it)
Maybe you have seen my post Exchanging Audio-Streams in VOBs (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75592). In brief: I would like to replace space consuming 5.1ch ac3/dts tracks during backup with lower-bitrate 2ch mp2 versions (converted via BeSweet). Useful for bonus tracks like 2nd language or so. But also music DVDs with large LPCM tracks!
After seeing vobblanker, i would say that this is exactly the right tool for this! :)
Is it possible to add a functionality to replace audio tracks and not only to strip them off? I don't know if there has to be taken care for things like audio-delay etc. but i'm sure you know what to do to make it work correctly.
To make it simple: Demultiplexing of audio tracks can be done manually/externally with existing software (although i'm not sure if selecting the right (wanted) audio-track is easy with other software). Also the conversion from ac3/dts to mp2 can be done manually/externally with BeSweet. So the core functionality to replace one audio track by another (Select file...) would suffice. (just like replacing a PGC).
Nonetheless it would be nice to have also the demultiplexing and calling BeSweet in vobblanker, so the user does not has to do this manually. But maybe that's outside the focus of vobblanker.
How do you think about it?

Thank you and
greetings,
Malcolm

[jsoto]

Hi Malcolm,

Yes, I've read yor post about 5.1 audio tracks. But VobBlanker has not (and is not going to have) the ability to author/mux needed to do the replacement. I suggest you to reauthor the title with other tool and then replace it with VobBlanker. I usually do it with DVD2SVCD (+mdvdauth), reencoding the video and also the audio.

Beware about audio strip and cut abilities of VobBlanker. They do not correct all the pointers in the VOBs, so a mock strip using IfoEdit is required. I've been a little bit busy at work and lately I did not find much free time to improve VobBlanker. I've a new version with some minor improvements, but there are some bugs still not fixed.

jsoto

[Malcolm]

Originally posted by jsoto
VobBlanker has not (and is not going to have) the ability to author/mux needed to do the replacement. Hmm, that's a pity! You were my last hope since no one really responded to my other requests! :(
Can you explain why audio replacement won't be included in vobblanker? Is it technically difficult? Don't get me wrong, i just want to know if it's realistic to wait/ask for this (elsewhere).
I suggest you to reauthor the title with other tool and then replace it with VobBlanker. I usually do it with DVD2SVCD (+mdvdauth), reencoding the video and also the audio.
Do i get this right? You mean:
- Extracting the main movie (or whatever contains the big audio track).
QUESTION: What's the bet way to do this? Using vobblanker -> 'strip' the wanted PGC, producing a new DVD folder/file structure (vobs + ifos) only with the main movie?
- Reencoding/transcoding this with DVD2SVCD/ReJig/DVD-RB (including audio conversion to mp2).
NOTICE: Actually i don't want to compress the video-part here, because at this point, i don't know what compression to choose!
- Then replacing the original main movie with the new encoded/transcoded version using vobblankers PGC 'replace'?

Could work. Thank you for the tip! But i have some concerns (although i don't want to criticize this solution):
- It's complicate & time consuming.
- There can happen a lot of errors.
- This is a very unintuitive way of doing backups

My goal is to have a one place solution where you can play around with all parameters (audio + video compression; selecting/deselecting
PGCs, subtitles, audio tracks) to see how they influence eachother (compression ratios) and to estimate what to do and what to leave. Imagine DVD-Shrink where you can also choose the audio-compression and immediately see the change in compression ratios for other parts of the DVD. (Example: Maybe the main video don't has to be compressed at all, because compressing audio to mp2 + leaving out some extras is enough to get it on DVD-5..) You can decide what bitrate to use for mp2 to get to the final size. You can decide what audio tracks to compress (main movie, or 3 extra clips), etc. pp. This is just not possible when you have to do everything manually + separated from eachother.
I just don't understand why no one else feels that this is something really needful!!! :confused: :confused:

Greetings,
Malcolm

[jsoto]

Can you explain why audio replacement won't be included in vobblanker? Is it technically difficult? Yes, it's difficult. Simply it is out of my knowledge and possibilities. If I understood well how DVD-RB works, it could do the job, but not sure...

What you are asking for is a dvdshrink like GUI with the ability to show you the ratios changing more things that the ones allowed by dvdshrink. Yeah, it could be nice to have, but compression ratios are not a good indication of the quality to be achieved. Well, may be using transcoders they could be useful, but not if you are using an encoder. The parameter which gives you the quality indication of the encoded video is, in the case of CCE, the Q factor.

Let me elaborate a little bit on how I'm doing the backups (may be its useful for you):
1.- I decide the extras to keep and the ones to blank.
2.- I decide the resolution to apply in extras, (DVD, Half DVD or even VCD). Usually, extras have not a good quality, so using a full resolution is a waste of bit rate
3.- I encode the extras with DVD2SVCD, using OPV CCE, with a fixed and relatively high Q (usually 35)
4.- Using VobBlanker I replace the encoded extras and blank the undesired ones. In this step I also blank the main movie, so the resulting DVD has no main movie, but I know how much space should be used by the main movie to fill the DVD.
5.- Encode the main movie with DVD2SVCD+D2SRoBa using as "CD size" the available space, and selecting the audio tracks and bitrate I want. See the achieved Q. If too high, apply filters or delete some audio or even some extras...
6.- Replace the blanked main movie with the D2S encoded one.
7.- Final modifications with IFOEdit, AddChapter: Command tables of blanked PGCs, adding chapters...
8.- Verification with dvdshrink and powerDVD

I know my method has a lot of manual work, but I'm able to do what I want in every PGC and I enjoy doing the work...

jsoto

[johnmeyer]

Probably a dumb question, but can VobBlanker be used to blank the intro warnings and studio logos that clutter most DVDs? These look to be in the VIDEO_TS.VOB file, and I don't see anyway to preview or blank the titles.

I know this can be done with IFOEdit, but I am getting spoiled by DVD Shrink, TitlesetBlanker, and VobBlanker, and am looking for simpler ways to do things.

[jsoto]

@johnmeyer
No. Vobblanker does nothing with menus (and VIDEO_TS.VOB is a menu)

Deleting playback is very simple in IFOEdit, but the cell still will be there (as "unreferenced material"). Usually this is not a problem, because usually are of small size.

jsoto

[Malcolm]

Originally posted by jsoto
Yes, it's difficult. Simply it is out of my knowledge and possibilities. If I understood well how DVD-RB works, it could do the job, but not sure...

Maybe it's worth a try to ask jdobbs (Author of DVD-RB) or Derrow (IfoEdit) if they can help you and provide some info/code for the demuxing/remuxing?!! If you're willing to add this functionality to VobBlanker.
You know, i really think that VobbBlanker is the right place for this! For a complete solution, VobBlanker has already 90% of what's needed (the GUI, selecting PGCs / audio tracks, ...) the remaining 10% is just this audio demuxing/remuxing thing!

Greetings,
Malcolm

[motster]

Originally posted by jsoto
@johnmeyer
No. Vobblanker does nothing with menus (and VIDEO_TS.VOB is a menu)

Deleting playback is very simple in IFOEdit, but the cell still will be there (as "unreferenced material"). Usually this is not a problem, because usually are of small size.

jsoto

Silly noobie question...I actually did this very thing on my first "blank", but the warnings/logos were in a VTS, so your statement doesn't apply to me right?

Also, I just found the util and it is great! I saw mentions of some bugs, etc, but it seems that the basic "blank" functionality is pretty solid, not requiring the use of Ifoedit, etc, in most cases. Is that true?

[sweetness]

@motster
vobblanker can not blank any menu files like VIDEO_TS.VOB or VTS_0X_0.VOB (X being titleset) sometimes warnings/logos are located there. If you get something you want to blank that is in the VIDEO_TS.VOB just use TitleSet Blanker v0.9.5 with merge cell and programs checked. then use vobblanker to blank out other titles.

[motster]

@sweetness,

Ok, I guess they were in _1+ files, not in _0 :-) Is this functionality coming? (Sorry if i missed this answer in a post somewhere!) Seems also like DVDREmake Pro can do this already (but of course isn't free!)

[burnout]

blanking the _1+ files is the main feature of vobblanker. select your VTS and then the title you want to blank, if u want to blank a whole VTS then select all titles and blank them ;) (this helps keep the original structure of the DVD preserved)

[hf]

Hi,

I have been trying to back up some dvds that are
episodes from a tv show. The way the dvd is set up,
the first PCG is all 4 episodes, then there are
4 additional PCG's that have the cells for the
individual episode.

The problem is that I want to remove the beginning
and end credits from each episode, but since vobblanker
marks PCG's 2 thru 5 as having reused cells, trying
to cut from them does nothing - the resulting output
is the same size as the original.

This means that I have to edit PCG 1 about 8 times.
Each time chopping out one of the credit segments.

Would it be possible selecting a reused cell for
cutting that vobblanker cut the 'original' cell?

[sweetness]

@hf look at my post http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73145&perpage=20&pagenumber=4 about half way down the page.(the one with colour)

note:reused cells are blanks cells they just refer to another cell. try demux with vobedit and look at the reused ones.

[hf]

I hadn't noticed your previous message. I tried what you said, it would
work fine for the example you give where the reused cell is only a few
minutes long, but what I have are 4 one hour long episodes. What ends
up happening is that the 7GB original dvd size becomes 14GB! I didn't
have time to try it yet, but I guess I would then have to entirely blank
out the first PGC that has all 4 episodes and then renumber the vob ids
in the other PGCs to match the original numbers. I was worried though
that blanking out the first PGC would screw things up so the first PGC
is broken.

[jsoto]

This means that I have to edit PCG 1 about 8 times. I do not understand this. Selecting PGC 1, (the first occurrence of the cell) the blanking/cutting process should work.

jsoto

[hf]

Yes, selecting PCG1 and selecting a part to cut does
work. Let me explain the dvd setup. The disk contains
4 1 hour long episodes. The content for each episode
is in 5 VobIDs. Episode 1 is 1-5, episode 2 is 6-10,
episode 3 is 11-15 episode 4 is 16-20.
There are 5 PCGs. The first PCG is the 'Play all' program
so PCG1 contains VobIDs 1-20. The next 4 PCG's are the
individual episodes so PCG 2 has vobids 1-5, PCG 3 has
vobids 6-10 etc.

Since PCG 2 - 5 are reused, you can't use vobblanker
to cut them. The preview window will come up and you
can select start and end points, but when you click ok
to dismiss the "cut" window, on the main screen shows
that the output size has not changed. If you go ahead
and process the dvd anyway the written out files are
the same size as the originals.

The way parts of the episodes are laid out is:
1) recap of previous episode,
2) a few minutes of episode,
3) beginning credits,
4) rest of episode,
5) ending credits,

So using the notation Ex.y where 'x' is the episode number
and 'y' is one of the above parts of the episode, PCG1 looks
like this:

E1.1 E1.2 E1.3 E1.4 E1.5 E2.1 E2.2 E2.3 E2.4 E2.5 E3.1 E3.2 E3.3 E3.4 E3.5 E4.1 E4.2 E4.3 E4.4 E4.5

So what I end up having to do is process the PCG multiple
times cutting some of the stuff out in each pass since the
program does not let you select multiple sections to cut
with in a single PCG.

Pass 1: cut E1.1 and E4.5
Pass 2: cut E1.3
Pass 3: cut E1.5 and E2.1
Pass 4: cut E2.3
Pass 5: cut E2.5 and E3.1
Pass 6: cut E3.3
Pass 7: cut E3.5 and E4.1
Pass 8: cut E4.3

very tiring!

[sweetness]

maybe they're not reused cells look at my post at the bottom (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73145&perpage=20&pagenumber=2)
PGC_2 has two cells but it reuses only one blank cell at the end which makes vobblanker mark the entry as reused.
can you post some of the ifo's or PM them to me.

[r0lZ]

Just a little suggestion: please add a command line parsing that will make possible to associate VobBlanker with VOB, IFO or BUP files, and have the DVD already opened for you when starting it with the "Open with" Vindows feature. This will save some time.

And please add a checkbox to be able to disable the backup creation...

Thanks in advance.

[DMagic1]

Is the link to vobBlanker down?

[jsoto]

Just a little suggestion: please add a command line parsing that will make possible to associate VobBlanker with VOB, IFO or BUP files, and have the DVD already opened for you when starting it with the "Open with" Vindows feature. This will save some time.

How can I do this?. Currently (vers 1.3, unreleased), CLI support is included, but with an ini file (with saved settings) as input parameter.

And please add a checkbox to be able to disable the backup creation...
:confused: No backup is done by VobBlanker. It creates new files and keeps the originals untouched.

Is the link to vobBlanker down?
Both links work to me...
www.iespana.es/jsoto
www.posunplugged.com/jsoto

Cheers

[jsoto]

I still have a couple of weeks before holidays. So, please test it and if you find a serious bug, may be I have enough time to fix it.

This is the changelog (not many things, but I was a little busy...)
- Save/load projects last PGC bug
- CLI support
- Log window/file instead of message boxes during execution.
- Audio attr
- VID/CID in cells. Cell List dialog
- Ability to extract cells, even if they are interleaved
- Convert ILV cells in non-interleaved ones. Beware: VOBU pointers are
not modified inside the VOBs (Still needs a IFOEdit's mock strip)

jsoto

BTW, I've tested the de-interleave abilities with Alien3 and Alien Resurrection. DVD-RB was able to process the resulting DVDs. I also run DVD-RB with both PGCs not interleaved (Normal + especial edition, without blanking the last one). The resulting DVDs (also not interleaved) are played in some settops without any interruption but others show a very small discontinuity in the cell changes.

[motster]

When I hear about mock strip, etc, I get a little nervous. If I'm just going and blanking things in VTS sets, do I need to worry about any extra steps? Will there be any warning flags if a title is interleaved, angles, etc? (If not, can there be, for the anxious folks like me? :-))

[jsoto]

@motster
Actually, you only need additional steps (mock strip, etc) if you are doing special things like:
- Strip audio tracks
- Cut PGC's in the middle of a Cell
- And now, De-Interleaving cells

Seems it's time to code this ... I was lazy on this, because you can easily do it with IFOedit.

About warnings:
No, no warnings are issued to the user if you are managing a multiangle/interleaved DVD. But you can see it in the displayed info ( # Angles and ILV flags )

jsoto

[burnout]

cheers for the latest version jsoto, might give the convert ILV cells feature a test later and check out this new vobid/cellid stuff :)

[motster]

jsoto,

Sorry to add to your workload :-) I think warnings might be a good idea, if the operation is something that you know won't work but will appear to work regardless. People can always "uncheck" a warning box option if they don't want to see it anymore...

For those who go through a lot of discs, I imagine it can be easy to forget to look at at the angles, etc, and might turn out a bad disc if they were in a hurry.

[jsoto]

@all
Beware: De-interleaving is done with "keep" option. No special option for this new feature.

I'm going to log some warnings related with Angles and ILV...

jsoto

[burnout]

jsoto, when u have the cells window open and right click a cell it says extract cell but when u click it then it doesn't function

and also on the matrix (i think because of duplicate pgc's) it shows that the output will be bigger than the input when u change nothing, but the actual output is the same size.

also the remove IlVu options seems to work fine, but i don't know in what way it will change the playback :)

[jsoto]

.. and right click a cell it says extract cell but when u click it then it doesn't function I'll look into it. In any case the button works, doesn't it?

.. it shows that the output will be bigger than the input when u change nothing I knew this problem. It's due the ILV cells and how VobBlanker calculates (in a wrong way) the size. I know how to fix it.

.. the remove IlVu options seems to work fine, but i don't know in what way it will change the playback This is my concern. AFAIK, the first PGC will not have any playback problems, but the second one can have, due its de-interleaved cells will be physically located at the end of the first PGC. In fact, this can be a test about how good is your player, and if it has enough data in memory to allow the laser header to do the required movements.

jsoto

[burnout]

yeah, done some testing today (but i forgot the mock strip). i ran the matrix through vobblanker then straight into dvd-rb, the dvd plays fine with powerDVD but on my standalone the first pgc plays fine as u said, but on 1 of the other pgc's u can't rewind back over where an IlVu cell was previously. Gonna do some more testing over the next couple of days on it :cool:

oh yeah, and the button works fine, just thought i would point out the right click method doesn't :)

[sapient]

Hi!

I thought I could use this tool to replace a titleset with a small image saying that the title has been removed or is on the second disc. There is only one problem with that... How can I transform an image file to a vob that has a given number of cells (the same as the tittle to be replaced)? Can someone give me some simple directions or point to them?

Thanx

[jsoto]

@sapient
Assuming you have the image in bmp format (if not use a graphic tool to get it in this format), you can encode it in mpeg with avisynth)

LoadPlugin("Avisynth BMP Loader.dll")
Blackness(1)
AssumeFPS(25)
ConvertToYUY2
BicubicResize(720,576)
AvisynthBMP_Loader("D:\output_folder","my_image.bmp")
BicubicResize(720,576)

So, after that, you will have a mpv video stream. Now, use an authoring program (i.e. IFOEdit) to multiplex this video stream with an audio stream (you can get a ac3 silence generator from my homepage). At the end, you will have a VOB (and its IFOs, BTW). Now, you can strip (with IFOedit VOBextras button) the audio and you will get a VOB with only video.

Now, using VOBEdit, "join Clips" option you can build a VOB with several Cells, with the the same or different image in each cell, or you can use your newly authored VOB as "custom image" in AddChapter, which will insert this image as a chapter at the end of the selected PGC

Hope this helps.

jsoto

NOTE: IIRC, Avisynth BMP Loader.dll is a dll created by dvd2svcd, included in dvd2svcd package, but not available in avisynth homepage.

[Malcolm]

there's another solution (much simpler IMHO):
DVD-Shrink 3.2 has the ability to replace TitleSets with still images. just set the compression to 'no compression', choose your preferred image and process the DVD.

Btw. the resulting video containing the still image will have the same length as the original video from the TitleSet. That means i can have a significant size.

Greetings,
Malcolm

[jsoto]

I do not play too much with this new feature of dvdshrink, but seems to me the option of image still is not size optimized.
AFAIK, dvdshrink substitutes every VOBU by the image, so the still will be repeated too many times in the VOB.
VobBlanker will save more space, because it works in a Cell based way.

In any case, dvdshrink is a fantastic, great (I have no words to describe it...) tool. And now it has a very improved transcoding engine. What more can you ask for?

jsoto

[Geekgrrl]

Thanx Jsoto for making this tool :D
Easy and simple software that gets the job done,
Most of the vob's in the Hellboy movie that needed to be skipped were done in a breeze. Only the video_vts.vob,needed to be done with IfoEdit.
Still wrestling with that file as it is still not blank, 1 other warning appeared when playing it in Nero Showtime (but it doesn't show up in DVD2AVI :confused:
Anyway, Jsoto, 1 question (for u or any-one else how knows): How come that the video_vts.vob, shows up blank (no enties in the bottom window)in Vobblanker, although it contains 4 VobID's?
Oke, the light went back on, it are just subtitles, so will strip those from it :cool:

[MackemX]

Originally posted by Malcolm
there's another solution (much simpler IMHO):
DVD-Shrink 3.2 has the ability to replace TitleSets with still images. just set the compression to 'no compression', choose your preferred image and process the DVD.

Btw. the resulting video containing the still image will have the same length as the original video from the TitleSet. That means i can have a significant size.

Greetings,
Malcolm
if you use the right blank then DVDShrink uses around 30mb per 1GB replaced so the space isn't really that much that it wastes now :). It's when people start using fancy graphics that it wastes far too many precious MB's

as for the playback time, a few hacks sharp fix that if you know where to look ;) and hopefully DVDShrink or someone else will soon automate this

[blueboyec]

jsoto,

Very time I try to use 1.3.0.3 to cut any part of the DVD the resulting tilte ends up doudle the size? I do not have any cutting problems with the last version. What am I doing wrong? Do I have to totally remove all older version?

Blueboy

[hf]

If the size is doubling, then you are probably cutting something
that has reused cells. VobBlanker will output the cells twice
making them no longer reused, but also making the file size much
bigger.

[blueboyec]

hf,

If I use version 1.2... I have no problems cutting the same DVD's that I tried to cutting with 1.3 ...


Blueboyec

[erdoke]

Will somebody please tell me, how VobBlanker handles unreferenced material in DVDs?
I made a backup of Back To The Future II (BTTF2) and tried to use this nice tool, but was not able to do anything with the unreferenced 137 MB in VIDEO_TS.VOB.

THX

[jsoto]

Hi all,

I've been working on VobBlanker and I've put a lot of effort in this version, mainly in bugfixing, but also in other areas, like pointer adjustmens (no more mock strip is needed).

As usual, any test report is welcome. I'm sure there still are some bugs inside.

Here is the changelog
Vers 1.4.0.1 (22-08-2004)

Added: Help file included. My English is not very good, but I hope it is enough to be understood.
Added: New option of processing a PGC using a Cell based selection. Each cell can be individually blanked, keep or replaced by a new one.
Added: Change post into precommands, following 2COOL's guide. Solid and Conditional Breaks in precommand area are converted into goto commands.
Added: Adjust navigational pointers and audio/video pointers inside VOBs. No more IFOEdit mock strip is needed (I hope)
Added: Warning in the case of Multiangle or ILV Cells when open VIDEO_TS.IFO. VTSs are now marked as SKIP
Added: Logs steps when processing IFOs
Added: Warning if cutting in a not closed GOP.
Added: Deactivating audio in IFO when stripping.
Changed: TMAPTI calculation loop has been improved (mainly in performance)
BugFix: CLI mode was always activating the creation of debug log files.
BugFix: A lot of bugs in Audio Attrib/Strip dlgs
-Size of audio tracks in Attrib dlg were wrong
-Size of audio tracks in the case of reused cells were wrong
-Active streams in each title
-Many more...
BugFix: Discontinuity in TMAPTI table was not correctly filled.
BugFix: Duration of last VOBU in a Cell was not added when calculating the Cell duration. This error was cummulated in PGC duration. In any case I believe it does not affect...
BugFix: Popup menu in Cells Dlg (extract cell) didn't work.
BugFix: Size calculations (and progress bar) now take into account menus processing setting
BugFix: Size calculations are now based on ADT table instead of PGC. This should fix the size estimation errors in the case of ILV cells.
BugFix: Preview/cut in an ILV cell.
BugFix: Cell elapsed time in VOBs correction when cuting titles (both cases)
BugFix: TMAPTI was not correctly filled when cutting titles.
BugFix: Cut titles feature had been completely broken in 1.3.0.3
BugFix: Crash when processing VIDEO_TS.IFO if VMGM_PGCI_UT=0 (like in simple & no-menu DVDs, i.e. created with dvdauthor or dvdshrink)

jsoto

[jsoto]

@blueboyec
1.3.0.3 was writting twice every sector when cutting titles. Fixed in 1.4

@erdoke
Unreferenced material in VTS is NOT copied. But, remember, VobBlanker (by now) does nothing with menus, so unreferenced material in menus IS copied.

jsoto

[erdoke]

Originally posted by jsoto

@erdoke
Unreferenced material in VTS is NOT copied. But, remember, VobBlanker (by now) does nothing with menus, so unreferenced material in menus IS copied.

jsoto

Thank you jsoto, then I have to use other tools to remove that. When do you plan adding capabilities of modifying menus as well?
I appreciated some very useful additions in the new version. This tool becoming better fast.

[Axlemar]

This tool seems to work pretty well. How ever you went about learning how to program, you did it the right way. The only feature I can think about wanting is if you could allow the editing of each cell by itself instead of modifying the entire pgc as a whole. Some dvds have openings and intros that I need to remove and sometimes a few seconds of them bleed onto other cells and it makes it hard to modify a whole pgc in one edit. Thanks for your hard work.

[sweetness]

Some dvds have openings and intros that I need to remove and sometimes a few seconds of them bleed onto other cells and it makes it hard to modify a whole pgc in one edit.
you can do that with vobblanker. just click the pgc# entry you want to edit and hit the prev/cut button. now select the first cell you want to blank with the GO TO CELL #(lets just say cell 1 for an example)and hit mark button in the inital mark section. now go to cell 2 and with the slider under that go to the sector(lba) where you want your cut to end and then hit the mark button in the end mark section. last thing is to select the cut movie in the action between marks section. then ok

if you what to cut the first part and last part then use the keep moive option, just mark the beginning and ends of the part you want to keep.

[jsoto]

@Axlemar
In 1.4 there is a new PGC processing mode, called "Cell based mode". Just select the PGC and push *Cells* buttton

Added: New option of processing a PGC using a Cell based selection.
Each cell can be individually blanked, keep or replaced by a new one.


@sweetness
Unfortunately, I've found a bug (well, not really a programming bug, but something I didn't take into account) when cutting titles.
If you are cutting a PGC with both marks (start and end) in the middle of the same cell, and you select to delete the movie between marks, pointer adjustment does not work properly. The reason is because VobBlanker does not modify the PTSs (normally it is not required), and DSI pointers are calculated in base of the audio/video PTS.
The result is a playback problem in the cutting point if you try to ffw or rew. AFAIK, no problem in normal play.
AFAIK, IFOEdit's mock strip is also unable to resolve this situation even if you check "Rebuild PTS" (seems this option rebuilds video PTSs, but not the other streams)

@erdoke
When do you plan adding capabilities of modifying menus as well?
In next version, I hope to add some menu blanking capabilities

[erdoke]

Sounds good.
Another feature (nice to have) to maybe implement is to slice a cell into chapters by adding chapter points.
My friend played with backing up his movies and somehow put all the movie into a single cell. Now we search for a tool that can "re-chapterize" it.

[Axlemar]

What I meant is that I need to modify the start and end of several different cells. It looks like right now I can only cut one beginning and one ending in cut mode. If one pgc has 8 different cells and I want to remove the opening and ending and they both bleed over then I will need to modify the start and end for two different cells. If I can do this then forgive me for the double post.


What I would like to see added is the prev/cut mode when you go into cells mode, kinda like how dvdremake is.

If I can't edit all the different cells in one pgc then is it possible to edit the cells with a different program and then import them back in?

[jsoto]

@erdoke
Now we search for a tool that can "re-chapterize" it. Seems to me this is out of VobBlanker scope. But, if you find it, let me know.
In any case, you can do it with IFoedit+VobEdit. Just demultiplex the streams (with VobEdit) and reauthor them with chapters in IfoEdit. (Celltimes.txt, one row per chapter, in frames). Quality will be the same because no recoding process involved.

@Axlemar
Not sure what are you trying to do. Did you check VobBlanker help?. Please read "Cutting a Program chain" topic. I hope it is clear enough.
... kinda like how dvdremake is.Sorry, I do not have dvdremake, but I think it is much more powerful than VobBlanker.
If I can't edit all the different cells in one pgc then is it possible to edit the cells with a different program and then import them back in?Yes, VobBlanker allows you to export/import Cells. (In Title PGCs, not in Menu PGCs).
jsoto

[erdoke]

Originally posted by jsoto
@erdoke
Seems to me this is out of VobBlanker scope. But, if you find it, let me know.
In any case, you can do it with IFoedit+VobEdit. Just demultiplex the streams (with VobEdit) and reauthor them with chapters in IfoEdit. (Celltimes.txt, one row per chapter, in frames). Quality will be the same because no recoding process involved.

jsoto

Thank you, I will let you know if somehow I succeed with VobBlanker.;)
Of course I know that if I demux and remux it with chapters added it will work. I thought I can spare some time with an easy, nearly one-click tool. The time what I spended on searching was much more than doing the job in DVD Maestro... :)

[Axlemar]

This is the last time I will annoy you. I was just wondering what program can correctly modify cells that are exported from vobblanker and if I import them will it screw up the subtitles and all that? Thanks for your time

[jsoto]

what program can correctly modify cells that are exported from vobblanker Sorry, I don't know...
If you are interested in cutting only, may be you can use VobBlanker to cut the PGC and, after, export the cell. But, if you have to do this with every cell, it is a lot of manual work.
jsoto
BTW, I'll be off line during one week from now

[sweetness]

@jsoto
1. just to clarify, the bug about the cutting with both marks only applies to one cell. so if i would cut the start of cell 1 and the end of cell 10 everything should be fine?
2. really like the improvements you make on vobblanker. i have some more suggestions for you too.
a back up ifo option, since you now added the change post to precommands and you can not undo(chance them back to posts). i know i'm dreaming but maybe if all the ifo's would be backedup as a zip. some way or another i end up changing the ifo's if they are in a back up folder.
in cell mode be able to change vid and cid numbers.
3. ya vacations are nice now and then.

[jsoto]

@sweetness
1. just to clarify, the bug about the cutting with both marks only applies to one cell. so if i would cut the start of cell 1 and the end of cell 10 everything should be fine?
Yes (I hope). Only when cutting marks are in the same cell and you are deleting the movie between the marks, ffw and rew will not work properly.
If you find another case, please let me know.
As I said, the problem is due I'm not recalculating the PTSs, and the pointers are adjusted using PTSs as reference (FYI, IFOedit/dvdauthor do the same)

2. really like the improvements you make on vobblanker. Thanks
i have some more suggestions for you too.
a back up ifo option, since you now added the change post to precommands and you can not undo(chance them back to posts). i know i'm dreaming but maybe if all the ifo's would be backedup as a zip. some way or another i end up changing the ifo's if they are in a back up folder.Do I miss anything? IMHO, backing up IFOs is not needed. Originals are untouched, only the new IFOs are modified.

in cell mode be able to change vid and cid numbers.Use VIDChanger for this :sly:

BTW, I'm now working on menu PGCs.

jsoto

[2COOL]

<removed>

[sweetness]

Do I miss anything? IMHO, backing up IFOs is not needed. Originals are untouched, only the new IFOs are modified.
ya, you're right. you don't need one. it's just when i seen "Beware: If you are going to replace a blanked title with a new one, do not use this option when blanking, it is not reversible" in the help file an alarm went of saying backup not thinking that the originals are not touched.
Use VIDChanger for this
well i thought since you had the code of this and vobblanker shows the vid and cid it would be nice to merge the two.

[Lofi]

hello,

suggestion for the next version: if i enter an output folder that doesn't exist, then vobblanker crashes in the version 1.4.0.1.

would it be possible that vobblanker creates the full folder path? the standard windows directory browser/folder creator is rather unuseful. that's why i write the path directly.

and thanks for the program :D

Lofi

[erdoke]

I have a standard working folder for my DVD editing apps such as VobBlanker. It saves into the VobBlanker working/VIDO_TS folder.
I guess this the same with jsoto, probably that's why this issue haven'been identified yet.

[DR. GiGa BYTe]

Is it possible to get the ability to select more than one PGC? It is very laborious if you want to blank several PGCs. Perhaps like in windows. The solution with CTRL (add to / remove from selection) and SHIFT.
Anyway, just somethings to make it easier to select several PGCs at once.

Thanx
DR.GB

[jsoto]

@Lofi
I'll fix the crash. Thanks for reporting it.
Also, I´ll improve the browse for folder to start the browse from the current path.

@DR. GiGa BYTe
No, I'm not going to change the single selection list to a multi-selection list. At least for the moment. These kind of lists are more complex to manage.

But, for blanking, may be you can use the shorcut in VTS list, which blanks all the VTS (and, after, keep the ones you do not want to blank).

jsoto

[DR. GiGa BYTe]

Thanx for the tip.
The shortcut is more than enough... it makes it more easier.
I think I will last with this for a long time :)

cya
drgb

[jsoto]

Hi all,

Could anyone help me in the testing process of the new version?
EDIT: Changed to 1.5.0.1, due a bug in VIDEO_TS.IFO generation.
VobBlanker_1501_beta_exe.zip (http://www.posunplugged.com/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_1501_beta_exe.zip) (Sources will be available when released)

============================================================
1.- Areas which need more tests:
- CLI support
- Elapsed time fixing
- Menus
- Postcommands into precommands
- Delete playback in menus
2.- Already know issues/bugs:
- PUOPs in First play PGC
- Cut in the same cell --> needs to change PTSs, may be also SCR
- Disable Process button when finished
- Bug in TMAPTI calculation when replacing a PGC with a number of cells
higher than the original
3.- TODO
- Update Help contents and change to html (chm)
- Cells in menus (at least view)
===============================Changelog==============================
Vers 1.5.0.0 (XX-09-2004)
Added: Menus Management: Ability to preview, delete playback, blank and reuse cells from other LU.
Added: Change post into precommands check splited in two: Safely and Always.
Added: Audio/Video delay information (not sure if it is always right).
Improvement: Browse for folder starts from the currently selected folder.
BugFix: Crash if destination folder does not exist.
BugFix: Check supported maximums (VTSs, nPGCs, nLUs, nMenuPGCs) and issue an error box
if they are achieved.
BugFix: PGCs with no cells were showing illegal fps in duration. (Although an empty PGC is illegal in Titles domain...)
BugFix: Audios were also disabled (if marked in strip dialog) when no stripping.
BugFix: Load project did not reload Titles video attributes, so changes were lost
BugFix: Disable doubleclick actions when appropiate (crash during processing)
BugFix: Guarantee the selection of VOBUs with video in preview window.

By now, I keep 1.4.0.1 (which is stable) in my sites.

jsoto

[marknyc5]

Hi jsoto,

Tried to use VOBblanker to replace one VOB with another.

It correctly identified that the aspect ratios didn't match and fixed that. The replaced clip plays, but with no sound. The original VOB had 6 channel sound, the new one has 2 channel, I think.

Is there a way in VOBblanker to bring the sound over, too?

Thanks,

Mark

[jsoto]

@marknyc5
No, VobBlanker does not check the audio streams when replacing PGCs, (neither subs). It only checks and fixes video attributes. It is supossed that the user has authored the VOB with the required streams with the required Ids.
May be I can add a check and/or advice, but the "problem" is that VobBlanker will need to explore the replacing VOB to find the streams, and it can take too much time (mainly with subs, where they can be a few and at the end of the VOB)
In any case I saw you get the support of 2COOL in this thread (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82385). I'm sure he will give you a tip to solve your problem. :)

jsoto

[voo_doo99]

Originally posted by jsoto
===============================Changelog==============================
Vers 1.5.0.0 (XX-09-2004)
Added: Menus Management: Ability to preview, delete playback, blank and reuse cells from other LU.
Added: Change post into precommands check splited in two: Safely and Always.
Added: Audio/Video delay information (not sure if it is always right).
Improvement: Browse for folder starts from the currently selected folder.



@jsoto

Thank you for the addition of the Menu Management. I was patiently waiting for this feature to replace the same task with IFOedit. I will test it this weekend and will report how well it works. http://www.dvdshrink.info/images/smiles/thumb_up.gif

The Post --> Pre Command for Title blanking has been working well for me since v1.4.0.1, so was it done in Always mode?. The new default mode in 1.5.0.0 is Safely, what would be the difference here? http://www.dvdshrink.info/images/smiles/eusa_dance.gif

The Browse improvement is a welcoming aid. I always have my STRIPPED folder next to the VIDEO_TS folder so this will save time. :)

VobBlanker is becoming my favorite backup tool. Wish I had it two years ago, but I guess the IFOedit experience was a worthwhile DVD learning. :p

Thank you for sharing this super tool with us. http://www.dvdshrink.info/images/smiles/eusa_clap.gif

[2COOL]

@jsoto

Thanks for the beta. What I really wanted to test it on was a PGC-Menu with multiple cells and that I wanted to blank a certain cell out of the group. This is in a case that I had a Aspect Ratio Menu with other menus.

e.g.
PGC# #Cells 1Vid
02 05 01
When I chose to blank this, it blanked the whole PGC-Menu. :(

Also, I cannot cut my menus. :(

I know you have "cells in menu" on your TODO list but I just needed to emphasize the importance of this cell blanking. Keep up the great work! ;)

[jsoto]

@voo_doo99
Thanks for your comments.
I'm specially happy with reuse PGCs from other LU. This is a very simple tip, but saves a lot of space (if you do not want to have all LUs in menus, but, who can want this?.)

In anycase, IFOEdit is "THE TOOL". I cannot live without it. We are absolutely obligued with Derrow....
The Post --> Pre Command for Title blanking has been working well for me since v1.4.0.1, so was it done in Always mode?. Yes. See my post (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?postid=544570#post544570) and the answers of 2COOL and r0lZ

@2COOL
I wanted to blank a certain cell out of the groupYes, as you said it is in the TODO list.
I cannot cut my menusReally needed?. Cutting function took me a lot of time/effort (and it is still not bug-free)..

jsoto

[jsoto]

Sorry, guys, I've found a critical bug in VIDEO_TS.IFO generation:
The effect you can see is that PUOPs in the menu PGCs are not cleared, but the effect you can not see is that VobBlanker is writing zeros somewhere in the IFO (the pointer is not well initialized), so an erratic behavior can happen.

VobBlanker_1501_beta_exe.zip (http://www.posunplugged.com/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_1501_beta_exe.zip) (Sources will be available when released)

jsoto

PS: First play PGC PUOPs are not cleared, but this is a different thing, because the code is not doing anything.

EDIT: Just to clarify: The bug has been introduced in 1.5, it is not present in 1.4.0.1

[2COOL]

@jsoto

Speaking of removing PU-OPs...have you read this thread (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62121)?

[jsoto]

No, I haven´t read it. Thanks for pointing me to that thread. As usual, mpucoder has the full knowledge...

In fact, I've heard somewhere there were "additional PUOPs" in VMG_PTT_SRPT table, but that was something I had in mind for further investigation. Now it is clear to me.

Do you think I've to clear bits 0 & 1 of that byte?. I can do it (selected by "Removing PUOPs in IFOs")

jsoto

[2COOL]

Originally posted by jsoto
Do you think I've to clear bits 0 & 1 of that byte?. I can do it (selected by "Removing PUOPs in IFOs") That's what LIGHTNING UK! asked and mpucoder approved. http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62121&perpage=20&pagenumber=2

I hope you understand mpucoder's clarification.

[jsoto]

About PO-UPs. Yes. it's crystal clear (and I've already coded it.).

What it is not so clear to me are the other bits (2 to 5). Do they mean the presence of Jump/Link/Call commands in the described positions?. So, if you add/delete Jump/Link/Call commands from the PGCs (i.e. with PgcEdit) do you have to modify these bits?. In any case, seems that changing post to pre you do not have to do anything. :)

jsoto

[2COOL]

Originally posted by jsoto
In any case, seems that changing post to pre you do not have to do anything. :) Sounds logical. I concur! ;)

[r0lZ]

What it is not so clear to me are the other bits (2 to 5). Do they mean the presence of Jump/Link/Call commands in the described positions?. So, if you add/delete Jump/Link/Call commands from the PGCs (i.e. with PgcEdit) do you have to modify these bits?. In any case, seems that changing post to pre you do not have to do anything.Normally, you should.
However, in most of the DVDs I inspected to understand the usage of the Jump/Link/Call bits, I never found relevant values here. I even found illegal values. IfoEdit doesn't change the bits. PgcEdit don't change the bits neither, but sets all bits to 1 when it creates a new title (just in case). I think all players are totally ignoring this...

[bachelorbob]

While blanking the first 3 cells of an episodic DVD9, I consistently get the followinf fatal error:


This program has performed an illegal operationand will be shut down.

If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.

VobBlanker caused an invalid page fault in module KERNEL32.DLL at 0167:bff7b992.
Registers:
EAX=00000020 CS=0167 EIP=bff7b992 EFLGS=00000202
EBX=00468864 SS=016f ESP=00a2f2ac EBP=00a2f2c4
ECX=00465928 DS=016f ESI=00000020 FS=3037
EDX=00000000 ES=016f EDI=01891fb0 GS=0000
Bytes at CS:EIP:
80 3e 04 74 0f 33 c0 50 50 50 68 05 00 00 c0 e8
Stack dump:
00000001 0042565b 00000020 004220c5 00000000
00000001 00468780 004066c6 00468864 00000001
00000800 00000000 0040e592 00468864 00000000
005f98d8



FYI: I'm running VobBlanker 1.4.0.1 in Win98 SE via Virtual PC 6.1.1 on a G4 Mac, because I've yet to locate a comparable application for the Mac.

I have also split MANY episodic DVD9s with the same method and have not experienced this bug before.

[2COOL]

You might have encountered a problematic DVD. We all do once in a great while. I hope jsoto fixes your problem. Anyways, I sent you a PM. ;)

[jsoto]

@bachelorbob
I need more info from you. Check your PM.
I understand you are blanking in a cell based mode, aren't you?

jsoto

[jsoto]

New beta available
VobBlanker_1502_beta_exe.zip (http://www.posunplugged.com/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_1502_beta_exe.zip) (Sources will be available when released).

===============================TODO===================================
Vers 1.5.0.X (XX-09-2004)
1.- Areas which need more tests:
- CLI support
- Elapsed time fixing
- Menus, specifically cellbased mode
- Postcommands into precommands

2.- Already know issues/bugs:
- Cut in the same cell --> needs to change PTSs, may be also SCR
- Disable Process button when finished
- Bug in TMAPTI calculation when replacing a PGC with a number of cells
higher than the original

3.- TODO in 1.5
- Bug Fixing
- Update Help contents

4.- Candidate features TODO in further releases
- Help change to html (chm)
- Show # of Buttons in Cell (may be PGC) list.
- Motion to still/slideshow menus
- Change Post into pre using pgcEdit style (or another way)

=======================Changelog===================================
1.5.0.2
Added: Cells management in menus
Added: # of cell commands included in lists.
Change: Cell size in cells dlg may were incorrect (now extracted from ADT, not from PBK)
BugFix: First play PGC PUOPs were not removed
BugFix: PUOPs in PTT_SRPT table (VIDEO_TS.IFO) were not removed
-----------------------------------------------------------
1.5.0.1
BugFix: Menu PUOPs in VIDEO_TS.IFO were not removed.
-----------------------------------------------------------
1.5.0.0
Added: Menus Management:
Ability to preview, delete playback, blank and reuse cells from other LU.
Added: Change post into precommands check splited in two: Safely and Always.
Added: Audio/Video delay information (not sure if it is always right).
Improvement: Browse for folder starts from the currently selected folder.
BugFix: Crash if destination folder does not exist.
BugFix: Check supported maximums (VTSs, nPGCs, nLUs, nMenuPGCs) and issue an error box if they are achieved.
BugFix: PGCs with no cells were showing illegal fps in duration. (Although I believe an empty PGC is illegal in Titles domain...)
BugFix: Audios were also disabled (if marked in strip dialog) when no stripping,
BugFix: Load project did not reload Titles video attributes, so changes were lost
BugFix: Disable doubleclick actions when appropiate (crash during processing)
BugFix: Guarantee the selection of VOBUs with video in preview window.

jsoto

[voo_doo99]

Originally posted by jsoto
New beta available
VobBlanker_1502_beta_exe.zip (http://www.posunplugged.com/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_1502_beta_exe.zip) (Sources will be available when released).

Zip file appeared corrupted :(. Please check.

[DMagic1]

Originally posted by voo_doo99
Zip file appeared corrupted :(. Please check.

Same here.

[jsoto]

Sorry guys, seems I did the ftp in ASCII mode...
Uploaded again.
jsoto

[2COOL]

@jsoto

VobBlanker v1.5.0.2 beta is getting better working with menus. :) I do have a couple of things at this time though. I just want to process blanking a cell in a menu but why do I need to include processing my movie VOBs too? I suggest you put in a disclaimer on blanking menus with buttons as this could lead to errors.

It seems that this has been taken off your TODO list this time.

Originally posted by 2COOL
@jsoto

Thanks for the beta. What I really wanted to test it on was a PGC-Menu with multiple cells and that I wanted to blank a certain cell out of the group. This is in a case that I had a Aspect Ratio Menu with other menus.

e.g.
PGC# #Cells 1Vid
02 05 01
When I chose to blank this, it blanked the whole PGC-Menu. :(

Adding to the example in my quote, say my 2 cells holds V/C IDs of 1/1 and 1/2. I wanted to blank only 1/2.

Keep up the great work!

[jsoto]

I have to update the help....

What I tried to do is:
- In VTS list of main dlg you can select which VTS you want to process.
- Using the checkboxes (Process Titles, Process Menus), you can select Titles only, Menus only, or both.

These checkboxes affect to all VTSs, but its better than nothing.

IFO is updated accordingly to the Movie/Menus selections (I hope). I did not test too much thes case of process only menus or only titles, may be there are some bugs in IFO processing...

Adding to the example in my quote, say my 2 cells holds V/C IDs of 1/1 and 1/2. I wanted to blank only 1/2. What is the problem?, Do you see your cells in Cell list? Just select your cell and blank it. The PGC will be marked as "Cells" in Action colunm.
Could you describe more in detail your problem?

In fact, this is the main new feature of 1.5.0.2
1.5.0.2
Added: Cells management in menus


jsoto

[2COOL]

Originally posted by jsoto
What is the problem?, Do you see your cells in Cell list? Just select your cell and blank it. The PGC will be marked as "Cells" in Action colunm.My apologies.:o I had just downloaded your new beta to test it right away. I forgot to see the Cells button. I did my test again and it works this time. Great job! :D

BTW, any chance of previewing individual cells in the future?

[jsoto]

BTW, any chance of previewing individual cells in the future? In fact, the current preview is a cell preview. When you select the PGC and push preview button, this is what VobBlanker does:
- Minimize main dlg to avoid overlapping
- DVD2AVI application is started and the first cell of the PGC is marked in DVD2AVI slide control.
- A new dlg pops up to control the preview. From this dlg you can select the cell to be "marked" in DVD2AVI

jsoto

[DMagic1]

Wow, this is nice. I just looked at a few menus of The Lord Of The Rings series. Nice work.
You have gone so very far with this tool.:D

[voo_doo99]

Originally posted by jsoto
New beta available
VobBlanker_1502_beta_exe.zip (http://www.posunplugged.com/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_1502_beta_exe.zip) (Sources will be available when released).

===============================TODO===================================
Vers 1.5.0.X (XX-09-2004)
1.- Areas which need more tests:
- CLI support
- Elapsed time fixing
- Menus, specifically cellbased mode
- Postcommands into precommands

I tried the Menu "delete" feature in VobBlanker_1502 to remove VobID in the Menu PGC. The stripped backup played OK with WinDVD, but "froze" trying to reach the Main Menu in a standalone player.

A visual comparison with IFOedit stripping showed that IFOedit re-sequenced remaining VobID to 1, while VobBlanker left it at 6. Again, WinDVD had no playing problem, but my standalone DVD player seemed to have trouble with playability.
:confused:

[jsoto]

@voo_doo99
Mmm...., could be a problem in the command sequence. Do you have Cell commands in the deleted PGC?
jsoto

EDIT: Sorry, but just to confirm. Does the original play well in the standalone? (I have bought a cheap standalone which is divX compatible, but fails in some DVD navigation jumps)

[voo_doo99]

@jsoto
My standalone DVD never has problem playing any "pressed" DVD original, but it is more critical of DVD backup. I like to use it for validating playability on my DVD burns. I know if a backup passes the play test here, it will play anywhere :)

I dont remember if there was cell commands, have to check. i think not because those menu PGCs were the usuall logo, warning, ...

Edit: there was no cell commands.

[voo_doo99]

Originally posted by jsoto
Sorry, guys, I've found a critical bug in VIDEO_TS.IFO generation:
The effect you can see is that PUOPs in the menu PGCs are not cleared, but the effect you can not see is that VobBlanker is writing zeros somewhere in the IFO (the pointer is not well initialized), so an erratic behavior can happen.

VobBlanker_1501_beta_exe.zip (http://www.posunplugged.com/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_1501_beta_exe.zip) (Sources will be available when released)
jsoto

I think the same bug might have creeped into VobBlanker_1502 as well, I got bit twice already. I just did my VTS title blanking without touching the VGM menu and the VIDEO_TS.IFO was somewhat messed up that DVD Shrink could not read the DVD files. It complained that the VIDEO_TS.VOB has invalid data even though the VOB was not changed. :(

I confirm that it did not happen with 1501. Back to safe harbor 1401. :)

[jsoto]

@voo_doo99
The bug should be different. I've double checked the code and 1502 does not have the 1500 bug.

But what is confusing me is you are saying 1501 does not show the bug. The differences between 1502 and 1501 are very few and mainly related with cell management in menus.

Please check your PM.

jsoto

[voo_doo99]

Originally posted by jsoto
@voo_doo99
The bug should be different. I've double checked the code and 1502 does not have the 1500 bug.

But what is confusing me is you are saying 1501 does not show the bug. The differences between 1502 and 1501 are very few and mainly related with cell management in menus.

Please check your PM.
jsoto

The bug affected VIDEO_TS.IFO so I thought it might be the same one. The DVD was "CITY OF GOD". I did the blanking with 1502, noticed the smaller size of VIDEO_TS.IFO. Brought the new files into IFOedit, ran Get VTS Sectors. Opened DVD Shrink 3.2 to read the files, got the error. Repeated the same task with 1501, noticed NO size change for VIDEO_TS.IFO. Later DVD Shrink was able to read it thru completely.
:confused:

[jsoto]

Seems I've introduced a new bug between 1501 and 1502. I'll look for it (with your support)

Processed IFO can be smaller, because VMGM_VOBU_ADMAP and/or VMGM_C_ADT tables could be smaller (if you have blanked/deleted something or if there is unreferenced material). But this effect should be in both exes 1501 and 1502...

jsoto

[voo_doo99]

Originally posted by jsoto
Seems I've introduced a new bug between 1501 and 1502. I'll look for it (with your support)

Processed IFO can be smaller, because VMGM_VOBU_ADMAP and/or VMGM_C_ADT tables could be smaller (if you have blanked/deleted something or if there is unreferenced material). But this effect should be in both exes 1501 and 1502...
jsoto

@jsoto
I could not send out the test files from home [my home network choked easily], have to try it at work. But the problem can be duplicated easily with any DVD. Just bring it into VobBlanker_1502, blank some VTS, and compare the new VIDEO_TS.IFO with the original.

And sorry, I was wrong about the 1501, it has same problem as 1502. Files 1401 looked same as originals, no problem.

From what I could see in IFOedit, the 150x VIDEO_TS.IFO rebuild routine might not work right. The _ADT and _ADMAP in 150x IFO coded many VobID into CellID, reducing the number of VobID. That made it out-of-sync with VIDEO_TS.VOB which probably caused reading problem reported by DVD Shrink.

I will send you my test files if you still need them when I return to work. I hope it is an easy fix. Good luck. :)

[jsoto]

@voo_doo99
I was wrong about the 1501, it has same problem as 1502 Ah, much better. Well, I think I'm guessing where is the problem...Try processing (not skipping) VIDEO_TS

@all
In the meantime, I finished all the new code I going to put inside VobBlanker (at least during a while...). Bugs will be fixed anyway.
VobBlanker_1503_beta_exe.zip (http://www.posunplugged.com/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_1503_beta_exe.zip) (Sources will be available when released).
----------------------------------------------------------
Changelog (from 1502)
1.5.0.3 Release candidate 1
Added: Updated help file
Added: Show # of Buttons in Cell and PGC lists. A Warning is issued if blank or delete these PGCs is selected.
Added: Show # of Commands (Pre, Post and Cell) in PGC lists (Menus and Titles)
Added: Post to pre commands more elaborated. Thanks to r0lZ and 2COOL. Procedure described in the help file
change: nIFOs is not mandatory anymore in Load project (r0lZ)
BugFix: Load/save project did not load/save VIDEO_TS settings.
BugFix: UNIT/int error in calculating sectors (VMG and VTS). Strange effects if menu file does not exist.
BugFix: Disabled Process button when finished
BugFix: Bugs when replacing a PGC with a number of cells higher than the original. Bad elapsed time in VOBs and Wrong TMAPTI calculation.
-----------------

jsoto

[2COOL]

Are you going to come out of beta soon?

[jsoto]

Yes, no more new code, only bugfixing (up to now, voo_doo99 one)
jsoto

[jsoto]

@voo_doo99
No need any test files. Found the problem. Still in 1503, but easy to fix.
@all
Do not skip VIDEO_TS (or do not use the resulting VIDEO_TS.IFO)
jsoto

[voo_doo99]

Originally posted by jsoto
@voo_doo99
VobBlanker_1503_beta_exe.zip (http://www.posunplugged.com/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_1503_beta_exe.zip) (Sources will be available when released).
----------------------------------------------------------
Changelog (from 1502)
1.5.0.3 Release candidate 1
Added: Updated help file
Added: Show # of Buttons in Cell and PGC lists. A Warning is issued if blank or delete these PGCs is selected.
Added: Show # of Commands (Pre, Post and Cell) in PGC lists (Menus and Titles)
Added: Post to pre commands more elaborated. Thanks to r0lZ and 2COOL. Procedure described in the help file
change: nIFOs is not mandatory anymore in Load project (r0lZ)
BugFix: Load/save project did not load/save VIDEO_TS settings.
BugFix: UNIT/int error in calculating sectors (VMG and VTS). Strange effects if menu file does not exist.
BugFix: Disabled Process button when finished
BugFix: Bugs when replacing a PGC with a number of cells higher than the original. Bad elapsed time in VOBs and Wrong TMAPTI calculation.
-----------------

jsoto
Sorry if I didnt see it in the log, but was the problem with non-sequential VobID resulting from menu deletion with VobBlanker [in my earlier post] addressed here?. Thanks. :)

[jsoto]

@voo_doo99:
Not sure if you are referencing this post:
From what I could see in IFOedit, the 150x VIDEO_TS.IFO rebuild routine might not work right. The _ADT and _ADMAP in 150x IFO coded many VobID into CellID, reducing the number of VobID. That made it out-of-sync with VIDEO_TS.VOB which probably caused reading problem reported by DVD Shrink.
If yes, forget it. 1501,1502 & 1503 are rebuilding VMGM_C_ADT and VMGM_VOBU_ADMAP tables with completely wrong info in the case of skipping VIDEO_TS. (They are using the sectors, and ids from the last VTS!!!). Fixed in 1504

BTW, VobIDs can be reduced when reusing a PGC from other LU or when deleting playback (both procedures are only available in menu domain). Although the remaining VobIds may be not consecutive, I don't think this can be a problem.

jsoto

[2COOL]

Originally posted by jsoto
Although the remaining VobIds may be not consecutive, I don't think this can be a problem.Then you can use VIDChanger! :p

[voo_doo99]

Originally posted by voo_doo99
I tried the Menu "delete" feature in VobBlanker_1502 to remove VobID in the Menu PGC. The stripped backup played OK with WinDVD, but "froze" trying to reach the Main Menu in a standalone player.

A visual comparison with IFOedit stripping showed that IFOedit re-sequenced remaining VobID to 1, while VobBlanker left it at 6. Again, WinDVD had no playing problem, but my standalone DVD player seemed to have trouble with playability.
:confused:
@jsoto
I was referring to this one. VobBlanker did not resequence the VobID after a "delete" [stripping] action while IFOedit would. It seemed to affect playability on standalone players: either stopped the DVD loading, or froze the screen trying to reach the Main Menu. Please think of a fix for it, dont you want to shoot for perfection?. ;)
Thanks.

[voo_doo99]

Originally posted by 2COOL
Then you can use VIDChanger! :p

And who was the talented author of that neat tool? ;) Why am I sweating, automated menu VobID re-sequencing is probably "a walk in the park", "a piece of cake", "a deal done during sleep with one hand tied behind the back", isnt that right? :D

[jsoto]

Please don't ask me to "merge" both applications.
I believe VIDChanger is fast enough. VobBlanker has grown a lot and I'm becoming lost between the code lines.

BTW, you have to give much part of the merit to 2COOL, who is the one who asked for the tool.

jsoto

[2COOL]

Originally posted by jsoto
VobBlanker has grown a lot and I'm becoming lost between the code lines. I thought you were the one, Neo! Only you can see and understand the falling codes. :p It's my Monday so bear with me. Keep up the great work jsoto and hope to see your next non-beta version soon.

BTW, I briefly looked at your rtf. I'll try to go over your workflow later on when I get the time.

[jsoto]

I thought you were the one, Neo! Only you can see and understand the falling codes. LOL :D :D
Thanks, but I'm not the one.
jsoto

[jsoto]

Here is the released version.
Two bugs solved from 1.5.0.3
- VIDEO_TS.IFO when skipping menus
- Delete playback: Nember of cells/programs were not reset to zero

===============================TODO===================================
1.- Already know issues/bugs:
- Cutting titles, both marks in the same cell and delete movie can have navigation problems. Not easy to solve, needs to change PTSs, may be also SCR

2.- TODO in 1.5
- Bug Fixing

3.- TODO in futher versions
- Help change to html (chm)
- Motion to still/slideshow menus

======================Changelog (versus 1.4.0.1)==================
Vers 1.5.0.4 (30-09-2004)
Added: Menus Management:
Ability to preview, delete playback, blank and reuse PGCs from other LU. Cell based selection is also supported.
Added: Audio/Video delay information.
Added: Show # of Buttons in Cell and PGC lists. A Warning is issued if blank or delete these PGCs is selected.
Added: Show # of Commands (Pre, Post and Cell) in PGC lists (Menus and Titles)
Added: Post to pre commands procedure more elaborated. Thanks to r0lZ and 2COOL
Added: Change post into precommands check splited in two: Safely and Always.
Improvement: Browse for folder starts from the currently selected folder.
Change: nIFOs is not mandatory anymore in Load project (r0lZ)
Change: Cell size in cells dlg may were incorrect (now extracted from ADT, not from PBK)
Change: Updated help file
BugFix: Load/save project did not load/save VIDEO_TS settings.
BugFix: UNIT/int error in calculating sectors (VMG and VTS). Strange effects if menu file does not exist.
BugFix: Disabled Process button when finished.
BugFix: Bugs when replacing a PGC with a number of cells higher than the original. Bad elapsed time in VOBs and Wrong TMAPTI calculation.
BugFix: First play PGC PUOPs were not removed
BugFix: PUOPs in PTT_SRPT table (VIDEO_TS.IFO) were not removed
BugFix: Crash if destination folder does not exist.
BugFix: Check supported maximums (VTSs, nPGCs, nLUs, nMenuPGCs) and issue an error box if they are achieved.
BugFix: PGCs with no cells were showing illegal fps in duration. (Although I believe an empty PGC is illegal in Titles domain...)
BugFix: Audios were also disabled (if marked in strip dialog) when no stripping,
BugFix: Load project did not reload Titles video attributes, so changes were lost.
BugFix: Disable doubleclick actions when appropiate (crash during processing)
BugFix: Guarantee the selection of VOBUs with video in preview window.


jsoto

[voo_doo99]

Originally posted by jsoto
Here is the released version.
Two bugs solved from 1.5.0.3
- VIDEO_TS.IFO when skipping menus
- Delete playback: Nember of cells/programs were not reset to zero

http://www.dvdshrink.info/images/smiles/thumb_up.gifhttp://www.dvdshrink.info/images/smiles/eusa_dance.gifhttp://www.dvdshrink.info/images/smiles/eusa_clap.gif

[robot1]

@Jsoto
Great job.
Your program has become one of my preferred tools!
Keep up the great work.

[2COOL]

@jsoto

When I choose to blank a cell, my Action column for cell in question, goes from "Keep" to blank. At the same time, my Cat column now shows "Blank". I'm using v1.5.0.4.

[jeanl]

@jsoto:

Could you clarify situations where Vobblanker "processes" a vob file (i.e., needs to re-write it)? When the vob file is large (close to a gig), this can take a long time (compared to say, just rewriting the IFO). With vobblanker as it is, it's not easy to know when the Vob file will be rewritten and when it won't.
If I want to blank an individual cell for example, does the vob file get rewritten? If yes, it it necessary (can't you adjust the cell's start sector in the IFO file instead as suggested by 2COOL in one of his many guides?)

Thanks for any info on that!
Jeanl

[2COOL]

@jeanl

Originally posted by jeanl
With vobblanker as it is, it's not easy to know when the Vob file will be rewritten and when it won't.You should know if the VOB file is worked on by looking at the real-time process log.

[jeanl]

2COOL, I meant before starting processing :)
I'd like to know if the settings I chose will take 20mn to process or 20 seconds...
Jeanl

[2COOL]

Originally posted by jeanl
2COOL, I meant before starting processing :)
I'd like to know if the settings I chose will take 20mn to process or 20 seconds...
Jeanl Hmmm...wouldn't process time vary on what computer the user has?

[voo_doo99]

Originally posted by jeanl
@jsoto:

Could you clarify situations where Vobblanker "processes" a vob file (i.e., needs to re-write it)? When the vob file is large (close to a gig), this can take a long time (compared to say, just rewriting the IFO). With vobblanker as it is, it's not easy to know when the Vob file will be rewritten and when it won't.
If I want to blank an individual cell for example, does the vob file get rewritten? If yes, it it necessary (can't you adjust the cell's start sector in the IFO file instead as suggested by 2COOL in one of his many guides?)

@jeanl
From my experience, VobBlanker is straightforward. If "Process" was slected, both the VTS titleset .VOB and .IFO get rebuilt into new copies and that will take time. If "Skip", those files wont be touched.

For any PGC/TTN/Cell blanking, VobBlanker actually replaced those with blank/re-use cells and created new leaner copies of .VOB and .IFO The whole idea for me was to remove unwanted extra MBs in order to get a higher compression ratio with DVD Shrink. This worked very well, thank you jsoto! :)

There is the difference with PgcEdit "Kill Playback" where only the .IFO was rewritten to bypass video playback, but the .VOB was not actively made smaller.

[jsoto]

@2COOL
When I choose to blank a cell, my Action column for cell in question, goes from "Keep" to blank. At the same time, my Cat column now shows "Blank". I'm using v1.5.0.4. Well, you found a bug. (This is due I've included an additional column). It's only a problem of representation. I'll fix it, but in the meantime, don't worry about it

@jeanl
A VTS can be processed or skipped. When processing a VTS, the workflow is the following:
0.- Store IFO in memory.
1.- If Checkbox Process menus true:
1.1.-Process the Menu VOB file, PGC by PGC
1.2.-Process the IFO (Menu part) of the VTS (in memory).
2.- If Checkbox Process titles true:
2.1.-Process the Titles VOB files, PGC by PGC.
2.2.-Fix DSI navigational pointers if needed (cell by cell based)
2.3.-Process the IFO (Title part) of the VTS (in memory).
3.- If Checkbox Process IFO true:
3.1.- Process PUOPs (in memory)
3.2.- Write IFO & BUP

And, to know how long it will take when processing is selected, look at "Final Size" in VTS list. This gives you an idea..

jsoto

[2COOL]

Originally posted by jsoto
Well, you found a bug. (This is due I've included an additional column). It's only a problem of representation. I'll fix it, but in the meantime, don't worry about itOK but since I was doing screenshots for a guide at the time, I wanted to capture the changes. Anyways, no big deal. ;)

[jeanl]

@jsoto
OK thanks, it's simpler than I thought. Unless "skip" is clicked the VOB file is processed and rewritten...
Thanks!
Jeanl

[$$$]

jsoto,

I really like to use the cell blanking feature of vobblanker to split DVDs. This works great, also very fast. Unfortunately, the tool does not support the workflow very well. Therefore it would be cool to have some minor improvements.

One would be a multiple select in the cell list window so that I don't have to click on blank/keep for every cell individually. Another would be an optional feature to automatically add cell commands to the blanked cells. This should be either
- Link CN or Link PGN to link to the next non-blank cell/program
- Link Tail PGC when there is no non-blank cell/program following

I'm sure you got the idea (I think CloneDVD does it in a similar way).

Cheers,
$

[jsoto]

@$$$
Interesting idea...
I'm a little bit busy in other things (not related with DVD backups) for the moment, but I'll take it into account.

jsoto

[jsoto]

I've done a new build:
- maximum menus PGCs changed to 350.
- Bug in Cell list reported by 2COOL a few posts above fixed

www.posunplugged.com/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_1505_exe.zip

jsoto

[2COOL]

@jsoto

I have encountered an error message.

Error: Max Mpgcs Limit (350) has been reached.

Can you bump it up to 400?



Just joking...would like to have seen your reaction though. :p:p

[jsoto]

I will.

But, you know, if I was a better programmer I should use memory from the heap (new statement) instead of fixed arrays. But it is too hard to change it now...

jsoto

[voo_doo99]

Originally posted by 2COOL
Error: Max Mpgcs Limit (350) has been reached.

FYI, this was a result from the bug in VobBlanker 1500-1503 when the VIDEO_TS.IFO was rewritten even though the menu was "Skip". This problem was fixed in 1504.

[2COOL]

@jsoto

Originally posted by jsoto
I've done a new build:
- maximum menus PGCs changed to 350.
- Bug in Cell list reported by 2COOL a few posts above fixed

www.posunplugged.com/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_1505_exe.zip
Is this a beta or final? It's not on your homepages yet.

[2COOL]

@jsoto

I wish VobBlanker had a ADD option. Let me explain. I wanted to do a joining test so I first reauthored an episodic anime DVD with DVD Shrink using just 2 episodes. Both episodes had 6 chapters each.

VIDEO_TS.BUP
VIDEO_TS.IFO
VTS_01_0.BUP
VTS_01_1.VOB // Episode 1 (6 Programs, 6 Cells)
VTS_01_0.IFO
VTS_02_0.BUP
VTS_02_1.VOB // Episode 2 (6 Programs, 6 Cells)
VTS_02_0.IFO

My gameplan was to add Episode 2 to the end of Episode 1.

Episode 1

PGC_1 (program chain): [Title(TTN): 1] [00:23:29.06 / 30 fps] (Programs: 6) (Cells: 6) (uses VOB-IDs: 1)
[Ch 01] [Pg 01] [Cell 01] [V/C Id: 1/ 1] : time: 00:01:31.27 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:01:31.27] [Frames: 2757]
[Ch 02] [Pg 02] [Cell 02] [V/C Id: 1/ 2] : time: 00:10:46.07 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:12:18.04] [Frames: 22144]
[Ch 03] [Pg 03] [Cell 03] [V/C Id: 1/ 3] : time: 00:09:13.22 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:21:31.26] [Frames: 38756]
[Ch 04] [Pg 04] [Cell 04] [V/C Id: 1/ 4] : time: 00:01:35.28 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:23:07.24] [Frames: 41634]
[Ch 05] [Pg 05] [Cell 05] [V/C Id: 1/ 5] : time: 00:00:20.20 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:23:28.14] [Frames: 42254]
[Ch 06] [Pg 06] [Cell 06] [V/C Id: 1/ 6] : time: 00:00:00.22 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:23:29.06] [Frames: 42276]

Episode 2

PGC_1 (program chain): [Title(TTN): 1] [00:23:29.04 / 30 fps] (Programs: 6) (Cells: 6) (uses VOB-IDs: 1)
[Ch 01] [Pg 01] [Cell 01] [V/C Id: 1/ 1] : time: 00:01:31.27 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:01:31.27] [Frames: 2757]
[Ch 02] [Pg 02] [Cell 02] [V/C Id: 1/ 2] : time: 00:11:03.08 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:12:35.05] [Frames: 22655]
[Ch 03] [Pg 03] [Cell 03] [V/C Id: 1/ 3] : time: 00:08:56.22 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:21:31.27] [Frames: 38757]
[Ch 04] [Pg 04] [Cell 04] [V/C Id: 1/ 4] : time: 00:01:35.27 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:23:07.24] [Frames: 41634]
[Ch 05] [Pg 05] [Cell 05] [V/C Id: 1/ 5] : time: 00:00:20.19 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:23:28.13] [Frames: 42253]
[Ch 06] [Pg 06] [Cell 06] [V/C Id: 1/ 6] : time: 00:00:00.21 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:23:29.04] [Frames: 42274]

Now, VobBlanker doesn't add new cells but there is a option to replace. Since my Episode 1 chapter 6 is just a blank, I'll replace that cell with my whole VTS_02_1.VOB.

Note: I had to process everything. Blanking VTS_02_1.VOB produces errors.

Anyways, it worked but now my 6 Chapters of Episode 2 is a single-cell chapter 6 in Episode 1. My chapter 6's time is wrong though.

PGC_1 (program chain): [Title(TTN): 1] [00:23:28.25 / 30 fps] (Programs: 6) (Cells: 6) (uses VOB-IDs: 1)
[Ch 01] [Pg 01] [Cell 01] [V/C Id: 1/ 1] : time: 00:01:31.26 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:01:31.26] [Frames: 2756]
[Ch 02] [Pg 02] [Cell 02] [V/C Id: 1/ 2] : time: 00:10:46.05 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:12:18.01] [Frames: 22141]
[Ch 03] [Pg 03] [Cell 03] [V/C Id: 1/ 3] : time: 00:09:13.20 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:21:31.21] [Frames: 38751]
[Ch 04] [Pg 04] [Cell 04] [V/C Id: 1/ 4] : time: 00:01:35.27 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:23:07.18] [Frames: 41628]
[Ch 05] [Pg 05] [Cell 05] [V/C Id: 1/ 5] : time: 00:00:20.18 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:23:28.06] [Frames: 42246]
[Ch 06] [Pg 06] [Cell 06] [V/C Id: 1/ 6] : time: 00:00:00.19 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:23:28.25] [Frames: 42265]


Here's my VobBlanker log.

VTS 01: Opening IFO
VTS 01: Processing VOB (Menus)
VTS 01: Processing IFO (Menu)
Looping into Menu PGCs and cells
VTSM_C_ADT table did not exist
VTSM_VOBU_ADMAP table did not exist
VTS 01: Processing VOB (Titles)
VTS 01: Cell Based PGC 01
Keeping Cell # 0, VID=1 CID=1
Keeping Cell # 1, VID=1 CID=2
Keeping Cell # 2, VID=1 CID=3
Keeping Cell # 3, VID=1 CID=4
Keeping Cell # 4, VID=1 CID=5
Replacing Cell # 5, VID=1 CID=6
VTS 01: Processing IFO (Titles)
Looping into Title PGCs and cells
Building VTS_C_ADT table
Processing TMPATI table
Filling VTS_VOBU_ADMAP table
VTS 01: Processing IFO (Ending and writting)

VTS 02: Opening IFO
VTS 02: Processing VOB (Menus)
VTS 02: Processing IFO (Menu)
Looping into Menu PGCs and cells
VTSM_C_ADT table did not exist
VTSM_VOBU_ADMAP table did not exist
VTS 02: Processing VOB (Titles)
VTS 02: Blanking PGC 01
VTS 02: Processing IFO (Titles)
Looping into Title PGCs and cells
Changing Post into precommands: VTS 2, PGC 1
Building VTS_C_ADT table
Processing TMPATI table
Filling VTS_VOBU_ADMAP table
VTS 02: Processing IFO (Ending and writting)

VIDEO_TS: Opening IFO
VIDEO_TS: Processing VOB (Menus)
VIDEO_TS: Processing IFO (Menu)
Looping into Menu PGCs and cells
VTSM_C_ADT table did not exist
VTSM_VOBU_ADMAP table did not exist

PostCommands changed into Precommands in 1 PGCs of a total of 1

Finished. No Errors, 0 Warnings

BTW, why use Cell # 0?

Anyways, playback went well. Though I still wish that I could replace a single cell with a multiple cell VOB and still keep the extra chapters. I wondered how it be if I had more than one multiple cell VOBs to add also . I probably know it would be complicated for you but I just wanted to stir the pot again.

[sweetness]

@2COOL
i don't want to be smart but this is the function of Addchapter and i don't know if jsoto wants to merge the two programs.
what i do is add blank chapters with addchapter. then with vobblanker extract all the cells i want to merge, then replace each cell individually. i know it's alot of work but it works.
you're right it would be nice for vobblanker to add cells to the end or even the beginning of a title set.

@jsoto
i have a couple of small request (i think there small)
1. when using ExtractAll to have an option to extract the cells as individual vobs or as one big one.(like vobedit can)
2. add a warning when the extracting over rights other files.(the default folder is the same as the input one and that can be dangerous.)

[2COOL]

@sweetness

Originally posted by sweetness

i don't want to be smart but this is the function of Addchapter and i don't know if jsoto wants to merge the two programs. I have a feeling he won't but somewhere down the path, these two tools we'll have to meet at a crossroad.

what i do is add blank chapters with addchapter. then with vobblanker extract all the cells i want to merge, then replace each cell individually. i know it's alot of work but it works.I know that works but like you said, it's time consuming. Again, I mentioned that I was just doing a test of sorts. You know me, I like to explore a tool's undocumented secrets/methods like how I did with IfoEdit. It's testing like this that brings out any bugs or areas needing improvements. ;)
you're right it would be nice for vobblanker to add cells to the end or even the beginning of a title set.
;)

Off-topic: You know everytime I heard the word or your username "sweetness", I find myself flashbacking to the 80's and listening to The Smiths. They had this popular catchy song called "Big Mouth Strikes Again". Nothing personal, just a song I'd loved to hear and dance to back in days. Boy, Morrisey sure had that distintive voice and style of singing. Once in a while, this song just loops in my head like it's the last song you've listened to on the car stereo on your way to work. Here are the lyrics (http://carol.wins.uva.nl/~jellekok/lyrics/queen_is_dead.html#6).

Sweetness...sweetness... :p

@jsoto

I think I have two bugs to report.

Whenever I abort, both my ABORT and PROCESS!! buttons are disabled. I have to quit and run VobBlanker again. It's a little nuisance to set my Input and Output folders up again and do the same procedure, especially when testing. Since my new files are sent to a different folder, can you implement an option to delete or write over existing files?

If my output folder is the same as my input folder, I get an error.

Input error: Reached end of VOB to early

I think you should put a check to see that both folders are not to same to avoid this. ;)

[r0lZ]

Hi jsoto,

I have tried to launch BlankVOB.exe from CLI.
I can't get some options to work: the resulting file is always a single cell with VID=CID=1.

I think the "csPar.MakeLower();" instruction in ParseCommandLine() is incompatible with the upper case options strings you use later in the comparisons.

Also, the following options are missing in the doc file:
option3: { -16_9, -4_3 }. Default 16_9
option4: { -720, -704, -352 , -352V }. Default 720

[sweetness]

@2COOL
you are right, the best way to find undocumented secrets/methods it to take the tool to the max. i too tried a replace experiment where i wanted to join vts2 into vst1 by just renaming the files (VTS_01_1.VOB,VTS_02_1.VOB to VTS_01_1.VOB and VTS_01_2.VOB without joining them) but it didn't work. i got funny cell ids.

about the nickname you're the second person who said that here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?postid=456313&highlight=sweetness#post456313). to tell you the truth i took the nickname form my fourite football player Mr. Walter Payton. the greatest player with the greatest nickname on the greatest team.

[jsoto]

Sorry for the delay in answering. I was in a loooooooong weekend, here in Spain, October-12th is holiday.

Well, let's go to the bussines:
@2COOL
Is this a beta or final? It's not on your homepages yet. Yeah, just a quick fix. I'm lazy to zip and upload the sources and also to change the homepages...
[Ch 06] [Pg 06] [Cell 06] [V/C Id: 1/ 6] : time: 00:00:00.19 / 30 fps time: 00:00:00.19 / 30 fps [Pos: 00:23:28.25] [Frames: 42265]
This is clearly a bug in replacing cells. I have to confess I usually replace PGCs but not cells, so I didn't see it. I'll look into it.
Note: I had to process everything. Blanking VTS_02_1.VOB produces errorsPlease clarify this point.
BTW, why use Cell # 0? Internally, all index I manage are from 0 to n-1 (for "n" elements). I forgot to add one to the index in the log.
Sorry, but I'm not going to add a new feature "ADD/DELETE" Cells to a PGC in VobBlanker. Up to now, VobBlanker keeps the PGCs as they are in terms of number of cells, and it is not easy to change this.

@sweetness
1. when using ExtractAll to have an option to extract the cells as individual vobs or as one big one.(like vobedit can)
2. add a warning when the extracting over rights other files.(the default folder is the same as the input one and that can be dangerous.)
OK. Both seem easy

@2COOL

Whenever I abort, both my ABORT and PROCESS!! buttons are disabled. I have to quit and run VobBlanker again. It's a little nuisance to set my Input and Output folders up again and do the same procedure, especially when testing. Since my new files are sent to a different folder, can you implement an option to delete or write over existing files?
No bug. It is intentional. There are some internal variables modified, and I'm too lazy to reload them... But I can give you a trick:
- Save your project from menu
- Load your project from menu
This procedure will enable again the buttons, all internal variables will be initialized, and you will have (I hope) all your settings back.


If my output folder is the same as my input folder, I get an error.
Input error: Reached end of VOB to early
I think you should put a check to see that both folders are not to same to avoid this.

The check is already in the code, but seems it does not work (in previous releases it worked). I'll look into it.

@r0lZ
Ooops! I put the MakeLower sentence because a bug in other tool, but seems I did not test it! I'll fix it inmediatly. Thanks!

jsoto

[ux-3]

I have to give a big "Thank You" to Jsoto. Not only did you change your code on my behalf, your programm since has helped me to back up whole seasons in virtually no time. If I made no mistake, I should even be able to reproduce the original disk from the backups, just as I set out to do.

I am surely not able to comprehend the depth of your program, but for me it did what I wanted to do. So I would just like to express my appreciation of your work.

MANY THANKS!
ux-3

[jsoto]

You're welcome. Glad to be useful to this great comunity.
jsoto

[jsoto]

I've received this email from Tobi:


Hi, jsoto

I have got one error message in the VobBlanker 1.5.0.5.

Error: Ifo file too big: I:\VIDEO_TS\ VTS_01_0.IFO

Size of the VTS_01_0.IFO is 280 kb.
Have loaded the IFO in PGC Edit and see 478 menu PGC.
Menu PGC lies the restriction in the VobBlanker 1.5.0.5 at 350.


@2COOL:
Are you Tobi? :p :D

Working in 1.5.0.6...

jsoto

[2COOL]

Originally posted by jsoto
@2COOL:
Are you Tobi? :p :D HaHaHaHa...errrrrr...NOOOPPPE!
What DVD does Tobi has that's got 478 menus?!:eek::eek:

[2COOL]

@jsoto

Quote by me
If my output folder is the same as my input folder, I get an error.
Input error: Reached end of VOB to early
I think you should put a check to see that both folders are not to same to avoid this.[/b]

Actually, I have a different error now but I'll still clarify on my test.

I reauthored a Episodic anime DVD, using the first 2 eps, with DVD Shrink. Here's the files I got afterwards.

VIDEO_TS.BUP
VIDEO_TS.IFO
VTS_01_0.BUP
VTS_01_1.VOB // Episode 1 (6 Programs, 6 Cells)
VTS_01_0.IFO
VTS_02_0.BUP
VTS_02_1.VOB // Episode 2 (6 Programs, 6 Cells)
VTS_02_0.IFO

My gameplan was to add Episode 2 to the end of Episode 1 by replacing Cell 6 (blank) of VTS_01 with Cell 1 to 6 of VTS_02 (The whole VTS_02_1.VOB).

Folders set as follows.
http://img14.exs.cx/img14/4104/folders.png

The Plan
http://img14.exs.cx/img14/8995/merge.jpg

Blanking VTS_02
http://img14.exs.cx/img14/8451/VB1.jpg

Process and error!
http://img14.exs.cx/img14/5558/Error.png

I know why I got this error and my secondary job was to find errors so here it is!

[r0lZ]

Tobi is the guy who wrote the PgcEdit Anleitung (german guide, verry nice work!).
He is active on http://technik.movie2digital.de/.

[jsoto]

Hi all,
This is the changelog:

Vers 1.5.0.6 (13-10-2004)
Added: Overwrite confirmation when extracting cells.
Added: Option to extract all cells , one file per cell.
Change: Max Menu PGCs increased up to 500.
Change: Max IFO size increased up to 384 KBytes
BugFix: Cell list bug refreshing action column.
BugFix: Cell index in Log is now from 1 to n, (instead of from 0 to n-1).
BugFix: When replacing a Cell with a VOB with multiple cells the duration
time was not calculated correctly.
BugFix: Output folder / Input folder check did not work correctly.

@2COOL
Could you confirm the correction of the last bug? I think I've fixed it, but I cannot be completely sure...

jsoto
Note: I'm having problems to upload the sources in www.iespana.es. If you want to have access to them please download from www.posunplugged.com

EDIT:

Tobi is active on http://technik.movie2digital.de/.

I know, he asked me to publish VobBlanker betas. My question to 2COOL was a joke...
BTW, I've asked him which is the horrible DVD (from the authoring point of view) with 478 menu PGCs..

[Junior73Italy]

Hi Jsoto,
and many thanks for your program!!!I want to report a little" Bug " of Vob Blanker 1.5.0.6 and the previous realease.
Sorry for my english, I'll try to explain with few words....
I "love" to test the quality of encoder\transcoder mpeg 2 software (like CCE Procoder ....\Shrink etc) using the SSIM (Similar structure index Metric).I hope that you know this DLL of Avisynth.
If I rip a dvd on the hard disk using Dvd Decrypter and then using Vob Blanker (keeping all dvd structure ) and compare with the SSIm
I found that the results are "stranges";I want to say that normally the result of the compare with the SSIm would have to be equal to 1 because the frames are the same ones.Instead in my tests the results are smaller of 1.This happens when the SSim puts in relation frames various.


I insert the Avisynth script to informative scope:

LoadPlugin("C:\Programmi\Auto SSIM\DGMPGDec\DGDecode.dll")
LoadPlugin("C:\Programmi\Auto SSIM\SSIM.dll")
original=MPEG2Source("d:\love_actually\dvd rip love actually.d2v")
original=Trim(original,0,1499)
original=ConvertToYV12(original)
filtered=MPEG2Source("d:\vob blanker rip\vob blanker rip.d2v")
filtered=Trim(filtered,0,1499)
filtered=ConvertToYV12(filtered)
ssim(original,filtered,"D:\Result SSIm Dvd ecripter Rip VS VOb Blanker Rip.csv","D:\Result SSIm Dvd ecripter Rip VS VOb Blanker Rip.txt",lumimask=true)

SSIM: Structural Similarity Index Metric 0.23
Average SSIM= 27.21 (must be 1!!!)


and I enclose one image of the Pgc of the film Love Actually.....look at the various number of the frames in the red box.

C:\Love Actually Test.jpg

Sorry but english language is not may first language (I'm only italian men!!!) and so I can't tell you more .....I hope you wil understand.

Bye

[jsoto]

No, I'm not familiar with SSIM..., but I'll check it.

In any case, please note VobBlanker can change the physical layout of the VOB and DVD2AVI does not take into account the cells order neither the PGCs. In summary, the original VOB and the VobBlanker processed one can have the frames in different points of trim(), so SSIM can not be done.
To be absolutely sure, you have to do the test with a single-PGC VOB. Is this your case?

jsoto

[Junior73Italy]

I upload the image on my "very little site"..the name is "Love Actually test for Jsoto"....in the first page.

http://junior73.altervista.org

what do you think about the different number of the frame?

Bye

[jsoto]

@Junior73Italy
Check your PM
jsoto

[Junior73Italy]

I send you all the Ifo :

1 LOVE_ACTUALLY Vob Blanker Rip.Rar
2 LOVE_ACTUALLY Dvd Decrypter Rip.rar

Look at the VTS_01_0.ifo in the first Pgc (the film)use Vob id 2 and 3.

Tell me If there are problems with the attachments....or you don't receive the files.

In Italy It's 2.00 a.m ......I'm going to sleep!!!!I'll back
tomorrow....

Bye:rolleyes: :D

[jsoto]

Confirmed, as I said before, VOB physical layout has been changed.
You can see it comparing VTS_C_ADT tables of VTS_01_0.IFO. The original starts with Cell 1/1 (5 sectors, BTW, seems a blabk cell) and the vobblanker procesed one starts with cell 2/1.

That means, the frames you are getting with trim() in DVD2AVI are not the same.

jsoto

[Junior73Italy]

Yes Jsoto,
I use another Trim for the original movie (dvddecripter Rip)and the
value of SSSim caming back right or just value of 1 for the first one minute and the rest of the film.

LoadPlugin("C:\Programmi\Auto SSIM\DGMPGDec\DGDecode.dll")
LoadPlugin("C:\Programmi\Auto SSIM\SSIM.dll")
original=MPEG2Source("d:\love_actually\dvd rip love actually.d2v")
original=Trim(original,1,1500)# JUST THIS TRIM
original=ConvertToYV12(original)
filtered=MPEG2Source("d:\vob blanker rip\vob blanker rip.d2v")
filtered=Trim(filtered,0,1499)
filtered=ConvertToYV12(filtered)
ssim(original,filtered,"D:\Result SSIm Dvd ecripter Rip VS VOb Blanker Rip.csv","D:\Result SSIm Dvd ecripter Rip VS VOb Blanker Rip.txt",lumimask=true)

Bye

[jsoto]

Tobi's DVD was
"Sex and the City" (German)

It has 96 VTSs and is an episodic DVD. First VTS has 478 menu PGCs with 384 VobIDs.

jsoto

[2COOL]

Originally posted by jsoto
@2COOL
Could you confirm the correction of the last bug? I think I've fixed it, but I cannot be completely sure...
Still there. Since VTS_02_1.VOB was flagged for blanking, there is conflicts on using it to replace Cell 6 of VTS_01_1.VOB at the same time. I know this is an unique situation but this had to be tested.

http://img91.exs.cx/img91/6784/Image_001.png

BTW, I had an error in display in my previous post. This is my actual results on replacing with a multiple cell VOB. My whole multiple celled VTS_02_1.VOB is now a single VOB. It works if I don't opt to blank out my VTS_02_1.VOB in same process.

http://img99.exs.cx/img99/2788/Image_002.png

[jsoto]

OK. Found the problem. A BIG bug :devil: :devil:

Please, in the current (or previous) version, when replacing cells do nothing in other VTSs..

jsoto

[Knocks]

I love this program. I use PgcEdit's "kill PGC playback" feature to skip intros and logos on DVD5's and VobBlanker to completely delete them on DVD9's, where every MB counts. I still don't understand why DVD Shrink (or Nero) refused to add either of these features. Oh well, their loss.

Speaking of DVD Shrink, how difficult would it be to implement a tiny preview window in VobBlanker, so you could press play and see which title is which. VobBlanker is great the way it is, but it would be nice to preview titles directly instead of switching back and forth between VobBlanker and Shrink.

Keep up the good work, jsoto! :)

[jsoto]

Speaking of DVD Shrink, how difficult would it be to implement a tiny preview window in VobBlanker, so you could press play and see which title is which. I'm still waiting someone who explain me how code this (or to code it, my sources are available). I'm sure it should be easy with DirectShow, but I'm coming from the "simple C" and, by now, it is out of my knowledge... In the meantime, you do not need dvdshrink (although you can use it if you want), VobBlanker has its own preview launching DVD2AVI.

jsoto

[sweetness]

hi jsoto,
VobBlanker crashes/hangs on me when i try to replace.
what i did was create a vob with Blankvob that has 1 vob-id and 3 cell-ids. then used ifoedit to create the ifos. finaly, vobblanker to replace the 3 cells(which are all in the same PGC.)
it hangs/crashes when it porcesses the TMAPTI. But the funny thing is the first time it didn't crash it just gave me warnings but from there on it just hangs. i also tried it with version 1.4.0.1 and it hangs too. but i do have the option in this version to not adjust the TMAPTI. thanks

[jsoto]

@sweetness
Are you replacing cells or the PGC?
jsoto

[sweetness]

i was replacing cells. each one.
now that i'm thinking about it. it might be a ifoedit problem. but you would know better then me.

[jsoto]

Found and fixed. The bug was in VobBlanker.
Thanks!

jsoto

[blutach]

@jsoto

I do like the way you respond so rapidly to bugs with fixes.

All the best

[2COOL]

@jsoto

I was looking over your Help contents and it seems you have dialog fields defined but not its action buttons. A total newbie might be looking for these. ;)

[jsoto]

Vers 1.5.0.7 (24-10-2004)
BugFix: Clear to zero offsets to program, playback and position tables when deleting playback.
BugFix: Replacing cells did not take into account the VTS. Reported by 2COOL
BugFix: Crash if no room in TMAPTI. Reported by sweetness

There are also some reported bugs in cutting function, but I need to find time to fix them.

jsoto

PS: BTW, I've released two additional little tools: PgcDemux and CutFile.

[blutach]

Many thanks jsoto.

[voo_doo99]

@jsoto,

When I right-clicked on the VIDEO_TS.IFO and selected VobBlanker to open the DVD file set, it gave me the error "No input file". IFoedit and PgcEdit both support the context menu, can you add this feature to VobBlanker?.

Thanks. :)

[Tobii]

Thanks for your great work, jsoto !

PgcDemux, nice tool ... Many thanks.:)

[2COOL]

@jsoto

Originally posted by 2COOL
If my output folder is the same as my input folder, I get an error.

Input error: Reached end of VOB to early

I think you should put a check to see that both folders are not to same to avoid this. ;)
Remember this? I suggest you make the input and output folder just read-only. If I inputted my output path manually, I get the Input error above again. :(

Input folder: C:\MOVIE\VIDEO_TS.IFO
Output folder: C:\MOVIE\

[blutach]

I use jsotos quick method with the .ini file. It is very good and I never get into problems. Just specify in the [General] section the input and output folder names and bring up the project with File - Open Project.

[jsoto]

IFoedit and PgcEdit both support the context menu, can you add this feature to VobBlanker?. I've to learn how to do this, but seem useful. I'll try.
Remember this? I suggest you make the input and output folder just read-only. If I inputted my output path manually, I get the Input error above again. Grr, I didn't test this case... I'll fix it

[CoNS]

I'm in the process of adding new subtitles to a movie. I have demuxed audio, subtitle and video streams in the main VTS and then re-authored the streams, including the extra .sup file, using IfoEdit.

I think I saw somewhere that it's possible to use VobBlanker to mix the newly authored title back into the original title set, so that menus etc. can be used? Is this correct, and how is it done? If not, which program can then be used for this, and how?

[jsoto]

@CoNS
Yes, Vobblanker is able to "Replace a PGC". See the help file

You need to mux your elementary streams (with IFOEdit, Rejig) with the same streamsID than the originals. If not, your menus (audio/subs selections) will not work properly. The same apply to Celltimes. Use the original ones to keep the scene selection working properly.

For replacing a single PGC I do not know other (free) SW. (Well, you can do it with VobEdit/IfoEdit and some manual work...)

jsoto

[CoNS]

Okay, thanks, jsoto.

A suggestion: Could you make it possible to select more lines (PGCs in menus or in selected titlesets) and not just one at a time (drag to select more PGCs, or hold down Shift or CTRL to select more lines, just like the nornal Windows Explorer interface)?

For example, I've been working with a DVD today with 23 titles in VMG (placed in 6 titlesets), whereof I needed to blank 21. Actually it had more than 23 PGCs, too, as some of the titles (warnings in different languages) were split into more PGCs. The same DVD had 35 menu PGCs that I needed to blank, too! So that was quite many clicks that I had to do!

Also, it was annoying that I had to confirm 35 times that I wanted to blank parts of the menu! Perhaps you could add a general option in the program where this warning could be turned off, maybe with "Don't display this warning in future" checkbox in the dialog box?

And then an error report: I've now had three different DVDs (not the above mentioned) where the DVD wouldn't play, neither in software or standalone player, after using VobBlanker. This occurs when I try to blank menu PGCs that are located in the title menu (the menu of titleset video_ts.vob) and which originally play as the first thing on the DVD. I haven't made any other modifications to the DVDs. In all three cases I first tried VobBlanker, and then the makros in PgcEdit, both without luck. In two of the cases I actually didn't need to keep other PGCs in that titleset, so I could use TitleSetBlanker, which worked...

[jeanl]

I've now had three different DVDs (not the above mentioned) where the DVD wouldn't play, neither in software or standalone player, after using VobBlanker. This occurs when I try to blank menu PGCs that are located in the title menu (the menu of titleset video_ts.vob) and which originally play as the first thing on the DVD. I haven't made any other modifications to the DVDs. In all three cases I first tried VobBlanker, and then the makros in PgcEdit, both without luck.
you should definitely report that problem in the pgcedit thread,
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=79853
I'm sure r0lZ would be eager to find out what went wrong here.
I can't see a reason why blanking something in the VMGM would screw-up the playback... Could you post the before and after PGCs (from pgcedit) so we can take a look?
Jeanl

[2COOL]

@CoNS

Perhaps the parental lock menu, which is commonly found in the VMGMs is not accessible anymore for user action since it has been blanked out?

P.S. can you check to see if you have any VMG Menus with buttons?

[jeanl]

@CoNS
post the PGCs! 2COOL will find the problem before you're even done posting!
;)
jeanl

[jeanl]

@CoNS

Another question that comes to mind: Did you use the "Blank out all PGCs in domain" option in pgc edit, or did you blank individual PGCs. I'm wondering if the problem is with command navigation or if it is with the VOB that replaced the original one if you blanked the whole domain...

Do the DVDs play if you blank individual PGCs (one by one)?
Jeanl

[2COOL]

Originally posted by jeanl
I can't see a reason why blanking something in the VMGM would screw-up the playbackReason? Just blanking menus with buttons always results in playback errors. Even BOV (Button over Video) Titles too. Note: PgcEdit does not detect/work with BOVs. Like I explained in past threads, if you blank a menu and the navigations call for it to display, how do you exercise user action? You'll be sort of hanging in limbo! ;)

[jeanl]

2COOL,
of course, you're right, any time you blank something with buttons in it, you're asking for trouble. But then, why did titlesetblanker work? If there had been menus with buttons in there, I would think titlesetblanker would have resulted in a faulty DVD as well... The thing is, titlesetblanker does not alter the pre/post/cell commands, right?

I was puzzled by the fact that all the problems arose in the VMGM domain, what I wonder is, can you see anything specific to the VMGM that could make the technique pgcedit (and vobblanker) use to blank not work?

Jeanl

[2COOL]

Originally posted by jeanl
But then, why did titlesetblanker work? If there had been menus with buttons in there, I would think titlesetblanker would have resulted in a faulty DVD as well... The thing is, titlesetblanker does not alter the pre/post/cell commands, right?This issue wasn't brought up back then with TSB but logically, the menu blanking problem would be still there.

It did have 3 checkboxes that you can use. From the option tooltips...

R Remove Stops: It removes stopping between cells (The still-time). More menus keep working when you check this box.

R Merge Programs: Merge multiple Programs of a video to one.

R Merge Cells: Merge multiple Cells of a video to one. this can break functionality because many menus rely on specific to-cell jumping.


Personally, I gave up with TSB as other better tools have come about since then. Though shh said back in the days that TSB isn't dead, I liked to assume it is. :( It's been a while since 0.9.5 came out.

[CoNS]

Unfortunately I don't have the original files anymore, only the modified DVDs after TitleSetBlanker did the job. I worked on the three DVDs last week and I just wanted to mention the problem now that I was posting anyway about the movie I'm editing today (the one with the many PGCs!!)

However, as I've experienced the problem a number of times, I'm sure it'll pop up again, and next time I'll post the PGCs right away when it occurs.

@2COOL: None of the blanked VGM menus had buttons. They were warning screens and studio logos.

@jeanl: I used the "Blank out all Menu PGCs" makro.

[jeanl]

I haven't given up on TSB! I use it for all of my backups, and I haven't had a problem yet...
Of course, you have to be lucky and be OK with blanking a whole titleset, but I've found that in most DVDs, most of the annoying stuff is in separate titlesets. Of course, if you want to split a DVD-9 to 2, you might be out of luck.
But the upshot is, it's fast, very easy (especially with the backup/restore buttons).
So I'm still sold on it!
Jeanl

[jeanl]

Originally posted by CoNS
Unfortunately I don't have the original files anymore, only the modified DVDs after TitleSetBlanker did the job. I worked on the three DVDs last week and I just wanted to mention the problem now that I was posting anyway about the movie I'm editing today (the one with the many PGCs!!)

However, as I've experienced the problem a number of times, I'm sure it'll pop up again, and next time I'll post the PGCs right away when it occurs.

@2COOL: None of the blanked VGM menus had buttons. They were warning screens and studio logos.

@jeanl: I used the "Blank out all Menu PGCs" makro.

Well, you could still try to replicate the problem by blanking your modified DVD in pgcedit (even though it's aready been blanked by titlesetblanker!). I think titlesetblanker didn't alter the command area in your VMGM, so there may be a chance the problem would reappear.
Were these commercial DVDs? Do you remember which ones?
Jeanl

[2COOL]

@CoNS

Read this old post of mine. Perhaps you are experiencing this also?

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=451731#post451731

That's when checking this option

R Remove audio- and sub-mapping.

Update:

Here's my original VIDEO_TS.IFO

VMG Overview:

Video Manager Menu attributes:
Video: MPEG-2 720x480 (NTSC) (NTSC 525/60) (4:3) (not specified perm.display)
Audio 1: Not Specified (Dolby AC-3) 2ch 48Kbps DRC
SubPicture 1: Not Specified (2-bit rle )

After with TSB's option above checked:

VMG Overview:

Video Manager Menu attributes:
Video: MPEG-2 720x480 (NTSC) (NTSC 525/60) (4:3) (not specified perm.display)

I just confirmed that VobBlanker and PgcEdit doesn't remove the audio and subpicture attributes when blanking. :(

@jsoto

I believe this is what CoNS is experiencing. Another important bug to fix! ;)

[CoNS]

@2COOL: Yep, I didn't change that (default) option in TSB, so it was enabled.

@jeanl: They were commercial DVDs that someone else had compressed using DVDshrink, full backup. Darn, I edited a whole bunch of them last week, I'll see if I can find the DVDs in question.

[2COOL]

@CoNS

Can you look into your VMGMs for GPRMs being set by SPRMs (audio and subpictures)?

@jeanl

I guess I'll be using TSB for the time being until PgcEdit and VobBlanker get fixed on this matter.

[jsoto]

I just confirmed that VobBlanker and PgcEdit doesn't remove the audio and subpicture attributes when blanking.
@jsoto
I believe this is what CoNS is experiencing. Another important bug to fix!
True. I'll fix it in the next version.
jsoto
Seems to me I also have to do it when replacing a PGC... I'm able to "see" what streams are in the replacing title and remove the unused ones. The "problem" will come if I find a "new" stream is in the replaced title. What do you think about?

[2COOL]

Originally posted by jsoto
True. I'll fix it in the next version.
C

Seems to me I also have to do it when replacing a PGC... I'm able to "see" what streams are in the replacing title and remove the unused ones. The "problem" will come if I find a "new" stream is in the replaced title. What do you think about?
Hmmm...thinking about this can get very complicated. Another factor on replacing a PGC is that the replacement PGC's stream attributes may be totally different than the original PGC. How do you go about analyzing the new PGC VOB checking it's attributes and updating the original IFO.

[jsoto]

Attributes:
Video: Already supported. New attributes are updated in IFOs (after asking the user)
Audio: I'm able to do it in ac3 and dts, but I currently do not have any analyzing code for mp2/lpcm.. But I can try to find it in mplex/Rejig
Subs: No idea. Seems this is not easy...

jsoto

[CoNS]

jsoto, what do you think about the idea of being able to select more PGCs at a time, so that you just have to click "Blank" once for the selected PGCs in the selected title (or menu)?

The warning when blanking menu PGCs also can get a bit annoying when you're in the process of blanking many PGCs in the same title/menu.

Alternatively or furthermore, you could maybe consider adding a "Blank All" button in the lower display (the PGC window), so that all PGCs in the selected title (or menu) are marked as "Blank" when you click it?

[blutach]

I secnd Cons' motion - a darn good idea. I'd just love to highlight all the PGCs I want to blank in a VTS and hit blank. It does get a bit tedious doing it one by one.

Regards

[jsoto]

Alternatively or furthermore, you could maybe consider adding a "Blank All" That's already done. Right clicking in VTS list (upper list) you will be able to select "Blank" the VTS, which means blanks all PGCs of the selected VTS.

jsoto

[Sajan]

There is a little bug in VOBblanker (versions 1.5.0.7 and 1.3.0.3).
When I select PGC and click Preview Title button, Preview.exe is launched.
I don't make any changes, just close it with OK button.
When main window is activated, TitleSet groupbox and PGC in selected
TitleSet group box are shifted right, so all buttons are moved away
from the main window.


When:
- Open VobBlanker
- Move the mouse to the right border of the main window
- Click and drag to resize in width.
--------------------------
= all is OK

But when:
- Open VobBlanker
- Select PGC
- Click Prev/Cut button - preview started
- Click OK button - return to main window
--------------------------
= TitleSet groupbox and PGC in Selected TitleSet group box are shifted right
--------------------------
- Move the mouse to the right border of the main window
- Click and drag to resize in width
--------------------------
= TitleSet groupbox and PGC in Selected TitleSet group box are width resized
so their Left remains at wrong place and their Right remains out of the main window.

[Sajan]

1.
I can't find how to throw away any PGC and reuse previous instead of current.
VOBblanker can detect reusing of previous PGC,
but can I make it (reusing of previous PGC) myself?
This feature is only available in Menus with different LUs.
This would be great to do it with all PGCs also.

2.
I can't extract user defined set of cells from PGC.
It need in cases when it's necessary to extract 15 cells of 30.
What do you think about to merge Extract, ExtractAll buttons,
and to add feature to extract only needed cells,
so when is selected:
- one cell - Extract button works as Extract, ExtractMult button is disabled;
- all cells - Extract button works as ExtractAll, ExtractMult button is enabled;
- some sells - Extract button extracts only selected cells, ExtractMult button is enabled?
This concerned of blanking PGCs also.
As you said, it's all would be able with support of multiple selection.
Just wind of time is need for all.

[jsoto]

Sajan resizing issue: I'm not able to reproduce it. Anyone more has this problem?

Feature requests:
1.- This feature is only available in LUs, because seems to me it is where it has sense.
2.- It's not the first time multiple selection is requested. It's "only" an improvement, not really an additional feature, because you can do the same now (with a little bit of patience). I need to find enough free time to start with it, because, by now, I prefer to do other things (bug fixing, new features...).

jsoto

[G_]

Originally posted by jsoto

Hi, jsoto

I have got one error message in the VobBlanker 1.5.0.5.

Error: Ifo file too big: I:\VIDEO_TS\ VTS_01_0.IFO

Size of the VTS_01_0.IFO is 280 kb.
Have loaded the IFO in PGC Edit and see 478 menu PGC.
Menu PGC lies the restriction in the VobBlanker 1.5.0.5 at 350.

Okay. Since this is my first post here, i want to thank you, jsoto, for really gr8 job. VobBlanker has changed my life ;)
But, whats my problem.

Seems like i have the same problem, as one described by you in some mail to you.

I used DVDDecrypter 3.5.1.0 and VobBlanker 1.5.0.7.
I got the same Error: Ifo file too big

Size of my VTS_07_0.IFO is... 648KB
Loaded it in IFOEdit and saw... 1661 PGCs.

What can i do now?

[2COOL]

@G_

Originally posted by G_
Size of my VTS_07_0.IFO is... 648KB
Loaded it in IFOEdit and saw... 1661 PGCs.I don't have a fix for you but I can say here that 1661 PGCs in a IFO is legal. In fact, you can have up to 32767 in the Title domain. But you also have up to 99 Titles per Titleset. Therefore you'll notice that you will have PGCs in your VTS_07 holding the same Title.

Your input is great for jsoto because like me, we don't have all the DVDs to test for this kind of situation. We have to hopefully count on people like you to report it. BTW, what DVD and region code are you working on?

[jsoto]

Yes it is legal, but God, who can author in this way!

Well, as I said, VobBlanker is not managing the physical memory too well, so I prefer to do not increase the current maximum values, but I can generate an exe to test (not to be released) if you want. Please clarify me where do you have 1661 PGCs if in title domain or in Menu domain (or in both).

jsoto

[Surf]

One teensy request for Jsoto:

How about a choice on blanking? Currently if I am not mistaken it is just one of a 2to3 seconds of black screen. I don't think there are many instances where users have much use for "blank all" button. How about changing it to "blank with" with a few choices; 1 second blank, 2 seconds blanks, "this item has been intentionally removed" blanks(3 seconds)....? :p

Thanks in advance,

(should this be wished already then please let me know, I'll kill it from distracting development :p )

[jsoto]

How about changing it to "blank with" with a few choices; 1 second blank, 2 seconds blanks, "this item has been intentionally removed" blanks(3 seconds)....?
You can do it with the replace feature. Just made your own VOBs (Use IFOEdit or Rejig) with your sound/video.

jsoto

[jsoto]

Vers 1.5.0.8 (09-11-2004)
Added: Shell integration: "Drag & drop" & "Open with".
Added: Multiple line selection in PGC and Cell lists.
Added: LPCM & MPEG bitrate management.
BugFix: LPCM & MPEG audios were not correctly managed. Info and strip did not work.
BugFix: Subs and audios were not removed when blanking
BugFix: Error in input/output folder coincidence control

Note: Be careful. I didn't test too much the multiple selection...
:( Sorry, not too much development, I'm busy lately..

Vers 1.5.0.9 (09-11-2004) is also available, but I'm not going to support it.
Changed: Up to 2000 PGCs and Menu PGCs
Changed: Up to 1MB IFO size


jsoto

[blutach]

A big thanks jsoto.

Has the "timing bug" been fixed where a PGC has been stripped/blanked? This is where the chapter times are thrown off by 6 or so frames every now and then?

As well, are you aware that if you selected to process menus only (and untick titles), then go in and set the menus you want to blank, the titles button became "re-ticked" when you returned to the main pane? (This happened in v 1.5.0.7 - has it been fixed?)

Again thanks.

[DMagic1]

/me continues to be amazed by how far this project has come. :)

[jsoto]

@blutach
Has the "timing bug" been fixed where a PGC has been stripped/blanked? This is where the chapter times are thrown off by 6 or so frames every now and then? Not yet. I still have to reproduce it. but I have an idea.. are you using a non-usual resolution? (let say, different from 720x576/480)

As well, are you aware that if you selected to process menus only (and untick titles), then go in and set the menus you want to blank, the titles button became "re-ticked" when you returned to the main pane? (This happened in v 1.5.0.7 - has it been fixed?)
That's new for me. No it has not been fixed, but I've just tested it and I'm not able to reproduce , neither in 1508 nor in 1507... May be it depends on the DVD?
@DMagic1
Many thanks.
jsoto

[blutach]

Re resolution - straight PAL

Re Titles re-checking - I will continue to monitor in v5.0.8 and revert. Anyone else seen this "problem"?

[jsoto]

@blutach
Resolution. PAL, but is it 720x576? (there are other posibilities, 704x576, 352x576 and 352x288).

jsoto

[blutach]

Yep. Always 720 x 576

[CoNS]

jsoto, thanks again for sharing your hard work with the rest of us on a freeware basis. It is much appreciated.

Keep up the good work!

:thanks:

[Sir Didymus]

Originally posted by DMagic1
/me continues to be amazed by how far this project has come. :)

Me too. It's an excellent application. I am using VobBlanker in a (more or less) systematic way; it's my preferred tool on all of the others, when I have to customise my DVDs, and never had to complain about...

If only some skilled programmer could give some help (or some hints) in order to improve a little bit the preview, it would be more than excellent. [By the way Jsoto, it's a suggestion, it's not a complain, I am really fully happy as it is...] :)

Cheers,
SD

[doktor motte]

@jsoto:

:cool: thnx lot for your much work on vobblanker and the great improvement and stability it has.

Followed this thread in the background long time.

For me vobblanker works like a charm for the past ~70 backups i made.

So keep on your good, hard work and sharing with us your neat tools.

Cheerio mate ;)

[jsoto]

Thanks to all of you for your kind words.
Cheers.

[jsoto]

Bug reported by hocuspocus69:
- Cell extraction in VIDEO_TS.VOB does not work. (VobBlanker tries to find VTS_00_0.VOB)
jsoto

[2COOL]

@jsoto

Is there any room to put in a Chapter and Programs columns in Cell List? It would be very helpful so that when we do splits, we can blank at a known chaptered cell.

Request:

I'm envisioning of selecting a single cell in Cell list and there is a button named "Split". By clicking on this, you will have two options.

1. Blank this cell and previous ones.
2. Blank this cell and following ones.

or

1. Blank previous cells
2. Blank following cells

What do you think?

[jsoto]

Originally posted by 2COOL
Is there any room to put in a Chapter and Programs columns in Cell List? It would be very helpful so that when we do splits, we can blank at a known chaptered cell.
I'll look into it


Request:
I'm envisioning of selecting a single cell in Cell list and there is a button named "Split". By clicking on this, you will have two options.
1. Blank this cell and previous ones.
2. Blank this cell and following ones.
or
1. Blank previous cells
2. Blank following cells
What do you think? I believe you can do it with multiple selection, don't you?. Click on the cell you want to split and, after, shift+click on the begining cell or on the ending cell, click on blank, and you will have it.

jsoto

[2COOL]

Originally posted by jsoto
I believe you can do it with multiple selection, don't you?. Click on the cell you want to split and, after, shift+click on the begining cell or on the ending cell, click on blank, and you will have it. I know about this. Just wanted to see it automated for newbies.

[mrslacker]

First off, thanks jsoto and 2COOL for making my life easier. I previously used 2COOL's guides with jsoto's blankvob before I discovered VobBlanker. VB almost takes the fun out of the process! ;)

Anyway, I have two questions/observations regarding VobBlanker. First, I noticed with one DVD that immediatly after loading, VIDEO_TS shows a size of 96MB, menu 96MB, but a final size of ~1400kB. Nothing is set to blank and it is set to be processed. Is this a case of unreferenced material being chopped? Maybe reused material somehow saving space?? The VOB size is atually 96MB originally and its actually 1400kB when processed.

Second, I blanked three titles (previews) that play before the main menu (different title) and my standalone won't make it through the studio intro, the blanked previews, and to the main menu. It appears to freeze after the studio intro. As far as I can remember there were no cell commands (no warnings from VobBlanker at least) that got chopped. Is there any reason or scenario when I would still need to mock strip with IfoEdit? I thought that was coded into VB a while ago. Strangely, PgcEdit traces to the main menu just fine, as does MPC. They don't care about sectors... hence my thoughts about the mock strip.

Thanks for any thoughts or explainations. I'd like to give some more info, but I'm at work. I plan to try unchecking Pre->Post (Safely) to just let the 0.15 sec vobs play. My standalone might just be finicky. Its one of the picky Sonys that gave problems with many DVD Rebuilder versions.

Your a hero, jsoto! I love the menu capabilities in 1.5.

[jeanl]

mrslacker,
How did you burn your DVD?
I ran into similar problems (although not related to vobblanker) when using Nero in File mode. Mpucoder had something to say about it:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=568536#post568536
but I was never able to confirm the problem.
My problem was a DVD, which played fine in PowerDVD and on standalone if burned with DVDDecrypter. When burned with Nero in File mode, then PowerDVD froze toward the beginning...
I also posted the problem here:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=85267

I'd be curious to see if you're just seeing another instance of the same problem...
Jeanl

[jsoto]

Originally posted by mrslacker
Is this a case of unreferenced material being chopped?
It should be, in other case there is an error in VobBlanker. You can confirm it in dvdshrink.
To save space (i.e. reusing a LU) it is required some manual settings.
Is there any reason or scenario when I would still need to mock strip with IfoEdit?
AFAIK, no. There are some scenarios related with cutting cells in the middle that can freeze, but AFAIK, never if blanking complete cells (or PGCs). Please note these scenarios are not fixed with IFOEdit's mock strip, because they are related with PTSs and SCRs, not fixed by IFOEdit's mock strip.
So, I believe your problems can be related with post-->pre. Try without changing post--> pre. You always can do it later with PgcEdit. If not, may be your problem is the one jeanl is pointing out..

jsoto

[blutach]

@mrslacker

I always do a mock strip after CUTTING titles in VobBlanker. I find the chapter points are off by 6 or so frames here and there, which a mock strip in IfoEdit corrects nicely.

As well, in VobBlanker, I leave the pre to post UNCHECKED, as it uses a slightly different algorithm to PgcEdit (which I have never had a problem with).

Using this method, I have never had a bad blank with VobBlanker.

As to your VIDEO_TS.VOB question: VobBlanker blanks unreferenced material by default. This means that sometimes you will end up with no VIDEO_TS.VOB at all, which Nero (for example) will protest about. Don't worry about it.

Regards and good luck

[mrslacker]

Regarding the disc that freezes after the studio logo:

@jeanl
I did burn with nero. It was version 6.6 which, according to blutach, should be fine. I tried burning with ImgTool/DVDDecrypter anyway and got the same results.

@jsoto
You were right. I unchecked the Pre->Post conversion and the disc works fine on my standalone. I just have to wait a couple seconds for it to play the "blank" vobs. No sweat. I wonder why this was a problem when there were no cell commands present. I assume VobBlanker also changes the number of cells and the playback time to zero? I don't know if that kind of thing is necessary... I just saw that process in a 2COOL guide once. Its probably my picky player.

Not that I don't trust VobBlankers unreferenced material decisions, but it would be nice to have the option to hold on to this stuff. I can't say why... maybe I'm a minimalist when it comes to editing. :)

@blutach
As well, in VobBlanker, I leave the pre to post UNCHECKED, as it uses a slightly different algorithm to PgcEdit (which I have never had a problem with).
I'll be doing the same from now on as well.

Also, what I said to jsoto. I clearly don't have a good picture of the methods of the two programs. I'll have to read the PgcEdit v0.3 thread more closely at some point.

@all
thanks!

[mrslacker]

Regarding the other disc with disappearing material:

Originally posted by jsoto
It should be, in other case there is an error in VobBlanker. You can confirm it in dvdshrink.
jsoto

I verified with Shrink that it was unreferenced material being stripped. The material was several versions of the studio logo... weird! Thanks for the tip. You too blutach.

[jeanl]

Originally posted by mrslacker
Regarding the disc that freezes after the studio logo:
@jsoto
You were right. I unchecked the Pre->Post conversion and the disc works fine on my standalone. I just have to wait a couple seconds for it to play the "blank" vobs. No sweat. I wonder why this was a problem when there were no cell commands present. I assume VobBlanker also changes the number of cells and the playback time to zero? I don't know if that kind of thing is necessary... I just saw that process in a 2COOL guide once. Its probably my picky player.

@jsoto: I wonder what it is that makes skipping not work with vobblanker? I thought vobblanker and pgcedit used the same technique, unless there were cell commands and/or buttons?
Is it because vobblanker moves the commands from post to pre (instead of adding pre-commands)? That would indeed explain it, but I don't remember now...
Jeanl

[mrslacker]

Originally posted by jeanl
I thought vobblanker and pgcedit used the same technique, unless there were cell commands and/or buttons?
Is it because vobblanker moves the commands from post to pre (instead of adding pre-commands)? That would indeed explain it, but I don't remember now...
Jeanl

Not sure what you mean here.

Changing post to pre:
Number of Pre Commands: original pre + original post
Number of Post Commands: 0
vs.
Adding pre commands:
??Leave the post commands & append them to the pre commands??

The discussion (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=544570#post544570) between jsoto and r0lZ makes PgcEdit's three options seem equivalent to VobBlanker's options of safely, always, and never (unchecked), at least for non-menu PGCs.

I appreciate the enlightenment! :thanks:

[jsoto]

Here: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82672, we've discussed about changing post into pre.
pgcEdit and VobBlanker options are basically the same, but pgcEdit method is a little bit better than VobBlanker one, because there are some cases where the postcommands still can be executed.

But, in both methods, there are not covered scenarios which will produce a non-functional navigational DVD. So, guys, I believe this is something we have to live with. We need to test before burn, and when we find one of these cases, there are two options: blank without changing post into pre (and waiting some seconds) or manually (using pgcEdit) try to find the root cause and solve the problem in a different way.

About unreferenced material, it's not easy (due VobBlanker internal logic) to keep it. And,... frankly, I do not find any reason to do it.

Please notice that unreferenced material are cells which are not included in any PGC. This should not be confused with non-entry PGCs (occasionally accessed using some navigational tricks); in this last case, the cells are listed in the PGC, so they are referenced material.

In my experience, the unreferenced material I've found always has been weird, like a scene/logo repeated many times.

jsoto

[mrslacker]

@jsoto
pgcEdit and VobBlanker options are basically the same, but pgcEdit method is a little bit better than VobBlanker one, because there are some cases where the postcommands still can be executed.

Wow, I didn't see that daughter thread. VobBlanker is quite a bit more sophisticated than I knew in searching for contingencies (infinite loops,etc.) and modifiying disruptive pre-commands! Very impressive.

I now see the benefits of preserving post commands, jsoto and jeanl. I hadn't thought through the scenario in which precommands would redirect the logic before reaching the newly moved pre-commands. That's a clear issue. I'll be ordering more DVD+RWs. ;)

Still, I wonder why PgcEdit successfully traced through the disc that froze on my standalone. I'll have to investigate this some more.

[blutach]

Originally posted by mrslacker
I now see the benefits of preserving post commands, jsoto and jeanl. I hadn't thought through the scenario in which precommands would redirect the logic before reaching the newly moved pre-commands. Taking nothing away from jsoto, whom I respect very much, but this is why PgcEdit's Kill Playback is the method I use to bypass unwanted material.


Still, I wonder why PgcEdit successfully traced through the disc that froze on my standalone. I'll have to investigate this some more. This is puzzling. You might like to step through. Could it be your "trace defaults" do not exactly mirror your set top box/TV setup? This happened to me once (I had the aspect ratio set "incorrectly") and once I changed it, I found I actually went to another set of PGCs.

Regards

[r0lZ]

Originally posted by mrslacker
Still, I wonder why PgcEdit successfully traced through the disc that froze on my standalone. I'll have to investigate this some more. Don't thrust the trace to much. There are still bugs and probably some omissions. Furthermore, because the trace doesn't actually play the video, it doesn't check for the consistance of the various video related tables. However, it will display a warning if it try to play a cell in a dummy PGC.

[Mr.Shine]

Originally posted by jsoto
About unreferenced material, it's not easy (due VobBlanker internal logic) to keep it. And,... frankly, I do not find any reason to do it.


Interesting, right when I get off the ground and decide to actually write a post on the 0-byte-VOB issue, I notice that it has already been discussed. Disappointing, though, that jsoto is not planning to change it. I prefer keeping those unreferenced menu VOBs, and if it's only to make sure that (a) BUP and IFO are always in different ECC blocks and (b) sector pointers are always valid, regardless of the imaging/burning program used. I've been going the painful way of manually linking the unreferenced material to a PGC before processing with VobBlanker and unlinking afterwards in the past. Guess I'll have to continue doing that.
However, how about an option to add dummy cells to VOBs resp. VTSs that'd be be smaller than 32k after processing, to make them at least 32k. This would would save a bit space (since most unreferenced dummy-VOBs I've seen were >100kb or even several MBs) and also fix the ECC-block/VTS-pointers issue.

Now to something else that I believe hasn't been discussed yet.

A while ago, I was trying to fix a DVD that had the last few MBs missing due to read error on the original. When I just ran it through VobBlanker, it complained at the end of the incomplete VOB and cancelled processing. Instead, could it be implemented that VobBlanker gives the option to clip the incomplete VOB to the last complete GOP it finds and continue processing (like I had to do manually with the Prev/Cut feature)?
I believe VobBlanker generally relies too much on sector pointers in the IFOs. I tried manually adjusting a few pointers on the above mentioned DVD, and suddenly VobBlanker processed it without complaining. Of course, the DVD froze at the end (due to broken VOBU, I believe?), so I still had to fix it with Prev/Cut, but it was only a what-if test anyway. :)
Relying on those pointers also creates issues with processing VOBs that are larger than the IFO says, e.g. when I replaced single cells with larger ones, or am trying to replace a complete VTS with a larger one.
Therefore, I'd much prefer it if VobBlanker worked independently of the sector pointers, assumed them to be wrong by default and recreated them, much like IfoEdit's mock-strip does. There have been cases where I had to mock-strip in IfoEdit AND run through VobBlanker afterwards. I'd like to skip IfoEdit's mock-strip completely, as it happened to me in the past that it broke more than it fixed.

I hope my suggestions are useful! :)

[blutach]

@Mr Shine

Unreffed material - If you use PGCEdit to Kill Playback of all VMGM PGCs, then it will replace the cells (incl unreffed material) with a 10k blank VOB (or anything else you want to replace it with). This is a very handy way of killing FBIs and stupid authoring promos in one click.

VOBBlanker's pointers - are sometimes out by a few frames here and there in the timings. The best way to go after a Prev/Cut in VobBlanker is to immediately do a mock strip in IfoEdit, which clears things up nicely. Can never think of a situation where IfoEdit's strip broke anything of mine (although sometimes you do need to check the layer break flags in the PGCs).

Regards

[2COOL]

Originally posted by blutach
If you use PGCEdit to Kill Playback of all VMGM PGCs, then it will replace the cells (incl unreffed material) with a 10k blank VOB (or anything else you want to replace it with). PgcEdit's Kill Playback macro only edits the IFO's command table. There should be no edits/changes to the VOBs. If you choose to blank all the VMGMs, you do have the option there to do a Kill Playback. ;)

[jsoto]

Unreferenced material: well, to have different ECC blocks for IFO and BUP is a reason. May be I can add an option to do it automatically. Up to now it is really easy to do it. Just create with BlankVob a _0.VOB file with the needed number of sectors (one blabnk cell= 5 sectors) and adjust sectors with IFOEdit.
I believe VobBlanker generally relies too much on sector pointers in the IFOs Yes, absolutely. Dvdshrink does too.
I agree with blutach, I've never seen a problem with an IFOEdit's mock strip. (I did a lot of them before VobBlanker exists, believe me, but only with PAL material), so if you have a sector pointer problem, try with IFOEdit, and if you are lucky, it will be solved.
The best way to go after a Prev/Cut in VobBlanker is to immediately do a mock strip in IfoEdit, which clears things up nicely. Disagree. Up to now, (keeping away the few frames difference which IMHO is not a problem) VobBlanker issues when cutting cells in the middle are not solved by IFOEdit's mock strip, because they are related with SCR and PTSs counters, which are not modified by IFOEdit's mock strip.

jsoto

[Mr.Shine]

Originally posted by jsoto
Unreferenced material: well, to have different ECC blocks for IFO and BUP is a reason. May be I can add an option to do it automatically. Up to now it is really easy to do it. Just create with BlankVob a _0.VOB file with the needed number of sectors (one blabnk cell= 5 sectors) and adjust sectors with IFOEdit.


That's the quick and dirty way, yes. However, that would just be a dummy file, not an unreferenced VOB. Meaning that if I send the disc through a transcoder afterwards, it wouldn't see the dummy file at all and I'd need to re-add it and re-adjust VTS pointers after transcoding again. Better if this VOB were actually known in the IFO, just not referenced by any PGC, like it is on the original disc. Looking forward to VobBlanker doing that for me. In the meantime, I'll be continuing the painful way. I'm a perfectionist, after all!

I agree with blutach, I've never seen a problem with an IFOEdit's mock strip. (I did a lot of them before VobBlanker exists, believe me, but only with PAL material), so if you have a sector pointer problem, try with IFOEdit, and if you are lucky, it will be solved.


I never said IfoEdit's mock-strip fails on many DVDs. I didn't want to go into it, because it doesn't belong into this thread, so just a quick example (that actually happened to me): In a VTS of the more complex kind, ie. one where main feature, all extras, trailers etc. were in one single VTS, after mock-stripping, cell commands weren't being executed anymore and still pictures weren't still anymore. So all extras played in a row instead of returning to the menu after each one and I had a great 30fps diashow instead of one with "Next" and "Prev" buttons! For some reason IfoEdit decided to redo the complete PGC play maps, ignoring all info that was in there before... The missing stills were fairly easy to fix, but I still have no idea why all cell commands were suddenly being ignored. VobBlanker processed that DVD fine, so I "mock-stripped" using VobBlanker in the end.

[r0lZ]

That's true. After a mock strip, IfoEdit forget most of the cell playback table, including the cell commands numbers.

[jsoto]

@Mr.Shine
Ah!. You are right. The still times are lost in IFOEdit's mock strip...

EDIT: Didn't see r0lZ's answer, which is more complete..

jsoto

[blutach]

Originally posted by 2COOL
PgcEdit's Kill Playback macro only edits the IFO's command table. There should be no edits/changes to the VOBs. If you choose to blank all the VMGMs, you do have the option there to do a Kill Playback. ;) [/B] Ahem. That's what I meant - sorry :)

[blutach]

Originally posted by r0lZ
That's true. After a mock strip, IfoEdit forget most of the cell playback table, including the cell commands numbers. I found this out recently, too. Is Derrow fixing this, do you know?

@2COOL - maybe your mock strip guide could be updated with this info?

Regards

[jsoto]

Better if this VOB were actually known in the IFO, just not referenced by any PGC, like it is on the original disc. I know, but not "like in the original". I've found many DVDs with a lot (tens oo hundreds of Megabytes) of unreferenced material. I'm assuming you are requesting 16 sectors (32 KB), aren't you?.

jsoto

[blutach]

My 2 cents worth.

I kinda like the fact that VobBlanker eliminates unreffed crap and have never had a playback problem by having no VIDEO_TS.VOB (for example). That said, I do tend to use the PgcEdit method of blanking all VMGMs and killing playback, as mentioned earlier.

Regards

[jsoto]

I've found one scenario where IFOEdit and VobBlanker output different frame count

I'm backing up an original (PAL) with a blank cell of 10 frames. As mpucoder said here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=462625#post462625) the minimum cell time should be 12 frames. This is the final value you get after a IFOEdit's mock strip. I've also coded this restriction in VobBlanker, but seems there are cases where this restriction is not applied (keeping the PGC, i.e.), so the final value after VobBlanker process is the same than the original: 10 frames

Well, I'm going to modify VobBlanker to guarantee a 12 frames length in all the cases, but it is a false value, because the actual number of frames (inside the VOB) is lower.

@blutach:
Could you confirm if this is the case you are reporting?.

jsoto

[Mr.Shine]

Originally posted by jsoto
I know, but not "like in the original". I've found many DVDs with a lot (tens oo hundreds of Megabytes) of unreferenced material. I'm assuming you are requesting 16 sectors (32 KB), aren't you?.

jsoto

Of course. Keeping tens or hundreds of MBs with stuff that is never played anyway kinda defeats the purpose of making a DVD smaller! What I mean with "like in the original" is that the VMGM_C_ADT and VMGM_VOBU_ADMAP (are there any more?) tables are filled properly, so the 32kb VOB does logically belong to the disc, even though it's not linked to any PGC.

Oh, and most likely 30kb would already be sufficient. Since the IFO takes up at least 1 sector, the maximum needed to reach the next ECC block is 15 sectors, 30kb.

[blutach]

Originally posted by jsoto
@blutach:
Could you confirm if this is the case you are reporting?.

jsoto @jsoto

What I am saying is this:
Let's say I am cutting the credits out - assume it is part of the last cell of the PGC. VOBBlanker does this beautifully of course (except lately I have been getting warnings about GOPs, but that is another matter).

Now, comparing the revised PGC's chapter times with those of the original, I get errors here and there - there is no way to predict exactly where, but when an error occurs, it is always by 6 frames. The cells in which the errors occur are not tiny ones. This happens in almost all the cuts I do. The cumulative time to the end of the 2nd last cell (the one before the cutting) also changes by a bit.

Also, the playback seems to finish a little bit before the playing time is scheduled to end (a few seconds here and there).

An IfoEdit mock strip always cures these errors! (although I have considered just changing the chapter times in PgcEdit - Rolz is this a viable method?)

Hope I am making myself clear.

Best regards

[r0lZ]

@blutach
You cannot change the chapter times in PgcEdit.
But you can fix the total playback time of the PGC if it is wrong, just by entering the PGC selector.

[lovelegend]

I have no patient to read through 17 pages of messages, so I'm not sure if my suggestion was asked before... :p

I've a DVD-9 which has 26 chapters/cells, I used VobBlanker to blank out last 14 cells to make disc 1, and blank out the first 12 cells to make disc 2. However, I found that I can't simply use VobBlanker to join those 2 discs back to one disc (I tried to open disc 2, select cell 1-12 and press "Replace" and choose vob of disc 1, but it would treat the whole disc 1 as one cell... ^^")

Although I know I can use DVD Decrypter to copy out and split into individual cells, but I'm afraid DVD Decrypter is not cutting at the right points (I checked the chapter information output by DVD Decrypter and it didn't match that of I saw in IfoEdit or PgcEdit, there is few frames difference)...

Therfore, is it possible to make VobBlanker such that if I selected cell 1-12, pressed "Replace" and pointed to another vob with same number of cells, then VobBlanker would replace cell 1-12 of the pointed vob to the cell 1-12 selected vob?

[sweetness]

@lovelegend
to do what you want you would have to extract each cells. then replace the cells one by one in the other disc.

double click on your entry and Cell List should pop up. then click on ExtAll Mult (makes one vob for each cell)
now you would have to replace each one in the other disc. should would.

[jsoto]

@blutach
Sorry, but I'm unable to reproduce your lost frames in PAL. I've tried with 3 DVDs and the cell times after a VobBlanker cut are exactly the same than the originals.
So, I'd like to have one example. Could you send me your VobBlanker project file ( an ini file) and the log?

BTW, what I found reviewing the code is a clear bug in NTSC. I'm using always 25 fps to calculate the number of frames of the last VOBU. This will produce a small difference in NTSC.

jsoto

[lovelegend]

@sweetness
I see.... thanks for the reply, I didn't notice the extract button... ^^"

[blutach]

@jsoto

Will do, after next project. But, log shows it completes without any warnings.

Also PAL here.

Regards

[blutach]

@jsoto

Before and After IFOs, Log and Ini file mailed to you.

Regards

[jsoto]

Finally found and fixed!.

Many thanks for your support

jsoto

[Surf]

Hi Jsoto,

Would it be too much to ask for the CUT function be available at the cell level?
Example: there are 4 trailers I like to preserve in a program chain, your current CUT function can only chopp the beginning of Cell#1 and the ending of Cell#4. My goal is to remove the green preview rating screen and er..."now available in DVD" :D for a reason. So far I have circumvented by using Shrink to chop/re-author them 4 trailers and then replace each cell with the respective one.

Thanks in advance,

[blutach]

@surf

You know you can blank at the cell level?

Regards

[jsoto]

@Surf
Cut function in VobBlanker still has some difficult bugs which have to be fixed so I'm not going to complicate more this function (at least for the moment).

BTW, not sure if dvdshrink reauthor + VobBlanker cell replace will work properly. Test carefully your DVD and let me know.

jsoto

[mrslacker]

Originally posted by blutach
I found this out recently, too. Is Derrow fixing this, do you know?


Looks like the new (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=85958) 0.97 may have just fixed that.
- fixed: The PGC Still Time and PG Playback Mode values have been inverted.

Cool!

[jsoto]

@mrslacker
- fixed: The PGC Still Time and PG Playback Mode values have been inverted
Refers to bytes 0xA2 and 0xA3 in PGC header which were swapped. Nothing related with Cell still times.

jsoto

[sweetness]

i did a little test on dvdshrink reauthor + VobBlanker.
first made a reauthored disc with shrink then with VobBlanker i tried to preview/cut and got a "WARNING! Opening GOP is not closed.The first few frames may not be decoded correctly." error

Originally posted by jsoto
BTW, not sure if dvdshrink reauthor + VobBlanker cell replace will work properly. Test carefully your DVD and let me know.
this i have to check out later today. after i go out and buy some more dvd-rw

[blutach]

@sweetness and jsoto

I got this message the other day (when I press on the Mark button for the Initial Mark), and I had not been using Shrink at all. As well, I couldn't Mark at any other point in the cell without getting the warning. I understand what the warning is (I guess the cutting is not taking place at an I-frame), but there must be a way to ensure that this never happens and a GOP is always taken.

Happily, everything was fine.

Is this something new in v 1.5.0.8?

[r0lZ]

I don't know how it's done in VobBlanker, but the warning comes from the original DVD2AVI code, and seems to happend everytime the cell is not in the first VOB of the titleset (ie VTS_xx_2.VOB, 3, 4 ...), at least in the PgcEdit preview. Effectively, sometimes one or two frames are not rendered properly.

[blutach]

@rolz
Funny how it doesn't happen all the time - I do all my cutting at the end in VTS_04+.VOB but have only experienced this on one DVD.

Regards

[r0lZ]

The problem is not with VTS_04_X,VOB, but with VTS_XX_2.VOB and the following, in the same titleset. Seems DVD2AVI can't handle the VOB correctly if it is not the first one in the set.
Someone have experienced this problem with a menu VOB?

[blutach]

Sorry rolz. That is what I meant. VTS_0X_04+.VOB

My mistake.

But I will take note of what VTS this happens in next time

Regards

[jsoto]

Well, there are two different (but similar) warnings:

The first one, coming from the original DVD2AVI code, says "the opening GOP", let's say, the first one in the VOB is not a closed one. So DVD2AVI will not decode the first frames properly. IIRC, this warning can pop up when loading the file in DVD2AVI (just when VobBlanker preview window pops up)

The second one is checked by VobBlanker when the user selects in Prev/Cut the initial or ending mark. VobBlanker checks if the mark is in a closed GOP or not. If the GOP is not a closed one and the mark is the begining of the scene to be kept, the decoder will not be able to decode the first frames properly.

Not sure, but I believe in DVD standard all GOPs should be closed, but nobody is doing this. I never force closed GOPs in my encodes, because you need more bitrate for the same quality.

jsoto

[jsoto]

An additional clarification:
To avoid the original DVD2AVI warning, VobBlanker always load all the VOBs of a VTS, using "autoinc" feature of DVD2AVI. So the initial VOB is always VTS_XX_1.VOB in titles.

jsoto

[blutach]

@jsoto

Clearly, my situation was the "second" one. Funny, how I couldn't find a non-closed starting point though.

[dragongodz]

Not sure, but I believe in DVD standard all GOPs should be closed, but nobody is doing this.
not anywhere that i can find. the only mention of closed GOP being needed for dvd is with multi-angle, then you must use closed GOP.
closed GOP is desirable for editing of course but in general dvd producers dont expect their dvds to be edited do they. :)

i also have read that there are a few authoring programs that dont like open GOPs, such as DVDit PE. i would not rely on what such programs say because i have seen some set limits that are not the real limits to the standards ,eg. vcd must be 1150 video bitrate(several programs)- sorry the standard says that max, dvd min video bitrate 2000 and max 8000(MyDVD) - really min 0(though its reported some hardware players prefer a min of 300 or so) and max 9800 of course.

[jsoto]

how I couldn't find a non-closed starting point though. This is a feature I have in mind to add some day...
In any case, VobBlanker pops the advice in both marks, starting and ending one, because you can change the Action from "keep" to "Cut". But only the initial mark (if keep) or the end mark (if cut) have to be a closed GOP.
jsoto

[blutach]

Originally posted by jsoto
But only the end mark (if cut) have to be a closed GOP.
jsoto This must be why the resulting DVD wasn't a problem. I cut to the end of the cell and even though I got the error at the intial mark, the end of the cell would have been a closed GOP.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Regards

[CoNS]

Found a bug: When I try to specify the Input path using the Browse button and try to access my working directory on my harddisk by double clicking a desktop shortcut, the program ends with an error.

I can access the same folder w/o error, when I manually find it via My Computer -> harddisk -> folder

[jsoto]

Vers 1.5.1.0 (28-11-2004)
Added: Shell integration: "Drag & drop" in main dialog. (Thx jeanl)
Added: Program and chapter numbers in Title Cell list (2COOL's suggestion)
Change: Previous file as default when replacing multiple cells
Change: MaxPGCs=250; MaxMenuPGCs=1000; IFOsize=512KB
BugFix: fps were always 25 when calculating the last VOBU length
BugFix: 3003 clock tics instead 3000 in NTSC
BugFix: Sometimes 6 frames were lost when calculating length of last VOBU
BugFix: Extract cells in VIDEO_TS: VobBlanker was looking for VTS_00_0.IFO.
BugFix: Crash when cancel extracting cells.
BugFix: Crash when loading a desktop link.

jsoto

[2COOL]

Originally posted by blutach
This must be why the resulting DVD wasn't a problem. I cut to the end of the cell and even though I got the error at the intial mark, the end of the cell would have been a closed GOP.
IfoEdit has a "Check GOP Structure" feature for comparing old and new IFOs. I don't use it but seems helpful. ;)

[blutach]

Originally posted by CoNS
Found a bug: When I try to specify the Input path using the Browse button and try to access my working directory on my harddisk by double clicking a desktop shortcut, the program ends with an error.

I can access the same folder w/o error, when I manually find it via My Computer -> harddisk -> folder Try setting up an ini file specifying your input and output paths and saving that to your VobBlanker directory. Then simply use the File --> Open Project menu.

Regards

[blutach]

@jsoto

Many thanks for new version. I will test on cutting and report to you if any more problems.

Best regards

[jsoto]

Then simply use the File --> Open Project menu.
New version accepts drag/drop of *.ini and/or VIDEO_TS.IFO. You can drag/drop them in the application icon or in the main dialog.
Even more, using Explorer, and selecting VIDEO_TS.IFO or *.ini you can "open with--> VobBlanker"

jsoto

[blutach]

@jsoto

On drag and drop - neat! Will try it.

Feature request If output folder has files in it, can we get a warning please? E.g. If there are movie files, they will be overwritten.
Also, when cutting, can "Cut Movie" be the default not "Keep Movie" (or is there an ini setting that the user can set?)
On cutting - Have tried 5 cuts on a movie. Results as follows: Cut from midway in 2nd last cell (credits) to end of movie (End mark = Cell last/sector last. The last cell was 18 frames in another VOBID) - No problems with earlier cell times, but last cell was decreased to 12 frames, instead of cut entirely. I think this is the intended - and probably correct - action of the program as the VOBID is kept (and I actually don't mind this as I like to have a 0.5 second chapter there at the end).
Cut in cell 7 out of 13 (just a cut in the cell, leaving some of the cell's "before cut content" and some of its "after cut content") - cell cuts perfectly and no problems with cell times before or after (in all VOBIDs, including last one). :) :) :)
Cut in 2nd last cell again (from midway but not to end of cell) - Again, no problems :) :)
Cut in 2nd last cell again (from midway to end of cell but not end of movie) - Again, no problems :) :)
Cut from start of movie to midway through cell 5 - Cells 1 to 4 replaced by blank VOBs. Cell 5 cut perfectly. No problems with cells 6 and on :) :)So, all seems ok. Well done and thanks :) :) :)

Best regards

[ChickenMan]

Originally posted by dragongodz
vcd must be 1150 video bitrate(several programs)- sorry the standard says that max,
I understand the standard actually says 1152 is the max bitrate ;)

[candsh]

I found a guide for VOB Blanker for earlier versions. Is this still current for the newer and latest versions? or is there a site or thread with current instructions ?

[blutach]

@candsh

It comes with its own help file

[candsh]

When all else fails, follow instructions!!! Thanks guys, I already found it. Sorry.

[Mr.Shine]

Originally posted by ChickenMan
I understand the standard actually says 1152 is the max bitrate ;)

I haven't done anything VCD related in years, but IIRC, the standard only sets the total data rate of the disc (1x CD speed) - so it'll depend on your audio bitrate and how efficient your muxer works whether you can get 1150 or 1152 kbit max video bitrate. Same for SVCD, with the difference that here, it's 2x speed and VBR. I've found a couple of websites back when I did (S)VCDs that went into detail on how to calculate the available bitrate for video and also pointed out the inaccuracies that the standard's vague definition leaves. I have personally never been able to mux anything higher than 1150 kbit into a VCD, but I've seen VCDs with 1152 bitrate.

*kicks self for continuing out of topic discussion*

[dragongodz]

I understand the standard actually says 1152 is the max bitrate
no its 1150 maximum for video. to save going through all this again anyone interested can read here

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?threadid=59946

you dont need to go past my post that starts "last comments from me." as the rest is of no relevence.

[CoNS]

Originally posted by jsoto
BugFix: Crash when loading a desktop link. That was fast! :eek: Thanks!

[Surf]

Quote Jsoto,
"BTW, not sure if dvdshrink reauthor + VobBlanker cell replace will work properly. Test carefully your DVD and let me know."

It seems to work. I did the 4 trailers with Shrink, chopping each the beginning and the end. Then I did a replace respectively with VOBblanker. Now they play in smooth succession without the green preview rating screens and "now available in DVD" or "coming this summer" :p

Looking forward to that :p .

@Blutach:
I am not blanking, I wanted to trim each cell(see above).

Thanks both.

[Surf]

re "Vers 1.5.1.0 is out
Added: Program and chapter numbers in Title Cell list (2COOL's suggestion)"

The above is most useful when creating Disc2 of Shrek2, especially related to the favourite scene selections. Until then I had to verify with the software player and hunt for the corresponding cell(s). The same can come in handy in cartoons with "favourite songs" selection.
:p

:thanks:

[jsoto]

@all
Thanks for the reports.

@blutach
Cutting: Be careful, specifically in case 3. This case should have playback problems... This is something I have to address.

Feature requests:
A) If output folder has files in it, can we get a warning please?
Seems easy, so I'll do it.

B) Save defaults.
No ini file at the moment. I can save the settings in the registry, but modify the registry is something I always hate. Do you want it?

jsoto

[blutach]

@jsoto

Not too sure that putting the setting in the registry is a good thing either. Why don't users say what they would prefer as a default - Cut Movie or Keep movie?

More imortantly, I cut a movie the other day (it was a "type 1" cut in my earlier post) and at the end it had problems going to next cell (a 12 frame blank). I think this is due to the cutting position. I recut the cell adding a few seconds and it was OK. In each case, I had used the "next" and "prev" buttons in the cut/prev screen. I presume these latch on to the start of a GOP?

Is there anyway to guarantee that these cuts will result in workable DVDs?

Best regards and thanks for everything.

[jsoto]

More imortantly, I cut a movie the other day (it was a "type 1" cut in my earlier post) and at the end it had problems going to next cell (a 12 frame blank). I think this is due to the cutting position. I recut the cell adding a few seconds and it was OK.] Probably. To avoid this problem you can use Keep movie from start (1st cell, sector 0) to your cell, your sector.
I presume these latch on to the start of a GOP?
Yes. you're right. These buttons jump to next/pre GOP.

Is there anyway to guarantee that these cuts will result in workable DVDs?
AFAIK, "type 1" cuts are absolutely safe

jsoto

[blutach]

@jsoto

Well, all of what you say puzzles me that I still have problems with the quality of the cut. I will try the method you suggest, that is, to Keep movie to where I want to cut, instead of other way round, but won't the very last LBA need to be the end of a GOP?

I suppose if this isn't so, I can add a 12 frame chapter, in which case, I would have a closed GOPs from start to finish?

Regards

[CoNS]

Something completely different than the cut issue: Why doesn't VobBlanker set the cell time to 0 when blanking a menu PGC?

I'm currently working on a disc where I want to blank out two warning screens residing in two cells (out of two) in PGC2 in the VMGM. It turns out that each of the cells has a still timne of 10 secs.

I use VobBlanker, and I select VIDEO_TS.VOB in the main window and press Menu. Then I mark the actual PGC and select Blank and Ok. Then I hit Process in the main window.

Everything works fine BUT when I start playing the disc, I get a black screen for 20 seconds where the warning screens used to be! I eventually loaded the disc into PGCEdit and found out that the problem was that the cell times for the two cells were not set to 0. So I manually changed the cell times for each of the two cells from 10 to 0 and now it works...

Is there a reason why VobBlanker doesn't set the cell times to 0, or is it a bug?

In my particular case I couldn't use PGCEdit to do the blanking as there were more than one PGC in the VMGM, and I wanted to keep the rest of them (it's either all or nothing with PGCEdit, right, if I want to do a real blanking, not just kill playback only?). If the VMGM only had one PGC, which I wanted to blank all out, and thus could have used PGCEdit instead, I wonder if PGCEdit would have set the cell times to 0 or kept the original cell times?

[r0lZ]

Yes, PgcEdit sets the Cells Still Time to 0.

Also, it is possible to blank out a single cell with PgcEdit: go to the cell table in the PGC Editor, and click on the VOB/Cell ID button of the cell you want to blank out, then select Create a New Blank VOB Cell (or use an existing blank cell if there is one already present in the VOB.)
However, the original VOB Cell will not be removed from the VOB. The cell will be unreferenced (unless reused somewhere else.) Therefore, this function is not suitable to shrink the VOB to recover some space.

[CoNS]

Exactly, and that's what I want (shrink it before compressing!)

So it must be a bug in VobBlanker that it doesn't set the cell times to 0?

[r0lZ]

Not really a bug. Just an omission.

[jsoto]

Not really a bug. Just an omission. To give the user the opportunity to learn and report... To be fixed (added ;) ) in next version.
jsoto

[jsoto]

@blutach
Well, VoBblanker cuts VOBUs, let's say, the complete GOP is discarded or not. It is not possible to cut in the middle of a VOBU.
But the first GOP in the final clip should be a closed one. If not, the first few frames will not be decoded properly. The last GOP can be closed or not, it does not matter.
Each cell is (more or less) independent, so you can cut/change one cell by another. I'm convinced the starting GOP of a cell must be a closed one.
In any case, Vobblanker always keeps the original number of cells. If you discard one cell completely, it will be replaced by a blank (0,4 secs) one. I think this is the 12 frame VOBU you are talking about.
jsoto

[blutach]

@cons

By now, you will see the cell is blanked and you need 1 little extra step and that is to go into PgcEdit and set the cell still time from 10 to 0. That way, you get VOB size reduction and effective bypassing of the cell.

Regards

[CoNS]

Originally posted by jsoto
To give the user the opportunity to learn and report... To be fixed (added ;) ) in next version.
jsoto Thanks!!

@ blutach: Yep, I eventually found out by playing a bit with the output from VobBlanker in PGCedit... So I know how to fix it, but it would be real nice when jsoto fixes it (adds it!!) in VobBlanker, which will save me the hassle of having to open the output in PGCedit to finish the job! :)

[blutach]

@cons

Not meaning to be take a shot at you, but IMHO, there is never a hassle in using PgcEdit!!!

I ALWAYS use it as a final test to trace through things, for example.

:)

Regards

[jeanl]

Originally posted by blutach
@cons

Not meaning to be take a shot at you, but IMHO, there is never a hassle in using PgcEdit!!!

I ALWAYS use it as a final test to trace through things, for example.

:)

Regards


but be careful with that! r0lZ repeatedly warned us that the Trace function in PgcEdit shouldn't be considered as a very reliable test of whether a DVD will play or not on a settop box. Sure, PgcEdit will catch obvious mistakes (program flow breaks), but it will fail to detect others (I'm not sure which, in fact, but I think r0lZ has a few in mind?)

Jeanl

[blutach]

@jean

One thing it won't catch, of course, is a disk that has not been "Get VTS Sectorised" :)

Another would be my current "favourite" problem; and that is cut cells that don't cut across an I-frame.

Are there more? Oh no :( :( :(

Regards

[r0lZ]

Sure, there are some more.
- BOV (menu buttons in title domain) is not yet implemented. This may (and probably will) lead to wrong navigation.
- SetGPRMMD in counter mode will not increment the value of the GPRM every second, as it should.
- SetNVTMR do not decrement the SPRM 9 every second, and do not jump to the PGC pointed to by SPRM 10 when the timer reaches 0, as it should.
- The playback is either only simulated, or played with the standalone Playback of jeanl, which do not uses any table in the IFOs, as a real settop player should do. The coherence of those tables is therefore not checked.
- It is possible to change the normal flow of operations by clicking in a PGC in the PGC selector, or a line in the main listbox, and continue the trace. This may be useful to test special cases, but may also cause wrong navigation.
- There are probably other bugs and omissions, and limitations I don't remember for now...

Note that SetGPRMMD (in counter mode) and SetNVTMR are rarely used. If PgcEdit encounters a SetGPRMMD or a SetNVTMR when tracing, a warning will popup.

[blutach]

@ rolz

As well, the RSM doesn't parse the chapter number. See your PMs. But this is OT and will be the last I mention it in this thread.

Regards

[CoNS]

A suggestion for a new feature in VobBlanker:

When using VobBlanker for blanking out titlesets, PGCs or cells, it's a bit of a hassle that you per default have to process the whole disc and create a new output disc elsewhere on your harddisk. This is time consuming and takes up a lot of space on your harddisk.

I know the trick that you can process only the titles/menus that involves any blanking and then copy the new files into the original folder and afterwards correct the VTS sectors using PgcEdit (load/save) or IfoEdit (load and press Get VTS Sectors). This saves space on the harddisk but in total it takes more time than should be neccesary.

The last described method is not that far from what PgcEdit does when blanking all titles/menus in a VTS (this is the only blanking that can be done with PgcEdit if you want to actually remove the video/audio/subtitle streams and replace them with a blank frame).

Jsoto, why not add a feature in VobBlanker, where you get to select an "on the fly blanking" processing method, where the program does the following:
Only process the VTST and VTSM where the user has made changes (selected blanking)
In the processing the program should then start with creating a subdirectory (backup folder) in the VIDEO_TS folder whereto the original .vob, .ifo and .bup files in question are moved
The files in this folder should then be processed back into the original folder, replacing only the old files that is actually changed.
VobBlanker should then do a Get VTS Sectors as the last part of the process and you'd be ready to go!!
Also, VobBlanker should then have a rollback/redo function, which should be quite easy: Copy the backed up files back into the original folder and do a Get VTS Sectors.Whaddaya say, jsoto?

I remember seeing this feature requested before by someone else, where jsoto turned his thumbs down, but I simply have to repeat it! After working on quite many discs using VobBlanker, I really have to conclude that this is the one main, new feature this program needs in order to be THE perfect tool when blanking!! :)

[lark]

not quite sure, but wouldn't skip implement at least the 1st bullet point (skip the VTSs) where you haven't made changes ... and boy it's fast on those menus and small logo/intro VTSs ;-)

regards
t :)

[blutach]

@cons

VOBBlanker does only process VOBs where changes are made (you can easily untick the ones you want to skip, or if you want to Blank only one, then click "skip all" and click "process" on the VTS you want to work on). However, if there's a change to a cell in a long titleset (eg main movie), the whole VTS needs to be re-written and this takes time.

There's no need to create backup folders. The output folder is different from the input and nothing is changed in the input folder. If you don't like the results - chuck 'em out and start over!

My understanding is that VOBBlanker effectively does do a GET VTS Sectors, with its Correct VOBs DSI pointers.

Most of these things can be automated via the ini file. You then use the file - open project menu.

Regards

[CoNS]

@ blutach: Yes, well, I understand that this is the way VobBlanker works in its present form. What I'm suggesting is adding a new feature to VobBlanker. I know my first post is loooong, but try reading it again and you'll probably see what I mean... :)

[blutach]

@cons

IMHO, it is a feature of VobBlanker that there is a destination directory. As before, if you screw up, no problems and no need to try to resurrect the disk from a backup file.

Regards

[r0lZ]

I agree with CoNS: if the original files are moved to a backup dir before processing, if you screw up, there are still no problems: you just have to restore them. In the other hand, if everything went properly, you don't have to move the new files manually.
But this may be difficult to program, because jsoto will have to take care that the new files, in the DVD folder, will not match anymore what is currently displayed in the VobBlanker GUI and stored in the internal variables.

[CoNS]

exactly, that's why I suggested ending the process with some sort of a "Get VTS sector" function. Wouldn't that do the trick? How is it the same thing done in PgcEdit when you blank out a whole titleset?

[r0lZ]

IMHO, it's much much easier to replace a whole domain VOB by a blank VOB cell.

[mrslacker]

While the backup directory is on topic, I would like to suggest PgcEdit backups of the BUP files as well. That would make a copy-and-paste restore a bit easier. I know they are backups, it would just save some time.

To stay on this thread's topic, I prefer PgcEdit's backup method over the detination directory method of VobBlanker. VobBlanker adds a little extra work if you don't want it to process every VTS. That is, I have to correct VTS sectors manually after moving unaltered VOBs to the destination. The way PgcEdit works on the original directory simplifies everything. Could I just set the destination in VobBlanker to the source directory? Would VB leave the unprocessed files alone, while correcting VTS sectors? That's just the way I understand it. Thanks for clarification.

[r0lZ]

To restore the BUP files as well, just use the PgcEdit Restore Backup menu. Or restore them manually, then load and save the DVD again.

@jsoto: Sorry, I am squatting your thread. ;)

[jeanl]

Originally posted by mrslacker
While the backup directory is on topic, I would like to suggest PgcEdit backups of the BUP files as well. That would make a copy-and-paste restore a bit easier. I know they are backups, it would just save some time.

To stay on this thread's topic, I prefer PgcEdit's backup method over the detination directory method of VobBlanker. VobBlanker adds a little extra work if you don't want it to process every VTS. That is, I have to correct VTS sectors manually after moving unaltered VOBs to the destination. The way PgcEdit works on the original directory simplifies everything. Could I just set the destination in VobBlanker to the source directory? Would VB leave the unprocessed files alone, while correcting VTS sectors? That's just the way I understand it. Thanks for clarification.
I second that. I like to process DVD "in place" (I usually try to avoid processing vob files, other than replacing them by small ones), and that's just impractical in vobblanker...
Jeanl

[jsoto]

Well, I do understand CoNS feature request. I've never take it into account, because when you use VobBlanker you are going to modify a VOB, and for sure, rewritting it. In this case, the use of different physical drives is the optimum choice, and you cannot move files across different file systems.
In any case, for those users with only one drive, or in the case of a small VOB modification, CoNS's proposal has sense, so I'll keep it in mind. But do not expect it too early, I'm very busy at work now (due the end of the year).

jsoto

[jsoto]

@jsoto: Sorry, I am squatting your thread. Oh!. No problem at all. Friends are always welcome :)
jsoto

[CoNS]

Okay, jsoto, thanks for keeping it in mind! :p

[blutach]

It seems the users have spoken in a mini poll :)

One thing, @jsoto - yes, VobBlanker's processing is much faster if the output folder is on a different drive to the input folder, but if you have processed a big VTS (eg. yes, you guessed it, cut credits), then once processing is finished, you need to copy it over the the first drive anyway, which takes a few minutes. So, I don't use the different drive any more.

BTW: @rolz, In no way was I criticizing your product, which you know I am a huge fan of ;)

Regards to all

[jsoto]

but if you have processed a big VTS (eg. yes, you guessed it, cut credits), then once processing is finished, you need to copy it over the the first drive anyway You can copy the rest of VTSs (if they are small) over the second drive, or let VobBlanker to do it. This is my case, because I usually replace the main movie (with a reencoded one). Well, I usually replace the extras with a VCD/CVD resolution encoded ones too, so I'm practically rewritting the whole DVD...
jsoto

[blutach]

@jsoto - good idea, but, in my case, the other drive is my system drive, which I like to keep clean of data and has only 13Gb spare :)

Regards

[lark]

how about having it configurable to please everyone? ;-)

regards
t :)

[blutach]

@lark

It is configurable

[lark]

sorry, perhaps we are speaking of a different issue.
somehow i got that there was a request to have vobblanker either
1) write to another (selectable) directory (as it currently does)
or
2) write to the current (=source) directory, but make first a backup copy of files to be modified to another (selectable) directory

but as said, perhaps i've misunderstood something ;-)

regards
t :)

[CoNS]

Exactly, lark, that was what I was asking in the first place, see my above post about adding an extra feature.

[greath]

I am running Vobblanker 1.5.1.8 and it is having problems with Garfield The Movie DVD. Fox have made the IFO files for VTS_7 648KB and for VTS_8 over 8MB in size, and Vobblanker won't read them in as it says that VTS_7 IFO is too large. IFOEdit will open it and it shows that the PGC has thousands of entries in it that are each very short. Shall I send the IFO files to you?

[jsoto]

No, thanks.
Garfield has a VTS with 30.000 (yes, thirty thousand, close to the legal maximum) PGCs.

Try with VobBlanker 1.5.1.9 (experimental). G__ has been able to load it (it take a while...) in this version.

jsoto

[r0lZ]

30.000 PGCs!!!
I wonder if PgcEdit is able to handle so many PGCs, and how long it takes to load them. Someone has tried it?

[greath]

I've downloaded the experimental VOBblanker and will give it a go. I will also try PGCEdit to see what happens.

[jsoto]

@r0lZ,
G__ was also able to load it in PgcEdit.

I do not know what he did in terms of DVD authoring modifications.

jsoto

[r0lZ]

:)
I suppose that modifying the DVD is not a problem, as long as Tcl/Tk has enough resources to store it!

[jeanl]

Originally posted by jsoto

Garfield has a VTS with 30.000 (yes, thirty thousand, close to the legal maximum) PGCs.

Try with VobBlanker 1.5.1.9 (experimental). G__ has been able to load it (it take a while...) in this version.
jsoto
jsoto, is there a reason why vobblanker can't allocate ressources on the fly (i.e., is there a reason why you have to have a fixed maximum number of PGCs?)
I'm just curious ;)
Jeanl

[jsoto]

Only one:
I am (at least I was when I started to code VobBlanker) a newbie programmer and I've used fixed lenght arrays in the code (members of VobBlankerApp). Seems not easy to change this now, because there are a lot of lines of code...

If you have an idea about how to change this without too much effort, it will be welcome.

jsoto

[jsoto]

To clarify a little more. I have many arrays in the form

my_type My_variable[MAX_VTS][MAX_PGC];

jsoto

[jeanl]

Originally posted by jsoto
To clarify a little more. I have many arrays in the form

my_type My_variable[MAX_VTS][MAX_PGC];

jsoto
ahhhh! That's a good reason to declare them like that (the fact that they have 2 dimensions). This is a bit off topic, but a good compromise is to have 1 fixed length, and 1 "adjustable" one:

my_type *My_variable[MAX_VTS];

and somewhere in your code (probably when you load the DVD), you allocate the appropriate array:

My_variable[i] = new my_type[NumberOfPGC];

and you don't have to change the way to use the variable (My_variable[i][j] still works).

It's a bit of a complication because you have to delete your arrays at the end (or before you re-allocate them), using delete[];
We can take this off-line if you want to continue the discussion!
Jeanl

[blueboyec]

Jsoto,

I only see 1509 and 1510 but no 1519. Is there a new version out?:)

blueboy

[jsoto]

@jeanl
This is a bit off topic, but a good compromise is to have 1 fixed length, and 1 "adjustable" one: Seems this approach can do the trick. I'll give it a try when I find time... I'll keep you informed.

BTW, I'm already using "new" and "delete" for IFOs memory allocation.

@blueboyec
Sorry, my bad. It is 1.5.0.9. Version 1.5.1.9 does not exist.

jsoto

[CoNS]

A bug (?) in VobBlanker when blanking cells in VTSM:

I have a disc (Harry Potter 3 PAL), where I've used VobBlanker 1.5.1.0 to blank some PGCs inside a VTST, and also some PGCs and cells in PGCs in a VTSM. One of these cells was a part of the main menu, as it was a video that played 26 seconds right before the main menu buttons were shown. The cell itself had no buttons or cell commands.

I did all the blanking in one process with VobBlanker and afterwards everything looked fine in my software player. However, when I burned the disc, my standalone SONY player showed a black screen for 26 seconds where the pre-menu video used to be. Also, when I looked carefully playing the disc in my software player again, I noticed some large pixels appearing right before the cell with the main menu buttons was shown, but my software player didn't wait the 26 seconds like my standalone, as the pixelated frame was only visible in a flash.

I loaded the disc with PgcEdit and examined those PGCs and cells that I blanked. The above mentioned cell that turned out to cause the problem had it's still time set to 0, and as I said: No buttons, no cell commands.

Then I replaced the VOB ID and Cell ID by adding an extra blank cell at the end of the VOB using PgcEdit. Except the new VOB ID and cell ID everything looked exactly the same in PgcEdit.

And then it worked!

The long delay with the black screen was gone when I played it in my standalone player, and the glimpse with large pixels had also disappeared when playing it in my software player.

Can anyone explain this or point out some possible explanations for this? Is it a bug related to the blanking of a cell using VobBlanker?

[blutach]

@cons

Look at the last few days of the PgcEdit thread. I can give you further info, but, in short, I have found that VobBlanker reorders VOBIDs in PGC order and also blanks unreferenced VOBIDs, leaving "holes" in the menu (I am not at all sure whether these are a "DVD specs" problem though).

However, I wonder if this is related to your problem?

[CoNS]

@ blutach: Hmm, could be the case?

jsoto, what do you make of the case reported above by me and the discussion in the PgcEdit as referred to by blutach?

[jsoto]

@CoNS
Strange, but seems different to "reordering cells issue". The fact (if I've understood well) is that your SONY "plays" 26 seconds of a "blank/pixeled" frame. So it knows the original time: 26 seconds, but where is this data? . This is the question to answer, because duration time should be changed in cell and also in PGC. If not, it is a VobBlanker bug.
Could you send me the IFOs before and after VobBlanker processing?. Also, a project file to see what are you exactly doing will help. (Menu--> File---> Save project as) just before or after processing,

jsoto

[r0lZ]

It must be the PGC Still Time (ignored by software players, but not by Sony standalones.) The PGS Still Time is used exactly like a Cell Still Time, but only on the last cell of the PGC.

[jsoto]

Yes, it could be, but CoNS says he is blanking a cell ( a motion cell) so to have a PGC still time different to cero seems strange to me.

In any case, reseting PGC still time is not done in VobBlanker. (I'm clearing Cell still time in 1601, but not PGC still time)

jsoto

[r0lZ]

Yes. Strange, although not impossible. This is often the case of menu cells with an animated intro, followed by a last image with menubuttons, and a cell or PGC still time.

[CoNS]

jsoto, I'll p.m. you the .ifo files before/after blanking when I get home from work. I've deleted the original .vob files in order to free harddisk space, so I can't reconstruct the project file in VobBlanker?

But here's the scenario in details:

The problem I experienced, was that after blanking with VobBlanker 1.5.1.0, my SONY standalone showed approx. 26 secs. of black screen before the main menu appeared. My software player (MPC) went straight to the main menu, only showing a short glimpse with large pixels right before the main menu played.

The problem is obviously related to the first cell in PGC 1 in VTSM 1. I know this for sure, as the problem with both black screen for 26 secs. in my standalone AND the glimpse of large pixels in my software player disappeared when I used PgcEdit to append a new, blank frame at the end of the .vob file and set the VOB ID and CELL ID to this new frame for the cell in question.

PGC 1 in VTSM 1 contains 3 cells.

Originally the first cell had an approx. 26 seconds long animation/video sequence which was played right before the main menu appeared. This cell did not have any buttons. I blanked the cell in VobBlanker by doubleclicking VTST 1, which gave me the menu window showning VTSM 1. I selected PGC 1 and clicked "Cell" and marked the first cell out of the three for blanking. I didn't get any errors or warning when blanking.

In the same blanking process, I also blanked some whole PGCs within the same VTSM, and also a whole PGC in the VMGM. I haven't had any problems with these blanked PGCs afterwards.

Cell no. 2/3 and 3/3 in PGC 1 contains the main menu, which also has an animation (i.e. it's not only a still picture). Being a main menu, these two cells have ofcourse buttons. The difference between these two cells seem to be in the animation playing, otherwise they look the same. These two cells were left untouched when I blanked using VobBlanker, and they also played fine afterwards.

When I open the disc in PgcEdit after blanking (but before fixing it with PgcEdit), and show the details for PGC 1 in VTSM 1 in the PGC-Editor, the cell still time for all three cells are 0 and the PGC still time is also 0. So that's not the problem. The playback time and end time for cell 1/3 are both 00:00:00.12, which they should be after blanking.

Weird, huh?!

(The disc is disc 1 of Harry Potter 3 PAL with ENG DK NO audio and subs)

[jsoto]

Yes, weird!!
What I do not understand is why the DVD plays fine with a blank cell at the end of the VOB!
Mmmm, may be VobBlanker's blank cell is wrong...
Please send me the cell produced by VobBlanker (you can cut it with CutFile) and the one produced by PGCEdit.

Or may be you are able to see the differences in VobEdit: In the Nav pack look at SCR (byte 4), VOBU start PTS (byte 0x39) and Elapsed time (twice in the pack: bytes 0x45 and 0x423).

SCR and PTS can be an issue, because a blank cell has SCR=0 and a PTS close to cero, but the next one will have a SCR/PTSs values corresponding to 26 secs. But this should be the same in the case of PGCEdit produced cell!

The same applies to Elapsed time, but AFAIK, Elapsed Time is refered to the own Cell, so it starts from Zero in each cell.

jsoto

[CoNS]

I need a little help on providing the info requested! I'm not used to neither CutFile or VobEdit... :)

I have downloaded both programs, but in CutFile I'm not sure how to find the block numbers etc. for that cell.

And in VobEdit, I load the VTS_01_0.VOB but I don't know where exactly to look... :confused:

I think the easiest way would be to cut the cell using CutFile, if this can give you the desired info, and if you can tell me how to find the block values for my .vob.

Would the file be too large to send by p.m. if I'm including the .ifo files aswell?

[jsoto]

OK.
You need to find the starting and ending sector of the Cells. Due they are Menu Cells, you will find the info (using IFOEdit) in VMGM_C_ADT table (if VIDEO_TS.VOB) or in VTSM_C_ADT (if VTS_XX_0.VOB).
So, locate your Cell in the table (using CellID and VObId), and write down the starting/ending sectors. Because they are blank cells the total number of sectors should be 5 , let's say
endsector=inisector+4;

Now, you can "jump" (there is a button in the bottom-left) in VobEdit to the ini sector. The inisector MUST be a Nav pack. Click on the pack (inn the left side of Vobedit) and in the right side you will see the pack contents, where you will find the addresses I've referenced in my previous post

To cut the cell, just write in Cutfile the values inisector (Initial block) and endsector (End block), keeping the block size of 2048 (default). Press OK and you're done. The output file should be a 10 KB one.

Please zip the cells and the IFOs and send them to me.

jsoto

[blueboyec]

jsoto,

I see that at DVDhelp you have released 1.6.0.1. but it is not mentioned here. Is this correct?


blueboyec

[jsoto]

VobBlanker 1.6 has its own thread:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86437

jsoto

[CoNS]

The start and end sector values in IfoEdit are in hex.

Are the sector (block) values in CutFile also in hex or are they in decimal?

EDIT: Oops, didn't see at first that IfoEdit has BOTH the decimal AND hex values...! :o I got it now. Expect a pm with the files in a few minutes, jsoto!

[jsoto]

Thanks, I've got them.
At first view I was unable to see a reason...
But, I've found a possibility.
Second Cell in root menu is marked as STC discontinuity in PGCEdit IFOs, but not in VobBlanker ones

Did you do a IFOEdit mock strip on menus in PGCEdit files? I believe a IFOEdit's mock strip fixes this...
Or... may be PgcEdit changes this bit in the PGC when blanking out a cell?
@r0lZ, could you confirm this?

VobBlanker is not doing that, and I believe we can consider this is as bug.

So, please change the cell type in IFOEdit from 8 to 10 and try again. (You have to burn a new media, I hope your settop is able to read DVD+-RW)

http://www.iespana.es/jsoto/images/celltype.jpg

jsoto

[CoNS]

Yep, changing it from 8 to 10 makes it work!! (seems the same upon playback as when fixed with PgcEdit)

Good job! :)

(and no, I haven't anywhere in the process done a mock strip of the menu PGC in IfoEdit. That goes for the version fixed with PgcEdit, too)

Should the cell type only be changed from 8 to 10 in the following cell (cell 2/3)? How about cell no. 3/3, which also is marked as cell type 8?

[r0lZ]

Originally posted by jsoto
Second Cell in root menu is marked as STC discontinuity in PGCEdit IFOs, but not in VobBlanker ones

Did you do a IFOEdit mock strip on menus in PGCEdit files? I believe a IFOEdit's mock strip fixes this...
Or... may be PgcEdit changes this bit in the PGC when blanking out a cell?
@r0lZ, could you confirm this? Yes. I set the SCR Discontinuity flag on the blanked cell and the following cell, if the VOB/Cell ID is not contiguous. I had the feeling that this is required, to avoid to have two cells too far in the VOB be played seemlessly.

BTW, your 'reordering' method when writing VOBs may cause the same problem, when some cells are reused.


Note: This flag is called SCR Discontinuity by Mpucoder (and me), and STC discontinuity by Derrow. Who is right?

[jsoto]

to avoid to have two cells too far This is a potential problem, but I believe this is not the case. (It is a small size menu, and even more, VobBlanker Cell is closed to the following one, but not PGCEdit one)
I'm thinking in the "logical" problem. We have blanked out a 26 seconds cell, so the system clock has to be resynchronized. Probably the settop is waiting until SCR or PTS gets the value indicated in the second (not blanked) cell

jsoto

[jsoto]

@r0lZ
About your note...

What does the flag mean?
A discontinuity in SCR (System clock)
A discontinuity in Presentation Time (PTS) ?

Probably the discontinuities are always togheter...

jsoto

[CoNS]

So what's the conclusion to all this in lay men's terms?

[jsoto]

Sorry CoNS, for any reason, I didn't see your post. Great to know we found it!
The conclusion is clear:
There is a bug (omission :) ) in VobBlanker. I've to modify the Cell type in the own cell (it is discontinous with the previous) and in following one when blanking/replacing cells (and also when cutting PGCs in the middle of a Cell, may be I'll solve some problems in this way)
jsoto

[blutach]

@jsoto

Can this SCR issue be at all related to the issues I have been having when cutting PGCs?

BTW: How does this flag work. I see PGCs with different values here for each cell (soemtimes 8, others 2 and others 10) and no idea what they all do (although pgcedit has an explanation of the bit settings).

Can anybody explain?

Regards

[zacoz]

Originally posted by r0lZ
30.000 PGCs!!!
I wonder if PgcEdit is able to handle so many PGCs, and how long it takes to load them. Someone has tried it?
This bunny (or is that 'cat' seeing as we are talking Garfield) tried it (R4 PAL). About an hour to load (P3-500 384MB). I also got 10 minute pauses at times while editing. The slow bit is saving DVD at the end. I've now been "Writing VTS 6 IFO" for about 12 hours with 97-99% CPU Load - No idea whether the finish is in sight.

Now torn between scrapping this editing (as I'm only skipping warnings etc) and just back it up without any editing (just small amount of shrinking).

......As I type this it just finished. So this goes down as the longest PGCEdit I've ever done - about 14 hours start to finish.

[r0lZ]

Hum! I'm not proud!
But take in mind that PgcEdit is written in an interpreted language, without pointers and the like. It's difficult to speed it up.
However, I wonder why it is so slow to save the DVD. Maybe I'll found a way to shorten the save duration...
Another thing I may try in the future is to buy Tcl/Tk Pro package. It's a little bit expensive, but it has a bytecode compiler, a profiler, and some other useful tools. I just need some more donations... :sly:

[zacoz]

Wouldn't worry....there's not too many around with 30,000+ PGC's. Must have been a painful one for them to build in the first place.

Donation coming your way shortly...been meaning to for a while for the programs I've settled into using frequently.

[r0lZ]

Yet another "IFO file too big" issue: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=105580

[frank]

Originally posted by r0lZ
30.000 PGCs!!!A new way of stupid copy protection!

[jsoto]

A new way of stupid copy protection!
No, It isn't. It is a kind of game made with DVD...., very poor BTW. This is an old thread and the DVD is Gardfield.

Copy protection methods are always oriented to protect main movie, because there are many many people happy with movie-only backups, and the main movie is the content to be protected..

jsoto