How to make PowerDVD and the like open a DVD

[jeanl]

People,
I'm trying to make PowerDVD (or WinDVD) open a DVD folder programmatically, but that's not working.
These programs don't seem to accept command line arguments, and the old ShellExecute() function (with "open") does not do it either. I'm short of ideas here.
Has somebody figured out a way?
jeanl

[Orion|69]

There's two ways this can be done with powerdvd :

1) to trick it to think it starts a udf dvd image.. and thats only possible if u want to spend too much time on it or have an image mounted, which probably is not what u want
2) in "dvd on hdd mode" - this is what u want -> this has some restrictions however : u HAVE to point it to a playable file including IFO's

so :
wont work -> powerdvd C:\VIDEO_TS
will work -> powerdvd C:\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.IFO
will work -> powerdvd C:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.VOB

there u go.. powerdvd starting up a movie from the commandline :)

[jeanl]

Originally posted by Orion|69
There's two ways this can be done with powerdvd :

1) to trick it to think it starts a udf dvd image.. and thats only possible if u want to spend too much time on it or have an image mounted, which probably is not what u want

no, you're right, not really what I want...

2) in "dvd on hdd mode" - this is what u want -> this has some restrictions however : u HAVE to point it to a playable file including IFO's
so :
wont work -> powerdvd C:\VIDEO_TS
will work -> powerdvd C:\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.IFO
will work -> powerdvd C:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.VOB
there u go.. powerdvd starting up a movie from the commandline :)
well, I'm not seeing that!!! I'm using PowerDVD 5.0. If I pass VIDEO_TS.IFO (with a fully qualified path), nothing happens at all (powerDVD starts, but nothing else happens). If I pass VIDEO_TS.VOB or any of the VOB files, then yes, the vob files are opened and play, but NOT the DVD!!! Just the vob file. At the end of the vob, it stops.

What I'm trying to do is to make it open the files as a DVD folder (i.e. go to the menu etc etc etc). Does that work on your PC??
Jeanl

[Orion|69]

Ah.. get PowerDVD 6.0 :)
only tested it with that version and with 6.0 it clearly works.. if I load the ifo it nicely starts the dvd as if it were a standalone player.. so goes thru menu and all :)

[jeanl]

Originally posted by Orion|69
Ah.. get PowerDVD 6.0 :)
only tested it with that version and with 6.0 it clearly works.. if I load the ifo it nicely starts the dvd as if it were a standalone player.. so goes thru menu and all :)
holy crap! I have to try that!
Thanks for the info!
jean

[Orion|69]

yw :)

[jeanl]

I'll be darned! It DOES work! Thanks for the tip. I had tried with PowerDVD 5.0 and given up on it. Great! Now MenuShrink can launch the DVD (provided the user has PowerDVD).
Do you know if WinDVD let you do that as well (open video_ts.ifo from the command line)?
jeanl

[Orion|69]

No.. as far as I know that isnt possible with WinDVD 6 (Platinum or whatever).

By the way.. may I ask why you are only looking at those expensive heavyweights, while there are lighter, more versatile players around which can do even more than those two ?

Ever thought about Media Player Classic ?
"mplayerc.exe c:\2\video_ts.ifo" works like a charm.. menu and everything. Give great freeware a chance :D

[jeanl]

Great idea. It's just that I use powerDVD, and I'm not up on what soft to use. You're right. I'll put that in the guide. Any app that can open video_ts.ifo can be used in my proggie, since you can set the path to the exe...
Thanks again for pointing all this out to me, it makes a HUGE difference! thou shallst be properly credited ;)
jeanl

[Orion|69]

glad to be of service :)