Adding a non-system menu to a title folder in Scenarist

[smb_uk]

Hi to all,

Basically, I'm authouring a disc in Scenarist and am having troubles deciding which is the best way to create a non-system menu in the title folder.

I've got a menu in the VMG language folder, a menu in the VTS language folder, and am wanting to create a menu within each Title of a VTS, but am unsure of the best way of doing this.

To explain further, I can add a menu to the Title folder, and then drag a video track to the same folder, and the navigation works fine - the menu is displayed first, linking to the video track - but only if it is dragged onto the title first, (is that stable) otherwise the video plays first.

Alternatively, I can drag a menu onto the Title, and link the movie track to the program, or cell of the menu, ensuring that the menu wil always be played first. Both of these scenarios have some implications to the ifo, I was just wondering which one makes most sense as all the methods seem to work.

[dgoodbourn]

What exactly are you trying to achieve? It is usually unwise to have more than 1 PGC in a title, as it removes the timecode from the video, thus causing problems when trying to fast forward etc. Are you wanting to have active buttons on the menus in the titles? If so, why are you trying to put them into the titles, can't they stay in the Language area of the VTS? If they are just for show purposes, you can attach the video to the menu PGC in the title.

D.

[smb_uk]

I'm effectively emulating "six feet under" in which the VMG language menu allows you to select "Episodes", the VTS Menu allows you to select which episode, directing you to a final menu, with a description of the episode, play and return buttons, with all episodes in a single VTS, each episode as separate PGCs.

Hope this helps, and that I'm not just misunderstanding the process.

[dgoodbourn]

Are you sure the info menu is in the title area? If so, then add it at PGC level, and just add the video at cell level to the menu.

A better way would be to have the menu in the language area. Then just link to the correct title.
each episode as separate PGCs.
Each episode will be in seperate titles within the same VTS.

D.

[smb_uk]

That's what I would have prefered, but there are three levels of menu: Play Episodes selection (VMG Language), episode selection (VTS Language), and then episode information which makes a menu in the PGC area a sensible place ?

Sorry I'm getting confused with the terminology, I think what Scenarist labels "Title" within a VTS is actually PGC as you mentioned.

So in this circumstance, a menu in the PGC (1 level down from VTS in scenario), with a video stream linked at cell level from the menu would be the way to go.

Thanks for the expert advice and prompt responses, this place is fantastic !!

[dgoodbourn]

To be honest, I would try and put ALL the menus in the Language area if at all possible. That's what it's designed for. You can have all the menus there no problem. As for the terminology, a PGC sits in the Title in a VTS.

If you want to replicate 'six feet under' exactly, then yes, put the last menu in the title/pgc area, but you can have exactly the same results with putting all the menus in the Language Area. That's what I do.

D.