PgcEdit 0.6.0

[goonix]

@rolZ
Thank you for adding the "create new blank cell" function!

First test results from 0.6.1beta9.

Issue 1:
I'm trying to make a DVD from scratch with PgcEdit.
So I first use "New DVD" under the File tab.
Then I import a title.
Now I need a dummy PGC in the VTS1 menu domain. But there is no menu domain.
The same for DVDShrink reauthored "movie only" DVDs.

I did'nt found a way to add a new dummy PGC to the non-existing domain.
Can you give me a hint?


Issue 2:
If I make a "movie only" PAL DVD with DVDLab Pro, it creates a Title menu (Jump to Title 1) with a blank PAL VOB in the VMGM domain, a Root menu (Jump to Title 1) as dummy PGC in the VTSM 1 domain and of course the PAL Title 1 in VTST 1.

Unfortunately the dummy PGC in the VTSM 1 domain has the NTSC attributes. It does'nt matter for a dummy PGC, but when I create a new blank cell within this dummy PGC, then I get a NTSC cell. I need a PAL cell however.
I can change the attributes of the dummy PGC to PAL with IfoEdit.
Can I do it in PgcEdit too?

goonix

[blutach]

@goonix - to create VMGM - right click on First play PGC and Select new menu. Create/import your title - again, right click on it and select new menu to make the root menu for that VTS. Is this what you're looking for?

I have found that the type of video (PAL/NTSC) you import to create a title determines the video that is created for the menus.

Regards

[goonix]

@blutach
Thats exactly what i need.
There seems to be a lot that PgcEdit is able to do. I find a new "nugget" every day. ;)

So issue 1 is solved.

Thanks, blutach!

goonix

[DMagic1]

Maybe this has already been discussed. If so, sorry and point me to the answer please.

I have a problem with the preview window openning during trace mode. The trace stops for awhile when the window should open but it never does. Then the trace moves on to the next stop point. I had this problem long ago but never got a chance to mention it. It works fine on one of my computers but on the other desktop and my laptop it doesn't. Am I missing some dll or plugin for the trace preview viewer?

[r0lZ]

@goonix:
Issue 2 is really a problem. It's currently not possible to change the video encoding type, standard and resolution of a menu domain without video, because it should match the standard used in the VTSTs. IMO, this problem is a bug in DVDLab.

But maybe I can add a function to modify the video standard and resolution when the domain is made exclusively of dummies. Or add a check when loading the DVD to verify that all domains are either PAL or NTSC, and fix the wrong domains.

Anyway, thanks for the report.

[r0lZ]

@DMagic1
No, this problem has never been discussed.

Have you tried to disable the DirectDray Overlays? (This is an option in the Preview menu.) On some systems, il may help.

Also, you said that you have this problem in Trace mode. Strange. The same program is used in normal preview, and in trace mode. Can you try also to launch the preview via the "Preview full Domain VOB(s)" function? Does it work?

Please verify if MFC42.dll is available on your system. This DLL is needed to build the interface. And verify if you use the same version of DirectX on the two machines. I have DirextX 9.0c. It's probably the latest version. (You can check DirectX with the Windows program DXDIAG.EXE.)

[r0lZ]

Well, I've implemented a solution for the PAL/NTSC mismatch when creating the first new blank cell in a domain. If the video standard of the menu domain doesn't match the standard of the title domain of the same titleset (or of titleset 1 for a VMGM menu), a new requester pops up, and the user can force the correct standard.
Also, I have removed the "Copy original VOB file to backup?" question when there is no VOB file to backup!

You may test the new version of the Create Cell function: PgcEdit_winexe_0.6.1beta10.zip (http://www.videohelp.com/~r0lZ/pgcedit/beta/PgcEdit_winexe_0.6.1beta10.zip)

[blutach]

We gunna have a final release soon? :D

Edit: Little Bug - Creating a blank cell in a dummy in VMG. Get this error:

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/8106/untitled4qb.png (http://imageshack.us)

Regards

[blutach]

Little feature request - with all this playing around with domain attributes, it has brought to mind that it is one of my most used functions. But it has no shortcut key!

Anyway to make it the default on the right click popup menu? Or give it a shortcut? We have ~ AND Ctrl-P for preview but none for D.S.A.

Regards

[r0lZ]

Edit: Little Bug - Creating a blank cell in a dummy in VMG. Get this error:

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/8106/untitled4qb.png (http://imageshack.us)
That's not a bug. It's a safety check.
When a new cell is created, it is appended to the current VOB. But the C_ADT table must be updated. If the number of sectors referenced in this table don't match the length of the VOB, it is not possible to trust the table, and the Create Blank Cell function cannot update the table! This is why, in this case, the function must abort.
So, in your case, either the VOB or the table has something wrong. Try a mock strip...

[r0lZ]

OK, I will see if there is still a shortcut key available for the Domain Streams Attributes function.

And yes, I will release PgcEdit 0.6.1 final soon, probably at the end of this week.

[blutach]

Another little thing:

I thought on re-opening a DVD (Ctrl-R), the check for "fix number of streams" was not supposed to re-execute. However, it does, unless you answer No to the parse menu buttons.

Is this intended?

Regards

[blutach]

That's not a bug. It's a safety check.
When a new cell is created, it is appended to the current VOB. But the C_ADT table must be updated. If the number of sectors referenced in this table don't match the length of the VOB, it is not possible to trust the table, and the Create Blank Cell function cannot update the table! This is why, in this case, the function must abort.
So, in your case, either the VOB or the table has something wrong. Try a mock strip...
Yup - as usual you got it in one. I been away too long!

I just thought that because it was out by the 5 VOBUs this corresponded to the new cell.

Many thanks.

Regards

[r0lZ]

I thought on re-opening a DVD (Ctrl-R), the check for "fix number of streams" was not supposed to re-execute. However, it does, unless you answer No to the parse menu buttons.

Is this intended?No. It's a little bug. Will fix it.

[jsoto]

But it will not be possible to add new CIDs to the existing VID. Since the cell is always appended at the end of the VOBs, I think it's better to create a new VID.
It's OK, but remember: VobBlanker is able to reorder the VOB layout, inserting the new CID in the place where it should be.
jsoto

[r0lZ]

Thanks, Jsoto. But, at least in this case, I don't want to force the user to rebuild the VOBs with VobBlanker.

[blutach]

I think VobBlanker is not able to expand the IFO. In other words, if per bad luck, after the replace, one of the IFO table is to big for the current number of sectors occupied by the table, that table cannot be updated. But maybe (I hope) I'm wrong.
Jsoto?@r0lZ and jsoto

Last night I was able to build a DVD from scratch and replace a blank cell (which was inserted with PgcEdit) with VobBlanker (in fact in VMGM). There was no table expansion problems, although I must say I replaced the last cell, not an intermediate one.

Regards

[r0lZ]

Yes, Jsoto, can you say if it's true that there are some limitations in VobBlanker when a table must expand over a new sector?

As far as I know, I think VB has the same limitation than IfoEdit: it is able to expand a table if there is enough room before the next table. But what happens if there is not enough room?

[blutach]

Just to add, the experiment started off with very little - minimal tables - IFOs were 12kb or so and expanded nicely. Ended up perfect, was even able to add a cell or two to VMGM after the replace.

Regards

[jsoto]

I think VobBlanker is not able to expand the IFO. In other words, if per bad luck, after the replace, one of the IFO table is to big for the current number of sectors occupied by the table, that table cannot be updated. But maybe (I hope) I'm wrong.
Jsoto?
Sorry, I didn't read all the thread, and I missed the question.
Yes VB, has some limitations to grow the IFO, but it is able to do it.
Reading the code (but it neded to be tested), seems VB does not support a new ADT table larger than the original (but this is something that is not going to happen until the feature of split one cell in two) but ADMAP tables (titles and menus) can grow until a reasonable limit.

jsoto

[r0lZ]

What is this 'reasonable limit'?

[blutach]

So, it seems if PgcEdit can create the VTS_C_ADT table with its create cell function, there will be no worries?

Regards

[jsoto]

What is this 'reasonable limit'?

#define MAX_NEWIFOSECTORS 32 //Free space for IFO growing.

32 sectors = 64 kbytes

As you can see, I can easily change it, but it is a fix value, cannot be modified in runtime.

So, it seems if PgcEdit can create the VTS_C_ADT table with its create cell function, there will be no worries?

Up to 64 kbytes, no problem.

jsoto

[DMagic1]

@DMagic1
No, this problem has never been discussed.

Have you tried to disable the DirectDray Overlays? (This is an option in the Preview menu.) On some systems, il may help.

Also, you said that you have this problem in Trace mode. Strange. The same program is used in normal preview, and in trace mode. Can you try also to launch the preview via the "Preview full Domain VOB(s)" function? Does it work?

Please verify if MFC42.dll is available on your system. This DLL is needed to build the interface. And verify if you use the same version of DirectX on the two machines. I have DirextX 9.0c. It's probably the latest version. (You can check DirectX with the Windows program DXDIAG.EXE.)

Yes I have the same DirectX as you on both computers. The MFC42.dll is on my system too. Preview full Domain VOB(s) works. The funny this is that when using trace mode, none of the preview windows open when they should except when it reachs the menu with buttons.

Btw, all systems are running WinXP.

[r0lZ]

Hum, so the preview works except in trace mode? Are you sure it is turned ON in trace mode? (See Trace menu: "Setup -> Preview Options -> Start Preview Automatically When Playing a Cell", or the checkbox near the play arrow in the right side of the preview menu bar.)

[DMagic1]

Yes, if I select the check box the window will open and the cell will play on its own. If I select play automatically in the trace menu without the checkbox it will not open the window.

The window should open even when I don't wont it to play the clip automatically, right? That how it works on the computer with no issues.

[r0lZ]

No. The checkbox near the Play symbol is a shortcut to the "Start Preview Automatically When Playing a Cell" option. If you change it, the menu checkbox should be changed also, and vice-versa.
If you turn OFF this option, the preview should not display anything at all. You will see only the menu buttons viewer when a cell with buttons is played.
I should rename the option "Open Preview Window Automatically When Playing a Cell" instead of "Start...".

To start the playback automatically when the preview window opens, you should use the next option: "Automatically Start Preview Playback".

And verify the last option, too: "Skip Preview of Short Cells". With this option enabled, you will not see the very short cells (usually black frames).

Anyway, duplicate exactly the same setings than on your other computer, and see if everything is OK.

[blutach]

#define MAX_NEWIFOSECTORS 32 //Free space for IFO growing.

32 sectors = 64 kbytes

As you can see, I can easily change it, but it is a fix value, cannot be modified in runtime.


Up to 64 kbytes, no problem.

jsotoMaybe make it 128kb then? - that would cover most situations. It is a max value after all not a fixed one.

Regards

[r0lZ]

Although an ADMAP table can be very large, I think 32 sectors is enough.
But I remember I've read somewhere that VB was unable to increase a table. Maybe it was the table of commands within a PGC? Is it why VB doesn't copy the post to pre-commands, but move them instead?

[jsoto]

Hi all

Currently VB cannot grow any table. (Up to now it has not be needed). But, in the future (i.e, in split cell feature) it will be needed

But the last four (*) tables of the IFO (VTS_C_ADT, VTS_VOBU_ADMAP, VTSM_C_ADT and VTS_VOBU_ADMAP) are always "recreated" from scratch. So, they can be larger or smaller than the original ones. The "problem" is that VB reserves memory for 32 additional sectors when calls the "new" statement .
(*) only the last two in VIDEO_TS.IFO

About the size of ADMAP:
One VOBU pointer uses 4 bytes in ADMAP, so 64 K is enough to store 16 K pointers. Assuming 0.5 sec average per VOBU, we are talking about 8.000 seconds (more than 2 hours video).. Seems enough.
EDIT: I forgot to mention I've added an error if the required size is larger than 32 sectors (although I didn't test it yet)

jsoto

[jeanl]

But, in the future (i.e, in split cell feature) it will be needed
So you are planning on working on the cell-splitting feature, that's good! :)
Jeanl

[blutach]

One VOBU pointer uses 4 bytes in ADMAP, so 64 K is enough to store 16 K pointers. Assuming 0.5 sec average per VOBU, we are talking about 8.000 seconds (more than 2 hours video).. Seems enough.Plenty of movies are more than 133 minutes. Maybe 3 hours (= 86.4k)?

Regards

[jsoto]

Plenty of movies are more than 133 minutes. Maybe 3 hours (= 86.4k)?
Easier, assume 0.7 sec per VOBU and you'll have 3,2 hours.. :D :D
Seriously,
- one VOBU has to be between 0.4 (min value, 15 frames PAL 18 frames NTSC) and 1.4 secs (max value). 0.5 is very conservative...
- 32 sectors are reserved for IFO growing. The original IFO ADMAP space is also reused, so we are talking to add 3 hours to the original DVD in a new cell (replacing a small one i. e.) or to replace a small PGC with a very large one...

[So you are planning on working on the cell-splitting feature, that's good! Yes, seems the next challenge in VB...

jsoto

[goonix]

@rolZ

Just a little suggestion:
If I want to set the audio 0/subpicture 0 from "none" to "0" in the PGC Editor, following procedure is necessary:
1. Set Audio 0 to stream ID 0 with the slider (the pop up window shows Audio 1: not used) ... Audio 0 <-> Audio 1?
2. Click the "Set" button to close the stream setup window.
3. Click the "OK" button to close the PGC Editor.
4. Double click on the PGC to open the PGC Editor again.
5. Click on the "Current domain streams attributes" button.
Then the VTSI_MAT table can be fixed.
The same procedure for disable the audio/subpicture streams.

It will be more user friendly, if the "Verify number of streams" window pops up directly after clicking the "Set" or "Disable" button of the stream setup window if the status has changed.

Maybe you can set the number of streams at once according to the settings if the user has changed something without the need of an additional user intervention.

goonix

[r0lZ]

1. Set Audio 0 to stream ID 0 with the slider (the pop up window shows Audio 1: not used) ... Audio 0 <-> Audio 1?Right. Now fixed.

4. Double click on the PGC to open the PGC Editor again.You don't need to open the PGC Editor again. Just call the domain streams attributes function from the main window. (It is available in the Domain menu, or in the PGC Selector popup menu).

It will be more user friendly, if the "Verify number of streams" window pops up directly after clicking the "Set" or "Disable" button of the stream setup window if the status has changed.Sorry, I can't do that. The reason is that the Domain Streams Attributes and the Fix # of Streams functions are independent of the PGC Selector. They use the infos on the current domain and PGC as they are stored in memory.
But when you are working in the PGC EDitor, these infos are still not updated, so that, if you cancel the requester, I can disgard the changes. So, modifying the streams attributes before clicking OK in the PGC Editor doesn't make sense.
I know that the Domain Streams Attributes button in the PGC editor is ambiguous, because it is not directly related to the PGC. I've put it there to let the user verify what streams and which languages are defined. Maybe I have to remove the button, or open the requester in read-only mode?

[DMagic1]

Hum, so the preview works except in trace mode? Are you sure it is turned ON in trace mode? (See Trace menu: "Setup -> Preview Options -> Start Preview Automatically When Playing a Cell", or the checkbox near the play arrow in the right side of the preview menu bar.)

Strange, the check box doesn't seem to act as a shortcut. It doesn't change the setting in the menu drop at all. I have found that the original pc doesn't play the cells(non still) on its own. The window opens but I have to press play for it to play. The other 2 pc play them without me pressing play.

Atleast I found the answer to why the windows were not opening in the other 2 pc. I just wonder why it plays the cell in the other 2 but not the 1 pc.

I actually prefer it to not play it without me pressing play or moving the slider. If it a short clip I may miss what I'm looking for.

[r0lZ]

Strange, the check box doesn't seem to act as a shortcut. It doesn't change the setting in the menu drop at all.That's impossible! Both options are linked by a common variable. When one changes, the other one must change.

I have found that the original pc doesn't play the cells(non still) on its own. The window opens but I have to press play for it to play. The other 2 pc play them without me pressing play.That's controlled by the second option: Automatically Start Preview Playback.

I actually prefer it to not play it without me pressing play or moving the slider. If it a short clip I may miss what I'm looking for.If you don't check the "Close Preview Automatically at the End of the Cell Playback", and you leave the timing slider at 0, you will be able to play the cell again and again anyway.
And don't set the "Skip Preview of Short Cells" if you want to be sure to locate everything.

Have you compared the settings on your PCs? Is there any difference?

[goonix]

@rolZ

Ok, I understand now.
Thank you for the explanation why it has to be done in that way.

goonix

[zacoz]

I've done a search but can't see this has been mentioned before.

I've recently come across a number of DVD's (Farscape episodes R4) where the commands in the FP-PGC & all the dummy PGC's have been authored as Post-commands, rather than the usual Pre-commands (Farscape Season 2 Disc 6 has literally hundreds of dummy PGC's).

This doesn't cause any playback problems on my SW or HW players, however, it's a real pain in the posterior when it comes to doing a trace in PgcEdit. The Trace stops prior to the Post-commands on every dummy PGC as it's not redirected elsewhere by the usual Pre-commands. :mad:

I've tried playing with the Breakpoint and Skip Preview of Short Cells options but as I'd figured these had no affect upon the problem.

r0lZ, is it viable to have the PgcEdit Trace not stop at the end of the Pre-command section if it is tracing a dummy PGC ?

[r0lZ]

Strange. Normally, in such situation, PgcEdit should display something like that in the log window:------> Entering VMG , First-Play PGC
******* Start playback VMG , First-Play PGC...
******* Dummy PGC: no cell to play.
-- post 1 : (JumpTT) Jump to Title 1As you can see, it works. I can't notice any pause.
But PgcEdit stops at post command 1 when the Break At All Titles or Break at All Menus option is on. IMO, that's normal.

(Note: i've tested with the FP-PGC, but the behaviour should be identical in all PGCs.)

[zacoz]

I get the following output when doing my trace. Neither Break at Menu or Break at Title options are ticked.

DVD inserted: "E:\FARSCAPE_SII_DISC6\VIDEO_TS"
DVD inserted: ""; Provider: UNDEFINED
DVD inserted: Resetting all GPRMs to 0.
DVD inserted: Initializing the SPRMs to default/setup values.

(I Press ->> Next PB)

------> Entering VMG , First-Play PGC
******* Start playback VMG , First-Play PGC...

(Trace Pauses: I Press ->> Next PB)

******* Dummy PGC: no cell to play.
-- post 1 : Set gprm(13) =(mov) 1081
-> gprm(13) = 1081 (0x0439)
-- post 2 : (JumpSS) Jump to VMGM PGC 2
------> Entering VMGM , LU 1 (en) , 2 (dummy)
******* Start playback VMGM , LU 1 (en) , 2 (dummy)...

(Trace Pauses: I Press ->> Next PB)

******* Dummy PGC: no cell to play.
-- post 1 : Set gprm(15) =(mov) gprm(13)
-> gprm(15) = 1081 (0x0439)
-- post 2 : if ( gprm(15) > 200 ) then { LinkPGCN PGC 3 }
if ( 1081 > 200 ) : true.
------> Entering VMGM , LU 1 (en) , 3 (dummy)
******* Start playback VMGM , LU 1 (en) , 3 (dummy)...
Edit: @r0lZ - I need some sleep...will pick this up again tomorrow; scratch that, later tomorrow - it's been tomorrow for 4.5 hours already

[r0lZ]

OK, I understand. The trace stops at the first post command in Next PB mode, but should continue if the PGC is a dummy. The test I've done was in Run mode.
Should be easy to fix.

[zacoz]

Thanks r0lZ - nice to know I haven't missed an obvious option somewhere.

I previously haven't used the Run button as most times I want to also preview the cells without buttons, and on trying it today this seems to go past them, only stopping when it reaches a cell with buttons. Note to self: May be useful for other testing.

[Taelon]

zacoz,
- offtopic -

I just noticed a typo in your sig:
Protecting my DVD Investments: DVD Decrypter / PCGEdit / VobBlanker / DVD Shrink / MenuShrink

[zacoz]

Thanks Taelon... and sorry r0lZ.

[DMagic1]

That's impossible! Both options are linked by a common variable. When one changes, the other one must change.



Well what I mean is that if I check the checkbox, the menu selection is not check and viceversa.

[r0lZ]

I previously haven't used the Run button as most times I want to also preview the cells without buttons, and on trying it today this seems to go past them, only stopping when it reaches a cell with buttons.Again, if the "Start Preview Automatically when Playing a Cell" oprion is ON, (and the "Skip Preview of Short Cells" is OFF), you should see all cells. Choosing Step or Run mode has no incidence on the preview.

[zacoz]

Cool. Sorry r0lZ, must admit I hadn't followed too closely the preview related posts over the last few days, and hadn't thought about the effect on the Run button. I'd always stuck to what I know in this regard (ie the Next PB button).

[r0lZ]

Hi, everybody.

Yet another beta available: PgcEdit_winexe_0.6.1beta11.zip (http://www.videohelp.com/~r0lZ/pgcedit/beta/PgcEdit_winexe_0.6.1beta11.zip).

I have added a new function to replace the current VTST domain with an imported one: "File -> Replace VTST Titles". This function is handy to import a reauthored domain. It takes everything from the imported domain, except the menu, which is left untouched. The VMG_TT_SRPT table is updated according to the imported titles.
If somebody has some time to test this function, I will be happy.
If everything is fine, I will probably change the GUI to let the user choose wether he wants to import the PGC color tables as well. Let me know if you think at some other useful options.

I have also fixed the problem with the Next PB break in trace mode. And I have renamed the option "Start Preview automatically when playing a cell?" to "Open Preview automatically when playing a cell?", for a better understanding of the usage of this option.

[Taelon]

The new function sounds great r0lZ, I can think of some times when that will be very handy. If you allow importing PGC color tables, would that be for menus as well? I would think that could be useful.

thanks r0lZ!