Can Nero mix data and VOB files on one DVD?

vitalforces wrote on 11/21/2004, 2:39 PM
Just bought Nero 6 after long resisting leaving 5.5 since I now have a dual-layer Pioneer burner. (Actually I use DVDA2 for video DVDs whose MPEG files were made in Vegas but it can't make a dual-layer disk.) Can't remember where I've read it but I believe Nero can add data files to a video-DVD by just dropping the VIDEO_TS folder on the disk together with the data files. Questions.

1. Can I assume a DVD player can display a menu thumbnail linked to a data file, e.g. a Word document containing a mission statement or resume or such, but not the data file itself? Question seems to answer itself but thought I'd ask.

2. If not, does that mean you can only see the data portion of the DVD via a computer DVD drive--and that the data files won't interfere with playback on the movie-DVD player?

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 11/21/2004, 4:31 PM
Yes, you can create additional directories on a DVD. DVD players will only look in the AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS directories and *should* ignore any other directories. Some players may not behave so gracefully, but almost all should have no problems.

#1 - Since any data contect will be in a separate directory that the DVD player will ignore, i'm not sure how you would display a menu thumbnail linked to it. I suppose you could create at thumbnail that says "Please place this disc in your computer's DVD drive and browse to ...". But there wouldn't be any way for a stand-alone DVD player to link to this file.

#2 - Yes. Most of the time. Try it on a few different players and see what happens.
johnmeyer wrote on 11/21/2004, 7:03 PM
Yes. Here's how to do it with 5.5:

Nero to Burn DVD

Just make sure NOT to put anything in the VIDEO_TS or AUDIO_TS folders other than the files prepared by DVDA.
vitalforces wrote on 11/22/2004, 2:48 PM
Thanks gentlemen, duly noted.

Guess I could scan a document as an image file, put it on the Vegas timeline and let it render as a 10-second MPEG, but that defeats the purpose of having a printable document.

P.S.O.T.: The Pioneer A08 seems to be a beaut--rendered a DL DVD at 4x without a sweat, result looks at least as good as my former Sony 500AX.
PeterWright wrote on 11/22/2004, 6:53 PM
You can also create sub-menus with text on in DVDA - I often use these for "More Information" screens accessible from main or scene selection menus. You could also include the doc file on the disc, and give instrucions on the sub-menu how to access, open & print the doc.
Chienworks wrote on 11/22/2004, 6:56 PM
Include both the document and an image of the document. Perhaps have a title screen in the video somewhere that mentions that the full printable document is included in a directory on the disc.
vitalforces wrote on 11/23/2004, 3:39 PM
Good points, thanks again.