Can't Link to "Transitional Media" v4.5

Sonata wrote on 11/25/2008, 5:17 AM
I have been at this for three evenings and I can't figure it out, and the Help file doesn't line up with what I am seeing, so I turn you y'all for assistance.

I am simply trying to link to "transitional media" and I can't.

As per the Help, I insert my transitional media to the root folder of the Project Overview window. I can do this just fine.

As per the Help, I change the end action of the transitional media to go to the movie. I can do this just fine, too.

Now, as per the Help, I am supposed to click on the button(s) on my main menu and set the action to play the transitional media. I can NOT do this.

The options for Actions under Button Properties are all greyed out except the option to have the button jump to a chapter of my choice. I cannot change the destination to go to the transitional media, etc.

Why am I unable to change the destination as per the Help file?

I do have a Scene Selection menu for my movie, and even if I delete it I still can't set the destination action of my movie to link to the transitional media file instead.

I am using DVD Arch 4.5.

Thanks in advance!

Comments

bStro wrote on 11/25/2008, 7:14 AM
It's either a mistake in the manual / online help, or a long-standing bug in DVD Architect. Meaning, I've been using DVDA since 1.0, and I don't recall ever being able to change the Link for a media button, so I don't know why the Help says to do so.

The solution is to drag your transitional media to the menu -- that creates the button that links to your transition. Adjust its button properties to look the way you want (probably the way your other button did).

Now you need to remove the media's button but without deleting the media. To do that, go to the Project Overview window, find the media's button, and drag it to the root level of the project.

Rob
Sonata wrote on 11/25/2008, 7:23 AM
Ah-ha, your suggestion was the work around I was going to use if I didn't receive any replies to my question, so it's great that I heard it from someone else, too!
TheHappyFriar wrote on 11/25/2008, 10:28 AM
I just read the help file. Be sure to read it CAREFULLY!!!!

1) Drag the transition media file from the Media Explorer (or Windows Explorer) to the root folder in the Project Overview window. Dragging a file to the root folder adds the media to your project without creating a button on a menu.

NOTE #4: Select a button.

You need an already existing button, you can't just add text or a graphic. That always confused me because I wanted to put an empty button in, but can't find a way. You CAN have an empty button if you use layers via psd file though.

I do a variation of what bSro said: I drop/drag the final destination media to the menu, then change it's destination.
Sonata wrote on 11/26/2008, 5:16 AM
I had two buttons and couldn't change either of them.

At any rate, this is what I did, with success:

I dropped my transitional media onto the main menu, but renamed it to look like the main movie, and linked the end action to the main movie.

I then took the link to the movie and moved it out of the way, but still on the menu. I removed all text and images from the button so that it is completely invisible. I also removed all possible navigation to it so you can't get to it at all.

It sounds complicated, but it was very fast, easy, and worked perfectly.
bStro wrote on 11/26/2008, 9:01 AM
I then took the link to the movie and moved it out of the way, but still on the menu. I removed all text and images from the button so that it is completely invisible. I also removed all possible navigation to it so you can't get to it at all.

You don't have to do all that. As I mentioned above, just locate that item in the Project Overview window and drag it to the root level of the project. That removes the button completely from the menu but leaves the movie in the project.

Rob
bStro wrote on 11/26/2008, 9:08 AM
That always confused me because I wanted to put an empty button in, but can't find a way.

Does Insert > Empty Button give you what you want?

As for changing the destination of a button, I can confirm what Sonata says: If I add a media item by dragging it onto a menu and then select its button, both Command and Destination are greyed out in the Button Properties window.

If, on the other hand, I add a file to the Project Overview window, insert an empty button, and then link that button to the file, I have the ability to change both the Command and Destination for that button.

How are you adding these buttons that you are then able to change the destination for?

Rob