Thanks Dave.
Yes, that's how I know it works.
I've been using DVDA for years and have authored some fairly complex discs.
But for some reason when I choose an end action this time it is ignored.
I have added chapters in Vegas Pro 8, as I usually do.
I shall try again.
I have never found this authoring program to be very intuitive, but haven't the time to learn another.
For simple jobs it's great, but I find a level of frustration in trying to put together more complicated DVDs.
Are there better authoring programs and do they recognize Vegas chapter markers?
Maybe what I need is an advanced tutorial in DVDA so I can refer to it in times like these.
I have a tutorial DVD, but it only deals with very basic stuff and I think DVDA is pretty deep.

The end action will not happen after a Chapter. It will happen after the end of a title. (the whole video). If you want the END Action to happen at the end of a chapter, you have to create PLAY CHAPTER only sequences.

This is explained in the help files.

Dave T2


"Create a menu that returns to the scene selection menu after playing the selected chapter
Add a title to the menu you want to use as a scene selection menu.

Select the title's button in the workspace or select the title in the Project Overview window.

From the Edit menu, choose Copy. The button is copied to the clipboard.

From the Edit menu, choose Paste. A copy of the button is added to your menu.

Even though you're creating multiple copies of your title, the title will be saved to the DVD only once. Multiple titles that use the same video, audio, and subtitle tracks will only be saved once on the disc. For more information, please see the Optimizing Your Project topic.

Repeat step 4 for each scene you want to be able to play from the menu.

Set the in and out points for each button.

a. Double-click the button in the workspace or double-click the title in the Project Overview window to open it.

b. In the Timeline window, position the cursor where you want the button to begin playback and click the Set In Point button or drag the in the time ruler.

c. Position the cursor where you want the button to stop playback and click the Set Out Point button or drag the in the time ruler.

Repeat step 6 for each button."

Dan, I could take a look at your DAR file and see if I can figure out what's getting stuck. If you want, send it to bstro at 50mail dot com. I don't need any of the media files, just the DAR. When you do, also tell me exactly what you want to happen that's not happening, including the name(s) of the media items that are not doing what you want.

Rob

Dan, I got the files you sent, and DaveT2 hit the nail on the head.

A DVD chapter doesn't really have a beginning and an end -- it's more like a bookmark that tells the player where to start. Sure, after the player gets to the next chapter, it knows that the previous was is essentially "over," but by that time it's too late for the player to say, "Oh, I need to go back to the menu."

For your clips to return to the menu after playing, they need to be distinct pieces of media rather than chapters within a larger piece of media. The usual way to do this is to, instead of inserting a scene selection menu, drag the video file onto the menu once for each sub-section you want. Then you change the In and Out point for each copy so that it only plays what you want it to play.

But for a project of this size, I'd personally recommend going back to Vegas and rendering each bit to its own file. Drag all of them into DVDA to create your Individual clips and then insert Playlists for your "Play All" items. I think this will be less tedious than changing In and Out points for, what, 80-90 pieces of media?

Then again, rendering all those to individual files might get pretty tedious, too... Might want to check around for a script that will render all the little bits for you.

Rob