Thanks for your response. I think I did what you suggested, although I'm no sure what you mean by placing the video "on the main menu". Do you mean the "Workspace Window"?
Here's what I did:
Project is show in the "workspace window"
Project also displayed in the "timeline window" (with chapter markers)
In the "Project Overview Window", I right clicked on "Menu Page 1"
I got the following dropdown menu:

Navigate Info
Insert:
Sub Menu
Media
Picture Compilation
Music Compilation
Playlist
Delete
Set DVD to start

No matter what I try, I cannot get buttons (links) to show in the workspace window.
How do I get buttons linked to the markers???

Thanks

lcdrdan

Hi,

I am using DVDA 4. Here is what to do:
File, new, menu based.

Click on explorer tab and navigate to the location of your video.

Drag the video onto the menu page 1 in the workspace.
You now have a button with a thumbnail and text underneath it. This can become your play all button if you wish.

If your video already has scene/chapter points move to the next step. If not, in the project overview area, double click on the name of your video file. It appears on the timeline. Set your points there. Return to the menu 1 page in your workspace.

Right click on the thumbnail of your video clip in the workspace or right click on the name of your video file in the project overview. This is where you will see the drop down menu with the Insert Scene Selection Menu option.

Once you click on that option a a dialogue box appears that allows you to name the scene selection menu page and set how many chpaters will appear on each page. Fill in what you want and click ok.

Now a scene selection thumbnail appears on your menu page one. It also appears in your project overview. When you navigate to the scene selection menu there will be a thumbnail that links directly to each of your chapters.

But, remember, just like a commercial dvd, when you choose to jump to a particular scene, your video will start from that point, but will continue to play all the way to the end.

It's a whole different process to set up buttons to play a particular scene and only that scene.

Galen

Galen:
Thanks for the great, step-by-step instructions. I did get the links to appear in the Project overview window and when I click on them, it takes me to the markers (chapters) in the video.

I still have another dumb questions. Should these links (buttons) appear in the Workspace window????

Where do I go from here?
Do I just "Make DVD" and the buttons will appear on the screen?

If I select "button #3" to view that portion of the video....how do I get back to the "main menu" to select another chapter???

Thanks again for your help....I'm slowly getting there.

lcdrdan

First..you are using DVDA correct??

They should appear both in the project overview window and in the workspace window.

I think this step is where the problem arises:

"Right click on the thumbnail of your video clip in the workspace or right click on the name of your video file in the project overview. This is where you will see the drop down menu with the Insert Scene Selection Menu option."

Once your buttons appear on your menu page in the workspace window, use the end action function to direct your user back to wherever you would like them to go.

Remember though, this method of creating scene selections means that when you select your chapter 3 button (and you have 10 chapters) yor video will start at chapter 3 and play all the way through chapter 10.

I get the feeling that you want to play only the individual chapters. If that's the case then you have to drag 10 instances of your whole video into the project overview and set in and out points for each 10 chapters. This is the way I do scene selections for almost all my projects. I want the user only to see the individual chapter, not starting with that chapter and playing all the way to the end.

Good luck.

First..you are using DVDA correct??

Yes....DVDA3
=====================================
I get the feeling that you want to play only the individual chapters. If that's the case then you have to drag 10 instances of your whole video into the project overview and set in and out points for each 10 chapters. This is the way I do scene selections for almost all my projects. I want the user only to see the individual chapter, not starting with that chapter and playing all the way to the end.

Yes,this is what I would like to do...BUT. If I have to drag the whole video into the project.....I wouldn't have enough room on a DVD. (I'm talking about having a larger project...about 30 minutes long.
How big are the projects that you do this with???

Thanks again for the great instructons..I really appreciate your help.

lcdrdan

Hi again,

DVDA knows that it is the same video file. Dropping it in once or 10 times makes no difference to DVDA. If the original file is 1gb. DVDA will still see it as using 1gb even if you drop into the project 10 times.

Pretty cool!!

Galen