Rich, in DVDs, highlighting is done with what are called subpictures. Each subpicture is a 4 bit overlay that defines the color and shape of the highlight. The DVD spec defines three different states for highlighting. These are Unselected (active when the button is not being used), Selected (active when the button selected but not yet pushed) and Activated (active when button is pushed but whhile the DVD player is reading the DVD to carry out the action - usually only visible for a second or two).

Note that since the subpicture is only 4 bits deep, you are VERY limited in what the highlight can be. I.E. shadows and glows look like crap because you can not have a very smooth graidant.

Aside from the mechanics of highlighting, I just wonder why rollover or "selected" highlighting isn't available. How do you know what button you are selecting when navigating with a remote control?

I cant figure out what you are talking about. You select the button using the arrow keys like any DVD. You press enter when the link you want to go to is highlighted. You have several options for highlighting.

It sounds like there's some confusion as regards the user interface for a typical DVD player vs. the interface used by PC DVD software.

With a DVD player, there's usually no cursor/mouse like there is on a PC, so you move from one menu selection to another by using the arrow keys - the highlighting that DVDA provides makes it very clear which button you are located on.

For the PC, many software players do implement a form of rollover highlighting by changing the cursor shape when you are positioned over a button.

If you want to similate a typical standalone player, then when using DVDA in preview mode, don't use your mouse - use your arrow keys on your keypad and you enter key to make a selection.