Opening PDF files in a DVD

bStro wrote on 9/24/2004, 11:19 AM

is this at all possible?

Not with DVD Architect. What you want to make is a hybrid DVD -- a combination of a DVD-Video disc and a DVD-ROM. (Or, I guess, a DVD-ROM that happens to have a DVD-Video structure on it as well.) DVD Architect only does DVD-Video.

DVD FAQ

I don't know specifics, but the general process would involve:

1. Designing and preparing your DVD files with DVD Architect.
2. Designing creating your DVD-ROM content (including a page that has the link for your PDF file) with some other software ... Macromedia, perhaps?
3. Copy the files from Step #2 into the same folder as the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders created by Step #1.
4. Use Nero or some program to burn this all to a DVD. You can't use DVD Architect for this step, because it doesn't like "foreign" files in its prepared DVD folder.

Rob

Parkin wrote on 9/25/2004, 5:05 AM

Many thanks Rob!

Maybe the wonderful people who make DVD Architect could think about incorporating these changes in the next version!

RIch

PeterWright wrote on 9/25/2004, 6:43 PM

I've never heard of an interactive DVD Rom and Video DVD on the same disc, but its quite common to include other material on the same DVD disc - I've just done one with three folders, AUDIO_TS, VIDEO_TS and ACROBAT

Inside the Acrobat folder are several .pdf files plus a free distribution copy of Adobe Acrobat, in case users don't already have it.

It means Preparing only in DVDA, adding the additional folders in Windows Explorer, then burning with a program such as Record Now DX or Nero.

Within the Menu based DVD, its a good idea to insert an additional Menu, perhaps called "Also on this disc" containing information about the .pdfs and instructions how to access them.

Incidentally, I used to make "MiniDVDs" with SpruceUp - DVD on CD - and then it was possible to open documents from within the Video DVD, and also have live URL and email links. I don't know why such functions seem to have disappeared from full DVD authoring ....

RBartlett wrote on 9/26/2004, 12:43 AM

I was just going to say that I've come across bought DVDs that had live URLs on them. I think they appeared on both PC and set top players, but as all my set top players had no web interface, failed to do anything.

I guess this is a bit like WMV command URLs but in the menus as opposed to the playing media.

If it is in the spec, it should be available to an authoring tool. Perhaps DVDA3....

I suppose scripting where folks may not be using the "D:" might be painful and browser dependent. Shame a disc can't be referenced by volume name more easily. Device letters can be a bit dumb.

Even if the URL mode isn't part of the menu spec or media insertion spec of DVD-Video. If it can work, it ought to be available, even through a preference "gate" to not detract from compatibility.

JSWTS wrote on 9/26/2004, 6:40 AM

You can indeed have addtional file types and some web linking abilities with dvd video, but it requires either an authoring app that has that functionality built in, or a third party app to enhance your title after finishing your video_ts and audio_ts folders. Apple's DVDStudioPro has DVDAccess built in. Problem with that is that discs using web linking and pdf/jpeg/etc file access in the ROM component of the disc work reasonably well on Mac's, because the DVDAccess program is often already installed. PC's are another issue, and it requires the user to install the included program to get it to work. Very few PC's already have the software installed. Sonic has just come out with eDVD (which was only a Mac option in Sonic's Mac line of dvd authoring and was contained within the authoring app itself) as a stand alone app that allows you to add the content later and links, etc. It bases it's functionality on Interactual technologies, which (Sonic claims) is already on most PC's and Mac's. It's the Hollywood standard for dvd-rom content on a dvd video disc. It isn't cheap, but for Sonic's standards, it' relatively inexpensive. They do offer a 10 day trial of the app, and "special pricing" until December.

Jim

PeterWright wrote on 9/26/2004, 6:35 PM

Yes, Jim - Spruce up and other Spruce programs such as Maestro were I believe the predecessors to DVDStudioPro before Apple bought Spruce and discontinued the PC side, bless 'em ...

It used to work by having a special internet version of WinDVD, called "Syzygy" which would automatically load itself from the disc. There were occasional problems with it detecting the OS involved, and it didn't work with certain graphics cards, but it did work ok generally.

eDVD sounds promising, hopefully DVDA will do something similar......

JSWTS wrote on 9/26/2004, 7:15 PM

I bought SpruceUp unfortunately after I bought DVDitPE--I say unfortunately because it would have saved me about $800. It was a great little program, and was under $100. Back then, very few PC's actually had a means of viewing dvd content, and just about as few even had a DVD-ROM. The Szyergy app was a means of enabling anyone who got a disc authored with SpruceUp the ability to view the contents--because without it, it (the disc) might as well been blank. Since many didn't even have a DVD-ROM, mini-DVD's or DVDonCD was popular. Web linking with CD's apparently is an easier task, and you could set links with that type of media. You could also do it with Pinnacle's Impression Pro. Unfortuately you couldn't do it with DVD media, but at least back then, recordable DVD's were fairly new. Interactual technologies interface is more advanced than Szyergy, and since Hollywood has been using it for some time now, it's apparently either already on most computers, or ~80% of PC's/Mac's can use it. I personally have moved on to using an Apple and DVD Studio Pro for authoring, but if pdf/jpeg/web linking was an absolute must from a professional standpoint; I would seriously consider eDVD as an add-on--or at least give the demo a try. I emphasize the word serious, since even at it's 'reduced' introductory pricing, it's still over $500.

Jim

PS As an aside, you can blame Sonic for Spruce's conversion to Apple. Sonic was seriously being threatened by Spruce's apps--SpruceUp vs DVDit and Maestro vs Scenarist. They started the process of sueing Spruce Technologies, who in turn found a means of making a profit and high tailing it out of the dvd authoring business by selling to Apple. I've used Maestro, and DVD Studio Pro is very much like it--and then some. There are a lot more features than Maestro offered, but who knows what the app could have been like if Spruce had continued on.

bStro wrote on 9/27/2004, 9:26 AM

I've never heard of an interactive DVD Rom and Video DVD on the same disc,

Sure you have. :) Movie DVDs regularly come out with DVD-ROM content. Many even come with customized players -- The Matrix and Spider-Man are just two popular examples.

Rob

PeterWright wrote on 9/27/2004, 5:07 PM

Well, I have heard of it now! Thanks Rob - I'm not a big user of movies on DVD so I've never come across such an animal.

So are the DVDRom parts accessed on PC by opening the disc and clicking on something?

bStro wrote on 9/28/2004, 7:52 AM

So are the DVDRom parts accessed on PC by opening the disc and clicking on something?

When you first put the disc in, you're asked if you want to install / run the software that controls the DVD-ROM environment. This usually includes either a generic player with no frills or one that's customized for the disc's content (like a themed player). The player / menu includes the same links as the regular menu as well as links for the DVD-ROM content and sometimes web content. PC Friendly's InterActual seems to be the most dominant software used.

I imagine, though, similar results could be achieved with Macromedia or something.

Rob

bStro wrote on 9/28/2004, 8:01 AM

If it is in the spec, it should be available to an authoring tool. Perhaps DVDA3....

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the DVD specs only relate to what's required for set-top DVD players to have the DVD-Video logo, am I right?

In which case... DVD-ROM content is allowed on DVDs, but I can't imagine it's part of the DVD specifications.

Rob

JSWTS wrote on 9/28/2004, 8:56 AM

Interactual is now a subsidiary of Sonic. That's why they (Sonic) feels that eDVD will be so successful--it uses the Interactual technologies for interacting with ROM content (just like the Hollywood 'big boys). Macromedia could probably be used as a stand alone, launching app; but you wouldn't be able to imbed links within your authored title like eDVD and Interactual allow.

Jim