Hmmm. The chapter idea doesn't seem to work. Each firework is labelled and the user needs to be returned to the menu after the firework has been played. By chaptering, it just keeps playing until the end of the video.

I've also just read that ReelDVD allows "999 movies, stills, slideshows and stillshows". Maybe I should I try the demo. Especially after a client has just approved an order worth 80,000 USD to us based on a prototype that, in it's full version will need sveral hundred "pages" of adverts!!!

I'm getting a rather sickening feeling here.

The 99 limit is pretty pervasive in the DVD specification. 99 chapters per movie, 99 movies per VTS, 99 menus per VTS.

I would recommend looking at DVD Lab Pro - it has the ability to let you create a VTS of 99 movies for example, and you create as many VTS's as you need and then create a project that includes all of the VTS's. You then create a main menu that allows you to select which VTS you go to - Fireworks 1-100, 101-200, etc. Then within the specific VTS you have a menu that lets you select the particular movie that has the clip you are wanting to play.

DVD Lab Pro has a fully functional 30 day free trial. www.mediachance.com

This would be a challenging project to author, but it's certainly doable.

--Scott

Thanks for that and, as a matter of coincedence, DVD Lab Pro is another one I'm looking at now. Good page there explaining all about VTS limits as well. The fireworks is OK as I've just had to miss off one to keep it within limits. It's the massive information DVD I have to get done in 4 weeks as well as learning a new software package that's going to keep me from sleeping!!

Still, at least we have hope now :-) Bye bye DVDA for now.

You can do this with one MPEG file.

Make a bunch of menu pages and drag the MPEG file to create your menu buttons. (Don'y worry, DVDA is smart enough to just use one copy of the MPEG file).

For each button, select the in-out points on the timeline.

Now each button plays a part of the MPEG file then returns to the menu page.

Steve Mann

Hi Steve,

You are absolutely right and this is what I should have done on the fireworks instead of cutting the main AVI up into little bits! Arrgghh. It wold have saved so much time!

As for the next project using still pictures, it's not as easy although I am now aware that the limit is 99 movies and 250 menu so each still can be done as a menu.

Still, next years fireworks will be as you suggested, marking I/O points and not splitting the main file (sounds so obvious now), but have fallen in love with DVD Lab Pro for the new project as it gives more control and is easier to navigate through complicated menu systems.

Many many thanks.

<<puts some cash behind bar for all who want a drink>>

Simon.

"As for the next project using still pictures, it's not as easy although I am now aware that the limit is 99 movies and 250 menu so each still can be done as a menu."

Sure it is. Drag all the images to the vegas timeline (turn off auto-crossfade), set your markers at the start of each still image (up to 99), then render it as an MPEG2 file.

In DVDA, do the same thing with multiple menu items and set the I/O for each "chapter".

FWIW, if you put your pictures into a "Music Compilation," they will take up virtually no space because they are encoded as a single I frame. You can have thousands of pictures, and it will only use up megabytes, not gigabytes, of space.

Probably not useful, but if you have a big catalog, space on your DVD could be an issue, and this is a 100x saving (at least).

Yes, but keep in mind that each picture must have a back button for the user to return to the menu. Therefore, each picture must be a menu in itself... I think... :)

Simon.