Today I just learned how to make invisible buttons! :)

Doesn't that confuse the viewer? ;-)

Rob

Yes, that's the point.

Hidden esater eggs! (veggie tales DVD's do that all the time. On one DVD you get to see the guy who plays larry dance disco)

Invisible buttons can also be used on things like a "first-play" movie to allow the viewer to hit enter and bypass the movie.

Thanks "Happy" et al - I will try your suggestion, but I still wish there was a short video step-by-step tutorial to show the basics for a total DVDA newbie to authoring like me. Guess I'll have to make time for the slow route!
lili

Having selected "Menu Based" for new project type, you are presented with a default Menu with "Menu 1" text.

This Text can be deleted, edited (click on it and select "Edit Text", bottom right of window) or moved.

To add video to menu drag from Explorer to menu. Button can be changed in Object Properties - Image and Text, Image Only, Text only. Can be resized and moved. Highlight style can be changed under Object Properties.

Double clicking on video button opens its own timeline, where Markers can be added using "M" to add chapters, but better to do this previously in Vegas.

Back to Main Menu, right click on Video button and select Insert Scene Selection Menu, select how many buttons per page then DVDA creates new Menu(s) with chapter buttons, links to and from Main Menu.

To change Button style select button then double click on another style in Button tab, bottom left.

Similar with Menu Backgrounds - double click on selected background in Background tab.
To use own graphic as menu background drag from Explorer to Backround Media line in Menu Page Properties.

Theres much more, including animated buttons or backgrounds, but that may help get started ....

I don't know if you have 2 or 3, but VASST has a great DVD for both Vegas 5 and DVDA2.

Okay, now I see that are indeed using version 2. Here is a link with a nice preview thatyou can view before you order.

http://www.vasst.com/search.aspx?entity=16&category=Training+Video

Thanks CKC - will check it out - sounds like it's just the type of thing I'm looking for :-) although I was hoping there would be something on the Net that was right there, besides being free.....
thanks again
lili

I still only have DVDA1 and although quite happy with Vegas 4 I am being driven up the wall trying to work DVDA1. Any resulting DVD seems to be a matter of luck rather than design!!!! Are the later versions so much better and should I upgrade??
Thanks, Brian

It's a little hard to answer your question if you don't indicate what problem you're having.

Rob

Followed all your suggestions, plus read the manual and online help, and can STILL not get my movie to play ---aaaargh!

I follow the steps up to dragging my movie (menu-based of course) onto the menu and I can edit text, change buttons, backgrounds, etc. BUT, can not get my movie to preview. All I get when I hit the Preview button is my audio track playing, and I see a thumbnail of the first frame of my video sitting on top of the Menu, but it doesn't move.

1. What step am I missing?

2. Also - I have put in 2 chapter markers (while editing in Vegas 5) at one minute and at 3 minutes or so. Do I need a marker at the opening too? Is that why it won't play?

I've obviously missed something very basic and if anyone can see what that might be would appreciate your help. thanks a million.

Lets back up and do a simple project, because if you're getting the audio from your movie playing when you click preview, you have set the menu audio to be the movie audio which is not what you want.

Start with a new menu based project. Using the explorer window, locate your movie and drag the movie file onto the menu screen. At this point you should have a button with your movie with the filename as text below the thumbnail. If you had an AC3 file in the same directory with the same name as your movie file, then the audio will get included automatically.

Ok, now click Preview. You should see the menu page, "Menu 1" at the top, your thumbnail and text should also be visable on the menu.

Move your mouse so that you are over the thumbnail - the cursor should change. Click. Your movie should now start playing. When its done you should return to the menu.

Now click close to return to the wysiwyg. If your movie thumbnail isn't selected, click on it to select it. On the right hand side of the screen you should see some property information. If the "Graphics" section isn't expanded, click on the + sign to expand it. Locate the "Style" entry and change it to "animated"

Now, click Preview - once again you should see your thumbnail but now you should see the movie video playing. Click close.

So, did that work?

--Scott

Hey - that worked-! YOU should have written the manual :-)

OK - so now I've gotten that far, what do I do to enable the viewer to navigate tof the 2 places where I had put the markers in Vegas?

I can see on the DVDA timeline where the markers are. My manual tells me how to insert, name, delete, reposition, load and save the markers but then leaves me hanging as to how to actually make the chapters work.

Your help - (or anyone's,) sooo much appreciated. I can learn all the bells and whistles as I go along, but just to know the basics for getting a simple project off the ground is a huge help.

Back to Main Menu, right click on Video button and select Insert Scene Selection Menu, select how many buttons per page then DVDA creates new Menu(s) with chapter buttons, links to and from Main Menu.

That's fantastic - I'm off and running now - none of the tutorials/manuals were this easy to follow.
Thanks again.
lili