Puzzling DVD menu behaviour; all links go to Movie start

Recycler escrito el 17.05.PM a las 14:10 horas

I recently posted a problem I was having manipulating DVD menu items in MEP+ here. Despite Jeff's suggestions (thank you!) I continued to be flummoxed by the interesting user interface - and basically gave up the approach of trying to alter an existing templated menu.

I also turned to VPX, since its DVD menu options looked a little more comprehensive than MEP+'s (even if no more intuitive in use!).

So the problem outlined here refers to VPX 16.0.2.322

I wanted a simple, no fuss DVD menu (22 chapter, single movie) derived from a full HD master.

It seems impossible to delete any DVD menu items or structure you have created or inadvertently allowed the software to create. I always seemed to end up trying to delete unwanted menu pages, but being blocked by 'you cannot delete pages you have not created' messages. So another approach (and some guile) was required.....
In previous work I had created an MVD which contained my FHD master with chapter markers.
I created the 720x576 project for my DVD, and before any content was added went straight to the disc burn section, and into Edit mode, where I unticked all the disc options except for Chapter menu.
The page count (middle left pane) was still saying 1/1, so I knew I had no extra Magix pages to worry about at this stage. I right-clicked the page and added my wanted image. I think there was also a single Magix-produced button which I deleted.
Back to the video mode where I imported, via Manage Movies | Import, the MVD of the FHD master mentioned above, and deleted the empty carcass of the project's own movie; so I was left with just the FHD master in place.
Back again to disc design mode and "Edit". This time the Movie and all its chapters were listed in navigation top left, and I de-selected all the chapters. Had I not done so, I would soon have found myself not with the single menu page required, but 23 of the little devils (which I would not be able to delete)
I then proceeded conventionally to use the "+" Design button icon to build my wanted 22 chapter links without problem.
Changing into Preview mode, and then with some trepidation back into Edit mode, I was very relieved to find all my design unchanged. (I have had many hours over the last few days when a move like that would result in a complete shambles)
A complete 22 chapter test in Preview mode showed every link did what it was supposed to (i.e. went to the required chapter).
Stupidly thinking I might be out of the woods, I then burnt an ISO using the conventional options in the burn area as I have done hundreds of times.
Imagine my blood pressure (high), bewilderment (very high) and frustration (off the scale) to find that every link in the result went to the movie start. This was checked by both playing the ISO in VLC, and making a test disc and trying it in a real DVD player.

A screenshot of the Menu Edit screen is below.

Any thoughts, please? I have no hair left to tear out. Thanks. - Mike -

Comentarios

browj2 escrito el 17.05.PM a las 15:50 horas

Hi,

Off hand and without trying anything, I see that the Chapters are all unchecked. Could that be the problem?

John CB

Recycler escrito el 17.05.PM a las 17:09 horas

@browj2

Sadly not John. If I start checking them I get multiple pages I don't want, one for each chapter.

johnebaker escrito el 18.05.PM a las 18:13 horas

@Recycler

Hi Mike

. . . . If I start checking them I get multiple pages I don't want, one for each chapter . . . . .

There are several issues with the menu system in MEP and VPX, this being one of them.

I have switched to using DVDA Architect for disc creation - it is much more versatile and can do what you want easily. I am currently working on a large project which will, when complete will

have 24 videos with chapter menus where appropriate
selectable play lists
selectable audio channels, eg off, music, original audio
true chapter playback ie after playing the chapter it returns back to the chapter menu and not continue playing to the end as the urrent MEP/VPX menus do.

HTH

John EB

Recycler escrito el 18.05.PM a las 19:15 horas

Thanks for the nod, John! DVD-Architect looks suspiciously like an updated version of DVD-Lab that I used (and liked) a decade ago. I'll certainly give it a whirl. - Mike -

Recycler escrito el 26.05.AM a las 11:05 horas

@johnebaker

Just to close the loop on this I must agree that DVD-Architect is streets ahead of the disc design and burn options in either of the VPX, MEP Magix products. It has a lot of flexibility, but the overall impression you come away with is that it's intuitive and does what it says it's going to do. To cap it all, I had an error come up which I reported, and got a comprehensive response from the Vegas side of the support system within two days and the problem (which was to do with my source material, not the software) was entirely resolved. Worth the money!

Thanks again for pointing me in that direction. - Mike -

keruxjeff escrito el 16.06.AM a las 01:21 horas

Any solution for this? Just tried creating my first Bluray with VPX and all titles are doing the same thing as listed above! Playing the beginning of the movie even though in the DVD screen of VPX, all chapters are correctly linked. Does Magix have a fix for this bug?