Renaming VOBs to MPG - warning required

[Gees]

Many times I've come across posts of people looking to re-author DVDs and often they get a reply to "rename the Vob to Mpg" to work with it (if their editing program does not accept vobs).

I've never needed to do this, but purely out of curiosity I tried it. And I tried it a newbie way, that is, how the info was offered up.

I renamed a random vob from within a self-authored DVD VIDEO_TS folder on harddrive. Opened it in my video editing prog (happens to be MediaStudioPro), did no editing, but it opened fine. Closed it.

Went back to rename the test mpg back to vob to find that all files in that folder were now renamed with extra numbers inserted into the file names (ex. "VTS_02_(06).VOB")

The harddrive "DVD" would now no longer open in PowerDVD.

Now, this wasn't a real problem because I had made a copy of this entire folder before experimenting with it. :c) But if I hadn't, I would have had a heck of a time guessing how to correctly restore all the filenames.

I don't know if all of the above ever happened to anyone else, but I'd just suggest we always offer all the precautionary info (only attempt on a copy, not original, etc.) when it's suggested to attempt this rename procedure, if at all.

[DJRumpy]

Your warning would apply to MediaStudioPro, and not to renaming VOB's in general. Typiaclly, you don't even need to rename them. Selecting the 'All Files' option, available in virtually every editor, will show you VOB files, or you can always simply type in an asterisk, and hit enter, to see all files in an open dialog, regardless of the file type.

The reason your DVD files no longer played as a hardrive DVD, was due to the fact that the IFO files refer to specific filenames, which no longer exists. You should report this issue to the authors of MediaStudioPro. It is extremely poor programming to automatically rename a file without asking, especially a DVD file.

[Gees]

Well, thanks. As I said, I personally never intend to even use the procedure. I'd never have gone about it the way I did. I did a test based on replies - to others -that simply say: "rename the vob to mpg".

The point of my post was to say we can't just go and tell someone to attempt it, without knowing what software they're using or the possible consequences.

I don't know for certain that the problem is strictly limited to MediaStudioPro. Possibly others, don't know.

:c)

[FOO]

So what entity renamed all your files ?
MS7 ? Why did it attack other files that the one you opened ?
Has it got some kind of DVD aware feature ?

[Gees]

Don't know Foo :co Must have. It sure surprised me! :cD

Every single file had a new number and "()" inserted.

Why did it attack other files that the one you opened ?

Evil? Maybe? :c)

[RabidDog]

wouldnt this be because the files are linked .. or even referenced in each other somehow....

[FOO]

Only if somebody read the IFO
or noticed that the names were sequential numbers.
Several progs will do that -- DVD2AVI opens all in a set
and some others. DVDlab does

[Gees]

Anyone willing to experiment and try it any other editor?

Mine was just a mini experiment triggered by curiosity. And, intentionally done the wrong way.

[FOO]

Lemme get this straight , you take a random VOB and rename
the extension to MPG . Then you open the MPG with some editor ,
and all this weird stuff happens right ?

[Gees]

Yes, well for me it did. Using MediaStudioPro. Just one of the vobs in a set in VIDEO_TS folder.

I have no idea what might happen with any other programs.

[FOO]

Well, I finally tried it. Rename VOB to MPG open with
MS7 , save some of it. No surprises here.
I'm afraid you may be associating too closely with your pixel.

And how do you make MS7 NOT re-encode on saves ? I set smart render
Is there a button somewhare that says "please make the
save characteristics the same as the input clip"
I think VS7 has that.

[i_am_dave]

Gees,

If Media Studio Pro is anything like its little brother Visual Studio, it saves some kind of timestamp in the project.
One time, I didn't like the content of an MPG, so I split it with an external program and replaced the file. Seems like I saw the same kind of thing you are describing. I also thing DVD Workshop will do the same thing.

[Gees]

Hmmm. The thing is... I did nothing with this renamed file. Didn't trim it, save it, nothing.

The most I did was open it, play a few secs and close it. Right after that when I went back to the folder it was in, all the files were renamed.

Honest, guys. :cD I'm not making it up or hallucinating. Not this time, anyway. :c)

[Gees]

MS7 NOT re-encode on saves

When I first open a project I set it to match. Or choose all the same properties when you Create file.

I know what you meant though, about it being different than the "same as" option in VS. It doesn't have that - not that I've spotted.