question about how to add chapter points to already made DVD

[jimdagys]

I have a DVD on my hard drive that doesn't have any chapters. I would like to have chapter points, every 10 minutes. I have Pgcedit on my computer. I tried to use that software to do this job (add chapters to already made hard drive DVD) but I couldn't figure out how to do it. Could someone please give me detailed instructions on how to do it? I guess that I need to start Pgcedit and open the DVD folder, high light the movie and then click *edit pgc*. But I don't know what to do after that. There is an "edit chapter " button on the software, but I was unsuccessful to figure out how to use it to add chapter points. Thanks for your help. By the way, I want to do this job in the IFO. If it is necessary to de-mux the DVD, then I just want to forget it.

[tinker]

You may have to do a little reading, but here is a PDF file manual.

http://download.videohelp.com/r0lZ/pgcedit/doc/PgcEdit_Manual.htm

[jimdagys]

When I tried to add chapters, I got the message telling me to remove or re-assign the chapters pointing to out of range programs. The above Pgcedit manual deals with this issue, but I still don't know what to do. From the manual:

You need to add chapters that actually correspond to existing programs. Otherwise, after exiting the chapter editor, a message will appear telling you to remove or re-assign the chapters pointing to out of range programs and the Edit Chapter (PTT) table button in the PGC Editor will turn red to let you know an action needs to occur. You can then click on a button in the program list to create a program.

Here is a question: Is it possible to add chapter points with Pgcedit (in the IFO without muxing)?

[Alex_ander]

You don't need to mux/demux anything to add chapter points. But you need a new (or unused) program to register it as a chapter. You can create a new program e.g. in the beginning of one of the cells of an existing program (if it has more than one cell). But if you want an exact point for the new chapter, you'll have to split some cell, then insert a new program at split point, then make it a chapter. Splitting a cell is a VOB operation, probably you'll need VOBBlanker for this. Alternatively you can use DVDRemake, not free but IMO much easier to use:
http://www.dimadsoft.com/dvdremakepro/ht_insert_chapter.php

[jimdagys]

Opps, that sounds complicated. Can I do the whole thing with Pgcedit? I don't need exact chapter points. I just want to be able to use the "next" button to some degree on the DVD player. If it is possible to do in Pgcedit, can you give me an outline on how to do it?

[tinker]

Here is the picture:

[Alex_ander]

I think you only can do it (within Pgcedit) in 2 cases:

1. There is a cell in an existing 'chaptered' program (with more than 1 cell) suitable for making a chapter.
In PGC editor (right-click on the PGC -> Edit PGC) it will be shown without chapter number (left column). If you press that cell button, a new program will be created from it and it will be assigned to chapter with all other chapter numbers remapped so, that the last program will lose its chapter assignment -> you open 'Edit chapter table' and use Add Chapter button to correct this.

2.There is a program (in suitable place), not assigned to chapter.
Then you can select it in Chapter table editor (accessible from PGC editor, picture in the post above ) and use 'Set selected programs = PTTs' button.

In both cases, if you had menu links to chapters, the button commands will need chapter number correction.
In other cases you'd want to split a cell in VOBBlanker, then pass the result to PGCEdit.

[manono]

Yeah, DVDRemake is probably the easiest. PGCEdit isn't designed to do what you want and VobBlanker is too much work.

I'd just demux (PGCDemux), make the chapters where I want (create a Celltimes.txt file), reauthor (Muxman), and replace it into the original DVD using PGCEdit's Replace VTST Titles Function.

[jimdagys]

I think if I use PGCDemux or Muxman just one more time the ailing hard drive is going to fly out of the computer. I want to do this in the IFO, or it is not worth doing. Below are two Pgcedit screenshots that show what I have now. Can you tell from these screenshots if I can do this with Pgcedit? There are no chapters or menus on the DVD. On the other hand, can DVDRemake do this job easily? If so, I will give it a try. There have been some comments that I should replace the hard drive first. No, I want to witness total failure first. I have everything backed up on DVD and CD.

[tinker]

There is only one cell #2, where you will be able to add chapter point #2.
PgcEdit cannot split cells, to add any more chapters.
DVDRemake will let you do that, so you will be able to add as many chapters you like.
The problem will be that you will be able to jump from one to the other with remount control only, since you do not have a chapter menu with buttons. That part will require re authoring DVD.

[jimdagys]

My understanding from what you say is that I cannot do this with Pgcedit, but I can do it with DVDRemake. I just want to be able to use the "next" button on the DVD player. I watch most movies in about 5 minutes, just hit the "next" button, watch a few seconds and hit the "next" button again. Thanks for the info. I will take a look at DVDRemake and post back.

[spyhawk]

Beside DvdReMake, you can use VobBlanker (http://jsoto.posunplugged.com/guides/VobBlanker/splitting_cells/index.htm) to split the cells, add program and chapter. Either program will require rewriting both IFO and VOB files. If you're afraid of failing HD, this is the way to test it.

[jimdagys]

Are you saying that DvdReMake requires re-writing the VOB files? Then that is not much better than using Pgcdemux/Muxman. If that is the case, I'll just have to live with no chapters. I forgot to add chapters when I made the DVD.

[spyhawk]

It's the only way if you want to create chapters.

How 'bout use another PC if you have one to work on this. Sooner or later, you will have to deal with this failing HD. Did you run smart disk check (there are some good utilities for this) on it - there may be some good sections of the HD that are still usable.

[tinker]

Are you saying that DvdReMake requires re-writing the VOB files? Then that is not much better than using Pgcdemux/Muxman. If that is the case, I'll just have to live with no chapters. I forgot to add chapters when I made the DVD.

I do not know what are you after with this? Yes it rewrite them, like any other app will do, but there is no encoding involved, so what is a problem?

[Alex_ander]

I think this rewriting is even more safe than re-muxing (no possibility of getting smth. out of sync or the like), probably only intra-VOB data is modified (something like remapping already existing VOB units to different cells).