'Chapters' in video files?

[terrypin]

I've seen references to adding chapters to Quicktime movies. For example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBwxleD3OS8

I thought navigation to different points (chapters) in a video was only possible with DVDs, via menus but clearly I'm wrong. How does this work in practice please? What would I do during the playing of such a file on my PC in order to jump to another chapter?

And is there any software to support this facility in other file types such as MPG or MP4 please?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[Baldrick]

YOu can use mkv. Add chapters with for example mkvtoolnix or mkv chapterizer.

[terrypin]

Thanks. Looks complex!

Anyone used these tools? How does the user switch chapters while playing?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[Cornucopia]

Dvd & Bd are the only mpg types that can do this, except mp4 which is based on quicktime. Qt tools may or may not work with it. Avi doesn't normally support chapters, except when they are in Divx. Mkv was already discussed. Wmv could, but no tools are available that i know of.
But all this is predicated on the assumption that there are players that support the use of chapters in those formats, and that's where things fall short.

Scott

[poisondeathray]

Anyone used these tools? How does the user switch chapters while playing?

Most commonly used software players will support mkv chapters

To navigate, the buttons or hotkeys are usually different for each player (e.g. advance 1 chapter, go back 1 chapter), or a chapter list to select from (with moutse) , some have mappable keys

[terrypin]

Thanks for both those helpful follow-ups. Understood. Reckon I'll pass on this project (initial motivation was mainly curiosity) until I come across a no-brainer way of applying it to my commonly used files, especially MP4.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[poisondeathray]

For MP4, you can use yamb (mp4box) to add chapters .