Converting VobSub subtitles

[ThufirHawat]

I have an AVI file, encoded with DivX. Also three files with the suffix .ifo, .sub, .idx.

I am aware that converting it to DVD is not a good idea. I still would like to render it into a DVD, however.
To test that I can do that I load the subtitles in ffmpegX, by loading the .ifo file (I did read other threads), and then I say 'play'.
The subtitles do not appear. Do I have to convert the subtitles or am I just using the wrong option (as usually is the case...)?

Thank you for enlightening me.

PS ffmpegX is correctly installed, and I can play files with .srt class subtitles without a hitch

[major]

The .ifo file has to be opened in the "Sub palette" field, however you should also open the .idx file in the "Load subs" field. Then encode with DVD preset and enable the "Decode with mplayer" option.

[ThufirHawat]

Thank you.

And on the subtitles format I choose what? Burn, .idx or .srt ?

I have tried all possible permutations and here is the relevant bit of the log (I had selected subtitle=1, Subtitle format=.idx):

vobsub: ignoring scale: 100%, 100%
vobsub: ignoring alpha: 86%
vobsub: ignoring smooth: OFF
vobsub: ignoring fadein/out: 50, 50
vobsub: ignoring align: OFF at LEFT TOP
vobsub: ignoring time offset: 0
[vobsub] subtitle (vobsubid): 1 language en
forward=-1h=0,m=0,s=0,ms=0[vobsub] subtitle (vobsubid): 2 language fr
No matching VOBSUB languge found!
Not an URL!
File size is 727242752 bytes
[then goes on to deal with the AVI]

I am afraid it is quite cryptic for those who, like me, do not know all the vagaries of the VobSub format. I had also tried 2, thinking that perhaps the subtitles were in French, but no joy either.

Perhaps you can tell me, not so much how to solve this particular problem, but rather where should I learn by myself, otherwise I'll always seek for a solution to a problem I do not understand...
My understanding is that the program does not find the subtitles I flagged (1=en) in the .sub or in the .idx file.
Why should one tell ffmpegX? Can't it determine on its own which language is the subtitle in (or if many languages, can't it tell me which are present?).

Sorry to be such a royal pain in the neck...

ThufirHawat

[major]

I suppose you're using "Play" to test, and have you tried with sub=0 ?