adding a return or resume function?

[Maginashun]

im backing up a instructional dvd and i was just wondering if it is possible to add a resume function (sorry... i dont know the technical name). if you go back to the menu while you are at the middle of the video and then push play to try and go back you end up starting the video over again. its really not a big deal cause its so short but i thought i would try and find out if there is a easy fix for this. thanks

[daamon]

Hi Maginashun,

I may be totally wrong... But I think what you're talking about is a function of the DVD player that's being used rather than something that's built in to the authored files.

So, if that's right, if a DVD player supports it you can do it on any disc - commercial or home-produced.

[Maginashun]

on my pioneer stand-alone that function is called "resume". that happens when i totally stop the dvd from playing and i get the pioneer logo on the screen. once i hit play i video will start from the point where i stopped it. now it the structure of the dvd there is a command that allows the same thing to happen but from the play button on the menu. practically all higher-end dvds like movies have this function. i usually run into ones without this functions when you deal with low budget productions like a fitness or some other type of instructional dvd.

try editing a play button on a movie dvd to play the first chapter of the movie... try something like making it jump to the first chapter in this title. more than likely when you hit the play button it will start the same way that is did before but if you were to go back to the menu for some reason then hit play again it would start from the very beginning again and not from the point from which you stopped it before you went to the menu

this probably wont be a easy one step fix. thanks

[daamon]

Hi Maginashun,

Well, if it is possible the tools that are likely to be of use are ifoedit and / or PGCedit. There may be otherss...

I'd say to investigate the structure / settings of a DVD that does what you want and then one that doesn't. Compare and try to isoltae the setting(s)/

Then experiment...

If you're successful, please post your findings / solution.

Good luck...

[MackemX]

I don't know how familiar you are with DVD Virtual Machine commands but it should be possible depending on the structure of the DVD. You would probably have to mess on with the VM commands and insert a Resume command that does a quick check to see if it should be executed (as long as one is spare out the available 16)

a quick explanation (just in case anyone is interested ) (x is any number from 0 to 15 depending on having a spare register)

use a register and set the R[x] register to 0. Once the menu play button is pressed it would then check R[x].
If R[x]=0 then it would change R[x]=1. This tells the player the Title is now playing. It would continue as normal as the Title. If R[x]=1 when the menu button is selected then it would call a Resume command. So anytime after starting the Title R[x] should always =1, so if the menu is called it will always execute the Resume command.

as R[x]=1 when the Title finishes, it would then call a Resume command if you pressed play again from the main menu. To fix it so that it doesn't, you add a Post command to the Title and set R[x]=0. This then tells the player that the Title has now finished as it's back to the value it started as. As R[x] now =0 it will then continue as if you had just inserted the DVD if the menu play button is selected

so basically when the menu play button is pressed it checks R[x]. If R[x]=0, the Title will start from the beginning and if R[x]=1 then it will Resume. it's just a simple Yes/No check and I've written it in rather simple terms as it's a little more complicated but it should be possible to add a Resume option to a DVD

PGCEdit and DVDRemake Pro are 2 tools that can do this and how long it takes depends on how much experience in the commands area you have

[louthewiz]

In my panny the feature is called position memory.

[Maginashun]

is this written in english i stopped reading as soon as i read x=0. that stuff is way past the stuff i do. if there isnt a pull down menu on the commands like in ifoedit or pgcedit than i dont know what im going to do. i forced myself to read the rest though and i understood it. i followed what you were saying but i dont think this dvd is worth the time it will take to figure this out. maybe i will have time this weekend. thanks for taking the time to explain that. it actually made things more clear. thanks

[daamon]

Hey MackemX,

Excellent explanation - Very clear and logical. And interesting too (sad, I know). Thank you.

Though, I guess, the tricky part is actually getting it into the IFO files and working properly... I'll leave Maginashun to ask that question, as I'm sure (s)he will...

[Cornucopia]

Alls I know is that when I use Maestro and set the connection types to "Advanced", I can set the GO_UP_Link of a MENU to RESUME and it'll do exactly like what you want--on EVERY player (that I've tried). And, it takes longer to explain it in this message than it does to actually set it up.

I'm sure other apps offer this feature (I know Scenarist could if Maestro can).

Scott

[MackemX]

it's bark is worse than it's bite but I'm glad you understood it maginashun . I thought I did get a bit nerdy there and it would scare people . It's a simple yes/no command flow sequence really, I just made it sound complicated . It probably took me longer to write it than it would to do it and I'm glad to see you also followed it daamon . To tell you the truth I don't even know if it works as I'm just going from what little I know! :P

to do what I think I described would take me a few minutes to edit with DVDRemake and with a guide for someone comfortable messing around within the VM commands, around 5-10 minutes. I can't speak for PGCEdit but it shouldn't take that much longer I suppose

@Cornucopia, nice tip but I can't think of anything that would do that as easily as Maestro/Scenarist but there may be a tool that does it. Although you are not recomending to use them, I do tend to stay away from recommending Maestro and Scenarist these days. Both are well out of reach of the vast majority of users pockets as well as knowing how to play with them

I always say, if someone can pay the huge $'s for them in the first place then they sure as hell would know how to use them

[jeanl]

I confirm what MackemX said, it would take about 10mn with PgcEdit! But then again, there isn't going to be a "macro" or a menu to do it, so you will have to understand what you are doing...
Jeanl