Combining segments from different titlesets

[dt3kt]

I apologize in advance if this is something that has been asked about before, but for the like of me I can't seem to find a way to accomplish this easily with free tools.
I'm backing up my dvd boxset of "The Pacific" and would like the resulting mp4 file to play as it does from the dvd with the historical background playing before the episode. There are 2 episodes per disc and both episodes are in VTS_01. The historical backgrounds for both episodes are in VTS_02. Episode 1 is listed as Title 1, when viewing in Handbrake, and the historical background for episode 1 is listed as Title 8. Essentially I want to have Title 8 play first and then jump to Title 1.
I have tried multiple approaches to accomplishing this using DVDShrink in reauthor mode. Once I have them reauthored and try to 'play from folder' using vlc, it will only play the first part, in this case the historical background.
Am I going about this an entirely wrong way? Any help or pointers would greatly be appreciated.

In case it's needed, I'm running this on Windows 7, 64bit.

[sambat]

With VLC assuming you 'Open Folder' and highlight the VIDEO_TS folder then 'OK', the titles should play in sequence.
If you 'Open File' it won't play them sequentially.

[dt3kt]

You are correct. It does play them sequentially in VLC. From here I'd like to be able to encode that stream to a single mp4 file using Handbrake. If I open this VIDEO_TS folder in Handbrake, it will show 2 titles, the historical clip and the episode. Since the 2 videos are in separate VTST's, how can I create a "play all" title that will stream the two together without pointing back to the First Play PGC? Thus far trying to use the "play all title" it will put it under one of the VTST's and only calls the titles (in this case only 1 title) within that VTST. Can a "play all title" be used that will play one title from one VTST and another title from a different VTST?

[sambat]

Can you not just join the vob files and present that to Handbrake?

https://www.videohelp.com/tools/VOBMerge

[PuzZLeR]

I was thinking similarly to Sambat.

DvD configurations can be complex when it comes down to their VOB/IFO/BUP files - forget trying to figure out what DvD uses what for what title - it's not a consistent rule. What I've been saying for years, and still today, is to rip the streams out as MPG files first. Then it's so much easier to manage what YOU want by sorting and editing (cuts/joins/etc) with an MPEG dedicated editor.

Then, and only then, do I personally drop it into any encoder.

I personally rip out the streams with NeroVision in Import mode. I edit with a lossless MPEG dedicated editor like TMPEG MPEG Editor, VideoReDo and Womble depending (I own all three). There are free tools available that do such tasks.

I know it's an extra step, but it's 100% problem free this way. Trying to figure it out with the encoder beforehand, etc, will lead to problems with many DvD structures and is a pain I'd rather avoid. Such an encoder feature is only available this way for the lazy IMO.

[dt3kt]

That did the trick Sambat. I was able to get what I wanted by using DVD Decrypter to process each clip to it's own single VOB file. Then used VOBmerge to splice the VOB's and at this point if played in VLC it would play completely through but the video's elapsed time would stop at the end of the first video. For fun I ran that VOB through Handbrake and it came out perfect... correct time, great video and audio quality. Thanks for the help Sambat and pointing out VOBmerge.