I need to write an app...

[Duane]

I need to write an app that takes an MPEG2 file and burns a single-title DVD. Sounds simple doesn't it? Can't use an existing app to do it. I could write a UDF file system, roll my own Reed-Solomon code, figure out how to build VOB's from MPEG2's, etc., etc., etc. But that could take me a long, long time, and I just don't have that much. There has to be a library out there to take care of all this with a few API calls, but I'll be darned if I can find one. Anybody out there know of anything? It can't be this hard.

[bugster]

Sorry I can't actually answer your question, but I can ask you one.

Why?

What is so different/special about your requirements that no existing DVD authoring app would do the job.

Just curious really.

[kitty]

Source code? See http://sourceforge.net/projects/dvd/ but I have not heard of a windows library - still too new.

[Duane]

Bugster: Why? Because this is a turnkey system that creates DVDs for a highly specialized use. It's not good form to step the customer through the entire process and them have them exit the app with instructions to burn a DVD with something else. All they want to do is click a button that says "Make DVD"

[bugster]

Hmmm, sounds interesting. Would it not be possible to use a scripting language, maybe even something like VB, to automate the use of an existing app. This way all you would need to do is write a front end, rather than all that complex Authoring stuff. Just an idea.

[offline]

Just an idea.

and a good one, see DVD2SVCD and EasyVCD
and DVDx as current examples.

[Duane]

Hey, folks, that is a good idea. I'll look into that. Thanks.

[tonyp12]

With this guide you can burn a dvd just using freeware:
http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/userguides/120013.php

So now you need to find out if these two programs
(DVD decrypter and Ifoedit) allows script commands.

Create a frontend in VisualBasic that controls these two programs
the same way DVD2SVCD does control dvd2avi, tmpgenc etc.

[va_bank]

I would try this...

Go through all the authoring and burn tools (MyDVD, DVDIt and Nero, etc.) and examine their DLLs with either VB's Object Browser or Visual Studio's API text viewer, to see if any of those DLLs are COM objects or offer an API. Go from there.

Good Luck,

VaBank

[Duane]

va_bank: that's an elegant idea too. I like it. Is that cheating?

[Thorn]

Only problem is that if this is a commercial product you can't really deliver someone else's DLLs with it. Even if you bought a copy of the product for each one you delivered, they might be able to sick the DMCA on you for reverse engineering it. Best to be careful if this is high-profile. Otherwise who cares

IFOedit is free and it already does what you want (except for burning) so it may be a good place to start

[tonyp12]

va_bank: that's an elegant idea too. I like it. Is that cheating?

Sure it is, you can forget to include any parts in your programs as you will
be stealing the code.

If you plan to create a program just for you and not give it or sell
it to someone else you will be ok.

Or do you plan to tell people that they need to
own/install Sonic-MyDVD to run your program?

[Duane]

As I said, it's a turnkey app. If we need to go that route, we'll install it ourselves -- licensed and all -- and everything will be peachy.

[tonyp12]

As I said, it's a turnkey app.

Not all here a Americans, so explain what is a "turnkey app"?

You can tell us what you are doing, because you would not ask
"simple" questions here if you where "waiting for the patent" for
some revolutionary program you created.

[Duane]

Turnkey means that you deliver a box, the customer turns a key, and the box does what it's supposed to. It'll have one app and one app only. There's nothing technologically revolutionary about it, just the marketing. If I told you more, I'd be in some serious trouble.

[va_bank]

Duane,

Thorn is right. If you redistribute it - it's cheating. Stealing, actually. Which is not strictly enforced on individuals, but may have serious implications for your company. I thought this was a personal project, sorry.

[gll99]

If you want to learn C++ or visual Basic then the microsoft site will provide all the sample code anyone needs for video and dvd support.
They have a sample capture app using directshow filters called AMCAP for use with wdm drivers. If you want to play with something to get a basic idea try Graphedit. It allows you to graphically link any compatible and unprotected directshow filters and design an application graphically to do a video capture, convert avi to mpeg and write it to screen and file. It has basic DVD play support but with the right filters can do any task.

Now a programmer wouldn't design an app this way but it shows you just the tip of the iceberg of how easy it is to design using just filters, drivers and linking the right filter pins. A VB or C++ (or otherlangauge) can access the features in a much greater way not only through the exposed driver pins but also through api call and built in language features.

Where do you think all these other guy's got the information to program their apps?

They started with the sample code and built on it. When you strip away the GUI (which is what the user sees) that's basically what's left.

[Duane]

Man, I've been to MSDN probably a dozen times. Plenty of stuff about reading DVDs but the only thing I could find about writing them was that some future of Windows will support that capability. A lot of help that was. If you can post an actual link to anything useful, I'd sure appreciate it

Yeah, I'm sure folks have found out this information to write their own apps. That's why it's so #@&$@ frustrating.

Thanks

[Duane]

Hey, I just found a UDF toolkit from an outfit called Gear Software. Does anyone know anything about it? It looks like it might do the job, at least from the aspect of creating the DVD.