Best method for creating aligned menus in GUI for DVDauthor?

[Skarr11]

Greetings!

I am attempting to get familiar with some of the menu layout commands in GUI for DVDauthor (GFD). I would like to align the GIF masks and text titles for each video in an orderly fashion. I have the grid shown on the main menu screen, and as I add videos to the project I see how the project structure is organized in the project explorer. As I dig deeper into the project structure, I begin to see values for things like Buttons...FilmButton1...Properties...Left=100. If I drag the FilmButton1 GIF mask, I see these properties values change. But I can't actually edit them directly within the Project Explorer window.

However, if I use a text editor to edit the project file (the .gfd file), I can change the values, reload the project file, and the changes are shown.

Is there a way to edit these values on the fly within the Project Explorer window? Or is there an easier way to align things the way I want? For example, now that I know the Left=100 property, all GIF masks would have Left=100, and the top values would differ by some constant amount, say 32 units or something. And I can see how this would be useful for creating project templates where the only differences would be the filenames and labels.

Thanks in advance!

[borax]

Is there a way to edit these values on the fly within the Project Explorer window?

No, but I could add it.

Or is there an easier way to align things the way I want?

For the MainMenu, you can set up a raster which roughly corresponds to your alignement. For Chaptermenus you can also use the 'Grid Menu Layout' function.

[Skarr11]

How difficult is it to add that capability to edit the values on the fly? I think it would be useful to me, as it's another way to manipulate the data, and I'm all for options!

The DVDs I author have 3 or 4 files and don't use chapters or other submenus, so I probably won't get into the Grid Menu Layout function. I did notice that at the Main Menu level, with the grid displayed, that the buttons, text, etc. will snap to the grid points, which is kinda cool.

Thanks!

[borax]

Ok, I will try to include that capability in the next version.

[AlanHK]

Ok, I will try to include that capability in the next version.

Second that request.

When I want to position text or other objects, when I drag it the XY co-ordinates suddenly appear in the top menu and I can move it to get the right value. But there is no way (I could find) to even read, let alone directly enter, the co-ords. To find out a co-ordinate of an object I have to move it, and then try to move it back to its original postion.

More graphically, it would be nice to have movable guidelines (as used in most DTP apps) to align things, rather than the grid at fixed intervals.

[Skarr11]

Thanks, Borax! Let us know when the new version comes out!

[borax]

Here you are...
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=310993&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

[Skarr11]

Thanks for the quick work, Borax!

I won't be able to try it out for a few days as I'll be out of town, but when I get back next week I'll give it a spin.