How to insert an interactive chapter menu to a DVD folder (VIDEO_TS) ?

[zakk]

I have a DVD folder (a VIDEO_TS folder containing .BUP, .VOB and .IFO files)
which when played in MPC-HC (I don't care about playing it in a DVD player)
it doesn't have an interactive chapter menu (you can't select -using mouse- which chapter to play while viewing the chapter names list),
ie. it only displays the intro screen for a few seconds,
and then immediately starts playing chapter 1
(FYI it's a music concert which is divided in chapters/songs).

Is there any windows tool to insert an interactive chapter menu in it
without re-encoding or converting the video files?
I mean, maybe, simply editing the existing VIDEO_TS.IFO file
and/or creating an extra .IFO file?

I couldn't find anything similar.


Thank you

[_Al_]

-use pgcdemux to get one long mpg from those VOB's
-load it into MKVmerge and mux it into mkv, create chapters, or add them using some mkv chapter editor

-or use interesting chapterEditor, that might do it right away , not sure if that software has english version

[manono]

I mean, maybe, simply editing the existing VIDEO_TS.IFO file
and/or creating an extra .IFO file?

No.

That's what authoring programs do. Some will require you to demux your current DVD, some will allow you to add it and then will demux it internally. Some have menu templates and some require you to create your own menu backgrounds in advance. Most will allow you to create chapters and menu commands and create buttons for your menus. Some are free, some retail.

The simplest, since you already have a DVD and just want a basic menu might be AVSToDVD. Nothing fancy, though. No reencoding. Otherwise, check out the authoring programs:

https://www.videohelp.com/software?toolsearch=&submit=Search&portable=&s=2&orderby=Name&hits=50

For what it's worth, I use DVDAuthorGUI but make my own menu backgrounds. No reencoding.

[videobruger]

Like above: Author a new DVD. Start by muxing the content of the DVD to a single file using MKVMergeGUI (just drag the first VOB file and it'll include the rest), MakeMKV, VOB2MPG, MPEG Streamclip, PGCDemux, ...

Since the video/audio content of this file is DVD compliant no re-encoding is needed.

Then use DVDStyler to create menu and define chapter points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPybljDTVYw

If you want to return to the menu when finishing playing a chapter use a command like call last menu; (in the drop-down menu for commands) - else it'll continue playing the remaining chapters.

[zakk]

Thank you very much for the replies.

I had to try almost all programs mentioned in order to mux the content of the DVD to a single file (only MakeMKV worked):
eg. MKVMergeGUI gave ""the input file does not contain any tracks",
PGCDemux only created two tiny files: CellTimes.txt and LogFile.txt

MakeMKV was the only one that completed the procedure.
but gave

MakeMKV v1.9.2 win(x64-release) started
Opening files on harddrive at D:/Downloads/VIDEO_TS
Calculated BUP offset for VTS #0 does not match one in IFO header.
Calculated BUP offset for VTS #1 does not match one in IFO header.
Calculated BUP offset for VTS #2 does not match one in IFO header.
Title #1 has length of 13 seconds which is less than minimum title length of 120 seconds and was therefore skipped
Cells 13-end were skipped due to cell commands (structure protection?)
Complex multiplex encountered - 12 cells and 5991 VOBUs have to be scanned. This may take some time, please be patient - it can't be avoided.
Title #2 was added (12 cell(s), 1:19:46)
Operation successfully completed

during the procedure.
Maybe my .IFO files are corrupted/problematic?
Anyway, the resulting .MKV works ok (it's divided in 12 chapters, as it was in the DVD folder).

So, while trying DVDStyler in order to create a DVD menu I have these two issues:

After pressing FIle>New>Create new DVD and then selecting a template (one of the 4 in the "Basic category") and adding the .MKV:

1. the program adds only the first 8 chapters (while the MKV has 12 chapters).
   Even rightclicking on each of these 8 thumbnail buttons|Properties|Action(Jump to)
   I could only select up to chapter 8 from the dropdown menus.
2. I couldn't find any of them appropriate for a music concert DVD.
   Also, I couldn't properly fit some text under each thumbnail, the result was not nice.
   And, there was no template that only displays the chapter titles (with a nice font with a proper border) as an alternative.

Could you please suggest another DVD authoring program to create the menu as I want?

[DB83]

Why are you guys suggesting the OP creates a mkv when he stated he wants to create a dvd ?

1. Rip your dvd to HDD with dvddecrypter or similar tool
2. Create single mpg from vobs with vob2mpg
3. Load mpg in to avstodvd and re-author with menu (add your own chapter-markers)

There is no easy route because a menu is a vob in its own right so it has to be created/authored

[videobruger]

DVD and then selecting a template

I wouldn't use a template. I would make a custom menu using some image or video as background.

the program adds only the first 8 chapters

A DVD authoring program doesn't inherit the chapters from a MKV file (at least not one that I know of). You define the chapters in the authoring program which is shown for DVDStyler in the YouTube video I linked to previous. The default for DVDStyler is to make a chapter point every 10 min. It may be changed by Configuration - Settings -> Interface (Where you may also change the default button)

the program adds only the first 8 chapters

Perhaps look here https://sourceforge.net/p/dvdstyler/discussion/318795/thread/9878a01a/

that only displays the chapter titles

Use a text button

[videobruger]

Why are you guys suggesting the OP creates a mkv when he stated he wants to create a dvd

Because it doesn't matter if it is MKV or MPG (did suggest VOB2MPG ) and appearently MakeMKV what was worked (I don't know if VOB2MPG was tried)

[_Al_]

My input was meant to create a MKV with chapters, where you can navigate through chapters usung MPC-HC or VLC player etc, no DVD authoring is further needed. OP says he does not care for DVD player as most of us care less and less. To use MPC-HC or VLC or any decent video player in any device to navigate through chapters, Using chapters in MKV he can give them names so he can jump to songs that are labeled by name, same as in DVD. It is kind of "modern" solution, to have one file, getting rid of DVD structure, but sure whatever works for OP.

[zakk]

I followed _Al_ 's way, which is easier, provided that the initial DVD folder is already divided in chapters,
getting rid of the DVD structure.

So this is what I did:

1. mux (=without re-encoding) the content of the DVD folder to a single .MKV file with MakeMKV
2. extract the chapters file (.xml) from the MKV file by using GMKVExtractGUI
3. open mkvmergeGUI, and click "Chapter Editor"|Load and select the .xml file from step 2.
   Now click on each line corresponding to each Chapter title
   and edit (in the field "Name") the new chapter title, from eg. "Chapter 1", to "track_title_#1"
4. Lastly, click on "Chapter Editor"|"Save to Matroska file"
   choose the .MKV file from step 2,
   and thus ultimately produce a MKV with the correct Chapter titles

Thank you all for the replies (especially _Al_ and videobruger).
I've learnt many new things!

[_Al_]

......

[DB83]

Just a thought.

You may care to look at that original dvd just once more.

It is not unknown for a disk to initially play without going to the menu. But the menu you want may still be there. Try the menu button on your remote

[zakk]

Unfortunately I don't have the disk anymore.

[DB83]

Hmmn.

I will not jump to conclusions. Play the folder in a software player like VLC and select 'Menu' from the toolbar

[zakk]

I had tried VLC and there's no menu in there neither.
The only thing that's displayed is a very short intro and then goes straight to chapter 1.

PS. I owned the original DVD but had to sell it.
And I can't remember which program I had used to rip the DVD. It's been a long time.

[DB83]

A quick reminder of one of the fundamental forum rules:

Fair use / Backup
When you own the media, they are the rights you get automatically DESPITE what content providers or laywers might tell you. These rights are fully supported by the crew at VCDhelp and are the basis for most of the site. These fair use rights evaporate when you sell the media in question.