MKV Toolnix: Splitting and Joining?

[OrtegaSeason]

Hi there,

I've found out that MKV Toolnix allows you to split off separate sections from the same video file but then save them as one file instead of several separate files. I've tried it but I'm not sure I'm doing it correctly because I usually get an error warning and the resulting file sometimes has some visual distortion between the different sections that I've cut.

What's the best way of doing this? Does the "Link Files" box have any effect on this?

Also, is there a way to associate a thumbnail image with an MKV file as happens automatically with avi and MP4 files?


Thanks for any help

[sneaker]

I've tried it but I'm not sure I'm doing it correctly because I usually get an error warning

Why don't you read the warning? It will probably tell you what's going on.

and the resulting file sometimes has some visual distortion between the different sections that I've cut.

You need to give more information about your source files and the exact processing you do including command-line and error messages. Problematic can be:
- appending/splicing files from different encodes
- cutting OpenGOP sources

What's the best way of doing this?

If you have problems it could be because of three reasons:
a.) You are doing something wrong. We can't tell because you didn't give us much info.
b.) You encountered a bug in mkvtoolnix. Then you need to report it to the developer so it can be fixed.
c.) You encountered a design limitation of mkvtoolnix. You need to change your process, maybe use a different program. (e.g. SolveigMM Video Splitter, VideoReDo, AviDemux ...)

Does the "Link Files" box have any effect on this?

When outputting to a single file? No.

Also, is there a way to associate a thumbnail image with an MKV file as happens automatically with avi and MP4 files?

Add as attachment: https://matroska.org/technical/cover_art/index.html
Or do you mean some kind of shell extension for Windows Explorer?

[OrtegaSeason]

Thanks for the response.

I've actually tried doing the "00:01:00-00:01:05:065,+00:02:37-00:02:57,+00:03:09-00:03:23" process again today and it's actually not showing any errors this time. There's still some visual distortion in the same place but I think that must just have to do with that part of the source file because all the other cuts I've tried to make on the same film have been totally clean.

As regards adding a thumbnail to MKV files, I mean I want to see the file as an image from the video on desktop as you would automatically with an MP4 or avi file. Can I do this with Toolnix?

Thanks

[hello_hello]

I've never understood the thumbnail attraction, but each to their own.

The Haalli Media Splitter has some sort of option for installing Explorer extensions for MKV, and I think that gives you thumbnails, or....

The K-lite codec pack installs some sort of Explorer thumbnail thingy. I've not tried it myself but a quick look indicates it's called the Icaros ThumbnailProvider. If you don't want to install the codec pack (the basic version should be harmless) the stand-alone version can be found here. I assume thumbnails on the desktop would then work the same for MKV as for MP4, although I don't save video to my desktop either so I wouldn't know.

[stax76]

If you need a GUI for mkvtoolnix cutting you can try staxrip, just set audio and video profiles to 'Just Mux' and use the preview dialog for cutting.

In the container options there is a new Cover option.