DVD(-R) for settop AND Data

[Buttwidget]

I am in the process of building a DVD(-R) right now and have the part that should play in a settop box built and in its Video_TS and Audio_TS folders as per the DVD spec (Done via "build DVD folder" function in Sonic DVDit).

With that part being completed, I now have an idea that I would like to include some data on the DVD as well. Is it possible to just make another folder (called Win for example) that holds all of the PC data files that I would like to include? If that is a possibility, is there the ability to make the PC portion autorun when the DVD is placed in a PC?

Any assistance is appreciated, thanks

Buttwidget

[andydd]

I use Spruce Up and that has the option of adding Data and/or a software DVD player as well as the standard DVD Video_ts Audio_ts folders. :P

[Buttwidget]

Yes, I like Spruceup, but the menu creation stuff is very limited. I have found the same problem with Ulead's stuff. Sonic seems to have found (at least for me) the best compromise for ease of creation as well as the ability to put the things I want into the project. Thanks for the tip though.

Buttwidget

[Buttwidget]

Any suggestions on how to do this with a file structure already created and waiting to be burned? Can I just add a driectory with the data in it? How do I get it to autorun in a PC? Anyone?

Buttwidget

[Buttwidget]

C'mon now... I thought this was going to be a really simple file structure question for someone. Let me rephrase it to see if that helps get an answer, I have exhausted my resources over the last week trying to get an answer to this question...

I would like to make a DVD that plays a movie when it is placed in a set top player. I have done it before and I know how that part works. The part that I am not sure of is putting PC data on the DVD *along with* the movie. I would also like to make one of the PC data programs autorun when the DVD is placed in a PC, while retaining the ability of the DVD to play a movie when it is placed in a set top player.

I hope that helps ring a bell for someone. I really need some help here, please...

Buttwidget

[spuddy]

If you use an authoring program that simply copies the appropriate files to your HD (ie: the "working" directory that Spruce creates) then it's a simple matter to add whatever data you please to the DVD structure.

Or, at worst, use a program like "undisker" to extract the contents of a DVD disk image the authoring software creates.


Generally speaking, the player could care less what files/folders exist outside of the video_ts and audio_ts directories.

There's so much "voodoo" crap floating around about DVD "authoring" as compared to "burning", the two are mutally exclusive.


Authouring is simply the creation of the .ifo and associated files the set-top box needs to parse the data (.VOB) on the DVD

Burning is is creation of a UDF (or UDF/ISO) partition on DVD-compliant media.


Simply use Nero to create a UDF DVD and copy your "authored" video_ts and audio_ts folders to the root of the DVD volume, and then add any other files/folders you feel appropriate (perhaps an autorun.inf)

[Buttwidget]

Thank you Spuddy. That is exactly what I was hoping for. Thanks for taking the time to answer my question so in-depth and with such clarity.

Buttwidget