how to author VCD with pre-programmed menu's

[fitnessmouse]

I would like to know if the following is possible:
Say I have one large mpg file with approx 20 entrypoints. Is it possible to have a menu with the following options:
1. play entire mpg
2. play only sections with odd numbers
3. play only sections with even numbers
4. play 1 / 5 / 7 / 3 / 9 / 6 / 20

Is this possible without cutting up the mpg and put together like option 2/3/4
(I mean without putting the sections twice on the VCD)

[mikk]

i don't think u can do that. the problem is that entrypoints are for entering. once the player has started playing the video, it has no idea that it has finished a section.

so basically, u have to cut up the mpeg. then when playing them back u make it so that depnding on what u select, things play in a different order. unfortunately u get a pause because the player has to go to a new place on the disc. but u won't have to put anything on the disc more than once.

[vitualis]

Actually, you can do that, but not easily.

For the non-sequential stuff, use a <playlist> and set the play-item as the the entrypoint you want to start at. Then, set a <playtime> to correspond with how long you want the player to play that play-item for (i.e., the length of the chapter in seconds).

Then, chain together a number of playlists to get the non-sequential playback.

If you haven't a clue on what I'm talking about... ... it is time to start the long hard road of learning (it will be rewarding in the end) and start reading this: http://www.michaeltam.com

Regards.

[mikk]

AWESOME idea vitualis. Sure, it's a bit more tricky, but it works! That's all that matters really good job

Disadvantage: More time spent authoring
Advantage: No need to cut the file up

Thanks

[fitnessmouse]

Wow,
I guess I need to do more research about authoring. I don't know how to do the playlist thing....
I was using VCDeasy. What would be the best way to learn how to author a VCD like that?

[vitualis]

VCDEasy uses the VCDImager authoring system to make its VCDs so you could in theory do what I wrote just before.

However, since I never use VCDEasy to do any serious authoring (I usually just pull out the good old text editor) I can't tell you how easy or difficult it will be...

To understand how what I wrote above could work, try going through the guides and articles here: http://www.michaeltam.com

I would suggest that you try to make some simpler projects first and try understanding how the XML descriptor makes it work...

A good way of learning is to make some simple projects with VCDEasy and then reading the created XML file.

Best regards.