Trying to backup a flipper to DVD+R DL while retaining menus

[rdkapp]

Process both discs through Shrink using movie only to new folders. Then combine using the VobEdit process putting all the files into one folder. Then using VobBlanker, open the original folder and replace the main movie with the newly created one.

Dialysis1, I'm a bit confused . Another attempt resulted in several problems, but I'd like to deal with them one at a time, beginning with the 1st one I encountered. Perhaps that will resolve at least some of the others. At least I'm hoping, anyway.

First, I began by ripping both discs to the HD with DVD Decrypter. Then, I processed both through DVD Shrink using movie-only to separate folders. I'm good to this point.

My confusion came up when I combined the original ripped files and then in VobBlanker, when I went to replace the main movie, I could only choose the main movie from disc 1 or the main movie from disc 2, not both. So, there's clearly a problem. My question is: What exactly am I to combine with VobEdit? Do I combine the Shrink movie-only files, or the original ripped files, or both?

Since I'm new at backing up my DVDs (I've done a total of 4), and I'm extremely new at backing up a flipper to a DVD+R DL, I would appreciate it if you could provide a little more detail.

[Dialysis1]

After you used VobEdit and the join clips function, did you rename the files from disc 2 and move them to the disc 1 folder?

[rdkapp]

After you used VobEdit and the join clips function, did you rename the files from disc 2 and move them to the disc 1 folder?

Yes, but was I to only join the original ripped discs?

[Dialysis1]

First you should have the original of disc 1 and disc 2 in different folders. Now copy disc 1 movie only to a new folder. Then do the same with disc 2. After that if you want, you can delete the original disc 2 folder. Now in the movie only folder of disc 2, you want yo rename the files such as VTS_001_1.VOB, VTS_002_1.VOB, VTS_003_1.VOB etc.
Now open VobEdit and open the last vob from the disc 1 movie only folder. Now scroll down to the last Navigation Pack and find the last VOB-ID. Lets just say that it's 1. Now open the movie only disc 2 vob named VTS_01_001.VOB. Then go to Menu/Edit and Join Clips.
You will get a pop up asking for a destination folder. Choose a new empty folder. Now you will get a pop up asking you to specify a starting VOB-ID which you would set as 2. Click ok and let VobEdit do it's thing. Close. Now lets say that the movie only disc 1 folder has 4 vob's. You now want to go to the new folder that you used with VobEdit. You should see VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB etc. You want to rename those files VTS_01_5.VOB, VTS_01_6.VOB etc. Then move those vob files to the movie only disc 1 folder. Then you will open IfoEdit and create new ifo files for the movie only disc 1 folder.

[rdkapp]

Thanks for the detail! According to your description, I was joining the wrong files (i.e. the original ripped disc files). Instead, I will join the movie-only files created by DVD Shrink with VobEdit and then adjust the IFO files with IfoEdit, and then post back with my next question/problem, if any. <INPUT onclick="doEmoticon(this.form.body,eList,64);retur n false;" type=image alt=:hope src="http://pages.sbcglobal.net/sabertooth/emoticons/crossfingers.gif">

Thanks a bunch, Dialysis1!

[rdkapp]

OK, I've joined the movie-only files created by DVD Shrink with VobEdit, and I've adjusted the IFO files with IfoEdit. Everything has been smooth so far. Now, do I need to do a Mock Strip in IfoEdit? And, do I need to "Get VTS Sectors," also in IfoEdit?

If not, then do I go to VobBlanker? And do what? Remember that I want to retain the menus. Also, remember to provide details. Thanks again.

[Dialysis1]

You do need to get VTS sectors. Running it through VobBlanker should be fine. No need to do a mock strip.

[rdkapp]

You do need to get VTS sectors. . . . No need to do a mock strip.

Done, and without errors.

Running it through VobBlanker should be fine.

Just to be clear, I am to open the original ripped disc 1 files in VobBlanker. Is that right?

In VobBlanker, I know how to replace the main movie, but how do I retain the menus?

This is becoming clearer by the post. The light just went on as to why I don't need the original ripped disc 2. Thanks again.

[Dialysis1]

Good to hear! Now you might not be able to use all the menu functions such as chapters because you now have more chapters than the menu has listed. It should play properly. You might want to open the original with PgcEdit and make any corrections that are needed.

[r0lZ]

In particular, verify if the chapter and programs of the new DVD are on the same cells than in the original (side 1), as IfoEdit creates one chapter per cell, and that's not always what you need. (Double-click on the main movie PGC to open the PGC EDitor, and verify the "Prog." column in the cells list, and the chapters table with the button in the bottom of the PGC Editor window.)

[rdkapp]

Good to hear! Now you might not be able to use all the menu functions such as chapters because you now have more chapters than the menu has listed. It should play properly. You might want to open the original with PgcEdit and make any corrections that are needed.

1. Are you saying that I can import the chapter menu from disc 2 into the retained menu from disc 1?

2. If so, is PgcEdit the program to use to accomplish that?

3. What is the best way to preview this re-authored DVD before burning it? Do I need to make an ISO or what?

In particular, verify if the chapter and programs of the new DVD are on the same cells than in the original (side 1), as IfoEdit creates one chapter per cell, and that's not always what you need. (Double-click on the main movie PGC to open the PGC EDitor, and verify the "Prog." column in the cells list, and the chapters table with the button in the bottom of the PGC Editor window.)

Hey r0lZ, thanks for joining the discussion and helping with my education. I'm not too experienced with PgcEdit, and I haven't had a chance to apply your instructions yet. As such, at this point, your instructions are not well understood by this novice. Hopefully, when I take on the task, everything will be straightforward.

[r0lZ]

You need to understand that a chapter must begin at a new program point. Usually there is one chapter for one program. Similarly, a program must begin at the beginning of a cell. But, often, there are cells that are not used to define a new program (and chapter.) For example, a cell can be defined for the layer break point, but that's not necessarily a new chapter.

When you Create IFOs with IfoEdit, it has no way to know which cells are used as real entry point for the chapters, and therefore it assigns a chapter to each cell. If you want to keep the chapters as they are in the original DVD, you have to remove some programs to shift the chapters points accordingly, and remove the useless last chapters from the chapter table.

Don't worry, it's easy! The real difficulty is to locate the cells that needs to be edited. It's why you have to compare the cells list with the original DVD.

[Dialysis1]

Thank you rOlZ for explaining that much better than I could.

[rdkapp]

You need to understand that a chapter must begin at a new program point. Usually there is one chapter for one program. Similarly, a program must begin at the beginning of a cell. But, often, there are cells that are not used to define a new program (and chapter.) For example, a cell can be defined for the layer break point, but that's not necessarily a new chapter.

When you Create IFOs with IfoEdit, it has no way to know which cells are used as real entry point for the chapters, and therefore it assigns a chapter to each cell. If you want to keep the chapters as they are in the original DVD, you have to remove some programs to shift the chapters points accordingly, and remove the useless last chapters from the chapter table.

Don't worry, it's easy! The real difficulty is to locate the cells that needs to be edited. It's why you have to compare the cells list with the original DVD.

r0lZ, I'm pretty sure that I understand what you're saying, but I have no experience with doing such things in PgcEdit.

My understanding is . . . . Since IfoEdit assigns a chapter to each cell and not all cells start a new chapter/program, then in order to mimic the original DVD, I've got to delete some chapters and remove useless chapters from the end of the chapter table. Is that correct?

Now, if I could just get the detail on how to do this in PgcEdit, I would be grateful. Is there a guide somewhere in this forum (or elsewhere) that gives a step-by-step? Attached is a screenshot of my reauthored main movie PGC in PGC Editor for your review. How do I compare it with the original disc 1 DVD?

[r0lZ]

Strangely, there is already a cell that is not a new chapter point. See cell 10.
The first column is the chapter number, the second one, the program number. You can enable or disable the program for a cell by clicking on the program button for that cell. The chapter will be shifted accordingly.

If you remove or add some programs, you will need to shorten or lengthen the chapter table also. Click on the Edit Chapter (PTT) Table button to do that, then on Add Chapter or Delete Last Chapter, and verify if all chapter numbers are equal to the program numbers. If it's not the case, select all entries in the listbox, and click "Set selected Programs = PTTs". (BTW, PTT is the official name for chapter, and means Part of Title.)

To compare the original table with the new one, just open a new instance of PgcEdit, and look at the original table of side 1. Of course, there will be less cells. Do the same with side 2 to compare the remaining cells. Use the last button in the list to preview the cell.


There is also something really strange in your chapter table. Cell 12 has a cell command, but is followed by another long cell! IMO, your second side was added at the end of the PGC as an unique big chapter. Not sure if it's what you want, but that's not the problem.

If the last chapter must be played right after cell 12, you have to remove the cell command.

In the other hand, if the cell command is necessary, the seamless joint flag of the last cell MUST be clear, or the cell command will be ignored by most players. (BTW, this is why it is displayed in pink. Hold the mouse pointer over the pink box to see a tooltip with a little error message.)

IMO, you should probably remove the cell command of cell 13, and place it on cell 14.