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

[rdkapp]

OK r0lZ, I'm back from a short hiatus, and I'm ready to continue my education. I've gone over your last post, and I've tried to follow your instructions, but it seemed too easy. I'm sure there is more to it. I'll post a new screen shot of PGC Editor after my changes, but first, I'd like to run a few other things by you. First, I received the following error:



I wasn't sure what to do with this, but since I was keeping both the english and french subtitles, I clicked on No. Was that the right answer?

. . . 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. . . .

Should the chapters and programs from my reauthored main movie (side 1) match exactly those from the original side 1? And, the same for side 2?

. . . 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. . . .

I wondered about that. I followed Dialysis1's instructions on joining the discs. Dialysis1 had me save a movie-only of each disc through DVD Shrink, then join them with VobEdit, then adjust the IFOs with IfoEdit, and then replace the movie file in the original disc 1 with the joined movie file in VobBlanker. Since I want to retain the menus, is there a better way to do this?

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

I wasn't sure what to do with the above instruction. Please help?

Here's an updated screenshot:

[r0lZ]

I wasn't sure what to do with this, but since I was keeping both the english and french subtitles, I clicked on No. Was that the right answer?

This message was displayed for VTS 6. Your main film is in VTS 1. Therefore, the bonus in VTS 6 has only one subpic stream defined in the PGC. (Look at the subpic buttons in the PGC Editor for VTS 6: all buttons except the first one are marked as "none".) This means that only one stream is useable when playing a title from VTS 6, and that the definition for the second stream in Domain Stream Attributes is useless and can even confuse some players. It is therefore recommended to remove it, although it doesn't hurt with most players.
There are 2 subpic streams defined in VTS 1, and no warning. That's correct.

Should the chapters and programs from my reauthored main movie (side 1) match exactly those from the original side 1? And, the same for side 2?

I suppose so! It depends of what you want. But if there is a chapter menu in your DVD, the chapters must match the original cells, or they will point to wrong cells.
(BTW, in the chapter menu, you have probably only the buttons to jump to the chapters of the original side 1, as the menu of side 2 has not been kept.)

I wondered about that. I followed Dialysis1's instructions on joining the discs. Dialysis1 had me save a movie-only of each disc through DVD Shrink, then join them with VobEdit, then adjust the IFOs with IfoEdit, and then replace the movie file in the original disc 1 with the joined movie file in VobBlanker. Since I want to retain the menus, is there a better way to do this?

I think that VobBlanker has joined all cells of side 2 when it was imported. However, I'm not sure, as I haven't used this method for a while.
VobBlanker has probably replaced the last tiny cell (a dummy chapter) of the original side 1 with all cells of side 2. To avoid that, you have to create some new cells at the end of the PGC before importing the new side. You can also use the new Split function of VobBlanker to recreate the missing chapter points in your reauthored DVD.

I wasn't sure what to do with the above instruction. Please help?

You have removed the cell command from cell 12, but not added it yet to cell 13. I'm not sure it's important, but if you need it, put a 1 in the "cell cmd" column of the last cell.

Here's an updated screenshot:

Seems OK, but without the screenshots of VTS 1 from the original sides 1 and 2, I cannot guess if the chapter points are correct.

BTW, instead of the screenshots, you could post here the outputs of Info -> PGC (select the main film first.) That info contains the cell table, the PGC commands, and everything I need to see. Post them between [ code ] marks (using the "#" button of the forum's html editor in advanced mode) or the formatting in columns will be lost. Please post them for the main film of original sides 1 and 2 and the reauthored DVD. I'll be able to locate the errors...

[rdkapp]

This message was displayed for VTS 6. . . . Therefore, the bonus in VTS 6 has only one subpic stream defined in the PGC. . . . This means that only one stream is useable when playing a title from VTS 6, and that the definition for the second stream in Domain Stream Attributes is useless and can even confuse some players. It is therefore recommended to remove it, although it doesn't hurt with most players.

Thanks so much for explaining that one. It's been corrected, but all there was in VTS 6 were 2 dummy files and a 0:01 Title.

I suppose so! It depends of what you want. But if there is a chapter menu in your DVD, the chapters must match the original cells, or they will point to wrong cells.
(BTW, in the chapter menu, you have probably only the buttons to jump to the chapters of the original side 1, as the menu of side 2 has not been kept.)

I think that VobBlanker has joined all cells of side 2 when it was imported. However, I'm not sure, as I haven't used this method for a while.
VobBlanker has probably replaced the last tiny cell (a dummy chapter) of the original side 1 with all cells of side 2. To avoid that, you have to create some new cells at the end of the PGC before importing the new side. You can also use the new Split function of VobBlanker to recreate the missing chapter points in your reauthored DVD.

And this brings me to what is likely my biggest questions: I do want the menu for disc 2, as well as disc 1, and I'd like them together, if that's possible. So, with that in mind, is it easier to start the "join" process over (with your instructions, of course), or to use VobBlanker to split disc 2 and somehow import the menu for disc 2. Can that even be done?

Also, contrary to my original thoughts/posts, I was trying to keep an extra about the history of the Gangs of New York, but after keeping it, I don't like how much I'd have to compress the main movie, so I'd like to remove it. This may have a bearing on how you answer my previous question above, about starting over.

You have removed the cell command from cell 12, but not added it yet to cell 13. I'm not sure it's important, but if you need it, put a 1 in the "cell cmd" column of the last cell.

I've added it, but how do I know if I need it?

Seems OK, but without the screenshots of VTS 1 from the original sides 1 and 2, I cannot guess if the chapter points are correct.

BTW, instead of the screenshots, you could post here the outputs of Info -> PGC (select the main film first.) That info contains the cell table, the PGC commands, and everything I need to see. Post them between [ code ] marks (using the "#" button of the forum's html editor in advanced mode) or the formatting in columns will be lost. Please post them for the main film of original sides 1 and 2 and the reauthored DVD. I'll be able to locate the errors...

Thanks a bunch r0lZ! I really appreciate it. Here's the reauthored DVD:

VTST 1 , 1   TTN 1  (3:01:14)  Title 1 - Chapters: 13,  Programs: 13,  Cells: 13 
********** pre commands:
   1  Set gprm(4) =(mov) 50 
   2  if ( gprm(7) >= gprm(4) ) then { (CallSS) Call the VMGM PGC 6, resume cell 1 } 
   3  Set gprm(2) =(mov) 1 
********** post commands:
   1  Set gprm(2) =(mov) 3 
   2  Set gprm(11) =(mov) sprm(1:Audio stream number) 
   3  Set gprm(11) &=(and) 15 
   4  Set gprm(12) =(mov) sprm(2:Sub-picture stream number) 
   5  Set gprm(12) &=(and) 127 
   6  Set gprm(6) =(mov) 6 
   7  (CallSS) Call the VMGM PGC 4, resume cell 1 
********** cell commands:
   1  LinkTailPGC 
 
 Playback time:  03:01:14.00 (at 30 fps)
 PG Playback mode:  sequential
 PUOs:           0 (0x00000000)
 NextPGCN:       1
 PrevPGCN:       1
 GoUpPGCN:       0
 PGC Still Time: 0
 Audio  stream  1 status: 0x00008000 (stream=0)
 Audio  stream  2 status: 0x00008100 (stream=1)
 Audio  stream  3 status: 0x00008200 (stream=2)
 Audio  stream  4 status: 0x00008300 (stream=3)
 Subpic stream  1 status: 0x80000000 (streams for 4:3=0, wide=0, letterbox=0, pan&scan=0)
 Subpic stream  2 status: 0x80010100 (streams for 4:3=0, wide=1, letterbox=1, pan&scan=0)
 BOVs Chap. Prog. Cell  Type  Seam- Ang VOBU  Cell  Cell  Playback     End          Entry    First    Last     Last     VOB Cell
      (PTT)             Flags less      Still Still Cmd.  Time         Time         VOBU     ILVU     VOBU     VOBU     ID  ID
                              Joint           Time  #                               sector   End      Start    End
 ?    1     1     1     2     no    -   no    0     0     00:15:02.18  00:15:02.18  0        0        360042   360240   1   1
 ?    2     2     2     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:30.15  00:23:33.03  360241   0        551223   551431   1   2
 ?    3     3     3     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:04:05.15  00:27:38.18  551432   0        649922   650118   1   3
 ?    4     4     4     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:36.16  00:33:15.04  650119   0        781913   782058   1   4
 ?    5     5     5     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:23.00  00:38:38.04  782059   0        890174   890358   1   5
 ?    6     6     6     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:07:15.15  00:45:53.19  890359   0        1048883  1049120  1   6
 ?    7     7     7     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:48.00  00:52:41.19  1049121  0        1212910  1213118  1   7
 ?    8     8     8     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:51.15  01:01:33.04  1213119  0        1417752  1417900  1   8
 ?    9     9     9     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:02:28.27  01:04:02.01  1417901  0        1473399  1473528  1   9
 ?    10    10    10    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:21.29  01:10:24.00  1473529  0        1619187  1619456  1   10
 ?    11    11    11    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:10:14.00  01:20:38.00  1619457  0        1859466  1859664  1   11
 ?    12    12    12    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:04:30.28  01:25:08.28  1859665  0        1946587  1946606  1   12
 ?    13    13    13    10    yes   -   no    0     1     01:36:05.02  03:01:14.00  1946607  0        4049561  4049564  2   1

Here's the original disc 1:

VTST 1 , 1   TTN 1  (1:25:09)  Title 1 - Chapters: 12,  Programs: 12,  Cells: 13 
********** pre commands:
   1  Set gprm(4) =(mov) 50 
   2  if ( gprm(7) >= gprm(4) ) then { (CallSS) Call the VMGM PGC 6, resume cell 1 } 
   3  Set gprm(2) =(mov) 1 
********** post commands:
   1  Set gprm(2) =(mov) 3 
   2  Set gprm(11) =(mov) sprm(1:Audio stream number) 
   3  Set gprm(11) &=(and) 15 
   4  Set gprm(12) =(mov) sprm(2:Sub-picture stream number) 
   5  Set gprm(12) &=(and) 127 
   6  Set gprm(6) =(mov) 6 
   7  (CallSS) Call the VMGM PGC 4, resume cell 1 
********** cell commands:
   1  LinkTailPGC 
 
 Playback time:  01:25:09.14 (at 30 fps)
 PG Playback mode:  sequential
 PUOs:           13059076 (0x00C74404)
                 - Title play (0x00000004)
                 - Menu call - Title (0x00000400)
                 - Menu call - Angle (0x00004000)
                 - Resume (0x00010000)
                 - Button select or activate (0x00020000)
                 - Still off (0x00040000)
                 - Angle change (0x00400000)
                 - Karaoke audio mix change (0x00800000)
 NextPGCN:       0
 PrevPGCN:       0
 GoUpPGCN:       0
 PGC Still Time: 0
 Audio  stream  1 status: 0x00008000 (stream=0)
 Audio  stream  2 status: 0x00008100 (stream=1)
 Audio  stream  3 status: 0x00008200 (stream=2)
 Audio  stream  4 status: 0x00008300 (stream=3)
 Subpic stream  1 status: 0x80000000 (streams for 4:3=0, wide=0, letterbox=0, pan&scan=0)
 Subpic stream  2 status: 0x80010100 (streams for 4:3=0, wide=1, letterbox=1, pan&scan=0)
 BOVs Chap. Prog. Cell  Type  Seam- Ang VOBU  Cell  Cell  Playback     End          Entry    First    Last     Last     VOB Cell
      (PTT)             Flags less      Still Still Cmd.  Time         Time         VOBU     ILVU     VOBU     VOBU     ID  ID
                              Joint           Time  #                               sector   End      Start    End
 ?    1     1     1     2     no    -   no    0     0     00:15:02.19  00:15:02.19  0        0        402360   402581   1   1
 ?    2     2     2     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:30.15  00:23:33.04  402582   0        617494   617726   1   2
 ?    3     3     3     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:04:05.15  00:27:38.19  617727   0        727713   727932   1   3
 ?    4     4     4     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:36.16  00:33:15.05  727933   0        875493   875664   1   4
 ?    5     5     5     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:23.00  00:38:38.05  875665   0        998911   999119   1   5
 ?    6     6     6     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:07:15.15  00:45:53.20  999120   0        1178055  1178315  1   6
 ?    7     7     7     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:48.00  00:52:41.20  1178316  0        1361226  1361457  1   7
 ?    8     8     8     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:51.15  01:01:33.05  1361458  0        1591007  1591178  1   8
 ?    9     9     9     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:02:28.27  01:04:02.02  1591179  0        1653645  1653794  1   9
 ?                10    0     no    -   no    0     0     00:06:21.29  01:10:24.01  1653795  0        1817352  1817644  1   10
 ?    10    10    11    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:10:14.00  01:20:38.01  1817645  0        2086441  2086662  1   11
 ?    11    11    12    8     yes   -   no    0     1     00:04:30.28  01:25:08.29  2086663  0        2186270  2186329  1   12
 ?    12    12    13    2     no    -   no    0     0     00:00:00.15  01:25:09.14  2186330  0        2186330  2186333  2   1

And, here's the original disc 2:

VTST 1 , 1   TTN 1  (1:21:17)  Title 1 - Chapters: 14,  Programs: 14,  Cells: 14 
********** pre commands:
   1  Set gprm(4) =(mov) 50 
   2  if ( gprm(7) >= gprm(4) ) then { (CallSS) Call the VMGM PGC 6, resume cell 1 } 
   3  Set gprm(2) =(mov) 1 
********** post commands:
   1  Set gprm(2) =(mov) 3 
   2  (CallSS) Call the VTSM Root menu of the current VTS, resume cell 1 
********** cell commands:
   1  LinkTailPGC 
 
 Playback time:  01:21:17.04 (at 30 fps)
 PG Playback mode:  sequential
 PUOs:           13059076 (0x00C74404)
                 - Title play (0x00000004)
                 - Menu call - Title (0x00000400)
                 - Menu call - Angle (0x00004000)
                 - Resume (0x00010000)
                 - Button select or activate (0x00020000)
                 - Still off (0x00040000)
                 - Angle change (0x00400000)
                 - Karaoke audio mix change (0x00800000)
 NextPGCN:       0
 PrevPGCN:       0
 GoUpPGCN:       0
 PGC Still Time: 0
 Audio  stream  1 status: 0x00008000 (stream=0)
 Audio  stream  2 status: 0x00008100 (stream=1)
 Audio  stream  3 status: 0x00008200 (stream=2)
 Audio  stream  4 status: 0x00008300 (stream=3)
 Subpic stream  1 status: 0x80000000 (streams for 4:3=0, wide=0, letterbox=0, pan&scan=0)
 Subpic stream  2 status: 0x80010100 (streams for 4:3=0, wide=1, letterbox=1, pan&scan=0)
 BOVs Chap. Prog. Cell  Type  Seam- Ang VOBU  Cell  Cell  Playback     End          Entry    First    Last     Last     VOB Cell
      (PTT)             Flags less      Still Still Cmd.  Time         Time         VOBU     ILVU     VOBU     VOBU     ID  ID
                              Joint           Time  #                               sector   End      Start    End
 ?    1     1     1     2     no    -   no    0     0     00:08:09.20  00:08:09.20  0        0        232270   232507   1   1
 ?    2     2     2     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:03:20.00  00:11:29.20  232508   0        333709   333945   1   2
 ?    3     3     3     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:37.00  00:18:06.20  333946   0        536177   536432   1   3
 ?    4     4     4     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:04:16.15  00:22:23.05  536433   0        663656   663756   1   4
 ?    5     5     5     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:47.15  00:29:10.20  663757   0        861721   862000   1   5
 ?    6     6     6     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:32.28  00:35:43.18  862001   0        1047402  1047623  1   6
 ?    7     7     7     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:02.00  00:41:45.18  1047624  0        1220784  1221009  1   7
 ?    8     8     8     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:26.00  00:47:11.18  1221010  0        1385545  1385826  1   8
 ?    9     9     9     0     no    -   no    0     0     00:05:35.29  00:52:47.17  1385827  0        1557453  1557718  1   9
 ?    10    10    10    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:04:56.00  00:57:43.17  1557719  0        1706952  1707236  1   10
 ?    11    11    11    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:22.00  01:04:05.17  1707237  0        1912827  1913105  1   11
 ?    12    12    12    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:30.15  01:12:36.02  1913106  0        2163691  2163774  1   12
 ?    13    13    13    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:40.17  01:21:16.19  2163775  0        2332419  2332531  1   13
 ?    14    14    14    2     no    -   no    0     0     00:00:00.15  01:21:17.04  2332532  0        2332532  2332535  2   1

Again r0lZ, I really appreciate your help. I feel I will be much wiser after your and dialysis1's help.

[r0lZ]

Let's start with the cells tables.

As you can see, there is no chapter point on cell 10 of side 1. (Cell 10 is obviously the layer break point.) Therefore, to keep the chapters in the correct order, you have to click on the Prog button of cell 6. You will notice that the "Edit chapters" button will turn red. That means that you have to edit the chapter table too, as the last chapter points now to nowhere. Remove it.

Note also that the last cell of side 1 is a tiny short black cell. Its duration is 0.5 seconds. That cell is used to let the user skip to the end of the PGC with the remote when the last real chapter is playing. This is also why there is a cell command on the previous cell. Cell command 1 is LinkTailPGC. That commands jumps to the post-commands of the current PGC. Therefore, if the PGC is played until it ends normally, cell 12 (chapter 11) is played, and its cell command executed, then the post commands. The last tiny cell is therefore never played. It is played only if the user press Next Chapter during the playback of chapter 11, as the cell command is skipped in this case. Adding the cell command on the last cell of the PGC is therefore useless, as the post commands will be executed anyway after its playback.

Note also that there are 13 real chapters plus one tiny chapter on side 2, but that all those cells have been concatenated as a big cell, which replaces now the tiny cell of side 1. That's not what you want. To fix the problem, you have to split the big cell (chapter 13) at the original chapter points of side 2 with VobBlanker. It's easy, but you will have to search for the correct entry points for each chapter with the preview. IMO, as VobBlanker has now a very handy function to split a cell in several chapters, it's easier than redoing the whole thing from the beginning. Note that there is no need to recreate the last tiny chapter of side 2, as you can add a tiny cell easily with PgcEdit. Here is a short explanation on how to use VB to split the cell:

• Open the DVD, and select VTS_01_*.VOB in the upper pane. Click on the Process button to change its status from "skip" to "process".
• Double-click on the main movie PGC in the lower pane to open the cells list.
• Select the last cell and click on the Split button.
• Use the preview to locate the beginning of chapter 2 of side 2, and click on the Mark button. Be sure to leave the Add program and Add chapter checkboxes enabled.
• Repeat the previous step for all chapters. Finally, click OK and Apply to return to the main window.
• Tick Use Input Folder. Be sure to tick Process Titles, but do NOT tick Process Menu. Click the PROCESS!! button and let VB do its magic. That's all.

Now, reload the DVD in PgcEdit. You should have 24 chapters and 25 cells. If you want so, you can add a tiny chapter at the end of the PGC to duplicate exactly the behaviour of the original DVD. Simply use the "Create new cell" button, and select "Create cell at the end of the PGC", "Create new program and chapter", "Create a new blank VOB cell", and "Rebuild time map". The backup option is up to you. When the new cell has been created, adds the cell command on the previous cell.


It is probably very difficult to append the original chapter menu of side 2 to the current chapter menu (covering only side 1) as that requires many steps and a good knowledge of the structure of the DVDs and of the VM commands. It's theoretically possible, but IMO, it's too difficult for a beginner. Anyway, begin by recreating the missing chapters.

[rdkapp]

. . . . Here is a short explanation on how to use VB to split the cell:

• Open the DVD, and select VTS_01_*.VOB in the upper pane. Click on the Process button to change its status from "skip" to "process".
• Double-click on the main movie PGC in the lower pane to open the cells list.
• Select the last cell and click on the Split button.
• Use the preview to locate the beginning of chapter 2 of side 2, and click on the Mark button. Be sure to leave the Add program and Add chapter checkboxes enabled.
• Repeat the previous step for all chapters. Finally, click OK and Apply to return to the main window.
• Tick Use Input Folder. Be sure to tick Process Titles, but do NOT tick Process Menu. Click the PROCESS!! button and let VB do its magic. That's all.

r0lZ, after doing the above splitting procedure twice for the large cell containing the disc 2 movie, I discovered that it was only splitting the last cell I told it to split (I thought I did something wrong the first time). The earlier splits were lost even though I marked each one carefully. So, I decided to PROCESS!! each split separately. It's very time consuming and I actually still have a couple to go as I'm typing this post. There have been no errors in the log (just some notes), but I continuously save over the current log with each successive log. I didn't think I needed to save 14 or 15 different logs if there were no errors. Hope I'm ok there.

One thing I would like to mention is that with each split (mark), I received the following warning:



I wasn't sure what to make of the warning, so I just clicked OK and went on with more splitting. Is the warning of any significance to what I'm doing?

When I'm done with splitting and all the instructions in your last post, I'll repost the output of Info -> PGC for the reauthored movie to see where I'm at. Thanks again.

[r0lZ]

Sorry, I forgot that splitting a cell several times in the same run is a new feature of VB v2.1.3, still in beta phase. You can download beta 4 here.

The Open Gop warning has been removed in v2.1.3, and anyway, you can safely ignore it when you split cells to create new chapter points. This warning is only useful if you cut a cell to remove the beginning of the cell.

[rdkapp]

Sorry, I forgot that splitting a cell several times in the same run is a new feature of VB v2.1.3, still in beta phase. You can download beta 4 here.

The Open Gop warning has been removed in v2.1.3, and anyway, you can safely ignore it when you split cells to create new chapter points. This warning is only useful if you cut a cell to remove the beginning of the cell.

Thanks for the link and the info. Here's the updated output of Info -> PGC for the reauthored movie:

VTST 1 , 1   TTN 1  (6:25:09)  Title 1 - Chapters: 25,  Programs: 25,  Cells: 26 
********** pre commands:
   1  Set gprm(4) =(mov) 50 
   2  if ( gprm(7) >= gprm(4) ) then { (CallSS) Call the VMGM PGC 6, resume cell 1 } 
   3  Set gprm(2) =(mov) 1 
********** post commands:
   1  Set gprm(2) =(mov) 3 
   2  Set gprm(11) =(mov) sprm(1:Audio stream number) 
   3  Set gprm(11) &=(and) 15 
   4  Set gprm(12) =(mov) sprm(2:Sub-picture stream number) 
   5  Set gprm(12) &=(and) 127 
   6  Set gprm(6) =(mov) 6 
   7  (CallSS) Call the VMGM PGC 4, resume cell 1 
********** cell commands:
   1  LinkTailPGC 
 
 Playback time:  06:25:09.26 (at 30 fps)
 PG Playback mode:  sequential
 PUOs:           0 (0x00000000)
 NextPGCN:       1
 PrevPGCN:       1
 GoUpPGCN:       0
 PGC Still Time: 0
 Audio  stream  1 status: 0x00008000 (stream=0)
 Audio  stream  2 status: 0x00008100 (stream=1)
 Audio  stream  3 status: 0x00008200 (stream=2)
 Audio  stream  4 status: 0x00008300 (stream=3)
 Subpic stream  1 status: 0x80000000 (streams for 4:3=0, wide=0, letterbox=0, pan&scan=0)
 Subpic stream  2 status: 0x80010100 (streams for 4:3=0, wide=1, letterbox=1, pan&scan=0)
 BOVs Chap. Prog. Cell  Type  Seam- Ang VOBU  Cell  Cell  Playback     End          Entry    First    Last     Last     VOB Cell
      (PTT)             Flags less      Still Still Cmd.  Time         Time         VOBU     ILVU     VOBU     VOBU     ID  ID
                              Joint           Time  #                               sector   End      Start    End
 ?    1     1     1     2     no    -   no    0     0     00:15:02.18  00:15:02.18  0        0        360042   360240   1   1
 ?    2     2     2     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:30.15  00:23:33.03  360241   0        551223   551431   1   2
 ?    3     3     3     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:04:05.15  00:27:38.18  551432   0        649922   650118   1   3
 ?    4     4     4     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:36.16  00:33:15.04  650119   0        781913   782058   1   4
 ?    5     5     5     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:23.00  00:38:38.04  782059   0        890174   890358   1   5
 ?                6     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:07:15.15  00:45:53.19  890359   0        1048883  1049120  1   6
 ?    6     6     7     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:48.00  00:52:41.19  1049121  0        1212910  1213118  1   7
 ?    7     7     8     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:51.15  01:01:33.04  1213119  0        1417752  1417900  1   8
 ?    8     8     9     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:02:28.27  01:04:02.01  1417901  0        1473399  1473528  1   9
 ?    9     9     10    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:21.29  01:10:24.00  1473529  0        1619187  1619456  1   10
 ?    10    10    11    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:10:14.00  01:20:38.00  1619457  0        1859466  1859664  1   11
 ?    11    11    12    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:04:30.28  01:25:08.28  1859665  0        1946587  1946606  1   12
 ?    12    12    13    10    yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:09.19  01:33:18.17  1946607  0        2155899  2156111  2   1
 ?    13    13    14    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:03:20.00  01:36:38.17  2156112  0        2247953  2248166  2   2
 ?    14    14    15    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:37.00  01:43:15.17  2248167  0        2431793  2432025  2   3
 ?    15    15    16    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:04:17.00  01:47:32.17  2432026  0        2547288  2547367  2   4
 ?    16    16    17    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:47.00  01:54:19.17  2547368  0        2726155  2726411  2   5
 ?    17    17    18    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:32.27  02:00:52.14  2726412  0        2893397  2893597  2   6
 ?    18    18    19    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:02.00  02:06:54.14  2893598  0        3049795  3049998  2   7
 ?    19    19    20    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:26.00  02:12:20.14  3049999  0        3199260  3199517  2   8
 ?    20    20    21    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:35.28  02:17:56.12  3199518  0        3355404  3355646  2   9
 ?    21    21    22    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:04:56.00  02:22:52.12  3355647  0        3491014  3491275  2   10
 ?    22    22    23    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:22.00  02:29:14.12  3491276  0        3678965  3679220  2   11
 ?    23    23    24    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:30.15  02:37:44.27  3679221  0        3905876  3905935  2   12
 ?    24    24    25    8     yes   -   no    0     0     1513:47:24.14  06:25:09.11  3905936  0        4049561  4049564  2   13
 0    25    25    26    10    yes   -   no    0     1     00:00:00.15  06:25:09.26  4049565  0        4049565  4049569  3   1

There's obviously a problem with the playback time in cell 25. After PgcEdit went through the Rebuild Time Map process, it told there was an error and asked if I wanted to fix it. I said yes, and it gave me the following log:

Some times have been fixed in VTS_TMAPTI of VTS 1:
VTS 1, PGC 1, cell 13: 00:08:10.05 -> 00:08:09.19
VTS 1, PGC 1, cell 16: 00:05:48.00 -> 00:04:17.00
VTS 1, PGC 1, cell 19: 00:10:04.15 -> 00:06:02.00
VTS 1, PGC 1, cell 23: 00:07:19.15 -> 00:06:22.00
VTS 1, PGC 1, cell 25: 00:16:57.17 -> 1513:47:24.14
VTS 1, PGC 1, cell 26: 00:00:00.12 -> 00:00:00.15
VTS 1, PGC 1 playback time: 03:01:14.12 -> 01:25:09.29

What do I do to fix this?

[r0lZ]

Hum, that's very strange, and indicates that there is probably a problem in the VOBs.

The cell time posted above was the original one, produced by VobBlanker, or the one after the Rebuild Time Map operation in PgcEdit?
In the first case, you can try to reprocess the title with VobBlanker. It will also rebuild the time map. There might be a bug in my code...

[rdkapp]

Hum, that's very strange, and indicates that there is probably a problem in the VOBs.

The cell time posted above was the original one, produced by VobBlanker, or the one after the Rebuild Time Map operation in PgcEdit?
In the first case, you can try to reprocess the title with VobBlanker. It will also rebuild the time map. There might be a bug in my code...

It was after the Rebuild Time Map operation in PgcEdit. Should I go ahead and reprocess the title with VobBlanker?

[r0lZ]

Just run VobBlanker on the title. It will probably fix the problem.

There are some bugs in the time map functions of PgcEdit, when applied on NTSC material, currently discussed at D9 here. The problem exhibited here seems different. It's probably because VobBlanker has added the last tiny cell of side 2, which has a different VOB ID (and that means that the timestamps are reset to 0 at the beginning of the cell), without fixing the timestamps of that cell. IMO, that's a bug in VB, but PgcEdit should handle it more intelligently. I'll see what I can do... In the meantime, I'll contact jsoto to signal the problem...

[rdkapp]

Just run VobBlanker on the title. It will probably fix the problem.

Will do. I'll report back afterwards to see that everything went smoothly.

. . . . The problem exhibited here seems different. It's probably because VobBlanker has added the last tiny cell of side 2, which has a different VOB ID (and that means that the timestamps are reset to 0 at the beginning of the cell), without fixing the timestamps of that cell. IMO, that's a bug in VB, but PgcEdit should handle it more intelligently. I'll see what I can do... In the meantime, I'll contact jsoto to signal the problem...

I don't know if it makes a difference, but I added the last tiny cell in PgcEdit, according to the instruction contained in the following quote:

Now, reload the DVD in PgcEdit. You should have 24 chapters and 25 cells. If you want so, you can add a tiny chapter at the end of the PGC to duplicate exactly the behaviour of the original DVD. Simply use the "Create new cell" button, and select "Create cell at the end of the PGC", "Create new program and chapter", "Create a new blank VOB cell", and "Rebuild time map". The backup option is up to you. When the new cell has been created, adds the cell command on the previous cell.

[r0lZ]

Now, the last tiny cell that you have added has its own VOB ID and is therefore totally independent. The cell that cause the problem is the last one in the original side 2 (cell 14, with VOB ID 2.)

It is perhaps possible to cut it from the VOB file, and leave only the cell added by PgcEdit, but as that cell is probably a single frame, I'm not sure VB will let you do that. You can also try to create a new chapter beginning at that cell. IMO, if you use VB's Split Cell function (or Cut Cell) again on the last cell (not including the cell added by PgcEdit), and you move the cursor to the last position on the time line, and split or cut the cell at that point, you will probably be able to fix the problem. But anyway, that problem should not occur at all.

[rdkapp]

. . . IMO, if you use VB's Split Cell function (or Cut Cell) again on the last cell (not including the cell added by PgcEdit), and you move the cursor to the last position on the time line, and split or cut the cell at that point, you will probably be able to fix the problem. . . .

Done, but it created another tiny cell at the end, in VOB ID 2. Now there's a tiny cell in both VOB ID 2 and VOB ID 3.

Do I need to remove one? If so, which one, and how?

Also, do I need to rebuild the time map again in PgcEdit?

Finally r0lZ, have I told you how much I appreciate your help?

[r0lZ]

You should remove the cell that VB has just created, in VOB ID 2, as it should have a new VOB ID, but VB has not created one. Do you know how to remove a cell with PgcEdit? Take care: you will remove a cell, not a chapter or a program. Use the right number!

If you really wants to remove it also from the VOBs (but IMO that's not needed), you will have to process the title again with VB, or with FixVTS. (BTW, for this kind of usage, FixVTS is faster, especially if you tick the "in place" checkbox.)

There is no need to recreate the time maps, as those tiny cells are, well, tiny, and they have no importance. Furthermore, currently, it is probably better to use VB to rebuild the time maps, because of the NTSC bug in PgcEdit.

I have also recreated the same problem here, and I can confirm that the last tiny cell was included by VB in the same VOB ID without recreating the time stamps. Hence the PgcEdit problem with the totally wrong cell duration.

In the future, to avoid this problem, you should create as many tiny cells as there are in side 2 with PgcEdit, and replace them after with VB. It's probably easier, and you will not have to split the cells manually to recreate the missing chapters. (However, as I have never used this method, I could be wrong.)

Thanks for the thanks!

[rdkapp]

You should remove the cell that VB has just created, in VOB ID 2, as it should have a new VOB ID, but VB has not created one. Do you know how to remove a cell with PgcEdit? Take care: you will remove a cell, not a chapter or a program. Use the right number!

If you really wants to remove it also from the VOBs (but IMO that's not needed), you will have to process the title again with VB, or with FixVTS. (BTW, for this kind of usage, FixVTS is faster, especially if you tick the "in place" checkbox.)

OK r0lZ. I'm a bit frustrated trying to remove the tiny cell (26). I'm sure I'm not doing something right, but that little booger doesn't seem to want to go away. First, I tried in PgcEdit. I thought I could figure it out and I did it with the "Remove Cells" button, but I got this warning -->



I went ahead and clicked OK, and then afterwards, my chapter/program 25 was gone (i.e. it didn't renumber chapter/program 26 to 25), and I wasn't sure if that was right, so I didn't save it. I chose to try to delete it in VOB Blanker either by blanking it, or deleting it with Prev/Cut, but it did not go away. Then, I downloaded FixVTS and ran it as you instructed, but the cell is still there.

Below is my Info --> PGC file. Please help on how to delete cell 26, with everything else staying in place.

VTST 1 , 1   TTN 1  (3:01:14)  Title 1 - Chapters: 26,  Programs: 26,  Cells: 27 
********** pre commands:
   1  Set gprm(4) =(mov) 50 
   2  if ( gprm(7) >= gprm(4) ) then { (CallSS) Call the VMGM PGC 6, resume cell 1 } 
   3  Set gprm(2) =(mov) 1 
********** post commands:
   1  Set gprm(2) =(mov) 3 
   2  Set gprm(11) =(mov) sprm(1:Audio stream number) 
   3  Set gprm(11) &=(and) 15 
   4  Set gprm(12) =(mov) sprm(2:Sub-picture stream number) 
   5  Set gprm(12) &=(and) 127 
   6  Set gprm(6) =(mov) 6 
   7  (CallSS) Call the VMGM PGC 4, resume cell 1 
********** cell commands:
   1  LinkTailPGC 
 
 Playback time:  03:01:14.15 (at 30 fps)
 PG Playback mode:  sequential
 PUOs:           0 (0x00000000)
 NextPGCN:       1
 PrevPGCN:       1
 GoUpPGCN:       0
 PGC Still Time: 0
 Audio  stream  1 status: 0x00008000 (stream=0)
 Audio  stream  2 status: 0x00008100 (stream=1)
 Audio  stream  3 status: 0x00008200 (stream=2)
 Audio  stream  4 status: 0x00008300 (stream=3)
 Subpic stream  1 status: 0x80000000 (streams for 4:3=0, wide=0, letterbox=0, pan&scan=0)
 Subpic stream  2 status: 0x80010100 (streams for 4:3=0, wide=1, letterbox=1, pan&scan=0)
 BOVs Chap. Prog. Cell  Type  Seam- Ang VOBU  Cell  Cell  Playback     End          Entry    First    Last     Last     VOB Cell
      (PTT)             Flags less      Still Still Cmd.  Time         Time         VOBU     ILVU     VOBU     VOBU     ID  ID
                              Joint           Time  #                               sector   End      Start    End
 ?    1     1     1     2     no    -   no    0     0     00:15:02.18  00:15:02.18  0        0        360042   360240   1   1
 ?    2     2     2     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:30.15  00:23:33.03  360241   0        551223   551431   1   2
 ?    3     3     3     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:04:05.15  00:27:38.18  551432   0        649922   650118   1   3
 ?    4     4     4     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:36.16  00:33:15.04  650119   0        781913   782058   1   4
 ?    5     5     5     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:23.00  00:38:38.04  782059   0        890174   890358   1   5
 ?                6     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:07:15.15  00:45:53.19  890359   0        1048883  1049120  1   6
 ?    6     6     7     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:48.00  00:52:41.19  1049121  0        1212910  1213118  1   7
 ?    7     7     8     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:51.15  01:01:33.04  1213119  0        1417752  1417900  1   8
 ?    8     8     9     8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:02:28.27  01:04:02.01  1417901  0        1473399  1473528  1   9
 ?    9     9     10    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:21.29  01:10:24.00  1473529  0        1619187  1619456  1   10
 ?    10    10    11    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:10:14.00  01:20:38.00  1619457  0        1859466  1859664  1   11
 ?    11    11    12    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:04:30.28  01:25:08.28  1859665  0        1946587  1946606  1   12
 ?    12    12    13    10    yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:10.05  01:33:19.03  1946607  0        2155899  2156111  2   1
 ?    13    13    14    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:03:20.00  01:36:39.03  2156112  0        2247953  2248166  2   2
 ?    14    14    15    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:37.00  01:43:16.03  2248167  0        2431793  2432025  2   3
 ?    15    15    16    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:48.00  01:49:04.03  2432026  0        2547288  2547367  2   4
 ?    16    16    17    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:47.00  01:55:51.03  2547368  0        2726155  2726411  2   5
 ?    17    17    18    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:06:32.27  02:02:24.00  2726412  0        2893397  2893597  2   6
 ?    18    18    19    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:10:04.15  02:12:28.15  2893598  0        3049795  3049998  2   7
 ?    19    19    20    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:26.00  02:17:54.15  3049999  0        3199260  3199517  2   8
 ?    20    20    21    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:05:35.28  02:23:30.13  3199518  0        3355404  3355646  2   9
 ?    21    21    22    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:04:56.00  02:28:26.13  3355647  0        3491014  3491275  2   10
 ?    22    22    23    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:07:19.15  02:35:45.28  3491276  0        3678965  3679220  2   11
 ?    23    23    24    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:08:30.15  02:44:16.13  3679221  0        3905876  3905935  2   12
 ?    24    24    25    8     yes   -   no    0     0     00:16:57.02  03:01:13.15  3905936  0        4049487  4049560  2   13
 ?    25    25    26    2     no    -   no    0     0     00:00:00.15  03:01:14.00  4049561  0        4049561  4049565  2   14
 ?    26    26    27    2     no    -   no    0     1     00:00:00.15  03:01:14.15  4049566  0        4049566  4049570  3   1