I have both the dvdproj file as well as the archived file, but without iDVD, I can't open them. Is there some way to access these? I tried using an external boot drive and to load an older OS that supports iDVD, but I keep getting a message that they aren't compatible. Specifically Mavericks. But I can't find another to download to try. Any help would be very much appreciated.
No. iDVD is a 32 bit app and will not run on Catalina or newer. You'll need to get an external SSD and install High Sierra on it. This url will take you to the App Store and the High Sierra download: macappstore://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12
High Sierra was the last system that it was fully compatible, i.e. all of the animated themes.
If you go the external SSD route I suggest you contact OWC (MacSales.com) customer support and have them recommend which of their external SSDs would best suit your Mac model and budget. They are the premier Mac hardware vendor.
No. iDVD is a 32 bit app and will not run on Catalina or newer. You'll need to get an external SSD and install High Sierra on it. This url will take you to the App Store and the High Sierra download: macappstore://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12
High Sierra was the last system that it was fully compatible, i.e. all of the animated themes.
If you go the external SSD route I suggest you contact OWC (MacSales.com) customer support and have them recommend which of their external SSDs would best suit your Mac model and budget. They are the premier Mac hardware vendor.
iDVD is the only app that can open an iDVD project file and use it. Also, unless it's an archived project file (all media files used in it are copied into the project file) it probably won't be useable unless the media files (photos and videos) are in the same location as they were when the project was first created.
If it is an archived project file you can open the package contents and copy the media files out to folders on the Desktop and create a new video DVD project with a newer app. An archived project file looks like this inside:
The media files will be in the av and stills folders.
Control (right) - click on the project file and select "Show Package Contents" from the contextual menu:
Then look in the av and stills folders.
A Mac can't run a system older than the one it came with.
What Model and year is your Mac?
What system was on your Mac when your first got it?
If you've had iDVD running on it previously you certainly install the same or newer system on an external SSD and run from it.
This Apple document describes how to make an installer to install on the external SSD: How to create a bootable installer for macOS
It'll take a flash drive/stick of at least 16 GB or more.
shellbhawaii wrote:
Also, I had at one point created a new APTF volume on my MacBook to try all this. Can I install the High Sierra on that?
You could but personally I wouldn't. I'd do it on an external drive. I just don't want to put the internal SSD in jeopardy.
If you don't have one I use this for several different systems that I use:
I have several of the OWC bare SSDs that I swap out in the adaptor. I use the flash drive/stick method to install the different systems on them.
The files that DO NOT have the Archived designation will not have the source media files in them. They only have links to the original files were they were on the hard drive when the project was created. If they are not in the same place on the same volume, etc. you'll have to find them and add to the new project.
No, I don't think you're dense. It's just a communication problem. If we were taking this probably would be solved long ago.
I'd have to see the contents of the project folders vs the project packages to see if there was any difference that would make the package turn into a folder.
One thing to do is bring up the Info pane for one of the folders and see what's designated as the app to open it with. If not iDVD try changing it to iDVD and see if the folder changes to a package.
I have Mavericks 9.0 installation app loaded on my bootable external, but I get the message that my computer can't open an OS that old. I read that iDVD didn't work on High Sierra, but if you are confirming that it can, do I just put the download on my external? When I boot to it, will it launch that? I'm not totally clear on how that works. When I booted to the external with Mavericks on it, I got that circle with the line through it.
THanks for any guidance you can offer.
I got it in late 2017, and I'm not 100% sure what OS it was. I'm thinking it was Sierra. I don't think it was High Sierra. But then I upgraded to Mojave. I wanted to keep that, but when I had to have some work done on my Mac a few months ago, the Apple tech didn't pay attention to that note and when they wiped my HD, they upgraded me to Catalina, which has caused all kinds of problems.
I will look at the instructions you provided and see if I can manage the upgrade to High Sierra.
Thanks.
Hello,
Touching base... Had to step away from this project to address some family stuff... But I did download the High Sierra install file. Once I set that up on my external, how do I go about converting the iDVD file to something I can play on my Catalina Mac? And is there any way to take the original rcproject files to edit them in a new software program?
Thanks for your continued help!
Okay, since you've been so helpful, I have another question, the answer for which I couldn't find with an online search. Below is a screen capture of my archived iDVDs. You can see some are folders (which mostly have the files you showed above), but some are just a file that cannot be opened in any way. Why the difference, and what can I do to access the "file" ones?
Yes, but as you can see when you look at the ones in my screen capture that are not folders, they are ARCHIVED. Some came in as a zip, then I opened them. But it was long ago, so I can't say how that happened. Does it mean the archiving simply didn't generate correctly?
You are so cute. You probably think I'm dense. I totally understand the right click to see the package contents, and on the archived projects that are in a FOLDER, I can do that, drilling down to contents, then to the AV and stills folders.
But in the screen capture I sent you, the CONTENTS folder was from one of the "files" I showed in my last screen grab. The FOLDERS of the archives open and have all that you show. But my question is WHY are some of the archived dvdproject files, just that... a file? The "contents" folder when I right click on one of those is what I showed you earlier, and again here. I'm wondering if that means they just didn't generate the archive properly. Would that be an accurate assumption?
The first screen capture shows my total list in my archives folder.
The second screen capture is what appears under "Contents" of the first one, named "Bill's 60th Birthday Archived.dvdproj
As you can see, the stuff in the Contents folder is not what should be in an archived file.
Also, I had at one point created a new APTF volume on my MacBook to try all this. Can I install the High Sierra on that?
Okay, so I've downloaded/purchased DVD Maker Pro-DVD Creator, and I went to the Contents package you showed above, but my Resources folder doesn't show what yours does. See screen capture:
How can I open a dvdproj file running Catalina, or even the archived file
