Setting up DVD@ccess in DVDSSP4

Question

Level 2

383 points

Setting up DVD@ccess in DVDSSP4

I want to use DVD@access on Mac and Win computers.

I have a folder documents, that is specified in the Disc Properties, and the DVD-ROM content is checked.

According to the manual, you cannot use a button for a web link or link to a document.

I have created one menu called PDF that has a PDF link:
file:///PROCESSEN/documents/Förskrivningsprocessen.pdf

The PDF menu also has a back button (not sure why I need a button anyway, the menu should open the file once I click the button that links to the menu?)

The other menu is called Web link and has a web link:
http://www.hi.se

When I run the project in the Simulator, the menus are displayed, but I don't see the PDF or the web site.

I have built the project on disc, enabled "DVD@access in the DVD Player Preferences - but it does not work - nor in Simulator or Player.

What am I missing? Can Swedish characters be used in file names?

G4 Dual, FCP5, DVDSP4, BitVice, Soundtrack Pro Mac OS X (10.4.3) 2 GB RAM, SuperDrive

Posted on Sep 18, 2006 1:05 AM

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Answer 1

Niklas Wikman Author

Level 2

383 points

Sep 18, 2006 1:47 AM in response to Niklas Wikman

Got the web link to work OK.

But the PDF does not work.

The Disc Properties says the disc is called PROCESSEN

Here's my layout:

/root - here's the project file
/MPEG-2 - my video assets
/graphics - my menu assets
/documents - here's my pdf - called processen.pdf

The path for my PDF in the dvd@ccess would be:

file:///PROCESSEN/documents/processen.pdf

But it does not work?

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Answer 2

Niklas Wikman Author

Level 2

383 points

Sep 18, 2006 2:30 AM in response to Niklas Wikman

Got it to work, thanks to this tutorial:

http://www.lafcpug.org/tutorials/basic_dvdaccess.html

The tricky thing is that you need to specify the folder in the Disc Inspector, like
/Volumes/Hjälpmedelsinstitutet/DVD/documents

But in the menu properties, you just specify

file:///DiscName/file.extension - no "documents" folder should be specified.

So, now it works.

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Answer 3

Niklas Wikman Author

Level 2

383 points

Sep 18, 2006 11:49 PM in response to Niklas Wikman

Using the link in the previous post, I got DVD@access to work just fine on Mac.

But, when playing on PC (using WinDVD) both my PDF and my web link opens at the same time, when accessing the first menu (with the PDF).

Anyone who has experienced problem using DVD@access on Windows computers and have a work-around?

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Answer 4

Hal MacLean

Level 6

14,833 points

Sep 19, 2006 12:27 AM in response to Niklas Wikman

Hi Niklas... you ask for the holy grail here!

The DVD@ccess links are very very patchy on windows machines. There are lots of issues and many that can't seem to be resolved. The best bet is to create the links with a tool on the PC called eDVD (by Sonic). This will ensure the disc works properly on a vast number of PCs, and be patchy on a proportion of Macs. Since the user will more likely have a PC, it makes sense to author for that platform primarily (much as it pains me to say so).

Sorry!

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Answer 5

Niklas Wikman Author

Level 2

383 points

Sep 20, 2006 4:49 AM in response to Hal MacLean

Thanks for your reply - got the same tip from a friend - try eDVD.

I have downloaded the eDVD demo and it's not working that well there, either... :-/

Using chapter points, I can assign a PDF or a URL. But either it opens both the URL and PDF, even though the chapter point specifies only the PDF.

And then I must figure out how to use chapter markers in menus (looks like you can't and then I must use video for my menus instead).

Opening Pandora's box here... 🙂

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Answer 6

Oct 20, 2006 2:27 AM in response to Hal MacLean

Would you have to author the DVD completely on eDVD ?
You can't do it using DVDSP and just do the link pages on eDVD, I suppose ?
Too much to ask for I think...

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Answer 7

Oct 21, 2006 2:09 PM in response to Niklas Wikman

I have used Intellidisc for linking to files and the web and find it easier to use and more reliable than EDVD.

www.Intellidisc.com

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