Rivergate Software Inc. - makers of DVDAfterEdit

Posted Jun 29,2005 12:39 PM okeanos

[Re-Posting this from "Support Forum"]

Is there anything special I should be doing when I'm writing a DLT for a DVD that includes the eDVD ROM files (e.g. player installers, XML files, autorun.inf. images etc)? I'm specifically thinking about the ROM options in the tape output dialog.

Thanks in advance!

Michael

Posted Jun 29,2005 12:58 PM Trai

Hi Michael,

Sorry about not getting back to you (storm moved in between me and the satellite).

Keep the defaults in the ROM dialog, except in the case if you don't have any Mac executable files (DVD@ccess, etc); then uncheck the "keep Mac Rom data" option, so the .Dsstore file is not included (we've had some client complaints about this mysterious file being on their DVDs, when it didn't need to be. I've tried to get this option to be unchecked as a default, but to no avail, thus far).

For sure, if you have a Mac programmed executable file from a mac programming package that's included in the ROM area of a DVD, you'll need that DSstore file included, so the Mac OS will know where all the elements are.

Please let me know if you have ANY other questions on this.

Trai

Posted Jun 29,2005 1:54 PM okeanos

I'm using the defaults and there are some Mac executables on the disc (the InterActual player as an .dmg).

The odd thing is that the eDVD stuff seem to work just fine from a DVD-R (imaged using 'Edit and burnt using Toast) but it exhibits several problems on a check DVD made from a DLT also output from 'Edit. (N.B. This DLT passes the compare pass in 'Edit too.) In both cases I'm using the default ROM settings in 'Edit. The symptom is that on some PCs the InterActual player hangs when the user accesses the PGC to which a URL has been "attached." I'm not at all clear where the problem lies - though my client is concerned enough to have decided that the eDVD payload must go. Oddly, the same check DVD works fine on a Mac under OSX. [Go figure!]

One difference between the DVD-R and the check DVD is the use of CSS on the check DVD. I added this when I went to DLT. Any chance this is causing problems for the InterActual player?

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. I'd like to understand what might be going on here.

Michael

Posted Jun 29,2005 3:01 PM Trai

Hi Michael,

Well, now I'm starting to probably understand why we have the "Include Mac Rom data" option as the default; much better to insure authors get what they need in the ROM data area, than risk it not happening!

As far as what you're seeing, I believe it to be the result of the true current state of Internet connectivity performance with Standard Definition DVD (or maybe the result of Sonic's notoriously hyperactive marketing department?). Most Interactual implementations I've seen on Hollywood discs seem to be content with hoping a single hyperlink will work reliably to get the viewer over to a website; not risking playback triggering appropriate updating.

I've been reading the HD DVD-Video spec; this will change when the new players come on line (assuming it works half as good as described).

For years, DVD@ccess has been perfect as far as being counted on to not work properly.

If you'd like, I could run the disc through some tests to make sure things are spec compliant. Please contact me privately, and I'll send back some testing option proposals (If it's our fault, which I don't think it is, there'll be no charge).

My recommendation for the past more than 3 years has been to avoid web connectivity, unless arms are twisted and releases signed (this was written in December 2002):

http://www.tfdvd.com/public/57.cfm

Take care,

Trai

Posted Jun 29,2005 2:58 PM ianshepherd

Hi Michael,

Have InterActual / Sonic made any comments, esp. re. CSS ? The fact that it works on a Mac but not a PC says "outstanding issue" to me, especially it seems that some are fine, others aren't...

Ian