3 Replies Latest reply: Jun 25, 2010 1:17 PM by Bill Hunt RSS

    How does one re-use an Encore Project with different assets

    Blue_Devil1 Community Member

      Using CS3, I was wondering if there is a "standard method" for using a project repeatedly and simply replacing the video assets and changing the names of the menu buttons.

      I was thinking saving the project under a different name ie SAVE-as.  However, I was thinking if I used "replace footage" for the video in the project window of the new project, unless the video assets were exactly the same length, they wouldn't fit correctly in the previously made timelines.

       

      Thanks in advance for your help.

       

      John Rich

        • 1. Re: How does one re-use an Encore Project with different assets
          Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

          John,

           

          That Save_As is how I have done it. As an example, I had a 17 disc Project, and much would be common to all mini-Projects. I did my "template" Project, set up my Folders (Bins), added my "master" Menus, added Assets like Menu Audio (no Motion Menus here) and fine-tuned everything to suit. I did a Save_As (and made a copy of it elsewhere, in case I forgot to do another Save_As, and overwrote my "template), and just stated with that every time.

           

          I'd Import my unique Assets, edited my Menus to suit the unique Assets and the Timelines, and did a Save_As, incrementing the name to reflect the Disc Number. It was amazingly quick, and I never did overwrite my "template," so I never needed my hidden NCOR file, but had it.

           

          In my case, everything worked perfectly through Disc 14, but something did go wrong with 15. After trying to troubleshoot that Project, I just started over, and was even able to re-use my edited Menus in Project Disc 15A. That time, all went well, so it had to be OE on my part, but I never tracked down the issue. Discs 16 & 17 went perfectly.

           

          Hope that helps. Do a bit of planning, so that you have every non-unique Asset in the "template" and have the full structure there. Then, it's just Import the unique Assets, link and Build.

           

          Good luck,

           

          Hunt

          • 2. Re: How does one re-use an Encore Project with different assets
            Blue_Devil1 Community Member

            Bill,

            Thanks.  I follow you up to the point of making menus and linking them up and saving that project as a template.  It still seems to me for each project you would have to take your template and then import new video assets and  make each of them into a new timeline.  Therefore, you can't just switch out the video in some way, you have to replace it.  That is you can't use Replace footage.

             

            Am I on the right track? Thanks,

            John

            • 3. Re: How does one re-use an Encore Project with different assets
              Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

              John,

               

              You are correct. Also, stop short of any Button linking, as that will differ by version of the Project.

               

              I would not try Replace Assets, as there are issues, especially when you have done a Build for the DVD from that version. You could use Revert to Original, Clean/Delete Media Cache, and then Replace Assets, but I can imagine things going very wrong.

               

              In my case, I had a common Main Menu, and then a Scene Select Menu, that had to be customized by the number of them, and also the number of Buttons, and their layout. Still, I had the basics already in place, but with nothing linked. I also am a big fan of actually naming my Buttons to match my Assets (unique to each version), and then also do my text in PS, rather than Sync Name of Button. In my EncoreDVD 2.0, the Sync Name is on by default, so I always have to make sure that it is cleared. In CS3 and later, I think that it's OFF by default, and I'd like that much better. I've turned it OFF in my "template," but when I add Buttons, they are ON by default, and that has bitten me a few times, when I forget to toggle it OFF, before I do any linking. Usually, my Timeline/Sequence names are close, but I will often shorten names, due to layout constraints in the particular Menus.

               

              In all of my versions, I had that one, common Main Menu, and then a "first" Scene Selection Menu (no Previous Button), at least one intermediate Scene Selection Menu (both Previous and Next Buttons), and then one final Scene Selection Menu (no Next Button). I'd just duplicate the intermediates, as needed and perhaps alter the number and layout of Buttons on the final Scene Selection Menu, renaming every Button, as required by that version of the Project. Hope that makes sense.

               

              Good luck,

               

              Hunt