12 Replies Latest reply: Aug 6, 2010 11:08 AM by Bill Hunt RSS

    Missing Menus in Final Project

    ckelly33 Community Member

      I've used HDV and now have moved on to AVCHD.  I only do my family movies and I've burned several DVD's and BD's but I've never had this much trouble with a project before.

       

      First, I began creating the project (as always) with PRE8.01, all was going well until I began to run out of memory and then my project wouldn't load.  After learning that PRE8 is 32-bit and wasn't utilizing my 18GB RAM, I decided to upgrade to CS5.  Once I upgraded (and performed the updates), I loaded my old PRE8 project into PrePro and I was able to complete it.

       

      Encore was new to me and I have to admit preferring the "menu-in-a-can" approach to PRE8, but I've done the linking before and I got it completed.  I ran a preview of my file, all went well and I confirmed that there were no errors in my file.  Next, I burned the disc in Encore and once it was completed, I played it in my Oppo BDP-83 BR player (latest firmware) and it went straight to the video (the "preview" went straight to menu)....I pressed menu and it did nothing.  I stopped twice (after only once, my player will resume play) and tried to press Menu from the get-go....nothing.

       

      I'm happy with the output.  Chapters are intact and everything....but where did my menus go??  What did I do wrong?

        • 1. Re: Missing Menus in Final Project
          Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

          Let's run a quick test first.

           

          Open your Project in Encore, and Preview again, just to make sure that things are working properly there. If so, then Burn to Folder. This creates the VIDEO_TS folder (where you direct it) with the necessary IFO, BUP and VOB files. Get a cup of coffee (decaf preferred) and when done, use a DVD software player, like CyberLink's PowerDVD, or the great free MediaPlayer Classic HC to play the files in the VIDEO_TS folder. This might differ very slightly, depending on the actual DVD software player used, but in PowerDVD, you just point it to Play from Hard Drive, and then navigate to that particular VIDEO_TS folder. The software player will take over and you should get your your Menu coming up as Play First in PowerDVD.

           

          Does this work?

           

          Don't worry, there will be a few more tests and questions to follow, but I want to narrow down that this playing of the VIDEO_TS works as expected in the DVD software player.

           

          Good luck,

           

          Hunt

          • 2. Re: Missing Menus in Final Project
            ckelly33 Community Member

            I did the preview again, it still works as designed (with menus accessible).

             

            While I follow the rest of your instructions, I have another couple of questions that I've done quick searches on but cannot find the answer (maybe it was poor search terms).  First, in other do-it-yourself menus I have done (non-encore), I have been able to choose what the startup action is when the disc is put in:  Menu or play.  I prefer 'menu' but the default seems to be 'play'.  Where do I find that property to change it?

             

            Also, I'm using the "Passport Menu HD".  Since the overall Title in that menu production ("Our Travel Diaries") doesn't seem to allow for a change in title, I've used the first menu button to create a title for my video ("Seattle & Vancouver 2010").  On my initial check, that button was one of the problems - since I had never specified an action to correspond to the button.  I looked at my choices and chose 'link back to here', I think, although I may be wrong since I have played with it since then.  If using a button as a title/graphic, should I simply leave it as 'not set'?

             

            Bill, you've been a TON of help through my many questions and you've help me a great deal.  I really appreciate your time and patience.

            • 3. Re: Missing Menus in Final Project
              Bill Hunt CommunityMVP
              First, in other do-it-yourself menus I have done (non-encore), I have been able to choose what the startup action is when the disc is put in:  Menu or play.  I prefer 'menu' but the default seems to be 'play'.  Where do I find that property to change it?

              Let's take these one at a time. What you are talking about is First Play. This can be set to a Menu, or to a Timeline, say the FBI Copyright statement, or maybe an Intro, leading to the first Menu. As a side-note, the author can also control what the user can do at almost every step. Many will disallow any user intervention during that Copyright notice, but then allow all interaction for the rest of the Project.

               

              The setting for First Play can be done in several places, but I like to use the Flowchart Panel. When you Import your Assets, or say create Timelines (can be created, or Imported), your Assets will go to a little area, affectionately referred to as "The Orphanage." One can link there, or to the Asset in the Project Panel. The Pickwhip (that little "spiral" Tool) is great for this.

               

              Here is how things look in EncoreDVD 2.0. The look has changed a bit in CS5, but the basics are the same. Also, some of the tabs have been modified in the GUI, but this should still point you in the right direction.

               

              Encore_Play-First_01.jpg

              Remember, the "look" has changed, so you will not see exactly what I have depicted, but the basics are still the same.

               

              Good luck,

               

              Hunt

              • 4. Re: Missing Menus in Final Project
                ckelly33 Community Member

                Saving to destop as a Video_TS and mounting with the free software you recommended played the file but the menu wasn't even a choice (it was greyed out) so it's not getting put in there somehow?

                • 5. Re: Missing Menus in Final Project
                  Bill Hunt CommunityMVP
                  Also, I'm using the "Passport Menu HD".  Since the overall Title in that menu production ("Our Travel Diaries") doesn't seem to allow for a change in title, I've used the first menu button to create a title for my video ("Seattle & Vancouver 2010").

                  In that Menu, you have both Buttons and also plain Text (as a graphic), and you can change almost every aspect. I use PS almost exclusively, so will step you through that process, with some background on what is happening.

                   

                  In Encore, Dbl-click on the Menu in the Project Panel to Open it in the Menu Editing Panel (much can be done here, but like I mentioned, I use PS almost exclusively). Now, Rt-click on that Menu and choose Edit in Photoshop. A couple of things happen now. First, a TMP PSD file is created, then PS is launched, and then that TMP PSD is Opened in PS. This TMP file is linked between PS and Encore. In PS, open up the Layers Palette and twirl open all of the Layer Sets. You will see the Text Layer for that graphic. Dbl-click on the "T" icon in that Layer to both Select all Text and to make that Layer active. Alter it with the Text Tool, as you need.

                   

                  You will also see Text Layers (or at least you should - I do not have that Library Menu Open right now), and you can change those in the same way.

                   

                  Note: you are now working in the Button Layer Sets, so a bit of caution must be exercised. No element of a Button may overlap any other Button, even by 1 pixel. They MUST not overlap. The Button is defined by a rectangle encompassing the largest element and also ALL elements in the Button. If you expand that Text, make sure that it does not overlap any other Button. Now, Text in a Button does not have to be part of the actual Button, and can just be a graphic, but this can confuse some users, especially if playing the DVD from a computer via DVD software, as they might try to click on that Text graphic, and miss the actual Button. With a set-top player, it's a lot easier, and less confusing.

                   

                  When done, just do a Save (not a Save_As, or Save_As_a_Copy) and your changes will follow the link back to Encore. Give the program a moment to update the edited Menu and all is ready to go.

                   

                  If you have a Menu, that does not say what you want, you can add more Text Layers to the graphics of the Menu. Note: these should NOT be in any Button Layer Set, but outside all of those.

                   

                  Good luck, and hope that this helps,

                   

                  Hunt

                  • 6. Re: Missing Menus in Final Project
                    Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                    Take a look at my Flowchart image, and let me know how yours differs.

                     

                    Good luck,

                     

                    Hunt

                    • 7. Re: Missing Menus in Final Project
                      Bill Hunt CommunityMVP
                      On my initial check, that button was one of the problems - since I had never specified an action to correspond to the button.  I looked at my choices and chose 'link back to here', I think, although I may be wrong since I have played with it since then.  If using a button as a title/graphic, should I simply leave it as 'not set'?

                       

                      Now, I am not sure what is going on here. Did you finally get your Button to Link to your Timeline, or is this still an issue?

                       

                      Good luck,

                       

                      Hunt

                      • 8. Re: Missing Menus in Final Project
                        ckelly33 Community Member

                        My flowchart goes from DVD -> sequence only....no menu in the flowchart window.  Obviously I was supposed to do something here,

                        • 9. Re: Missing Menus in Final Project
                          ckelly33 Community Member

                          All of the buttons that I wanted linked to my timeline are linked.  There is a button that I wanted to keep as graphic only/without function.  I set no function to it which was picked up as an error.  I corrected it by having it re-route to the same page....may be a problem as well.  I wasn't sure whether to leave it as 'not set' or do what I did.

                          • 10. Re: Missing Menus in Final Project
                            Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                            There is a simple way to convert a Button (with its Layer Set) to a graphic. If this continues to be an issue, I'll step you though the process in Photoshop.

                             

                            As for your Flowchart, you will want something like my example, where the Menu is the First Play, and then the Buttons Link to the various Assets. In the Flowchart, just click-drag from the Disc to that Menu, and it will jump into place.

                             

                            Good luck,

                             

                            Hunt

                            • 11. Re: Missing Menus in Final Project
                              ckelly33 Community Member

                              BINGO!  Thanks Bill!  That did it.  Still new to Encore and I'm not into the logic of it yet, but your help has been a HUGE start.  I fixed it by clicking and dragging the menu into position on the flowchart.

                               

                              Oddly enough, it never functioned properly in the media player you suggested (menu was greyed out) but I make two copies of everything so, because of how frustrating this project has been, I just decided to forget it and burn another.....and the menu was there afterall.

                               

                              Anyway, thanks for ALL of your help.

                              • 12. Re: Missing Menus in Final Project
                                Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                                Glad that you have that first Project finished. That is a good start, and I believe that you have learned a lot.

                                 

                                There is a wonderful world of authoring ahead of you. Once you get the workflow down, and find where things are located, it will get quicker and quicker.

                                 

                                My general workflow is very boring, as I do everything the same way. However, that means that each Project should work well. Sometimes, just for a challenge, I will time myself, to see how quickly I can author a Project. With a constant workflow, you can actually do this in less time than you can in PrE, even with its semi-automatic authoring workflow. One just needs to get the concepts down, and learn where the Tools and switches are located.

                                 

                                Do not forget my rec. for Jeff's book. You will thank me later on.

                                 

                                One tip: never set an Override for anything. If you cannot get something to work without one, come here, outline your Project and your needs, and then someone will step you carefully through using one. They should be "locked," and one would have to come here to get the "key." In 99.9% of the cases, you will never need them, and they WILL mess things up horribly. They should ALL be set to "Not Set" - ALWAYS!

                                 

                                Good luck,

                                 

                                Hunt