adding folder of pdf docs to interactive DVD-ROM in DVDSP4?

[Mike Velte]

There is another world of authoring round shiny discs for interactive whatever. Apps like Flash, Multimedia Builder or Director have been doing this for years.
When a round shiny disc (DVD or CD) is inserted into the DVD_CD ROM Windows Looks for:
1. A .inf file for instructions to launch/play something

AND

2. A file/folder that Windows has had past experience with and was given instruction to “Do this every time…” such has play a video DVD (VIDEO_TS).

After you learn how to author in the aforementioned “another world”, you could burn the VIDEO_TS folder and also the files needed for a PC interactive disc.
The best results you could expect is that your interactive program begins. But if the PC has played Video DVDs in the past, Windows Media Player will launch as well or instead of the PC interactive program.
I suspect the results would be unpredictable.

[Wendy Kohn]

Thanks, I’m familiar with the “other worlds” of Flash and Director, my question was directed specifically at using tools within DVDSP4, since this is a heavily video-based DVD, and we need it to play on regular DVD players as well (obviously, without access to the DVD-ROM features then). But thanks for your input, all “worlds” have their pros and cons and work-arounds!

Anyone else tried to do this in DVDSP4?

Wendy, Kwamba Productions

[Rich Rubasch]

One issue you might come upon is that once a PDF is put on a disc and sent out it has a date stamp. If you ever update that file the person with the disc has an old version. I almost always recommend putting a web link on the disc that leads them to the PDF’s and other content. This way the most recent version is always a click away. It is also a way to have the DVD user provide their email so when updates become available they are notified.

Adding a Web Link oonto a DVD on a Mac in DVDSP you use DVD@ccess. You can author the disc on the Mac this way, then take your VideoTS buld to a PC and use Sonics eDVD to make the link available to PC users. This way everyone will have accesss to the most current files. The only caveat is that you must have an internet connection to get the files.

Does this help?

Rich Rubasch
Tilt Media

[Vic Diangelo]

So I am having the same issue. It also looks like Sonic is no longer selling the eDVD software. Are there any other workarounds to make the link work? Is eDVD still available somewhere and what does it cost?

I have it authored on DVDSP and it works great on Macs and when The DVD@cccess plugin is installed on PCs, but I really don’t want to force the end-user to install a plug in just to see the link. In that case I’ll just tell them to open the folder from the disc!

Thanks,

Vic DiAngelo
Glazen Creative Studios
Cleveland, Ohio

[Ben Gurney]

I am completing a Training DVD project and I am using DVD@ccess to launch a pdf document. It works fine on a Mac, but it is very inconsistent on PC. In fact the DVD won’t play inside some DVD players on PCs.

Any thoughts?

[Michael Sacci]

Yes, under no circumstance should DVD@ccess be used on a title that will be widely distributed. Abandon the idea.

Simple put a menu telling people that the pdfs are on the disc. Leave it at that.