VSO Software Forum

[ckhouston]

NOTICE: There are two versions of this thread, one in the ConvertXtoDVD version 3.x forum and one in the Guides + Manuals forum. Only the version in the ConvertXtoDVD version 3.x forum is current ( http://forums.vso-software.fr/extra-uno ... t6947.html )

Edit Note: Menu template modifications besides the ones presented here will be added when available. Modifications for the cx2 template are presented a few posts below this one -- http://forums.vso-software.fr/post33829.html#p33829
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Edit Note 2: Template mods that automatically center and space titles on the page rather than listing them down from the top are presented few posts below -- http://forums.vso-software.fr/post35287.html#p35287
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Edit Note 3: A new template called Thrillerless is presented on page 2 and Coral presents a dressed up version of it on the same page -- http://forums.vso-software.fr/post39871.html#p39871
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Edit Note 4: A new template called TextWall with 20 titles per menu page is presented on page 3 -- http://forums.vso-software.fr/post43189.html#p43189
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Edit Note 5: Some mods for the blackmirror templates are presented on page 3 -- http://forums.vso-software.fr/post43507.html#p43507
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The minimal and classic templates are simple, uncluttered, and generate only title menus, no root menu that is inconvenient unless really needed, etc. (The root, settings and chapter menus can be eliminated from any other templates if desired using a simple technique described in http://forums.vso-software.fr/eliminate ... t7645.html )

But the mninimal and classic menus supplied by VSO have some limitations. The classic menu has no background video capability, and both templates make menus that look top heavy when fewer titles are used than the maximum 6 per page for minimal and 8 for classic.

Some template modifications are attached that help overcome these limitations and more. The default opacity of backgrounds is changed from 20 to 100% in all of them and background video capability is added to the classic ones. Some alternate selection indicators are also included for the minimal template for those that don’t like the standard underline bar. Several choices of different titles per page are offered. These make the menu more attractive when only a few titles are used by placing the title list in the middle of the screen instead of at the top (similar to what the different choices for glossy templates accomplish). Changes are also included that eliminate the slow menu animations and will help solve the short looping times of background video or audio.


Instructions

1. Download the attached ZIP file and unzip it. The classic_8ch w video.ini is the same as the one supplied with CX2D except it includes background video capability and default background opacity is 100%. The other INI files labeled as mod3 include all features described above. The puce files are alternate selection indicators for the minimal template.

2. Extract files you wish to use for the classic template to the \templates\classic folder under the folder on your hard drive where CX2D version 3 is installed. Extract those for the minimal template to the \templates\minimal folder.

Each INI file extracted will show as new templates available to use the next time you start CX2D.

3. To change the minimal selection indicator, rename the original \templates\minimal\puce.gif file to puce original.gif and then rename one of the alternate puce files to puce.gif.

4. All the mod3 modifications are set for a 30 second loop time. To change it, open the INI file in Notepad if you have CX2D version 3.2.3.77 or later. For earlier versions, you must use Wordpad (see note below) if you do not need to preserve script language characters in the template description or another editor that can save in UTF-8 format without byte order marks to preserve script characters. Search for main_duration and change its value. The duration is specified in microseconds (1 second = 1,000,000 microseconds) and the last digit should be an even number like 0, 2, 8 ….

Make sure the duration is less than or equal to the length of your background file including the length remaining if you choose to start in the middle of a file. Your background will then loop seamlessly. Set it to very near but just slightly less than the length of a file you want to play completely before looping and playing again. For example, a file that is 2 min and 45.33 seconds long will loop completely if you set main_duration=165328000

Edit Note: Any change you make to main_duration will take effect the next time you start CX2D and it will remain in effect untill changed again.

Edit Note 2: The mod3 mods effectively eliminate animation when the menu is first presented and after a selection is made by reducing those animated times to near zero.

Wordpad Note: SteveSatch pointed a bug in Wordpad out that can keep CX2D from recognizing your new changes if you have the default setting in Windows to not display file extensions.

To prevent that, Open Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer, search Windows help if you don't know how), click on the menu bar Tools > Folder Options then the View tab, uncheck Hide extensions for known file types and click OK.

Disclaimer

These modifications were made for my own personal use and chose to share. They should work without any problems. In the unlikely event that you do have a problem specific to the menu, as described in the next paragraph, please report it in this thread not in the main part of the forum.

Be aware though that INI files cannot be blamed for very many problems. Basically, if your menu doesn’t crash or freeze CX2D when the template is loaded soon after CX2D starts or during the times that menu pages are being rendered (a progress bar and message showing which menu is being rendered appears), and the menu looks OK after conversion and allows you to properly navigate between menu pages and to select all titles to play, these modifications are not likely the cause of any other problem you may encounter. They cannot cause such things as conversion problems, including synch problems, other than those described in the sentence above, or DVD playback problems other than those described in that sentence.

That doesn’t mean though that problems you report in the forum or directly to VSO will not be blamed on the modifications, even if they could not possibly be caused by them. So, unfortunately, you may sometimes have to demonstrate that you have the same problem when using an official VSO template before receiving serious help.

[cliffordzkf]

very nice. but i love the mirror templates most. but there're two problems with them.
the mirror template has large icons for chapters menu which is good, but it cannot use video or audio for the root menu.
the mirror with video templates has video and audio for the root menu but has a masque which i think is ugly. besides, it also has small icons (puce) for the chapters menu, which is also not so nice.

is it possible that ckhouston combine the "goods" of the two templates to make a new one that has large puce for chapters menu, backgound image/video and audio changable for the root menu as well as for the title menu.

if you can do me this favor, i shall thank you very very much!!!!

[ckhouston]

I will keep it in mind, but these modifications can take a lot of time because I have no instructions and have to infer info from reading the INI files and then experiment. So it has to be a modification I want to personally use before I devote time to it.

I do plan to improve the CX2 templates (another simple one) and will post that when done.

[cliffordzkf]

I will keep it in mind, but these modifications can take a lot of time because I have no instructions and have to infer info from reading the INI files and then experiment. So it has to be a modification I want to personally use before I devote time to it.

I do plan to improve the CX2 templates (another simple one) and will post that when done.

great! buddy.

[ckhouston]

cx2 Template mods

The cx2 menu is another simple one. It is similar to the minimal menu but has an additional very desirable feature, it performs automatic placement of titles on the menu page. The title list is automatically centered on the page and spacing between titles is automatically adjusted to give a pleasing spacing no mater how many titles are used up to the maximium of 8 per page. So only one template is required instead of several needed to give good appearance to the minimal menu.

The original cx2 menu supplied with CX2D has some drawbacks though. Its margins are so small that some menu items can be cut off by TV overscan even on a LCD TV, and the next and previous page icons are not displayed, so it is basically unusable as is. It does allow still and video background but with no background audio.

These limitations are overcome in the attached templates. Two are included, mod1 maintains the original animation (actually only a fade in and fade out) while mod3 eliminates the animation and allows easy change of the menu play time to match that of a chosen background - see item 4 of Instructions in the first post above.


Instructions

1. Download the attached ZIP file and unzip it.

2. Make a new folder named cxd2 under the templates folder on your hard drive where CX2D version 3 is installed. Extract all files to the new folder.

Each INI file extracted will show as new templates available to use the next time you start CX2D so you can delete either mod1 or mod3 if you don't need one of them.


Disclaimer

Same as the one in the first post above.

[ckhouston]

Minimal and Classic Mods with Automatically Adjusted Placement of Titles

Mods for the minimal and classic menus are attached that perform automatic placement of titles on the menu page much like the cx2 menu above does. The title list is automatically centered on the page and spacing between titles is automatically adjusted to give a pleasing spacing no matter how many titles are used up to the maximium allowed per page.

You may want to replace the stock templates with these.

There is one problem with them, the cx2 template above and, in fact, with the stock cx2 template supplied with CX2D. There is a glitch when the number of titles used is 1 less than the max allowed for the template. The spacing is less than when the page is loaded with the max number of titles. It should be greater instead. The problem is apparently in the CX2D code, I can't find anything in the INI files to cause or rectify it, and the problem is in the cx2 INI file supplied with CX2D

It is only a minor problem for these 3 templates, but it causes menu items to overlap if applied to other templates. It would be a worthwhile mod for most templates otherwise. I had to reduce the max number from 8 to 6 for the classic mod because of this.

Instructions

1. Download the attached ZIP file and unzip it.

2. Extract the files to the corresponding template folder on your hard drive.

Each INI file extracted will show as new templates available to use the next time you start CX2D. You can delete any of the INI files in those folders that you no longer need.


Disclaimer

Same as the one in the first post above.

[hcstargate]

i downloaded as many as possible. some came up with errors but will keep trying, wherever these came from they are brillant and someone is to be congratulated. keep up the great work. also the cx2 template, i love it and the mods are great too. as we all know convert x is the best and gives the best quality as well, and also converts everything. only thing not able to convert yet and i say yet is ogg files. thanks vso and all who do these great things for us. cheers helen

[hansK]

Hi hcstargate,

only thing not able to convert yet and i say yet is ogg files.

Well, it worked for me in June this year.
Did a check now with a ogg file and it still works.

See my log:
2008-11-29 18:45:07 ---- ******************** Log session stop 2008-11-29 18:45:07.893 PID 226572********************
2008-11-29 18:44:40 ---- ***************** Encoding end **********************
2008-11-29 18:44:36 Info Total size 475 Mb., Target size DVD5 4300 Mb., Occupation 11,06%
2008-11-29 18:44:36 Info Conversion completed in 00:07:04
2008-11-29 18:44:36 Info Rendering rate: 1,49 x Realtime
2008-11-29 18:44:36 Info DVD duration (incl. menus) 00:10:30 (~ 630 sec.) - rendering time 00:07:04
2008-11-29 18:44:21 Info Generated duration 613,66 sec., expected 612,46 sec.
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Audio settings: Automatic With DTS -> AC-3 conversion
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Output Stream #2 (AUDIO) - ac3, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 192 kb/s
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Output Stream #1 (VIDEO) - mpeg2video, yuv420p, 720x576 [PAR 16:15 DAR 4:3], q=1-31, 9127 kb/s, pulldown: 24,000 -> 25,00 Fps
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Video processing: Fast bilinear resampler (854*480)->(720*432)
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Video processing: Pad (Left:0 - Top:72 - Right:0 - Bottom:72)
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Chapter sequences require 21,5 Mb. temp space
2008-11-29 18:37:32 ---- ************ Source file #1 END DETAILS ************
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info AUDIO Stream #2 : Audio: vorbis, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 192 kb/s
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info VIDEO Stream #1 : Video: theora, yuv420p, 854x480, 24,00 FPS
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Audio/Video file with 2 stream(s) - Playback order:1 - Queue:0
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info D:\Films\big_buck_bunny_480p_stereo.ogg
2008-11-29 18:37:32 ---- *********** Source file #1 BEGIN DETAILS ***********
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Video bitrate has been set to maximum possible value for DVD specifications. Target size may not be reached.
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Video bitrate 0/9127/9608 Kbps (min/avg/max)
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info OUTPUT ==> Resolution: FULL D1 [720*576], Format: PAL, Aspect ratio: 4:3
2008-11-29 18:37:32 ---- *
2008-11-29 18:37:32 ---- ======================= TITLESET #1 =======================
2008-11-29 18:37:32 ---- *
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info 2 Stream(s) found - est. duration 00:09:56.458, reference 00:09:56.458
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Opening file "D:\Films\big_buck_bunny_480p_stereo.ogg"
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Project size 4,17 Gb. (13,9 Mb. audio - 4,14 Gb. video)
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info [ ] Don't fix audio gaps
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info [ ] Engine Log
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Encoding quality: High
2008-11-29 18:37:32 ---- ****************** Encoding begin *******************
2008-11-29 18:37:32 ---- **************** Menu settings end ******************
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info [ ] Don't create title menu for single video
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info [ ] Return to title menu after titleset playback
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info [ ] Skip root menu initially
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info [ ] Play titles one after the other
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info [ ] Loop playback
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info [ ] Auto-start playback
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Template: Black Mirror, contains 4 page(s), 15 customizable element(s)
2008-11-29 18:37:32 ---- *************** Menu settings begin *****************
2008-11-29 18:37:32 ---- **************** Burn settings end ******************
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info Default speed selected: 4x
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info BURN: Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info BURN: Drive has IDE-ATAPI physical interface
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info BURN: New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - ASUS DRW-1608P3S 1.24 [L] (Ide)
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info [ ] Delete DVD folder after burn complete
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info [x] Don't eject disc or open DVD folder in explorer, after burn complete
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info SAO setting: Automatic
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info [ ] Add original files to DVD (if possible)
2008-11-29 18:37:32 Info [ ] Burn result to DVD
2008-11-29 18:37:32 ---- **************** Burn settings begin ****************
2008-11-29 18:37:11 Info 34 Menu templates loaded.
2008-11-29 18:37:06 Info BURN: 1 brander(s) gevonden.
2008-11-29 18:37:06 Info BURN: Geladen DLL "C:\Program Files\VSO\ConvertX\3\vso_hwe.dll" [3.1.2.391]
2008-11-29 18:37:06 Info BURN: Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2008-11-29 18:37:06 Info BURN: Drive has IDE-ATAPI physical interface
2008-11-29 18:37:06 Info BURN: New Drive selected : 1:0:0 - ASUS DRW-1608P3S 1.24 [L] (Ide)
2008-11-29 18:37:06 Info BURN: Using Patin-Couffin driver Version 1.37, Internal revision 37 Async. Access mode
2008-11-29 18:37:05 Info Supported instruction set: sse2
2008-11-29 18:37:05 Info Tuning Performances for Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz with 2 logical core(s)
2008-11-29 18:37:04 Info System default language : Nederlands (Nederland)
2008-11-29 18:37:04 Info User default language : Nederlands (Nederland)
2008-11-29 18:37:04 Info Version : 3.3.0.96
2008-11-29 18:37:04 Info ExeName : C:\Program Files\VSO\ConvertX\3\ConvertXtoDvd.exe
2008-11-29 18:37:04 Info OS : Microsoft Windows XP Professional (build 2600) with Service Pack 2 5.1
2008-11-29 18:36:50 ---- ******************** Log session start 2008-11-29 18:36:50.956 PID 226572********************

If you have a file what does not work, post the log.
If VSO see this they might have a idea.
They could ask you to send some more info about this file for fixing this.

Regards,
hansK

[hcstargate]

hello, i thank you for your reply and will try again.

many thanks

helen

[ckhouston]

i downloaded as many as possible. some came up with errors but will keep trying, wherever these came from they are brillant and someone is to be congratulated. keep up the great work. also the cx2 template, i love it and the mods are great too. as we all know convert x is the best and gives the best quality as well, and also converts everything. only thing not able to convert yet and i say yet is ogg files. thanks vso and all who do these great things for us. cheers helen

Many thanks, I'm working on some more.

You said some came up with errors, do you mean errors due to the attached templates or some during encoding of your files - read the disclaimer in the first post for types of errors that can be attributed to the menu and ones that can't.

If you have trouble deciding, try the same conversion with a stock template supplied with CX2D. The template is at fault only if you do not get the same error with a stock template.

Post back here if you find the template is at fault and I will try to help. Otherwise, please start a new topic in the main part of the forum so we can keep this thread on topic.

[hcstargate]

hello, the error was in trying to download some of the templates. it said the link was broken. cheers helen

[ckhouston]

I should have known that was what you meant. I checked all the mods carefully before posting, but there is some resistance in the forum to template mods, so I panicked when seeing the word error and wondered what I could have missed.

Anyway, I just dowloaded all of the files attached above and extracted them without a problem. So please try again and post back if not successful.

And thank you again for the compliments

[Eddmund]

How can I increase the maximum number of titles per page of a "cxd2" menu template from 8 to 9? It was possible easily with ConvertX v2.

Thanks and happy xmas

[ckhouston]

You would have to change the template INI file, not easy and not worth it IMO.

[Eddmund]

That's sad, since v3 still is not able to create a simple menu as with v2. The addition of the "cxd2" menu template to v3 was a first step, but it's currently limited to 8 titles per page. In v2, I can select any number from 1 to 10. So I had to drop v3 again and went back to v2. What's so hard for VSO to give us the same menu possibilities in v3 as we had with v2?

[Bobb Markus]

ckhouston, would you care to elaborate on "others" you are making?
I like the ones you have ceated, and shared.. What I would like to see is a version done with the "Thriller" template.. I'd like to add my own video to it from a movie, etc.
I did take a look in to the INI file, wow, that was something.
I'm not sue if you have thought of this already, but if you could give me some information, I would appreciate it.. If you have not, and are not planning on it, no problem, maybe some tips on how I can make this work myself, that would be great as well.

Once again, great work, and a great program this is, has been my favorite since I started using Version 2.. But love Version 3 even greater!!

[ckhouston]

I don't really have a schedule, I work on templates as interest moves me. I was working on a couple of templates when I said there would be more to follow, but life intervened and I don't have time nor the interest right now.

I will probably still post some improvements to the black mirror templates, but I can't say when because I will have to go back and sort out what I have already tried and pick the best.

The thriller template has a very specialized theme that you can't appreciate because of a current bug. Short animated videos (avi files in the thriller folder) are supposed to play as transitions between root, setting and chapter menu pages. They tie everything together in a common theme, but they do not play now because of the bug.

Those transitions are currently encoded in the VOB files (play VTS_01_0.VOB with your PC software to see it), but there are apparently no instructions in the IFO files to play them correctly.

Adding background video capability to that template would produce an inchoherent theme if VSO fixes the bug unless those transitions were also eliminated. I might do that someday, no promise, use a more general theme and possibly add some choices for different locations of the thumbnail videos. That might make a good template.

I wish I could give you some help to make your own modifications but it would get too involved. The INI files are constructed in a heirarchal structure with bracketed headings, subheadings, etc., There is usually information below each heading that tells you or hints what the info in the section is for. Remember that INI files only supply parameter values for the CX2D program code to use. You will have to compare different template files in order to get a complete overview of what can be done in them.

[toaddub]

The thriller template has a very specialized theme that you can't appreciate because of a current bug. Short animated videos (avi files in the thriller folder) are supposed to play as transitions between root, setting and chapter menu pages. They tie everything together in a common theme, but they do not play now because of the bug.

Those transitions are currently encoded in the VOB files (play VTS_01_0.VOB with your PC software to see it), but there are apparently no instructions in the IFO files to play them correctly.

Adding background video capability to that template would produce an inchoherent theme if VSO fixes the bug unless those transitions were also eliminated. I might do that someday, no promise, use a more general theme and possibly add some choices for different locations of the thumbnail videos. That might make a good template.

I must be missing something, but I can't duplicate. Which transitions are you referring to? I see them they are all used. I'm not sure what is the bug.

[ckhouston]

As I said, the transitions are the 4 avi files in the thriller template folder that are about 5 seconds long. One is supposed to play when Chapters is chosen in the root menu before the chapter menu page is shown. Another is supposed to play when returning from chapter to root menu. The other 2 are transitions between root and settings pages and from settings back to root. Note that all menu pages in the thriller template use static background images, no motion except for animation of menu items.

They used to play right but a recent post ( http://forums.vso-software.fr/thriller- ... t7985.html ) prompted me to check. They do not work right for me using 3.3.4.106 on a Vista machine or using 3.2.1.155 on an XP machine. I played output with both software and on a TV.

So I don't understand why you can't duplicate the problem. They are encoded in the titleset menu VOBs but don't play, I presume because of IFO file problems.

[Bobb Markus]

I completely understand, ckhouston.
I will see what I can figure out, I mainly just liked the style of the font, and the way the buttons were used.
I mainly use the clear glossy style, but have grown tired.. So, I shall put my thinking cap on and see what I can come up with.
Thanks.