Comments

Former user wrote on 5/4/2010, 4:45 PM
The HELP file has information about scripts. I don't know if DVD Architect Studio can do scripts if you are using that version.

The scripts are primarily preset commands based on variables.


Dave T2
TOG62 wrote on 5/4/2010, 11:34 PM
No, scripting is not available in the Studio version.

Mike
Mind.s Clay wrote on 5/5/2010, 11:39 AM
Yes. You are giving me the same non-information that support did. I have read the manual and it says nothing about the format/language/parameters involved with the scripting. The manual merely states the obvious about the GUI that I am already seeing with my eyes. There is absolutely nothing defining the commands or system variable values. Are we supposed to randomly add commands, set variables and whatever and hope that it does something?

BTW, I have a version that does scripting... Why else would I ask about how to use it?
bStro wrote on 5/5/2010, 4:30 PM
Type "script properties" into the online help's search function and then have a look through the information under "Which controls do you want to learn more about?" If that doesn't answer your questions, then you're out of luck because that's all any of us has.

(If you think that's sparse, you should see the "help" for the ProType Titler in Vegas Pro 8.)

To answer your first question, yes, "anyone" has figured out how to write scripts for DVDA. I don't happen to be one of them (mostly 'cause I've never taken the time to try), but I know of at least a couple people on this forum who've done some useful scripts in DVDA. They did so, I would imagine, by having a general grasp of programming / scripting, reading the section I note above, and (as with most things of this sort) a whole lot of trial and error.

For what it's worth, I imagine what support was saying is that there's no formal "written" language (VB, C, Java, etc) since, really, all you're doing is picking commands and pre-defined variables from a list.

Rob
MarkWWWW wrote on 5/6/2010, 5:18 AM
Have a look at this thread where a helpful user has posted a guide on DVD scripting. It's in Italian, but it shoiuld be easy enoiugh to understand even if you don't speak Italian.

Mark

richard-courtney wrote on 5/10/2010, 4:48 PM
There is no XML or other language I am aware of for DVD. The best thing is when
you run across a request by a customer to do something that requires some logic
to decide which clip to play next (like a video exam or simple game) post your
details and you will get help from many generous forum members.

Blue-ray does have a language but I can't afford to design using it at this time.
MPM wrote on 5/11/2010, 4:57 PM
DVDs work by scripting mostly included in the IFO files. The actual spec is expensive & carries an NDA, but DVDs have been around a long time, so reverse engineering has brought most aspects of it to light. In practical terms this means Sony couldn't give away much info on how to script if they wanted to [which is another story ;-) ]. However, since there's just one spec, there's just one set of scripting commands, so searching [Google/Bing] on what you want to do will get you enough info to proceed with almost anything. There's also a lot of good, basic info on-line on what does what, when it's allowed or not etc...

One caveat is DVDA isn't always the best choice for involved scripting because of the way the boiler plate scripts they use for every DVD is a little bit *off* compared to many pro & semi-pro DVD authoring alternatives. Long story short, DVDA reserves several of the limited number of variables for you to use, making them available by re-using/re-cycling the variables it uses itself for all the common stuff. If you trace the scripting *path* on a DVDA DVD using PGCEdit [the primary tool you can use to expand capabilities], you'll soon see what I mean, & why not quite everything you might try works as it should.

BDs OTOH can either use Java or work in a fashion not too different than DVDs. The Sony Creative Software site says this: "DVD Architect Pro software supports the ability to create and run scripts in final DVD or Blu-ray Disc design. With scripting you can build robust interactivity into your projects.". My understanding is that reverse engineering is still in the early stages, though a lot of progress is being made with development of BDEdit & multiAVCHD etc. There are also some folks with access to the official specs that might answer the occasional question over at the doom9.org forums.