New Project Templates / menu cloning

2G wrote on 5/3/2004, 1:16 PM

Again, still just beginning with DVDA (v2) and therefore may be missing obvious things...

Every time I need a new menu, it creates a default menu with blue background, default font, colors, etc. It's getting old really fast having to go through every menu and make 10-15 changes of colors/fonts/styles/etc. on every item on each menu. Is there a way to stylize one menu and have it be the one used when new ones are created?

Sorry if the answer is obvious...

2G

Comments

kevinc wrote on 5/3/2004, 1:40 PM

The way I do it is to build up a project and have all the settings (text, colour, text / object masking, menu length, looping, sub menus etc) how you want them and save the project before adding any media. When you add the media later, just save the project as a different name and away you go. There is a way to create templates, but it's far too confusing, so I just use projects.
Good luck.

2G wrote on 5/3/2004, 2:05 PM

Do you mean you create one complete 'stylized' menu and save the project? But when you create an instance of this 'template', the first menu is easy. But when you need to create additional menus, either by adding menu pages or creating scene selection sequences, etc. it will go back and still create the old blue menus. At least that's what appears to happen in my initial experiences. Is that not the way it works?

Not that I'm thrilled about a confusing template building technique, but where would I go to learn how if I really wanted to do it?

2G

kevinc wrote on 5/3/2004, 2:59 PM

I understand what you mean. If you have a menu and create a sub-menu, it will give you another old blue screen, but if you "add a page" it will create a new page with the background and text settings the original menu had. For example, if you have bmp1 as the background image on the menu, bmp1 will be the background image of the new page. Unfortunately, you will still need to edit the properties of the new page, such as the frames of any media linked from the new page, or whether the page is looped and how long for etc. I have messed around with this and have had no luck with "copying" page attributes over. What I usually do is write everything down first, and make sure all the page and object properties are the same for each page of the menu, use preview to check it looks okay (especially with the text mask overlay option). If anyone else knows any work around for this subject, please let us know.

2G wrote on 5/3/2004, 8:16 PM

With all due respect, Sony... this is pathetic. As a software architect and developer with over 30 years in the business, I understand the realities of release 1 of a product. But this is no longer release 1. Listen to what he is saying... "write down all the properties so you can recreate them the same in all other menus..." Pinnacle Studio for $50 allows for sharing of the menu template. Come on.... This is inexcusable for a professional grade product. I expected more for the price.

anthony-chiappette wrote on 5/3/2004, 8:20 PM

Amen!

vitalforces wrote on 5/6/2004, 10:58 AM

Sounds like one for DVDA 2.0b. Add one toolbar button such as "Copy page properties" and the problem would be solved. I agree this is a big one, since the fundamental purpose of a DVD-authoring program is to expedite the creation of menus.

2G wrote on 5/6/2004, 11:18 AM

Might I introduce the "emerging technology" called copy/paste...? (with just a touch of sarcasm...:-) )

kevinc wrote on 5/6/2004, 12:16 PM

I guess Sonic Foundry, sorry, Sony thought that "professional" means making everything as difficult for the user as possible. Time and time again, I've made menus and spent hours checking everything, then more hours rendering the whole thing, only to find that I forgot to check the "animate" button on one of the menus - therefore making a "professional" dvd "amateur". For the sake of nice looking menus, it is a bit frustrating using DVDA. What's more frustrating is buying V4 and DVDA1 only to find V5 and DVDA2 out the following month. For end actions, I now look to TMPGEnc DVD author. Unfortunately, the menus are a bit useless but for $50, what do you expect? I'm sure TMPGEnc DVDA will bring out a new version with the ability to do everything DVDA2 can't, and I'm sure it won't be $700 either, which by the way is what I'm being quoted to upgrade my 2 month old $500 software. Grrr...

Firetoad wrote on 5/6/2004, 1:37 PM

If you search around in the posts here and on the video forum, there is a nice program that a member wrote that creates menu templates easily and effectively.

kevinc,
If you are referring to Vegas+DVD upgrade from v4 to v5, it is not $700. There is an introductory upgrade price for $199. If you purchased v4 in the last month, you should be eligible for a free upgrade. Call Sony Support or CS on the phone and they will let you know. HTH!

2G wrote on 5/7/2004, 11:23 AM

If anybody can find the referenced msg in the forums about the utility, please post the details. I can't find it in search.

Also, there have been references to a 'difficult process' of creating additional templates. I'm not against difficult processes if it's all I have. Where is it documented how to create additional templates?

Firetoad wrote on 5/7/2004, 12:00 PM

Program:

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=278565&Page=0

Theme Specs:

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/products/dvda/default.asp

JohnnyRoy wrote on 5/7/2004, 8:52 PM

> Sony... this is pathetic.

I’ve been developing software for 25 years and I have to admit this was my biggest disappointment with DVDA2 (which I’m otherwise very, very happy with BTW) and as a customer this is my biggest pain point! A simple “Save As Template” feature would be nice in the 2b update. I waste a LOT of time just trying to make my menus look consistent and thus professional. It shouldn't be this hard.

~jr