Utility: KJake CreateDVD 0.5.3 Alpha (03 Feb 2006)

[Jere_Jones]

KJake,

I just wanted to let you know that you have my support! This is a great project.

Jere

[bebanovich]

this has been low on my todo just because i'm getting more queries on all of the other stuff

query, query, query, query, query . . . there is that enough?

[mkanet]

You can also add me to the list of people anxiously waiting for a small DVD burning import module for SageTv 3.0's default STV.

I would be extremely happy with even just ONE menu item addition for the SageTV 3.0's default STV under "Detailed Info" called, "Burn to DVD".

Any chance we will see an extremely basic import module for DVD burning before the new TV season?

[acrowe]

I notice its been a long while since any new info. Not complaining just eagerly awaiting a more robust version

[perfessor101]

after the line:
Generating Top Menu Mux Config XML ...
it gives me
'(some ANSI charaters)@echo' is not recognized as an internal command, operable program or batch file.

It doesn't happen every time and the rest of the process seems to complete ok most times, but I was curious as to how this may be fixed. This line doesn't appear in any of the batch files ... so I'm guessing it's some type of a stack or buffer overflow.
I remember reading somewhere about changing variables affecting the default windows batch command environment space but haven't been able to find the right words to 'google' it with.

Thanks for your time,

Bobby

[Deadbolt]

This looks great! Can't wait for the import and VideoRedo autocut!

[Crashless]

I thought I'd chime in here. I haven't talked with KJake for a while about this. I know as he was finishing this version, he was being pulled onto another unrelated project. I'll see if I can find him and see how things are going, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

As for further support, after I get the next version of my STV out, I'm going back and cleaning up everything, as I've been on feature overdrive for a while, and this is near the top of the list of things to clear up.

[mkanet]

Is this project the only hope we have to see a DVD burning stvi for SageTV 3.x? I guess I wont hold my breath. Oh well.

[Crashless]

As of now, it's the only one that has been announced by anyone.

I still have some stuff to figure out with the status reporting before I try to make an import for it - it's just too unstable still. As for actually burning, it works well, but it's difficult when you don't know if it's stalled, or how far along it is, or anything.

I'm going to revisit this soon and see what I can find.

[mkanet]

Thanks Crashless. This certainly would take SageTV to a whole new level since STB PVR's aren't capable of doing this.

[rickw]

Is it possible to use the DVD burning without going through an STV? I would expect that to mean I would have to manually build some configuration files.

The family likes the SageMC STV so I can't change it, but I want an easier way to create a DVD. Right now I just use the utility that came with my DVD burner. It requires stepping through a wizard to select backgrounds and menus when all I really want is a way to get the video on the DVD and a simple menu to start it.

Thanks,
Rick...

[Crashless]

Originally Posted by rickw

Is it possible to use the DVD burning without going through an STV? I would expect that to mean I would have to manually build some configuration files.

I think so...If you follow the installation instructions on my site:

http://sagetv.vinceanido.com

to get the software on your system, then use the STV to make the XML files. I believe SageMC can make the XML files automatically, but honestly I don't know. If you copy those to the "/CreateDVD/" folder in your SageTV directory, then run the bat file from the command line (I think we posted the syntax somewhere...), you should get a DVD.

[KJake]

Hey everyone, sorry about dropping off the face of the earth for about 3 months...but what Crashless said is true. I was pulled into another project and it consumed any time I had outside of work. That project isn't done, but is on-hold right now. Unfortunately, I've moved into another project (unrelated to programming) that demands a lot of my time and I work later hours too now.

In short, I don't think I'll be able to work on this again. There were things happening in this program that I just didn't plan for and too much of it really needs to be handled in the STV I think. The problem is that I just don't "get" Studio. I find it way to constricting and I'd rather just type away java code instead of dropping icons here and there and then pasting single line java snippets into action widgets. Sorry, I just can't do it.

Here's what I do want to offer though:
I failed on implementation, but I was able to weave together a good process to create a DVD with dynamic menus. I'd be willing to help someone decipher my scripts and/or the process so that this can be implemented by someone with more patience and a better understanding Studio than I had. And maybe someone can script/code the backend with a real language instead of my batch files that quickly outgrew their original intent.

Apologies,
KJake

[mightyt]

Does anyone have a DVD Burner Plugin for Sage V.4 ???

[robertmcox]

Here's my blatant rip-off of kjake's cool script:

http://www.rekkufweb.net/download/CreateDVD.zip

Extract to your folder of choice, syntax is as follows:

createdvd e:\garfieldthemovie-2928158-0.mpg e:\GarfieldDVD

(my older son = 3 years old = just cracks up over and over re this movie...lol)

The script simply inserts the navigation packets and then authors the dvd file structure so it can be burnt to disc using your choice of burning software. The script only takes 1 .mpg file as input and the resulting DVD auto-plays just like a VCR tape (KISS principle).

Maybe if I get some more time, I will update the script to:
1 - have a %temp% variable that could be set to another physical device to speed up process. All my computers have more than 1 disk drive...
2 - extract the closed caption and insert into stream as subtitles
3 - take a folder as input, and author each .mpg file into a menu system, blatantly ripping off kjake's hard work in this area and evolving to the next "step".

To expedite #3, if someone were to come up with an easy way (java coders out there? RMI project?) to get the relevant info (show name, playing time, rating, description, etc.) out of Sage based on the ShowID field in the filename, it's a done deal. I would even be willing to code this myself (using VB6 COM or VC6 stdcall) if I could get to it non-java-like as this thread hints:

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...hlight=wrapper

I suppose another option would be an .stvi (I am only interested in an .stvi) that drops a file with the info -- amybe someone could pull what's relevant out of Meekall's .stv?

[robertmcox]

guess what I just figured out....?

[mkanet]

Did you put together an STVI? That's my guess (and wishful thinking)...

[KJake]

hey, glad someone figured out my undocumented script

have fun with it guys, this could really get some tighter integration if someone knows how to use Studio.

[robertmcox]

...Ok, I'll tell you what I figured...

...I can get the goods out of Sage based on the ShowID, therefore we don't need an .stvi at all!

Of course, if some super friendly java/studio expert came in after I published what I build and wrote a one (or ten) liner that adds a button and executes an external program that would be really cool.

I do have other projects going on, and this might take a week or two, but I've already built a working "skeleton" and dissected KJake's script so it's just a matter of time....

I uploaded an updated script, btw:

- "_settings.cmd" <-- this is the file to configure settings for the script

- Accounts for systems with multiple physical disk devices to configure temp folders. Note that you can leave these settings blank if you have 1 disk and it's ok. But by configuring, I cut my build time *more* than in half. Note that you will not see any performance increase if you configure temp folders across partitions on the same disk; you need separate disks, preferably on separate controller channels.

- If you find that some .mpg files recorded by your pvr-250/350 fail the bbdmux/mplex part of the script, you can enable the nanofix tool that has solved 100% of my bad file problems. and fyi, I took this tool for redistribution from shs's site and did not ask permission (I will eventually). If asked, I will remove the tool from the download to comply with license.

Will check back in....

[Muchacho]

Thanks- looking forward to it!