I have completed a few projects. I want to completely uninstall and then reinstall MF4. Why? Because after adding new drives I tried to move all of my MF4 directories to new partitions and ended up merging all DVD MF4 files (program files and data files) into the same directories.
And I'm having multiple problems. I don't even want to try to fix these problems (e.g. jog wheel moves frames in reverse regardless of whether I roll it forward or backwards, menus disappear, burning error messages, etc.) until I do a complete unistall and reinstall.
First thing is to preserve what I've done and then I'll wipe out DVD MF4, clean out the registry and completely reinstall.
So...If I have a working DVD can I at a later date import the movies, the menus, the music, etc. for editing?
I tried this and it did not work. I got the video but the menus, background music and photos were all lost, set back to defaults.
Again, the DVDs are burned and work exactly as they should. I want to completely remove every ulead file on my system, reinstall DVD MF4 and create a new project from a functional MF4 DVD, menus, music and all. Since I have burned DVDs can I just uninstall/reinstall everything and proceed with all work preserved?
Another question. Since I have all of my program and data files mixed up, if I wanted to extract all data files, and move them to another location, is there a list of files? Certainly the *.iso files, as well as the *.dwz files but what else constitutes a working project?
Thanks,Dan
importing a burned DVD, menus, backgrounds, music, video
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heinz-oz
I'm not quite sure why you want to redo the finished projects but that is a different story. Re-editing mpeg? Some (ie. jchunter) will tell you it can be done, I tend to disagree.
I don't think it's a good idea to shift the files of an installed program to a different drive. I'm surprised it still works, though with problems as you say.
I have never redone a finished DVD and never used MF to edit either, so, I don't know if it will work like you want to. If, in the past, it didn't work, chances are it will not work in future either.
If I were you, I would uninstall MF and clear my PC of everything Ulead before reinstallation. The project files, as long as I can make out what belongs together, I would back up first.
I don't think it's a good idea to shift the files of an installed program to a different drive. I'm surprised it still works, though with problems as you say.
I have never redone a finished DVD and never used MF to edit either, so, I don't know if it will work like you want to. If, in the past, it didn't work, chances are it will not work in future either.
If I were you, I would uninstall MF and clear my PC of everything Ulead before reinstallation. The project files, as long as I can make out what belongs together, I would back up first.
Dan,
MF can import the menus from a DVD as a clip, but not as an editable menu. It is not built or expected to do this. There is 3rd party software that allows you to edit them (freeware like ifoedit pgcedit, etc. etc.) after copying the DVD contents to your harddrive.
To continue working normally with a MF dwz project, here is what you need to know about the dwz project file:
At least you are now experienced enough to realize that it pays to spend some time planning the partitioning of any system for its intended use. And to use dedicated areas for different data (like C for OS and programs, D for data, E for authoring, whatever).
If you use the same exact path and file names for your data on a new drive letter, you could try using a hex editor to change the drive letter of all paths to data, in a copy of the dwz file.
MF can import the menus from a DVD as a clip, but not as an editable menu. It is not built or expected to do this. There is 3rd party software that allows you to edit them (freeware like ifoedit pgcedit, etc. etc.) after copying the DVD contents to your harddrive.
To continue working normally with a MF dwz project, here is what you need to know about the dwz project file:
- It will probably only work with the same version of MF.
It contains references to all the files you used (clips, background, audio) with the full path name including the drive letter.
It contains the names and paths to the chosen menu template and all objects, including drive letter.
At least you are now experienced enough to realize that it pays to spend some time planning the partitioning of any system for its intended use. And to use dedicated areas for different data (like C for OS and programs, D for data, E for authoring, whatever).
If you use the same exact path and file names for your data on a new drive letter, you could try using a hex editor to change the drive letter of all paths to data, in a copy of the dwz file.
Henry
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maddrummer3301
- Posts: 2507
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: US
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dseps
Heinz:
>I'm not quite sure why you want to redo the finished projects...
I'm new to MF4. As I discover some basic things, such as a layout menu can contain more than 2 chapters! (templates with up to 6 are provided), etc. I like to go back and tweak the first DVD project that I authored. Hence my interest in redoing the finished project, as you say. I put a lot of time into editing the mpg though and would hate to lose that.
>I don't think it's a good idea to shift the files of an installed
>program to a different drive....
I have a program that requires the user to move the physical programs to a new location but then changes the registry entries, .ini files, etc. from old to new location. I've used it many times with great success. It's called coa2 (Change of Address). Great little program, I've used it for years. This time I screwed up by dragging all the program files and libraries into the data directories I had created on another drive, making a mess. I'm trying to undo it.
>I have never redone a finished DVD and never used MF to edit either, so, I don't know if it will work like you want to. If, in the past, it didn't work, chances are it will not work in future either.
I still have the project in a *.dwz form but I just don't know which files other than the .dwz file is necessary. Are all menus, fonts, mpg editing info, etc. encoded in the dwz file as well as (old) links to music, background jpgs, etc.?
>If I were you, I would uninstall MF and clear my PC of everything Ulead before reinstallation. The project files, as long as I can make out what belongs together, I would back up first.
Great-which are the project files?
Henry:
In fact when I moved things such as the mpg file and background photos and tried to work on a .dwz project, MF4 would ask me for the relink location, which is very nice.
So again, if I save the .dwz file (at a new location and later on specify the new location for MF4 when it requests) and save the original mpg file (at a new location that MF4 allows me to update) and the original music files and background jpg files (which MF4 seems to allow me to specify when it can't find them) -- and then completely remove every reference to MF4 and then do a clean install at a new location--will the .dwz then contain and preserve, for example, the multi-trim data, fade-in/fade-out of music that I originally specified, etc.? Will all the menu data (Titles, chapter names, plus font and color specifications) be lost? Or be preserved? What other files might I save other than the .dwz&mpg file to make this job easier?
maddrummer3301:
>The Jog wheel doesn't work correctly in the original release of MF4 in certain modules.
>You probably haven't applied the latest patches to MF4. That will fix that problem. It's important to install the latest patches to MF4.
My version should have all the patches included, I think: Ulead DVD MovieFactory 4.04 SE plus the recent burning update burn_patch.htm .
Thanks for the right-mouse button suggestion.
>You can setup your system to make MF4 projects portable, I posted how to do that.
>Use the search on the forum.
I did and couldn't find it, even skimmed your last 10 or so posts. Can you provide more info?
Thanks everyone for their help.
Dan
>I'm not quite sure why you want to redo the finished projects...
I'm new to MF4. As I discover some basic things, such as a layout menu can contain more than 2 chapters! (templates with up to 6 are provided), etc. I like to go back and tweak the first DVD project that I authored. Hence my interest in redoing the finished project, as you say. I put a lot of time into editing the mpg though and would hate to lose that.
>I don't think it's a good idea to shift the files of an installed
>program to a different drive....
I have a program that requires the user to move the physical programs to a new location but then changes the registry entries, .ini files, etc. from old to new location. I've used it many times with great success. It's called coa2 (Change of Address). Great little program, I've used it for years. This time I screwed up by dragging all the program files and libraries into the data directories I had created on another drive, making a mess. I'm trying to undo it.
>I have never redone a finished DVD and never used MF to edit either, so, I don't know if it will work like you want to. If, in the past, it didn't work, chances are it will not work in future either.
I still have the project in a *.dwz form but I just don't know which files other than the .dwz file is necessary. Are all menus, fonts, mpg editing info, etc. encoded in the dwz file as well as (old) links to music, background jpgs, etc.?
>If I were you, I would uninstall MF and clear my PC of everything Ulead before reinstallation. The project files, as long as I can make out what belongs together, I would back up first.
Great-which are the project files?
Henry:
In fact when I moved things such as the mpg file and background photos and tried to work on a .dwz project, MF4 would ask me for the relink location, which is very nice.
So again, if I save the .dwz file (at a new location and later on specify the new location for MF4 when it requests) and save the original mpg file (at a new location that MF4 allows me to update) and the original music files and background jpg files (which MF4 seems to allow me to specify when it can't find them) -- and then completely remove every reference to MF4 and then do a clean install at a new location--will the .dwz then contain and preserve, for example, the multi-trim data, fade-in/fade-out of music that I originally specified, etc.? Will all the menu data (Titles, chapter names, plus font and color specifications) be lost? Or be preserved? What other files might I save other than the .dwz&mpg file to make this job easier?
maddrummer3301:
>The Jog wheel doesn't work correctly in the original release of MF4 in certain modules.
>You probably haven't applied the latest patches to MF4. That will fix that problem. It's important to install the latest patches to MF4.
My version should have all the patches included, I think: Ulead DVD MovieFactory 4.04 SE plus the recent burning update burn_patch.htm .
Thanks for the right-mouse button suggestion.
>You can setup your system to make MF4 projects portable, I posted how to do that.
>Use the search on the forum.
I did and couldn't find it, even skimmed your last 10 or so posts. Can you provide more info?
Thanks everyone for their help.
Dan
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heinz-oz
Sounds good, but...dseps wrote:....
I have a program that requires the user to move the physical programs to a new location but then changes the registry entries, .ini files, etc. from old to new location. I've used it many times with great success. It's called coa2 (Change of Address). Great little program, I've used it for years. This time I screwed up by dragging all the program files and libraries into the data directories I had created on another drive, making a mess. I'm trying to undo it.
......
even if your program knows afterwards where everything is, your dwz project file would not have changed the location of the source files (where it expects to find them) and would give you endless relink messages. If your program works in the new location, run through the .dwz projects and find the required files. You may not know anymore what was supposed to be there and where, but MF still does, it just can't find it (not looking very hard either 
) but will happily relink the source files if you can point to them.As I said before, I have never used MF for anything but creating the menu and authoring the DVDs, the editing I do in MSP 7.3. In MSP, I have the possibility to "package" the project. That will shift every file needed, including the project file, to a new location.
If I were to redo any of my DVDs, I think I would want a new menu structure also.