Preview window blank when authoring in VS11

woodchuck · Post by **woodchuck** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:16 pm

I just upgraded from VS10 Plus to VS11 Plus and created my first project in VS11. The project contains some video clips, still images, titles, and music. I saved the project. Later I went back to VS11 (did not open the project) selected the Share tab > Create Disk. When the authoring wizard appeared I added the video project which appeared in the timeline. Of course it was black because the first frame was black. I clicked on it to change the thumbnail for menu but nothing appeared in the preview window.
The manual for VS11 says to double click the video in timeline which I have done but the controls under the preview window are still faded out.

I did several DVD's in VS10 and the video always appeared in the preview window. I still have VS10 but cannot open this project in the older version.
My version of VS11 is 11.0.0157.0

I have been successful in buring the DVD from my project but without a menu. Please help.

Post by **Ron P.** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:31 pm

I've never been able to change the thumbnail that way. What I've always done, is move the play-head to the frame that I want to use as the thumbnail. Then right-click on the clip in the time-line and select Change Thumbnail.

woodchuck · Post by **woodchuck** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:53 pm

Actually, moving the slider below the preview window is the way I did it in VS10. Unfortunately, the buttons and slider below the preview window are not activated. Also, if the first video I add does not starts with something other than a black frame, the preview window still shows black. For some reason, the preview window does not seem to be working for me in VS11.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:07 pm

First, you have the unadorned version of VS11+ -- by which I mean to say you need to go to the Ulead website and in the Download page, navigate to VS11. There you will find three patches. First download and install the one at the bottom, dated 6 November 2007. Then install the next one -- the Power Pack -- dated 8 November 2007. Ignore the top one totally if you did not experience the *exact* problem it describes in the notes to that patch -- and by the sounds of it, you do not have that problem...

However, you will also need to go to the Microsoft DirectX website and download the latest DirectX patch which coincidentally enough is also labelled November 2007. That patch applies to both DirectX 9.0c (XP) and 10 (Vista). It appears to rectify problems such as you are having at the menu building stage.

If you continue to have problems, let us know. But while there is no problem as such with the work flow you describe, you might want, after finishing all your editing, to first convert your project in the Editing module to a DVD-compatible mpeg-2. Then save your project, and open a new one. Don't bother giving it a name -- the objective is just to clear the timeline. Then go to Share > Create Disc > DVD and insert the new mpeg-2 instead of your project file, and proceed from there.

But just note this is an alternative workflow for those who experience trouble in the actual burn stage, rather than in the menu-building stage. I really suspect your current problem should be solved by the DirectX upgrade.

woodchuck · Post by **woodchuck** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:47 pm

Ken,

Thanks so much for your suggestions. I will download and apply the patches you mentioned and let you know if it is successful.

I have noticed that many of the forum contributers have suggested converting to MPEG-2 first. However, I believe I would still have the menu problem.

woodchuck · Post by **woodchuck** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:10 pm

Thanks to Ken this problem has been solved. Just wanted to let everyone know in case someone else experiences the same issue.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:18 pm

woodchuck wrote:Thanks to Ken this problem has been solved. Just wanted to let everyone know in case someone else experiences the same issue.

How was it solved, though? By installing the patches? By first creating a video file? Just trying to clear it up for future reference.

woodchuck · Post by **woodchuck** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:45 pm

I installed the 2 Ulead patches and the Microsoft upgrade. After that it worked as expected.

I have taken your advice about creating a video file from the project, though. I have a few vacation videos I would like to put on 1 DVD and it will be easier to author with separate videos for each project.

Thanks again to both of you.