"an unspecified error has occurred" X4 Authoring

[metmot]

Just a heads up on an old issue which still exists in the burning module of X4. Apparently nothing has been updated from X2 other than reintegrating it with the editing software. Unspecified is maddeningly vague but If you get this message during the authoring stage it may be due to a glitch in some of the menu templates. I have found that using certain menu templates if you uncheck the "motion menu" box it will crash the production at the final stage with this message occurring. If this happens you must leave the motion menu box checked (which is the template default) even though you aren't using a motion menu. It appears to have no effect on the finished product. I have found this glitch with a number of the text menu templates that I like to use. If this is well known I apologize but when it happened last night I immediately recognized it from my past and knew how to deal with it. Thought mentioning it again may help someone else. I know it took me some effort to figure this out back in X2.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi John

Thanks for the info, I use a variety of menu templates and have not had any crashes, up to now anyway. I will pay attention to the motion menu option.

I tend to disable motion menu if I wish to play a sound/video longer than 30 seconds. As you are aware Motion Menu terminates/recycles at 30 seconds max.

I do not really understand how you can leave the option selected and not use Motion Menu, maybe I’m missing something here.

If you can be more explicit in which templates are causing the most problems, I will give them a go.

By the way are you adding VSP project files to the authoring stage or Mpeg2 files.
Rendering VSP’s within the burner module has caused some problems for some users.
If this is the case then it is recommended to render your project to Mpeg2 first.

[Ken Berry]

At least two others have already reported this same problem, though I too have been unable to replicate it. See towards the end of this now rather long thread: http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php ... 36#p213836

[teknisyan]

Thanks for that and I have reported this already and we are currently looking into the issue.

[wstagner]

Just try the first smart scene menu...the one that's all orangy/yelo lookin.
It's got 5 possible chapter selections.

I didnt try any other menus, but I'm guessing that deselecting the motion option causes the error on any menu template BUT I'll retest this tomorrow.

DVD Movie Factory 7 SE has exactly the same problem using EXACTLY the same smartscene menu!

[wstagner]

Since this is both a SERIOUS and EZ problem to dup, I'd think a patch could be developed pretty quickly....maybe one one that would fix MS SE 7 too!

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

First Smart Scene, orange background with TV screen, allows for 6 links.
Played around with that template, deselected the motion menu.

No crashes no problems.
Burning a TS folder now to see if the menu works ok.

I haven’t tried DVD MF 7SE as yet, but I have a feeling that it will be ok

Maybe it’s a Windows Operating issue, I am using XP.

By the way have you manually updated Direct X?

Ps the menu worked ok

[wstagner]

I am using Windoze 7, directX is up2date.
MF SE 7 fails identically to X4 UNLESS motion menus are enabled.

[metmot]

Hi John


I tend to disable motion menu if I wish to play a sound/video longer than 30 seconds. As you are aware Motion Menu terminates/recycles at 30 seconds max.

This is of course my instinct too but disabling it is what causes the glitch.

I do not really understand how you can leave the option selected and not use Motion Menu, maybe I’m missing something here.

If you leave the box checked but do not have a video for your menu as I often use jpeg images for the text menus. Without a video for the background the motion menu although apparently there, has no visible characteristics when produced. You do not see a flicker or anything when it recycles as you may fear by leaving it checked along with a JPEG background.
If you can be more explicit in which templates are causing the most problems, I will give them a go.

The text menu which is orange with white snowflake looking lace images is one I use a lot because it's easy to get rid of unnecessary text and make a simple photo menu screen. It sits on the upper right corner of the text menus. I know this one will do it as It was the one I was using when I initially found out what was causing the crash and also the one I was using that prompted this post. Many of the other text menus will also do it. I don't use the smartscenes much so can't comment. I mosly use text menus to keep it simple. BTW to this day I cannot figure those smartscenes out. I know Steve had a tutorial up a long time ago when they first came out but I can't seem to find it. I guess the smartscene menus are cool but I can't for the life of me figure out how to use them for anything but a pain in my rear. Seems like I'm missing something basic about them. Maybe someone can explain to me what's so "smart" and cool about them?

By the way are you adding VSP project files to the authoring stage or Mpeg2 files.
Rendering VSP’s within the burner module has caused some problems for some users.
If this is the case then it is recommended to render your project to Mpeg2 first.

I always render my videos first and add them individually when making a DVD

[c-mathis]

For whatever it's worth, I have notieced that all of us that are having trouble with "unspecified errors" while trying to burn menus, without Motion, are using 64 bit machines (Craig, Metmot, Walt). All customers reporting on this site, that they do not see the problem, show 32 bit machines in their profiles, (Ken, Ron, Trevor). I have brought this to the attention of Corel Tech Support, on my still open trouble ticket for this issue.

[Ken Berry]

I am still unable to replicate any of this. I have just now opened the X4 burning module and inserted a random DVD-compliant mpeg-2. I accepted the first SmartScene menu and disabled Motion Menu. I proceeded to burn a DVD_Folder which occurred without problem. I repeated with another SmartScene menu just to make sure, and again had a successful burn. I then used, sequentially, a Thumbnail menu and a Text menu, all with Motion Menu unticked, and all worked successfully. I repeated all this with Motion Menu enabled, and again got successful results. So this is obviously yet another mystery that what doesn't work for some works for others...

[Agent86]

I am running VS on a 32 bit OS and still get this problem. So frustrating. I have a case open with support and after all the "standard" installs, downloads, etc. Of which, I was up to date on everything... they have become silent. I opened that case early last week after I installed my x4 and have not heard from them since Thursday, I too hope this gets resolved soon.

[Ken Berry]

The problem is that it is difficult to resolve if you can't replicate what is happening -- though I acknowledge, from the number of users reporting this error that something is going wrong...

[c-mathis]

Ken,

I'm a little confused with your comments regarding testing menus. Your profile says you are using a 32 bit OS, but it sounds like from your comments, you are actually testing with a 64 bit OS. Can you please clarify?

Craig

[metmot]

Ok here's a demonstration. Hope this helps to understand the issue.