trial version limitations

archer57 · Post by **archer57** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:00 pm

Hi all. I'm not finding much info on the trial version limitations. Can anyone give me an idea of what major functions are disabled? Especially in menu creation. I also don't see access to help anywhere on the interface. Is there one in the paid version?

Thank you

michaeltee · Post by **michaeltee** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:24 pm

Hi archer57,

I've forgotten "exactly" what's missing in the trial version but according to info on Ulead's web site: "This Trial Program has the following limitations: DVD player software is not included; fewer menu templates, frames, buttons, and background videos."

This amounts to quite a bit of additional material as the executable "content" download for the registered version is nearly 350mb.

I'm not aware of any menu creation restrictions other than the lack of additional content.

You can download the User Manual PDF at: http://www.ulead.com/dmf/documents.htm

Hope that helps

archer57 · Post by **archer57** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 7:09 pm

Thank you. Sounds like the menu creation is limited. I guess this is a good candidate for purchase then. I was considering InterVideo DVD Creator because of decent menu options but when I create a three minute sample dvd on my hdd, there is no video when I play it back with power dvd. It's also the trial version but I don't know why this would be a restriction.

Thanks again.

michaeltee · Post by **michaeltee** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 7:40 pm

Hi,

What kind of menu creation restrictions are you running into? MF4 is very flexible in this area. You can change the background image, move the scene windows, animate the scene windows, change the window frames, change the text, add background music, etc...

Intervideo DVD Creator 2 has some similarities with MF4 but it's not an apples and apples comparison. DVD Creator 2 is more like a scaled down version of Ulead VideoStudio 9 than MF4.

-Mike

archer57 · Post by **archer57** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 8:47 pm

Specifically, I can't make a main menu where there are two options: Play or show the menu. I can only make sub-menus that show up to four chapters each with thumbnail. So when I start the dvd, I get the first sub menu with the first four chapters, rather than a main screen with an option to play or go to the subs.

jcc · Post by **jcc** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:56 am

I think that you can have what you want if you have both Add Title Menu and Create Chapter Menu selected under Advanced Settings on the menu creation screen.

With that arrangement, if you select the thumbnail on the main menu you will go the the sub-menu(s). But if you select the play button on the main menu your DVD will be played from the start.

With the full version extra content you can have up to 12 items on the sub-menu(s).

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 5:37 am

Hi,
If you want the Full version it's better to purchase the retail boxed from ulead or another software vendor.

Make sure to completely remove the Trial version or the retail version will give you problems.

MF4 is a suite of large programs, it's best to order the box and get the retail CD.

Hope this helps,

MD

archer57 · Post by **archer57** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 5:50 am

Thanks to you all for your helpful tips!

archer57 · Post by **archer57** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 5:40 pm

Sorry, I'm back with just a bit of info. "Add Title Menu" and "Create Chapter Menu" under Advanced Settings are disabled (dimmed) in the trial. The "Add Title Menu" is checked but I'm just getting chapter menus. I wish they would remove all function limitations on these trials and just put a mark on the output or limit the length of video. I'm probably not going to buy if ulead can't provide details on the limitations (no support for trials). When I test drive a car before buying, everything works. Of course it's a bad comparison because of the cost difference, but I still want to know that I'm getting what I need for my money.

jcc · Post by **jcc** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:06 am

I agree with your points about trial version support. And I would hope that the trial contains the up to date version, although I doubt that it does.

The trial version gives access to all of the menu generation features. You should be freely able to select and deselect Title Menu and Chapter Menu.

How many clips do you have on the timeline?

archer57 · Post by **archer57** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:07 am

Ten clips. Both of the menu options are disabled even with only 3 clips.

jcc · Post by **jcc** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:22 am

Have you defined chapter points in your clips?

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 4:26 am

Archer57,
If you have individual videos on the timeline and have NOT defined any
chapters for any of the video(s), (within MF4), then it sounds like the
program is working properly.

This also depends on the menu template you choose.
In MF4 you must define chapters in a video in order to have a sub-menu.

In order to have 1 main icon with another menu(s) for the chapters that you also have to create you must first JOIN all those clips together on the timeline using the JOIN feature.
Then define the chapters and go to the menu screen.
But, if you Join vidoes on the timeline it's more reliable to Export the joined videos. Then import the 1 mpeg2 file of the joined video.
More reliable and faster.

To Join all the clips:
Highlight the 1st clip
Holding down the LEFT SHIFT KEY click on the last clip.
That will highlight all of them.
Then click on the Join icon.
Then export with the correct dvd compliant properties.

Hope this helps,

MD

archer57 · Post by **archer57** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 5:06 am

Thank you. You've identified my problem. I started with one avi file from which I wished to create chapters. However, I foolishly used the clip feature and seperated the single clip into ten which I mistakenly thought would be my chapters. Create menu was checked so I thought I was good to go. I could only create a menu of the clips (which I thought were chapters). What had me convinced that I was ok was the preview. I was able to click on a thumbnail and the preview would go to that clip. But when I finished writing the movie to disk, I played it back and had only one chapter. This also explains the one huge VOB file. So now I see my error. No chapters were created, only clips.

Thanks so much.

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 7:15 am

Hi,
The VOB file you see on Dvd's is a container file for the mpeg2 videos.
There can be many mpeg2 videos in one VOB file provided they all have the same video attributes.

If you look at a commercial dvd you will see many VOB files.
The main movie is in only a few on them.
The other vob's are created with the additional numbering sequence because they have different video attributes such as different aspect ratio's or frame sizes or encoding. Those files are usually the first played videos that you see (the warnings etc), video previews, extra content etc.

If you do plan to purchase the full version make sure to remove the trial version completely before installing the retail version. People are having problems installing the retail after the trial version.

Hope this helps,

MD