DonationCoder.com Forum
Main Area and Open Discussion => General Software Discussion => Topic started by: Darwin on August 13, 2007, 09:13 PM
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Hi all you software sages out there in Cody-land... It's a sweltering, sticky evening here in Lotus-land and my thoughts have turned to how I'm going to submit my PhD dissertation (I'm ignoring all of you who are unkindly snickering at the fact that I haven't even gotten a chapter finished yet, as acknowledging this fact is beneath my dignity and wounded pride). I'm going to try to submit a non-traditional disseration and am hoping to avoid paper altogether. I'm toying with the possibility of submitting a DVD or a CD-ROM that will autorun and present an interactive homepage that will take my readers (both of them) to areas of the project - I'm hoping to avoid the traditional, linear approach and am going for something more organic (what does this mean? I haven't a clue, but it sounds good, no?). I've got Ashampoo Burning Studio 7 loaded and a licence for RecordNow 8 Deluxe, though it is no longer installed. I've also got WinDVD Creator 2 (the freebie that came with my burner) and Windows Movie Maker. Do I have everything that I need to make a killer presentation or do any of you have any recommendations for an alternative app to do this?
Thanks,
Mike
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Hey Darwin,
Nero Ultra Enhanced Super Stupendous (current version) has some really nice features for this. I have not used them, but I have noted them while I was doing other things with the program. It's features in this area seem to be pretty thorough. Although Nero gets a lot of flack for being all wasted space, I have found the utilities to be both well thought out and very capable. You might take a look and see what you think.
Ken
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Thanks, Ken - I'll take a look. Of course, I should also dust off my RecordNow installer and take a look at that, too - I've paid for it, I'm not using it, might as well use it if it will do the job! Right, off to the NeroPortal (http://www.nero.com/eng/index.html)...
Nero Ultra Enhanced Super Stupendous... (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/esmileys/gen3/4Medium/LaughAtYou.gif)
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I have found that the problem isn't in the burning, etc.; but rather in the autorun part. Getting it to startup what you want and to get things working properly always seemed to be problematic. Most programs like this I found either were woefully undercapable, or expensive. Though I will admit I haven't tried many of the ones others have listed. I have found a good workaround, though, in AutoRunPro. It basically starts up, then reads an INI file that then starts any program you list. Want it start a custom splash screen? Just make the JPEG (or whatever) and tell it to open that splashscreen. Want a custom menu? Create a script or batch file for it and run it. I am now using it on my USB drive so I can do several things (if I can just get it all to work together :mad: ). Once I get it together I will post about it, but not here (no hijack this time :P ) and not now, since I am not done.
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There's a small, free utility that will run system open on a file (windows only, sorry, you gotta do something fancy for Mac, or you just make everything but index.html be hidden) based on a text config in the same directory. I'll find the name of it and details tomorrow and post it up.
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Oh, hey Darwin, one thing...
As I read steeladept's post, I realized I was focused on making Video DVDs. If that's what you are wanting to do, then I'll stand by what I said. If you are wanting to make other types of DVDs, such as program with installers, then Nero might or might not work. I have not really seen those features in it - though I guess it's possible I've just overlooked them.
Ken
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Hmm... Thanks steeladept, I'll add it to the list. AutoRunPro certainly looks like it means business!
So far, I'm looking at:
Nero (http://www.nero.com/eng/index.html)
AutoRun Pro (http://www.longtion.com/autorunpro/autorunpro.htm)
CDMenu Pro (http://www.cdmenupro.com/) - I found this one via Google, but haven't downloaded it yet
RecordNow 8 Deluxe (http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/recordnow/premier/overview.html) - as mentioned above, I already own this but am not thrilled at the thought of reinstalling it. Same probably holds for Nero, really. Still, as noted above, why spend ~$50 for functionality that it's just possible I've already paid for?
My plan is to save the homepages for all the potential apps as a Maxthon group and then spend some time comparing them before settling on what I want to try out...
Thanks for your suggestions - please keep them coming!
PS tonsofpcs - you posted while I was typing the above - many thanks for the suggestion and no worries, I am on Windows so would welcome whatever info you can provide.
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No worries, Ken. I suspect that Nero will pretty much do it all - and I've always wanted an excuse to try it out - I've always been with Sonic/Roxio and have never been near Nero. Thus, I am sure that it will do what I want, it just may do far, far more than I need it to!
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I haven't found the disc that has it on it yet, but meanwhile, this does basically the same thing:
http://www.naughter.com/shelexec.html
For burning the final cd, CD Burner XP Pro (http://www.cdburnerxp.se/) is free.
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Mike,
from my Surfulater "archives" :P
I haven't tried either of these, they may be too basic for your requirements
Autorun.inf Maker (http://www.ashzfall.com/products/autorun/index.html) (freeware)
& hamradio's
Compact Autorunner (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=9155.msg67511;topicseen#new)
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Cool - thanks Tom. Looks like I'm going to be spoiled for choice here. I'll need to resist the temptation to throw money at this until I've fully researched it!
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look at AutoPlay Media Studio 6.0 you can probably do the whole presentation in it depeding on what you want it's lua extrensible too :)
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Thanks PaladinMJ :Thmbsup: - I'll take a look! I still haven't settled on anything just yet - I've a way to go before this is going to becomes a pressing issue :o