Add .pdf file to a DVD

[John_Ap...@adobeforums.com]

I have a short (2 minute) MPG2 movie that I would burn into a DVD. Would like to add a document (a .pdf file) to that DVD. This small file would be a companion "narrative" for the movie.
I was informed that a) Nero Burning Rom 5.5 can accomplish this, b) Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 can also accomplish this, c) DVD Architect cannot do it. I have the Nero and the DVD Architect software.
Can't figure out how to add the .pdf file to the DVD using Nero.
Any help and directions would be appreciated.
(Same request for making SVCD's)
My setup: Win XP, 2.6GHz Pentium 4, 512 RDRAM, IBM 80GB 7200 rpm HD, Vegas 4 + DVD software, Nero 5.5 software.
Many thanks!

[Ian_B...@home_in_paris.fr]

Either you or I are somewhat confused about such a project. My points of confusions are:
1. Why would you choose DVD instead of putting the 2 minute file on CD as a simple mpg file. That way almost any PC in the world with a CD reader can read it. If it's on DVD then only a restricted number of configurations can read it - and, without careful planning you might not be able to read the DVD on lounge readers. There are quite a few parameters in DVD creation that are enormously simplified if you go the CD route.
2. When you say the PDF will act as a "narrative" are you expecting to use the speech part of PDF? If you've heard PDF generated speech reading a document then you must be intent on producing a commedy clip or a quiz about unususal accents.
3. What do you see as intrinsically different about putting a PDF on a CD as opposed to putting an MPG2 file on a DVD (should be CD now). It's just the same - you simply prepare a list of files to be burned on the DVD.

I think you may have set yourself some parameters and objectives that are not evident from your post. If you care to share these parameters and objectives then perhaps someone here would be in a better position to help.

Just for background - I had a local lab digitize some old celluloid films for me to put on DVD. After many attempts using a variety of Video editing packages, I finally created the DVD source with all the chapters and menus. Then the nightmare of creating a DVD started. I went through many DVDs trying to find a PC/MAC/Lounge Reader/ compatible format among all the DVD parameters. I never did find one solution that would work for everyone who wanted a copy of the DVD.

So my fall back solution was a PDF menu (with some readable narrative explanations) with links to the different video clips of 2 to 18 minutes - about 20 minutes on one CD and 35 on another. The PDF menus were linked to the mpg clips so that clicking on the links started the video clips (handled by MS Media Player or ReadOne Player). The series of CDs were easy and reliably written (just 1 failure out of 30 copies) using Easy CD 5.

I toyed with the idea of embedding the clips in the PDF but I could not create a satisfactory layout with the first scene of the video, the text and colorful backgrounds (I'm not a graphics/artist person - I leave that to the female parts of the family where the creative talent lies).
Hope this helps, but maybe you've already worked out all the compatiblity/feasibility issues and are much further ahead in this sort of production then I.
Cheers
Ian

[Aandi_...@adobeforums.com]

You should forget about the fact that it's a PDF. Putting any file on
DVD or CD is the same process.

The first step in creating a recordable disk is to collect together
all of the files you want to put on the disk, in the same folder.

I have an older version of Nero that just does CD-R, but the principal
is probably the same. Start Nero, a Wizard appears. If it doesn't
appear, use File > New if necessary and click the Wizard button if
necessary. Follow the instructions on screen.

Aandi Inston

[John_Ap...@adobeforums.com]

Thank you very much for your responses!
To explain: I wish to send out a training video, in DVD format. On the same DVD disk I would like to add a .pdf file, which could be viewed and printed separately by the recipients. Otherwise I'd have to send two disks: One a DVD with the video, and the other a CD with the tiny .pdf file.
It would be great to combine both in one DVD disk. Recipients could not "see" the .pdf file on the screen, because presumably DVD players would ignore it. But the written instructions accompanying the disk (assuming the idea works) would be to put the DVD in a computer, explore it, find the .pdf and print it.
Many thanks for your help so far. (Incidentally, Nero's instructions don't address my issue directly, as best as I can understand them.) I am using a PC with Vegas 4 and its companion DVD Architect (starting to learn it.) I've been told that Architect cannot do this, but Nero can. I'm also using DVD-RW disks, because otherwise in the learning process, I'd use up a lot of expensive coasters!

[Yrb...@adobeforums.com]

The real question is, where do you need it to be played? Only computer DVD players or on TV Top DVD Players as well?

If you need to have it play on the ones that sit on top of your TV, you need to find out if you need to do anything different to get an MPEG playable on a TV Top DVD Player. I suspect that when you find the answer to that, you will have what it takes to move forward.

For DVD's that are destined for a PC DVD player, with Nero, it's a simple drag-n-drop operation. You will be able to view the MPEG using whatever the default MPEG viewer is for the machine, and you will be able to open the PDF with Acrobat Reader. If Macs will see it too, then you may have issues with a readable partition for the Maccie.

Just my two cents.

[Ian_B...@home_in_paris.fr]

John,
So far you have not indicated any reason for using DVD instead of CD. It would seem that every single aspect of your project is screaming CD. Easier to create, everyone can read CDs, massive savings in distribution costs, easier to use. But there again, paddling a canoe up the Amazon is more more exciting than first class service on the Queen Mary II. You're choice.
Cheers
Ian