macOS DVD Burning Application - is this possible?

[steevg]

Hi guys,

I've been reading the info on this site since way back, but never realised there was a forum!

Anyway, I'm just wondering if it's possible for me as a non-programmer, to design an application to do the following.

1. Open a splash screen by clicking an icon on the desktop
2. Have the splash screen time out to reveal a DVD burning window, where I can drag my mpeg2 files into (similar to Toast).
3. The files in here must not be automatically sorted into chronological order, but must stay in the order they are placed.
4. Have a "Record Now' or "Burn" button which starts the encoding/burning to DVD process.
5. Eject the DVD once it's burned (verification not necessary at this stage)

Never had any need to program before, but would be interested to know if this is a particularly difficult application to write!


Thanks,
Steve

 

[sushi]

Hopefully someone will chime in about your application question. I am sure that it can be done, just not a current developer so I don't know of the specifics.

In the interim, you could always rename your mpeg2 files such as like this:

V01_Zoo
V02_Denver
V03_California

Then sort alphabetically.

Just an idea.

 

[macfaninpdx]

You may be able to accomplish this using Automator. I'm not in front of my mac, so I can't confirm all the steps. You would need an encoding program (like Visualhub or Handbrake) that is has a CLI or can be scripted via AppleScript, or perhaps you could use Quicktime if you have the Pro version (slow, however). The steps in Automator would be something like this:

Ask user to select mpg files to add to batch.
Loop until user clicks continue.
Send each file to the encoding software, either via Applescript, a shell script and CLI, or possibly using Quicktime.
When done, it may be possible to add these to a DVD image and burn - although I don't believe you can create a movie DVD right from Automator. You could, however, use something like Toast or VisualHub.

This is a lot of steps, but all of them are likely possible for the non-programmer. You could even wrap up your workflow and share it for others.

Good luck.

 

[macfaninpdx]

Duh

Come to think of it, VisualHub from Techspansion does exactly what you are looking for. You would simply drag your mpg files onto it, and then click to burn either a DVD or a DVD image file.

That's it. Check it out.

 

[steevg]

macfaninpdx/sushi,

Many thanks for the input to my original question. I have tried to use Automator, but it's not giving me the result I really want!

I'd like to have my own program which pops my logo up when an icon is clicked (as with all applications), then have a window appear where I can drag files into, to create my own templates. Then, at some stage later on I'd like to be able to drag other files into it and from here create my DVD.

The idea is to have my own DVD burning window within the program, to make the application look like it's mine and not someone else's product. Toast is fantastic, I use it all the time . . . I'd like something like Toast, which looks like my own product with a front end logo to look a bit more professional that if I used Automator!

All comments welcome!

Thanks
Steve

 

[ScoobyMcDoo]

Hmm, well, it seems to me that if you want to have your own application and have it look like your own application, you are either going to have to be a developer, or hire one.

 

[steevg]

ScoobyMcDoo,

OK, where do I start looking for one?
I presume you think it may be too involved for a novice such as myself, to write an application like this?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Cromulent]

ScoobyMcDoo,

OK, where do I start looking for one?
I presume you think it may be too involved for a novice such as myself, to write an application like this?

Thanks,
Steve

You could do it yourself, but don't expect to be doing something like in a couple of months time. You'll need to spend time learning Objective-C, C and Cocoa at the least. Plus you'll need to know the DVD standards and how to actually write a DVD (there maybe libraries that handle this for you though).

 

[macfaninpdx]

If you are fairly adept at scripting, and not afraid to get your feet wet with XCode, you may be able to accomplish what you want using nothing more than XCode and AppleScript.

In layman's terms, using XCode and Interface Builder you can create a fully compiled application that takes advantage of all the OSX interface goodies like drag-and-drop, buttons, tabs, windows, etc. You can then use AppleScript as your programming language to interface with all the nib goodies and such.

You can make some very complex programs knowing nothing more than some basic AppleScript. And if you find some encoding apps that have command-line interfaces, you can even use AppleScript to communicate with these as well, using the "do shell script" command.

Google around a bit, and make sure you check out Apple's developer site if you are serious. Once you download XCode, there are tons of Apple provided examples demonstrating exactly what I am talking about.