TUTORIAL TOPIC: SCRIPTING
TUTORIAL TITLE: WHAT IS SCRIPTING?
 

 

There are a number of bscis things that are helpful to know before begininng to script.
This tutorial explains this most important basic: What is Scripting? 

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What is Scripting, exactly?  

Scripting is DVD Studio Pro’s method to create command Elements that can control DVD player navigation and presentation. Scripting Commands can access 8 of the 16 defined GPRMs and all of the 24 defined SPRMs in the DVD player. You’ll find you there are only 21 SPRMs currently in use, and you’ll actually only use a few of them regularly.

(More on SPRM and GPRM Parameters in other tutorials) 

DVD Scripting is not Java, Jscript, C++, Perl, HTML or anything you may already be familiar with, but it is reminiscent of some other languages you may have seen. In some ways it resembles high school algebra (“add 6 to GPRM0”, “multiply GPRM1 by 1024”), and in other ways, simple logic expressions (“if GPRM0=1, then to Jump Menu 1”).

The important thing is: DVD Studio Pro Scripting is designed to make it EASY for you to create sophisticated DVD behavior.  The Script Editor included in DVD Studio Pro will actually do the hard work for you. All you have to do is point, click and drag to create a Script! Occasionally you may need to type something, perhaps to add a comment, but not very often.

Scripting = Enhanced Interactivity  

When the DVD format was created, a powerful control language was included in the format, allowing the enhanced non-linear interactivity that has become the hallmark of DVD Video projects. While basic DVD interactivity can be created by linking project elements together while authoring – jumping from menu buttons to tracks and markers, for example -enhanced interactivity in DVDs can be created by Scripting the various DVD project elements to exert control over the DVD
player.

Scripting makes use of the DVD Spec’s navigation and presentation Commands, System Parameters (SPRMs) and General
Parameters (GPRMs), which are built into the DVD Specification and every DVD player.
 
Just as making links between Tracks, Menus and Slideshows defines code to create those links, Script commands you create define micro- code instructions that will be created when your project is built. When executed by the DVD player, this micro-code can perform amazing functions, from remembering user responses to generating random values, and even automatically navigating through pre-programmed sequences of content. DVD Players are actually amazingly smart devices, despite today’s modest cost
 

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Bruce - "the Digital Guy"