Yes, I compress everything to a single-sided DVD capacity (4.35GB).  Personally I can't tell the difference, even on a 65" HDTV via HDMI (Yes, my HTPC outputs via HDMI at a full 1080p).

I probably wouldn't have done that if hard drive capacities had been as large as they are now when I started doing this a few years ago -- but drive space was much more limited then; and after realizing that the quality difference is essentially not visible (at least with my eyes), I just kept doing it as I switched to larger drives.  I don't compress them very much (many aren't compressed at all ... only those where the movie itself is larger than 4.35GB)  -- I know folks who try to compress everything to 1GB 

The location needs to say "Play" -- not "file"

In addition, you need to have your PlayFromDisk.bat file [In Program Files\DVD Profiler\Plugins\LoadDVD] set to invoke the correct DVD player for your system.  For example, mine has this line for DVDs:
if %7=="DVD" "C:\Program Files\Cyberlink\PowerDVD8\PowerDVD8.exe" %6

With those changes, I'm sure it'll work fine.  Note, however, that with the latest version (as detailed in recent comments), the "Play" isn't necessary if you've got the other configuration items set as described.

Thank You very much for the quick response , That took care of it I can play back dvds .
I tryed the same under the bluray but all that happens is powerdvd launches but the iso file is not mounted. I then changed from ( if %7=="BluRay" "C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\PowerDVD8\PowerDVD8.exe" %6    to    if %7=="BluRay" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Elaborate Bytes\VirtualCloneDrive\VirtualCloneDrive.ico) but all that happened was a explorer window opened.
Would you have any sugestions for the bluray?

I store the DVD's in Video_TS folders.  I have a single Windows software RAID-5 with a single share, so all of my DVDs can be accessed via \\Media\DVDs

(e.g. my paths are like this:  \\Media\DVDs\Slumdog Millionaire\Video_TS\Video_TS.IFO)

I tried UnRAID ... and it works beautifully (I originally started to set this all up with an UnRAID array) ... but it has issues working with the Seagate 1.5TB drives, so I switched to Windows RAID and it works just fine with those drives.  I'd much prefer UnRAID, as it spins down all the unused drives and doesn't stripe the data, so it's not only fault-tolerant for a single drive failure; but even multiple drive failures won't cause a total data loss.  I may switch back at some point if they resolve the Seagate issue, or if I get enough other drives that I don't need any of the Seagates to host my collection (I've started buying the WD 1.5TB's now; and will switch to 2TB when the price drops under $200 for those).

How you store the DVDs doesn't really matter if you're using DVD Profiler w/LoadDVD ... it's a single click to play anything once it's set up right.

One thing I did do that I hadn't planned on originally => when I started this I figured I had all the DVDs as "backup" so I didn't need to worry about backups of the copies on hard disks.  It wasn't long before I decided that the effort involved in ripping the disks and compressing to a single-layer DVD equivalent was a big enough time sink that I didn't EVER want to do it again ==> so I bought enough extra 1.5TB drives that I have a complete set of backups on disks stored on my bookshelf -- keep them in nice boxes that Wiebetech sells [http://www.wiebetech.com/products/cases.php ].  I basically should never need to touch my DVDs again -- but I do, of course, still have them all -- so I'm VERY well backed up.  ... and if I ever decide I shouldn't have compressed anything, I could always re-rip them all    [NOT likely !!]

I did find quite a few issues with LoadDVD failing due to memory addressing issues along the way; but they seem to be almost totally resolved with the latest (5.2) version.  I've only had one error since installing it yesterday.  And I've given it a very good workout -- ALL of my DVD's have the "play" field set with the correct path => and EVERY ONE (including each individual disk in multiple disk collections, such as collections of various TV series episodes) has been clicked on and "played" [at 32x] to confirm that it plays the correct DVD and that the DVD is a good rip.  Needless to say, this took a LOT of time to do ... probably 150 hours over a period of a month.  But it's done !!  And keeping it all up-to-date is easy as long as I do it as I acquire new DVDs 

An updated PlayFromDisk.bat
If you have questions about a particular chunk of code, please ask.

Quote:

@echo off
cls
::This batch file uses SET features available in WINXP and later
::
::Expects ISO's or VIDEO_TS folders named as defined below to organized in folders
::by named media type (DVD, HD, BLUERAY) located in SourceDir. Searching multiple
::folders is possible by adding a sequence digit for the additional folder names (e.g. DVD1).
::
::Support for various Players and Virtual DVD emulation is using for playing ISO's
::Otherwise, expectation is that .IFO is associated with your player.
::
:: Players: PowerDVD8, WinDVD, Media PLayer. (The ordered list can located below)
:: The last program found is used, thus, Media Player currently takes
:: precedence
:: Virtual DVD
:: Emulation: Daemon Tools, Slysoft's Virtual CD
::
:: _1 DescriptionSideA
:: _2 profileid - this is usually the UPC code
:: _3 disc#
:: _4 slot# or collection#
:: _5 Title or Sort Title or Label Side A
:: _6 filepath
:: _7 mediatype = "DVD", "HD" or "BluRay"
:: _8 and thereafter - remainder of Location field
set count=0
:loop
setLocal EnableDelayedExpansion
shift
set /a count = count + 1
call set _%count%=%0
call :deQuote _%count%
if not ~%0~==~~ goto :loop
set count=0

echo.variables:
echo.%_1% %_2% %_3% %_4% %_5% %_6% %_7% %_8% %_9%

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::  CUSTOMIZATIONS HERE!
:: "DVD"        = if ISO images are used, set this to the Drive letter of the virtual Drive
::                (this is not required/used by daemon tools)
:: "SourceDir"  = must have trailing \
:: "Folder"    = if not blank, must have trailing \
:: "Filename"  = the name of the ISO or VIDEO_TS folder
:: "LastFolder" = The last search folder in the sequence: DVD, DVD1, DVD2, etc.
::                (this allows for searching multiple folders. If you only have one folder,
::                set it the same as "Folder")
set DVD=D:
set SourceDir=\\msi7309\
set Folder=%_7%\
set Filename=%_5%
set LastFolder=%_7%1\
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

call :FindProgram VirtualDrive vcdmount.exe
call :FindProgram VirtualDrive daemon.exe

call :FindProgram player powerdvd8.exe {drive}
call :FindProgram player windvd.exe    {drive}
call :FindProgram player wmplayer.exe  "/prefetch:4 /fullscreen /device:dvd "{drive}""

Set thisFolder=%Folder%
Set nextFolder=%Folder:~0,-1%1\
if ~%Folder:~-2%~==~1\~ set Set nextFolder=%Folder:~0,-2%2\
if not ~%player%~==~~ goto :FindVideo
echo Can't Locate DVD Video player
pause
exit

:FindVideo
if not exist "%SourceDir%%thisFolder%." goto NotFound
set iso="%SourceDir%%thisFolder%%Filename%.ISO"
if EXIST %iso% goto :iso
set Filename_=%Filename: =_%
set iso="%SourceDir%%thisFolder%%Filename_%.ISO"
if EXIST %iso% goto :iso
set Filename_=%Filename:~0,30%
set iso="%SourceDir%%thisFolder%%Filename_%.ISO"
if EXIST %iso% goto :iso
set Filename_=%Filename_: =_%
set iso="%SourceDir%%thisFolder%%Filename_%.ISO"
if EXIST %iso% goto :iso
set play="%SourceDir%%thisFolder%%Filename%\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.IFO"
if EXIST %play% goto :video
set play="%SourceDir%%thisFolder%%Filename_%\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.IFO"
if EXIST %play% goto :video
if ~%Folder%~==~~ goto :NotFound
if ~%thisFolder%~==~%LastFolder%~ goto :NotFound
Set thisFolder=%nextFolder%
set count=%thisFolder:~-2,1%
set /a count = count + 1
set nextFolder=%nextFolder:~0,-2%%count%\
goto :FindVideo

:NotFound
echo    * * * NOT FOUND * * *
echo      SourceDir = "%SourceDir%"
echo        Folder = "%Folder%"
echo Video Filename = "%Filename%"
pause
exit

:video
echo %play%
%play%
exit

:iso
Echo Mount ISO
if not ~%VirtualDrive%~==~~ goto :MountISO
echo Can't find Virtual Drive Application
pause
exit

:MountISO
Call :deQuote PlayerCommand
if /i ~%VirtualDriveProgram%~==~daemon.exe~  goto :daemon
if /i ~%VirtualDrive%Program~==~vcdmount.exe~ goto :vcdmount

:Daemon
%VirtualDrive% -get_letter 0
set /a ErrorLevel=%ErrorLevel%+1
set DVD="ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Call Set DVD=%%DVD:~%ErrorLevel%,1%%:
%VirtualDrive% -unmount 0
%VirtualDrive% -mount 0,%iso%
set PlayerCommand=!PlayerCommand:{drive}=%DVD%!
Call Set GoPlay=%Player% %PlayerCommand%
echo %GoPlay%
%GoPlay%
::I decided it's probably best to unmount the image...
%VirtualDrive% -unmount 0
exit

:vcdmount
set PlayerCommand=!PlayerCommand:{drive}=%DVD%!
%VirtualDrive% /d=0 /u
%VirtualDrive% /d=0 %iso%
Call Set GoPlay=%Player% %PlayerCommand%
echo %GoPlay%
%GoPlay%
%VirtualDrive% /d=0 /u
exit

:FindProgram
for /f "tokens=* delims= " %%z in ('attrib/s "%ProgramFiles%.\%2"') do (
set %1temp=%%z
)
call set test=!%1temp:~0,14!
if /i "%test%"=="File Not Found" goto :FindProgram1
call set %1="!%1temp:~11!"
set %1Program=%2
set %1Command=%3
:FindProgram1
goto :eof

:deQuote
set _deQuoteVar=%1
call set _deQuoteStr=%%!_deQuoteVar!%%
set _deQuoteStr=#@#%_deQuoteStr%#@#
set _deQuoteStr=%_deQuoteStr:"#@#=#@#%
set _deQuoteStr=%_deQuoteStr:#@#"=#@#%
set %_deQuoteVar%=%_deQuoteStr:~3,-3%
goto :eof

i have a quick question.

i'm useing USBIRT in my location field to call USBIRT>BAT

inside that bat file i call a program that sends an ir code to change my AV reciever to a given input.

however the loadDVD plugin no longer sends the ir commands too the dvd changer to load the disc after running the usbirt.bat batch file.

thank you for your timely response and for reading my post.

hehe. i like that someday.  being a programmer of sorts myself.
i usually work in linux not windows.

I can understand what you mean by someday.

although it doens't seem diffucult to me to go ahead and let the batchfile run and then send the normal ir commands.

umm there's no chance of getting a temporary fix or workaround i could beta for you?

as it stand right nwo i can see my collection and i can choose a disk and play it. but i can't switch too the dvd player to watch it. atleast not easily.

i would be eve so greatful.  although i'm sure you have many requests to manage and plenty of folks wanting features who where inline way before me.

anyway. thank you for the reply.

hehe

i'm happy. usually i break my own code.

i'd like t offer my help and perhaps even my coding ability to improving your plugin. if you would like some help that is.

I think it would be great to have a way of capturing the IR code needed for someone to change their AV reciever or whatever to what they like during a dvd load/playback.

we could work on an interface to capture Ir codes and store them and even replay them or something simular

just a suggestion however.

i bought this USBIRT just for your plugin and now i'm fidning many more uses for it. like perhaps a whole AV control system based on it.