DVD data structures are very complex, especially when one or more menu items are involved. By breaking down a complex system into many smaller and simpler parts and by getting familiar with the fundamental structures of a simple DVD title, you would gain the insight and background to understand the structure of complex commercial DVD titles. This guide is designed to help you achieve the following goals:

Get familiar with required basic operations of the DVD technology.

Understand how a DVD disc works when placing it into a standard DVD player.

Understand the data structures required by a DVD title with advanced navigation and menu features.

Get acquainted with major DVD fundamental elements: program chain (PGC), program, cell, commands, their relationship and interaction, and how they are organized to construct a seamless DVD title.

Get familiar with the DVD specifications and how the DVD player interprets virtual commands.

Learn how to use the included freeware tool IFOEdit to browse or modify the contents of all DVD data structures. Once you are familiar with the basic data structures explained in this guide, you would be able to use this tool to investigate all remaining data structures.

Learn how to use the included freeware tool VOBEdit to browse the virtual commands associated with each menu item on a menu page.

Understand typical advanced virtual commands to perform complex branching based upon options defined by the DVD menus.