Hi, I don\'t even know if I\'m in the right thread at this point, I\'m just wondering, I have just ripped something to vob with shrink but want to edit in in Pinnacle, Pinnacle will not find the files so I am assuming I need to convert them? It seems to prefer avi files (though maybe also uses others which you guys know about, there don\'t seem to be any guides around specifically about avi files so maybe they are passe or something?). In any case, what do I need? Also, most of my purposes in using Pinnacle will be to create new menus for compilation dvds, so if you can\'t help me with the above question, is there at least some freeware that will make menus? Thank you very much!

Does that mean that my files are actually mpeg2s and I should look for an option in Pinnacle that selects those kinds of files, or that I should look for an option in Pinnacle or some other program to convert to mpeg2s?

Are mpeg2s better/easier/more common than avis?

Do most people just rip directly to a dvd and not bother messing with the material (even with all the fun editing stuff out there)?

Yeah, Pinnacle Studio 9. Thanks for going to that kind of trouble to be helpful!

But, this is revolutionary news for newbie me: vob files are the same thing as mpeg2s? Because I know that Pinnacle accepts mpeg2s. (It did not recognixe the vobs, but maybe they need to be captured playing as mpeg2s...)

So can I infer then that after being compressed to mpeg2s the vobs can then be decompressed and burned as dvd again without having lost any of the original quality?

Incidentally, is there a program that *can* work with vobs or ripped mpeg2s, along with other home files, in the same space? I was lead to believe by a store clerk that Pinnacle would manage this, but I am doubting he knew what he was talking about. (I tried changing the filenames to mpgs and they still would not open.)

Thanks, I just downloaded a trial of that, it seems to be finally what I was looking for!