generating BIF files

Archived
1

I want to fully automate the creation of BIF files via a program or script.
seems that ffmpeg is commonly used for creating the frames - that may be an option for me - but I’d also like to know if there is actually a commercial product that could be used - mainly for support aspect.
Also read that there are some tricks needed with ffmpeg - such as the first frame starting at index one instead of zero, thereby throwing the timing off.
Once the image frames are created, then BIFTool can be used.
I used BIF Video File Creator from BurningBushSoftware and it works nicely, but I’m waiting to hear back from them to know if it can be called with command line options - or automated somehow from a software program or script.

Where can I find the documentation for BIF tool commands ?
I see some examples on the forum, and some general text in the Encoding doc, but I’d like to see all the command line options.

I’m running Windows 7.

thank you

2

I too was in contact with the makers of Burning Bush Software in regards to command-line options and the response was to sell me their enterprise version for $200. I have done some preliminary work on an Autohotkey script to automate the “Bif Video file Creator 2.exe” but I have kind of lost interest. I was testing with a smallish mp4 until I got all the kinks worked out but here is what I made so far and maybe you could help with this because I did document the hell out of it and it should be easy to follow:

    clipboard = C:\dvds\SAMPLE MOVIE FOR TESTING.MP4
    file = %clipboard%                         ;Pass the working filename
    title = BIF Video File Creator 2           ;Main application working title
    close = Confirm Remove Items - %title%     ;close program window title name
    app =
    (Join
    %A_ProgramFiles%\
    Burning Bush Software\
    BIF Video File Creator 2\
    BIF Video File Creator 2.exe
    )

    Run %app%                    	;Executes the bif creation program
    WinWait %title%           		;Wait for the program to finish loading
    WinActivate %title%        		;Bring it to foreground
    SetControlDelay -1         		;Slow the clicking down
    ControlClick, Add File(s), %title%  ;Click "Add File" button
    WinWait Open            		;Wait until the Open dialog window appears
    WinActivate Open         		;Bring it to foreground
    send %file%            		;Types in the filename passed
    send {ENTER}            		;Press ENTER key
    WinWait %title%            		;Wait for "Bif Video File Creator 2" window to exist
    WinActivate %title%         	;Bring it to foreground
    ControlClick, Check All, %title%    ;Click "Check All" button
    Send {TAB 6}              		;Press Tab 6 times to put focus on "Bif Thumbnail Size" listbox
    Send {Down 3}            		;Press Down arrow 3 times to select "320x180 HD 16:9"
    Send {Tab 1}            		;Press Tab once to put focus on "Start" icon
    Send {Enter}            		;Press Enter to start bif creation

    WinWait,, Process Started

    WinMinimize %title%         	;Minimize window, this could be a while

    WinWait %close%         		;Wait for "Confirm Remove Items - Bif Video File Creator 2" window to exist
    WinActivate %close%         	;Bring it to foreground
    send {ENTER}            		;Press ENTER to remove all items from list
    WinShow %title%         		;Bring window back from being minimized/trayed
    WinWait %title%            		;Wait for "Bif Video File Creator 2" window to exist
    WinActivate %title%         	;Bring it to foreground
    Send !:F4                    	;Press Alt-F4 to bring "Confirm Exit" window
    Send {ENTER}            		;Press ENTER to select OK
    Send {ENTER}            		;Press ENTER to confirm