Forum Discussion

develop1's avatar
develop1
Visitor
15 years ago

generating BIF files

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
Roku Developer Program

1 Reply

  • standypain's avatar
    standypain
    Visitor
    15 years ago
    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