I do videos so this is a needed product, and I still downloaded FormatFactory- as I have downloaded products from here before-and got malware and a few trojans.

We always rave about Format Factory. But last week I tried to use it to convert identically-sized jpeg photos to a smaller identical size while converting to GIF. None of the resulting files could be read. I just did it with a macro in another program. My point is that even our sacred cows seem unable to do everything right.

So disappointed!
I have a cam-coder which produces ***.MOD video files. I tried to use Plato to join my MOD files. Unfortunately, Plato didn't support MOD files. Whilst Windows Movie Maker can deal with this file type.
Big thumbs down!

I recommend SUPER, it's consistent in doing the same thing as this and it's free too.

@#10, the system requirements never claimed that this program would work with Windows 7!!!

Thanks, Mike. - It's good to have a knowledgeable voice on board. It sounds like perhaps you are the developer.

Program doesn't seem to work at all in Vista 64. It appeared to have installed extra crap with it. Not only uninstalling, but doing a system restore to an earlier date just to be sure it's gone.

@ #22 Rich
Does anyone know if there any free alternative which will place two or more vob movie files upon one DVD disk with a menu? I am mainly interested in consolidating copies of my purchased exercise DVDs onto a single DVD, so I can leave it in the player and select which one to play. Thanks

Grab DVDFlick.

As for me, AVS Video Editor is the best tool to join video.

#22: "Does anyone know if there any free alternative which will place two or more vob movie files upon one DVD disk with a menu? I am mainly interested in consolidating copies of my purchased exercise DVDs onto a single DVD, so I can leave it in the player and select which one to play. Thanks"

What you have to do, Rich, is create & burn a new DVD. There are several apps that should let you do what you want, but I'm unaware of any that are free, so you'd have to use a trial & finish before it expired. I'd suggest checking over at videohelp.com &/or doom9.org for info & links. You might also want to check out Sony, for their downloadable trials [http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/] Overall it should be as simple as dragging & dropping the 2 videos onto the menu, once you choose the software you want to use. Check out DVDFab if the existing DVDs have DRM, & use ImgBurn, even if the software offers to do the burning.

#10: "Failed to install properly on Windows 7” _RegDLL.tmp has stopped working ”Will not run when installed either."

I can't say whether it's worth it for you or not, but some folks have that sort of problem whenever the GOTD uses NCT*.dll files, & they're running Vista or newer -- in fact if you wanted to search the GOTD archives you might find a lot of useful info on how to get things working. Long story short, what you'd want to do is register the files with Windows manually -- registering basically makes entries in the registry so Windows knows 1) what to use the file for, & 2) where it is.

I use an old app called RegDrop.exe, that you can still find with Google... I have a copy right on my desktop. In 7 64 I had to set it to run as admin in the compatibility settings (right click -> properties). Once you locate the files in the Windows sub-folder using Windows' Explorer, [System32 = 32 bit Windows] [SysWOW64 = 64 bit Windows], just drag them on top of RegDrop.exe. In 7 the right way to do it is from the command line, which *in this case* has to be run as admin -- search for cmd -> right click -> run as admin. Then have to navigate to the correct folder -- in 32 bit Windows it's Windows\System32 -- in 64 bit Windows, 32 bit apps & files are in Windows\SysWOW64, with 64 bit files in System32. Then type regsvr32 followed by the file name & press enter. [In 7 64, both System32 & SystWOW64 have their own versions of regsvr32, so make sure you're in the right folder.] What files would you have to register? Use Universal Extractor on the trial from the developer's site -- in the expanded files look in the sys folder, ignoring anything in sys\RMBin. Use those for the filenames -- Don't register them from the sys folder.

#2: "... Input and output is limited..."

Plato Video Joiner is different than most GOTD video apps, allowing you to use codecs you install for avi files. While this doesn't make up for things like missing flv, it does give you more flexibility than many alternatives, And, you can always output to something like mpjeg avi, then convert that to something like flv using the free Riva encoder, which *may* do a better job than some others anyway.

"The control over output video settings is limited. Not once did I ever see the ability to change the video bitrate."

Actually it's there, but only for avi where you set bit rate by clicking the Configure button -- this brings up the codec's own controls, which are more in depth, better than what users are given with the built-in stuff. Selecting the Xvid codec, then clicking Configure is a great example, since most all GOTD converters use Xvid, making comparison easy.

"There is no drop down menu, or anything similar, to allow you to select videos sizes (i.e. so you must have them memorized)."

Pre-defined templates are always a double-edged sword. Yes you have to write stuff down, look it up, or remember it, but you're not limited by the presets either. That can be important... Wide screen frame sizes are rarely if ever included in presets, but needed for DivX/Xvid playback on loads of DVD players. If you want smaller wide screen video for PCs/laptops the preset 320 width frame is often too small. And when you're going to a hand-held player that uses it's own, fairly poor software [i.e. all those amv players] you need odd size avi files to feed the amv converter.

* * *

#3: "The current one also works with DVD VOB files, which this one does not."

Not saying it's always worthwhile -- that's up to you -- there are very common ways to get mpg2 [the video in VOB files] into VFW [Video For Windows] apps like Plato Video Joiner. One method that I use involves DGIndex & VFAPI (both free). Since this Joiner accepts mpg, another way would be to extract the audio/video from the VOBs. Again, it's not always worth it, but, it can be done.

* * *

#5: "Windows movie maker will join many formats and then you can convert them to any format you want wh FF that is good and free all the time."

On the downside, it's limited in what it will import & export, & working with wmv is very resource intensive & sloooowwwww -- while the codec has been updated, the encoder hasn't for several years. Unless you're working with very high bit rate wmv (approaching lossless), it's a very poor intermediate format to convert to something else.

"Windows movie maker also will do so much more than just hoin clips so why use anything else that just is for one purpose."

One reason is that it takes a bit of time & effort to learn a real video editor, & for some jobs they can be overkill.

* * *

#6: "Why can’t just join without converting if 2 or more files has the same format and codec?"

Good point!... you don't want to re-encode unless absolutely necessary, because that's guaranteed to take extra time & lose quality. Problem is putting that idea into practice... You can usually do that in most editors if/when the files are avi in mjpeg &/or DV formats, since every frame is a keyframe. I think 3 specialized apps will do it with mpg2, but only on key or I frames. Real has had something similar for years, but it's CLI (command line) I think. Wmv is supposed to work, but I think only with certain profiles in Movie Maker. What makes it so hard is when you have 1 full [or key] frame, followed by several partial frames... the info for any 1 random frame is carried for several frames before & after, so you don't have something that can be easily spliced. Making matters worse, info on the complete file can be stored at the beginning, so when 2 files are combined, that has to be re-written too.

Does anyone know if there any free alternative which will place two or more vob movie files upon one DVD disk with a menu? I am mainly interested in consolidating copies of my purchased exercise DVDs onto a single DVD, so I can leave it in the player and select which one to play. Thanks

Slightly off-topic, but is there a program that can automatically split movies into scenes (without me having to set the start and end points of each scene)?

Plato Video Joiner lets you basically do simple video editing, joining, splitting, resizing, & re-encoding your video clips. It's not as capable as a full fledged editing program, but it has it's advantages compared to something like VirtualDub, which doesn't as easily let you piece together trimmed clips into one file. It's like Virtual Dub in using codecs you have installed, rather than forcing you to use Xvid &/or whatever else your converter sees fit to include, plus it comes with some of it's own.

Plato Video Joiner is not a new program, dating from 2006. It uses NCT*.dll code libraries, which means some [not all] folks running Vista (& probably 7) will have problems. Installation would like to add 101 files in 5 folders to Windows' System32 folder (or 64 bit SysWOW64)... these include the NCT*.dll files, an older version of the lame mp3 encoder, Real codec files, plus files that are Windows or video related, like gdiplus.dll. This does have the potential to cause problems, for example causing all your software to use the older version of lame, conflicting with Real code libraries & apps already installed, & having Direct Show video filters that will compete with those already installed etc. [Note: these sorts of potential problems are sadly far from unique -- you can run into the same sort of thing installing Super or Format Factory etc, so it's always a good idea to be able to put things back, having a current backup handy, or at the least setting a Restore Point.]

The web site for Plato Video Joiner is flagged Red by McAfee. The normal trial download includes the RelevantKnowledge Installer, which has been removed from the GOTD version. McAfee's info on the site can be found here: [http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/dvdtompegx.com?version=2&core_ver=1.0&pip=true&premium=false&client_ver=2.9.258&client_type=IEPlugin&suite=true&aff_id=0&locale=en-us&os_ver=5.1.3.0]

Using Plato Video Joiner is pretty straight forward. The program window isn't fancy or colorful [a curse or blessing depending on your own tastes], with a Register button at the bottom that remembers & shows the serial number you copied/entered. The majority of the screen is taken up by a list area for the files you imported, with a small video preview in the upper left. The preview controls include a couple of sliders that you position to trim a video clip -- you can add the same clip twice or more, & by trimming cut out unwanted content like commercials. The upper right is where you make the settings for your output files, which include avi, mpeg, wmv, mov, & rm (Real)... Windows Media (wmv) is best done elsewhere, as your only options are pre-defined profiles.

In a nutshell, Plato Video Joiner won't replace a regular video editor, like the home versions of Sony Vegas or Pinnacle, the video editor bundled with Roxio's suite, or the free Wax, all of which will do what this joiner does & more. Plato Video Joiner does not have preset templates for portable players, so if that's what you're after, this isn't it. What it does do is give you more than the usual amount of flexibility when it comes to output formats, lets you splice videos together &/or perform simple cut edits, & is very easy to use.

Movica is open source make split and join on:wma,wmv,mpeg and flv.Another to extract audio from mvideo is :Extra Video to Audio Mp3 converter Free.Another is SuperDVD Video Editor it loock beautifull but i don't work with this.Another joiner:Free Video Joiner.With Sothink Ipod Video Converter that was here you can split file and convert.Leawo series converters free also have a section:merge into one file.Moyea Video4Web Converter-free soft it can also split and join files:join with section:merge into one file and split with section:Customize>Trim and is also converter.

For #4, Aniruddh, I see it as an analog to a video music playlist, where you have the options of taking video music with you in a specific order.

Also i forget to say another free alternative for join video files is:Kate's video joiner.For split(in special but not only) we have:Avidemux,Virtual Dub,Moyea FLV Editor Lite,Kate's Video Cutter,Movie Maker,Avi Split Classic from Bobyte,AoA audio extractor-split video from audio,Video Edit Master(cut and Join),Video Cutter,Join Vob File,Movica(if i remember has a free version and is an videoeditor), Freesky Video Splitter,AsfBinMaster,JVeditor,t@b ZweiStein.Are on Cnet,Softpedia,MajorGeeks and other sites.

Format factory rocks it`s freeware and does the job brilliantly. So i don`t need or wan`t this. thanks anyway.

Also i try it Plato Youtube Search and Downloader free and don't work.Maybe is firewall?Until now i don't have succes to make to work Plato products.I'm wait to see how work at others.

No use of this software. I am sad that GAOTD has never offered a video splitter

Thank you for the information Ashraf, I rarely bother with the daily giveaways now as I'm happy with everything I have on my computer; though this would have been one of the rare downloads that I'd have bothered with. :(

I too checked out Plato's home site and was given a warning about potential malware as soon as I entered their site; so won't be downloading today’s giveaway unless the giveaway team inform us that today’s giveaway has been cleaned.

Thanks for the alternative, which I downloaded previously on your recommendation. :)

I want to join file that are identical in parameter:the same format,frame and soft say that parameter are not optimal.Maybe or i make some wrong or wrog is this.I have direct x 10 and 9,quick time and the rest.

Products Plato offers Relekvant.Search on Google and don't accept to install this Relekvant.My antivirus have allways a strong reaction at Releckvant.After this introduction you can test products.I test in the past media player Plato and don't work for me.Also have some free soft that probably i will test it.This soft i install with succes i must only to test it.Description is good ,now to see in practice.Some free alternatives:Moyea Flv Editor Lite for FLV,Windows Movie Maker for wmv and wma,CombiMovie from Bobyte,Free video joiner,probably Avidemux(split i know that make for some format but i don't know if is good for join) and converters are many.

Failed to install properly on Windows 7
" _RegDLL.tmp has stopped working "
Will not run when installed either.
Also not a fan of the bundled sponsor program included.

The software installed and registered with no problems using Vista Home Premium. I only used .mov files to process. I tried loading one file which was 94,212 kb and Plato video joiner crashed each time. I tried loading 2 smaller video files, one being 35,138 kb and the other being 66,876 kb. I tried to convert the combined videos to one .avi file. The program did not crash, but came back with 'Create Fail'. I find it difficult to give this software a thumbs up.

SUPER is the free video tool that can join video clips.

You need to convert and join simultaneously. Why can't just join without converting if 2 or more files has the same format and codec?

Windows movie maker will join many formats and then you can convert them to any format you want wh FF that is good and free all the time. Windows movie maker also will do so much more than just hoin clips so why use anything else that just is for one purpose.

This will do as it says, muc too limited for me to even consider.

What's the use of this software?

"You can add an unlimited number of video files to the list and easily rearrange their order if needed."

mean to say it give u the list of the media files? or it joint the two different media files?

If it's just creating the list then I think mostly other media software can do that too but if it's joining two different media files in a single one then may be it will useful when you need to transfer a 2 VCD movie in to a single DVD. other then that I dont see any see of this software.

This application is not happy with Vista SP2 as a runtime error is generated, even as 'administrator', and terminates. Looking at the Plato web page and reading the release notes, this is an old version, about three and a half years old. The current one also works with DVD VOB files, which this one does not.

A shame, could have been worth using.

JA

Okay just downloaded the giveaway and it looks like GOTD forced the developer to remove the malware crap that is attached if you grab the software from the developers website. It seems okay to download. I still recommend FormatFactory over it because...

# Input and output is limited to AVI (.AVI), MPEG (.MPEG/.MPG), Windows Media (.WMV/.WMA/.ASF), QuickTime (.MOV/.QT), and RealPlayer (.RM/RMVB) videos; there is no support for FLV, 3GP, or MP4.
# The control over output video settings is limited. Not once did I ever see the ability to change the video bitrate.
# When you add videos to join, the "Video Size" is automatically set. If you want a different video size, you must manually type them it. There is no drop down menu, or anything similar, to allow you to select videos sizes (i.e. so you must have them memorized).
# Clicking on "Help" does not do anything so not help file.
# The developer is falsely advertising the features of Plato Video Joiner on their website

Please be warned the trial version I downloaded from the developer's website to evaluate this product comes packed with malware (the usual third party "let us monitor your activity" crap). You can read about it in more detail by clicking here. I sent GOTD an e-mail about it and hopefully they can clean up the giveaway before they release it tonight but because of the time difference between me and them they may not be able to. Please proceed with caution.

That being said, for a free and clean video joiner, grab FormatFactory. Amongst all its features, FormatFactory has a "Video Joiner" feature.