Multiple Language Menus

Question

We're getting to the final stages of a multi-language DVD (subtitles and audio) and have been trying to figure the best method to work. Is is best to add languages and use the language sub-menus, or best to add separate menus for each language (3)? I see possible advantages in terms of scripting to each method.
We first set the basic functionality in english, using a language selection screen first and then a Chapters menu. On the Chapters page we are using stories to get around and back to the Chapter menu and are returning to the correct (next) button nicely. Be nice if this was this direct in the other languages so we wouldn't need to add a script for the 15 buttons.
We have added subtitles and have those working as well. We also have added the dubbed audio tracks. We've got the basic scripting of those elements, but now to get it all together.
Our Language Selection screen leads to language specific intro tracks, after which the viewer jumps to the Chapter selection menu. Do we need to specify which language via GPRM here? The problem I see is that I don't see how to get to a language-specific menu.
As above we added languages and have created the foreign text via photoshop layers. But will the user return to the appropriate language menu? I see how to script via GPRM, but the jump returns to the menu. Would the menu default to the player's language?
I've been looking high and low for resources and have some good stuff about GPRM scripting, but nothing that addresses the menu language issue.
Leads and ideas appreciated.
-Bill

Answer 1

Not getting an answer on this as the "BEST" way, and finding the manual (and other training book I bought on DVDSP) decidedly thin I tried it in two ways:
I first set up the disc in english and established the menu architecture and flow. We have a language selection screen first that leads users – after a language specific intro track – to a language-specific main chapter menu. We setup our stories to work in english first. We established the buttons for the other languages on that first page.
We tried to design the rest of it in two ways: via DVDSP multiple languages; and (the way that worked) through connecting menus (actually without referring to other languages on the DVD level) logically. That is to say we setup a Chinese menu, a Spanish Chapter menu, but they were an English language menu (according to the DVD authoring) that had Chinese characters or Spanish words on it and referred to Chinese (A3(Mandarin), A4(Cantonese) S3 Chinese subtitles) or Spanish (A2, S2) system streams.
USING DVDSP to setup languages:
We added languages after establishing the architecture. This is great (in theory) because the stories and button jumps are copied into the foreign language sub-menus. All worked well EXCEPT jumping to the language specific sub-menu. I could set the jump to the menu, but couldn't figure how to jump to the specific language menu. I had scripted system streams for each of the dubbed audio and subtitle streams (all worked as advertised) but didn't know how to set the main language. with our three languages. When I added languages and DVDSP created separate menus (sub-menus? additional layered meus?) for each language (our main CHAPTERS page). But how to get there. It seems that the only way is to adjust the SPRM or language detection on the PLAYER level. But how can an english player view the Chinese menu?
I was able to use photoshop files to make each language menu (sub-menu?) with appropriate words and characters. But I couldn't get my head around how to get to each of the language menus. I could find only one menu: the Main Chapter selection Menu.
WHAT WORKED:
As mentioned above we simply created logical architecture that led to different language menus that were language specific in terms of look, but still – from an authoring level – inside the DVD's one language (English).
One reason this is a decent solution is that the disc will be distributed, primarily, to foreign language speakers inside the US. I do think the client would like to find more foreign distribution, but that is secondary to US distribution.
A note is that even in the case of the disc playing in a DVD-player set to a foreign SPRM, I believe the player will read the language of the disc. It simply looks for the primary language of the player first. True?
I offer all this that someone might say: The easy way to use foreign languages on a DVD is THIS WAY. Otherwise why add multiple languages? With decent, CLEAR methods maybe then Apple could write that in the manual and save me and others a heck of a lot of time hacking around doing the same thing people before us did already.
-Bill
Open to better ideas