[tballister]

I'm looking for more detailed information on how the "PLAYLIST" files (.mpl or .mpls) can be edited. These files are created by cameras that product AVCHD directories (folders) on SDHC cards or DVDs.

A couple of links that enumerate those structures:
Nero Vision 5 AVCHD Authoring Guide | Articles - Digital Digest
Elura User - Canon Elura tips and tricks - Playing AVCHD video on a Blu-ray player

... and "daggat" has published a convenient .bat conversion program here:
AVCHD DVD-r on Samsung BD-P1500

The .mpl playlist files contain the names of the individual clips (scenes) in the STREAM directory, and the camera(s) seem have their own algorithm for deciding when to start a new .mpl file. After shooting, for example, 200 scenes, then copying the SDHC stick over to the PC you'll find the 200 .mts files in the STREAM directory, and (somewhat arbitrarily) 2 or 3 .mpl files in the PLAYLIST directory.

What I'm looking for is either (a) a way to control when the camera (the AG-HSC1UP for now) starts a new playlist (.mpl) file, or (b) how to edit the playlist files to be able to re-organize the clips as desired.

My motivation is that the new Panasonic DVD players (that can accept the SDHC or an AVCHD DVD-R) pop an initial screen with a table containing the info in the playlist files; an abitrary name, its length, etc. If there was one file in the PLAYLIST file, there will be one row that can be clicked on and played. If there are two files in the PLAYLIST folder, there will be two rows, ..., and so on.

I'm looking for a way to be able to control how many entries appear on the DVD menu, and the scenes which are included in those entries (I don't know whether to call them "Chapters" or what).

Thanks in advance for any clues...