I underestimated a project. Size is 4.99GB. Is there a way to reduce the project size enough to fit on DVD without removing the actual video/audio content or re-transcoding? Due to space limitations, I had to delete the original file after transcoding so reverting and re-transcoding is a last, unwanted option. Thank you.

Was your source file AVI? Did you have the transcoding set to automatic in Encore? If so it should have sized the file correctly for you.

If you don't have the original file and you are limited on space, I would take the DVD folder you produced and use a third party program like DVD Shrink (Free) or DVD Fab (not free)...or another program of your choice to re-transcode it to fit on a DVD-5 disk.

No I didn't use automatic. My source was .mpg (layer 2 if I'm not mistaken). I used some calculators found here:
http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.59b70f85/3
and it hasn't failed me until now.

I haven't created a folder. Do you mean I should make an .iso first and then use DVD Shrink? Doesn't that program only remove files that are key to the DVD functioning properly when burned? I don't have multiple languages or anything fancy really. Please elaborate and thank you so far.

First output your DVD to your hard drive:
From Encore:
Select Build DVD
Select Build: DVD Folder
Select Settings: Disk Size 8.54 duel layer

Now use DVD Shrink to re-transcode the entire DVD folder so it will fit on a DVD-5 (single layer) disk. You can then use your burning software, such as Nero, to burn the disk.

I use a commercial program called DVD Fab, which does a very nice job and also burns to disk...but I've used DVD Shrink in the past and it works too.

There are tutorials online to show you how to use DVD Shrink.

Test tut:
http://www.dvdhelp.us/index.html?html/tutd....html~mainFrame

Here are some video tuts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frVruuOnLtI...feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLsLXREyABU...feature=related

Thank you. You are always very helpful. It seems as if I build a DVD folder using Encore and use DVD Shrink or any other program to reduce the size, I will need to burn using something other than Encore (like Nero). Is that true? What I'm asking is, once I build using Encore, can I use Encore again to burn or is that not possible?

You will need to burn using Nero....not Encore.

You can also burn your project right in Encore to a dual layer, no need to make a folder or shink it.

Another thing you could do if you want to use Encore CS3 to burn your folder:
Create a new blank project in Encore
1. In Encore, go to Build and select Output DVD Disc.
2. At the Create Using button, you now have the option to select either an image or a folder as well as the current project. Select Folder and navigate to your folder and select it.
3. You should be able to burn your folder to disk. Try it first with an RW disk (check the AutoErase box at the bottom.

JeffB mentions this in his book.

However, since you are using freeware here, ImgBurn for some reason seems to me to be better than Nero and faster than Encore for burning, so I've been using that to burn the folders that I create with Encore for routine projects.

John Rich