1 Inside RomMaker


   Welcome to The Personal RomMaker, the easy-to-use CD-ROM preparation
   system that runs on the Macintosh. RomMaker is a complete solution to
   all of your CD-ROM manufacturing needs. It enables you to produce a
   CD-ROM as well as fully test its contents and structure before incurring
   the expense of mastering and replication. All you need to publish a
   CD-ROM are the files that you want to put on the CD-ROM - RomMaker does
   everything else.

   This demonstration diskette allows you to fully evaluate the essential
   functionality of the RomMaker. It will allow you to fully test and pro-
   duce a pre-mastered image of a CD-ROM subject to the following limita-

   tions:

        *    The CD-ROM made by you should contain no more than 100 files.

        *    The CD-ROM image should not be greater than 5 Megabytes.

   The RomMaker typically produces the final CD-ROM image (called premas-
   tered output) onto a Write Once Drive or a DATA-DAT tape. Since this
   hardware is not available to you, the demonstration diskette simulates
   these hardware options by outputing the image to your local hard disk.

   As such, you must have as much data space free on one of your Macintosh
   volumes as required for the CD-ROM you will manufacture. Furthermore, in
   order for the demonstration to operate correctly, the free space on your
   hard disk must also be contiguous. i.e RomMaker creates a 5MB file when
   the demonstration software is installed and requires that this file be
   contiguously located on a volume. The demonstration install utility will
   automatically determine if this space is available. If it is not, it

   will inform you of the lack of contiguous space and ask that you defrag-
   ment your hard disk using a commercially available utility such as the
   Norton utilities for the Macintosh.

   Before we attempt to install and execute the demonstration program, it
   is useful to better understand the fundamental process behind CD-ROM
   production.

   1.1 What's in a CD-ROM?

   The best analogy to producing a CD-ROM is over 600 years old - that of
   printing a book.  As we will see, making a CD-ROM conceptually requires
   the same steps:


                                   Concept
                              Content Creation
                            Content Organization

                              Proof Production
                             Proof Verification
                              Title Definition
                           Phototypeset Production
                          Typeset Output Validation
                          Book Printing and Binding
                      Archive Proofs and Typeset Output

                      Figure 1.1 - Book Production Cycle


   Typically, a book starts out as a concept in an author's mind.  The
   author creates the content and then structures it with help from one or
   more editors.  Together, they create a table of contents, which serves
   as both an outline of the book and a guide to readers.

   Once the book's structure is defined, creating the book is an iterative
   process. With each proof, editors and authors refine the book's content
   and structure. Changes are incorporated into successive proofs until
   both the author and editor are satisfied.

   Editors also define key criteria to uniquely identify (or 'label') the
   book:

        *    Book name
        *    Author
        *    Date printed
        *    Abstract
        *    Copyright notice
        *    ISBN number for cataloging at the Library of Congress
        *    Publisher
        *    Editor(s)
        *    Cover design

   Finally, the book is phototypeset in preparation for mass reproduction
   at the printer. This typeset version is carefully verified as a final
   quality check.  Due to the significant costs associated with reproduc-
   tion, it is extremely expensive to change a book once it has been

   printed. Thus, the book should be as free of errors (or 'bugs') as
   possible before printing.

   Thus, the final printed version of book consists of three main compo-
   nents:

        *    Contents
        *    Index (or table of contents)
        *    Identification criteria (or title)


   1.2 CD-ROM standards.

                                 [PICTURE]

                       Figure 1.2 - What's in a CD-ROM?


   Preparing a CD-ROM for production (often referred to as pre-mastering)
   is analogous to producing a book. Software developers (the 'authors')
   conceptualize the product and create the content in electronic format.
   The content of a CD-ROM is often database files that have been either

   machine read or typed in by data entry personnel. Since the CD-ROM is an
   electronic delivery media, it also requires retrieval software in order
   to read the information.  For the purposes of CD-ROM production, think
   of this software as an indistinguishable part of the contents.

   As for a book, there must be a clear way of distinguishing what a CD-ROM
   contains (i.e. a 'table of contents').  The table of contents for a
   CD-ROM is its folder structure, which identifies each file (or 'chap-
   ter') on the CD-ROM.  Furthermore, CD-ROMs must conform to some file
   system standard to allow computers to read CD-ROMs. These standards will
   define the structure of the table of contents (or folder structure) and
   contents of files allowing computers to locate any data on any CD-ROM.

   Such standards can also define the key criteria (or 'labels') that
   uniquely identify the CD-ROM to both users and computers.  A manufac-
   tured CD-ROM must thus have both of the following types of labels:

        *    Physical label.  This label, which is the equivalent of a
             book's cover page, is printed on the CD-ROM to allow users to
             identify it visually.  You can use a desktop publishing system
             to design and produce the contents of this label, which the
             mastering plant will in turn print on the CD-ROM.

        *    Volume Identifier.  This electronic label is stored on the
             CD-ROM to allow computers to recognize and distinguish it. The
             Apple HFS volume and International standards such as ISO 9660
             allow for information such as abstracts and copyright notices
             to be defined electronically. You can use RomMaker to create
             and store this electronic label on the CD-ROM.

   To make a CD-ROM, you will have to decide on three fundamental levels of
   standards.

        *    Data File Format. Computers store information as files on
             storage media such as hard disks, CD-ROMs, floppies etc. The

             file format you store the information in determines whether
             you can exchange this information with others wanting to
             access the data. To improve interchangibility between differ-
             ent programs running on different computers, a variety of file
             formats have evolved dependent on the application needs. For
             example, TIFF files for bit mapped graphics, AIFF for sound
             etc.

             Before you decide to make a CD-ROM, you must make a determina-
             tion on the files and the formats you will want to put on your
             CD-ROM.  The Personal RomMaker is not concerned with which
             data file format you use - it will faithfully duplicate any
             file in any format you choose onto the CD-ROM.

        *    File System Format. The organization of large number of files
             into some logical structure is the responsibility of the file
             system. This file system allows users to logically organize
             their data into folders and files so that users can locate
             information quickly. The file system you choose for a CD-ROM
             is defined during a step called pre-mastering. At this stage,
             the data to be put on a CD-ROM is organized into the specific
             file system format required by you just before a CD-ROM is
             produced. With the Personal RomMaker, you will have 4 options
             to choose from:

                  * Apple HFS

                  * ISO 9660

                  * Hi-Sierra

                  * Dual Mode Hybrid ISO 9660/Apple HFS

             In the next section, we cover the advantages and disadvantages
             of each file system standard in detail as this is an important
             aspect of CD-ROM production.

        *    Physical format. A compact disc can be formatted at the lowest
             level in several ways. In fact the earliest use of compact

             discs was not for storing data but as a vehicle for high
             fidelity audio. There are two primary output choices typically
             used with the Macintosh.

                  *    Data Only CD-ROM. In this mode, only data files are
                       stored on the CD-ROM. The basic version of the Rom-
                       Maker allows you to produce this type of CD-ROM. The
                       Data only version of RomMaker permits you to make
                       this class of CD-ROM.

                  *    Mixed Mode CD-ROM. In this type of CD-ROM, one of
                       the tracks is used to store data files while the
                       remaining tracks store high fidelity audio similar
                       to that used by the music industry when producing an
                       audio CD-ROM. A Mixed Mode variant of the RomMaker
                       will allow you to produce this type of a CD-ROM.
                       Such CD-ROMs are typically used in multimedia appli-
                       cations since the CD-ROM player can be instructed to
                       play and audio sequence while the computer is
                       displaying data files stored on the data portion of
                       the mixed mode CD-ROM. The Mixed Mode RomMaker for
                       Macintosh allows you to make both a Data only CD-ROM
                       and a Mixed Mode CD-ROM. This demonstration software
                       does not cover the operation of the Mixed Mode

                       RomMaker although its operation is very similar to
                       that described below.  Please see your dealer for a
                       demonstration of that product.

             There are other less prevalent CD-ROM standards such as CD-I
             and CD-ROM XA which are currently not playable on the Macin-
             tosh CD-ROMs but on specialized players built to understand
             these standards. This demonstration does not cover the
             operation of the RomMaker to produce discs conforming to these
             less prevalent standards.

   1.3 File System Standards

   When making a CD-ROM on the RomMaker, you can select one of four file
   system standards to use on the CD-ROM. Let us examine the benefits and
   disadvantages of each type of file system.

        1.   Apple HFS. A CD-ROM can be premastered in the HFS (Apple hier-
             archical file system) structure. Such a CD-ROM will behave
             like a slower hard disk to any Macintosh computer and support
             all the features of the Macintosh interface.

             A CD-ROM made in HFS format has the following key advantages:

                  *    Full 31 character file names and custom icons.

                  *    Aliasing under System 7.

                  *    Comments and labels allowing each file to be tagged
                       to allow a convenient way to quickly organize files.

                  *    No limit on depth of folder structure.

             Although HFS discs benefit from the tremendous advantages of
             the features of the Macintosh interface, their main weakness
             is that they can only be used on Macintosh computers. i.e
             these discs are unusable on DOS or Unix machines. Furthermore,
             since the Apple HFS structure is more complex, a CD-ROM using
             this file system will have slower performance than that of an
             equivalent CD-ROM made to the ISO 9660 standard.

        2.   ISO 9660. The ISO 9660 specification is an international stan-
             dard adopted by most manufacturers including Apple that
             defines a folder and file level standard that arrives at a
             lowest level common denominator in the area of file system
             standard. Files premastered to the ISO 9660 format can be read
             on any computer. All Macintosh computers for example recognize
             both this and the Apple HFS format. Premastering in this
             format allows users to make file contents accessible to any
             computer on most operating system. The same ISO 9660 CD-ROM
             can be played on a Sun Sparc station, an Apple Quadra, or an
             IBM PC 486 running Windows. This interchangibility is unique
             to the ISO 9660 standard.

             However, ISO 9660 CD-ROM discs forfeit some important advan-
             tages of the Macintosh interface:

                  *    Directory depth on an ISO 9660 CD-ROM is limited to
                       8 directory levels - there can be only 8 levels of
                       folders within folders.

                  *    Another disadvantage is the strict filenaming con-
                       vention adopted by the standard to maintain inter-
                       changibilty between operating systems and hardware.
                       Only upper case characters A-Z, 0-9 and the _ (0x5F)
                       are legitimate filename characters under the ISO
                       9660 standard. Note the lack of the Space (0x20)

                       character makes most long Apple filenames invalid.

                  *    If the ISO standard is used to provide file system
                       compatibility with MS DOS machines, then a further
                       restriction to the length of the filename must be
                       imposed. MS-DOS permits only the eight-dot-three
                       format  allowing a maximum of eight characters
                       followed by a period (.) followed by three charac-
                       ters. e.g FILECONV.TXT

             Although ISO 9660 is a restrictive environment, Apple has
             defined some ISO 9660 extensions that allow basic FINDER
             information such as file and creator types to be passed
             through while maintaining ISO 9660 compatibility. The Personal
             RomMaker automatically creates the most compatible premastered
             image using these extensions if you choose this file system
             standard for your CD-ROM.

        3.   Hi-Sierra. This standard, the precursor to the ISO 9660 stan-
             dard has  the same limitations and strengths. It is rarely
             used nowadays with over 99.99% of CD-ROMs being ISO 9660 if
             interchangibility is a key requirement. For those users with
             older hardware bases particularly in the DOS world, this stan-
             dard is sometimes used. Unless absolutely mandated, it is
             recommended that you never use this pre-mastering option for
             your data.

        4.   Dual Mode ISO 9600/Apple HFS. The Personal RomMaker has a
             truly unique option that combines the best of all worlds. You
             can premaster a data set to run under Apple HFS while still
             providing ISO 9660 compatibility for other hardware and oper-
             ating systems. On a Macintosh computer, these files appear as
             full filenames and custom icons while for other computers such
             as MS-DOS, the CD-ROM appears to be an ISO 9600 CD-ROM with
             say the eight-dot-three filenames in the limited ISO 9660
             character set.

             Hybrid discs offer the best of both file structures while
             providing a cost effective alternative to producing one disc
             for multiple platforms. For example, if you were putting
             MacroMind sequences on a CD-ROM, you might wish to use the
             same sequences in a MS-DOS environment as well as the Macin-
             tosh. The MS-DOS Macromind uses the same data file format as
             the Macintosh Macromind allowing a single CD-ROM made to this
             hybrid format to be used for both PC and Macintosh applica-
             tions.

             In the past, producing a hybrid HFS/ISO 9660 CD-ROM required
             users to basically partition the CD-ROM into two physical
             parts, each containing its own data set. This meant that for
             hybrid discs, each file system had only half as much space
             available - a problem if your data requirements exceeded
             340MB.

   The Personal RomMaker is the first premastering system that allows you
   to produce a hybrid CD-ROM where both ISO and HFS partitions can use the
   full capacity of the CD-ROM. Hence in this unique system, the data files
   are only copied once with the appropriate file system pointing to the
   same physical location occupied by the common file.

   1.4 Producing a CD-ROM

                        Produce Software and Content
                           (Concept and Creation)
                     Define Folder Structure for CD-ROM
                           (Content Organization)
                     Define Volume Identifier for CD-ROM
                             (Title Definition)
                        Make Icon View for Validation
                             (Proof Production)
                       Quality Assure Icon only CD-ROM
                             (Proof Verification)
                         Produce Pre-mastered Output
                          (Phototypeset Production)
                     Quality Assure Pre-Mastered Output
                         (Typeset Output Validation)
                        Replicate Pre-mastered Output
                         (Book Printing and Binding)
                       Backup Data and Software Files
                     (Archive Proofs and Typeset Output)
               Terms in brackets are the equivalent operations
                    in the production process for a book.

                     Figure 1.3 - CD-ROM Production Cycle


   Figure 1.3 compares the process of producing a CD-ROM to that of produc-
   ing a book.  Before producing a CD-ROM, we must create a software
   retrieval system and the data. Next, we need to define the folder
   structure and the volume identifier for the CD-ROM.  Finally, we can
   verify the proofs of our electronic 'book.'

   Verifying the contents of a CD-ROM is somewhat more complicated than
   editors reviewing book proof. CD-ROMs, due to their electronic format,
   require the integration of separate software and data components into an
   application which is then 'printed' onto the CD-ROM.  Ensuring the
   integrity of this combination is often an arduous and lengthy task which
   involves the efforts of software developers, editors, and quality assur-
   ance personnel.  It consists of ensuring that all necessary files are
   located in the appropriate place and have the correct contents, as well
   as verifying that the software and data operate in the intended manner.
   Considering that a CD-ROM can hold hundreds of files, just the file
   verification can be a cumbersome task.

   At the proofing stage, software developers define the folder structure
   which specifies the CD-ROM folder location and position for the data
   files and software.  Data and software are often revised many times as
   problems are identified and resolved at this stage. The difficulty of
   validating electronic media is compounded by the fact that the computer
   is an unforgiving machine.  Unlike a book, where an overlooked typo is
   not critical, just one bit in the wrong place on a CD-ROM can be fatal
   to the application's operation. Comprehensive testing prior to manufac-
   ture is thus critical to successful CD-ROM production.

   1.5 Creating a view of your CD-ROM

   The Personal RomMaker allows you to view the complete structure of your
   CD-ROM folder and file structure with their icons, their positions and
   type of view before you make a complete pre-mastered image. This icon
   image viewer system allows you to quickly and easily create a 'fake
   CD-ROM' folder structure so that you can verify that each file and
   folder is exactly where you want it and looks the way you want it, when
   opened.

   RomMaker's icon viewer system constructs an HFS based folder structure
   and volume identifier similar to that of a physical CD-ROM. It requires
   little additional hard disk space and minimal time to generate a view-
   able image. For example, it would take a couple of minutes only to
   create a Viewer image of a 660Mb CD-ROM containing 300 files. When a
   viewer image is made, the data in the files is not copied. Only the
   Finder and desktop information is created by the RomMaker.

   This allows you to view and navigate the folder structure to ensure that
   the CD-ROM you are about to produce has the logical structure you desire
   well before you premaster the CD-ROM image.  If you find that you have
   forgotten a file or wish to change its icon position on the CD-ROM, you
   can rapidly build another viewable image until you are satisfied with
   its contents and operation. You can then snapshot the position of these
   icons so that you are satisfied with its contents and operation. At this
   stage, you are ready to pre-master (or 'phototypeset') the CD-ROM in
   preparation for sending to a mastering plant for replication.

   1.6 Pre-mastering the CD-ROM

   Pre-mastering consists of producing an exact electronic image containing
   the contents on the CD-ROM you want to produce. This media is then
   typically sent to a mastering facility where either a few 'check disks'
   or volume replicates are produced. Historically, the media of choice for
   mastering plants has been 9-track magnetic tapes. Typically, the process
   of producing these 9 track tapes involved creating between 5 and 20
   tapes, along with a full set of backup copies in case of a read failure
   at the mastering plant.

   The hardware, space, and environmental requirements for these magnetic
   tape systems are substantial, while production times can range from many
   hours to a day depending on the system. Furthermore, shipping costs
   associated with sending two sets of 5-20 tapes can total hundreds of
   dollars. As a result, pre-mastering systems based on 9-track tapes can
   be cumbersome, time-consuming, and expensive to operate.

   The RomMaker offers two distinct revolutionary choices for output
   depending upon your application needs:

        A.   WCD-ROM or write once CD-ROM subsystem that can be used to
             replicate small quantities of CD-ROM in-house. This subsystem
             comes in the form of a tower unit that connects directly to
             your personal computer. Again, the unit fits easily on your
             desktop with no special environmental requirements. This WCD-
             ROM unit is capable of producing single CD-ROMs on your desk-
             top. The process of creating CD-ROMs on this subsystem is
             achieved through the following two steps:

                  * The first step involves pre-mastering the data onto the
                    CD-ROM subsystem disk. The pre-mastering process takes
                    approximately 45 minutes for 680MB of data if your
                    files are local, and longer if they are on networks.

                  * The next and final step involves replicating this exact
                    pre-mastered bitstream image onto blank CD-ROM disks as
                    many times as you like. Each replicate can take upto an
                    hour and ten minutes if the CD-ROM you have pre-
                    mastered is fully populated (680MB). Partially filled
                    CD-ROMs are correspondingly faster to replicate.

        B.   Digital Audio Tape (DAT) drive, which is used to produce
             compact pre-mastered output that fits in an overnight express
             shipping envelope. This drive connects directly to your per-
             sonal computer, and fits easily on your desktop with no
             special environmental requirements. RomMaker offers two DAT
             drive options, an external drive measuring 10" x 6" x 4" or an
             internal drive which fits in a floppy drive compartment.

             DAT drives use DAT tape cartridges, which measure only 2" by
             2.5". They are inexpensive and easily available from major
             computer retailers.  Each DAT tape is capable of storing an
             entire CD-ROM, so the data is not spread over many tapes as
             with 9 track tapes. Pre-mastering production times are also
             extremely short.  For example, it would take about one and
             one-half hours to produce a DAT tape containing a full CD-ROM
             of 660MB if the files are located on the Macintosh. Production
             times may be somewhat longer if the files are stored on a
             network or on slower removable hard disks, as retrieval times
             are longer for these devices.

   RomMaker optionally offers you the ability to mount a DAT drive into the
   WCD-ROM tower so that you can purchase a compact system which can both
   produce small quantities of CD-ROMs using the CD-ROM drive and also
   output pre-mastered DAT tape for volume replication at mastering plants.

   As a customer, you can purchase the RomMaker system that comes in one of
   three flavors:

        *    CD-ROM only system where in-house replication of small quanti-
             ties of CD-ROMs is possible.

        *    DAT only system whose output is sent to replication plants.

        *    DAT and CD-ROM system where both output options are available.

   1.7 Verifying Pre-mastered output

   Recall that in the book production process, the phototypeset output
   (i.e., our pre-mastered output) is verified one last time before being
   sent to the printer.  With 9-track tape or other media, it is impossible
   to check exactly what went on the tapes that are shipped to a mastering

   plant. RomMaker comes with an innovative emulation tools which enables
   you to verify data on the DAT tape or WCD-ROM subsystem, byte by byte if
   necessary.

   The JVC WCD-ROM subsystem contains a fast random access magnetic disk
   onto which the pre-mastered bitstream is stored before replication. The
   emulation system can mount this bitstream image as a CD-ROM drive,
   allowing you to examine any file or run software, just as if you were
   accessing a physical CD-ROM drive. Since the disk access is faster with
   average access times of between 15 to 20 ms compared to 500ms for a
   CD-ROM, the software emulation system can be instructed to delay the
   appropriate requests accordingly so that the behavior exhibited during
   tests of this image correspond accurately to that observed if you had
   actually replicated the CD-ROM.

   Because the JVC DATA-DAT drive, the other output device for the Rom-
   Maker, can act as a random access drive as well as a streaming tape
   device, the emulation tool can also use the DAT drive like a CD-ROM
   drive. It allows you to mount the drive and examine any file or run
   software, just as if you were using a physical CD-ROM drive. The DAT
   drive is slower, with average access times of 2 to 20 seconds compared
   to 500ms for a CD-ROM drive.  However, it offers a final opportunity for
   verification before mastering.

   1.8 Summary

   RomMaker combines an easy-to-use interface with a comprehensive set of
   tools to ensure that the CD-ROMs you finally produce are complete and
   error-free.  Producing a CD-ROM cost-effectively requires an iterative
   cycle where you can quickly and easily produce successive 'proofs' for
   testing before mastering. RomMaker's Viewer system provides you with a
   rapid mechanism to verify your folder structure and store its icon posi-
   tions for future use before you pre-master the data. Once you are satis-
   fied with the integrity of your CD-ROM image, RomMaker's emulation
   system enable you to validate the tape or the WCD-ROM hard disk image
   before replication of the pre-mastered image is performed.