FileCD™ Packet Writing Utility

FileCD™ takes the advantages of ISO 9660, UDF and Packet Writing technologies to deliver CDs readable in the computers with today’s and tomorrow’s operating systems.

Currently, the most popular widely supported CD file system format is ISO 9660. CDs written in ISO 9660 format can be read from ISO 9660 compatible operating systems without any additional drivers. Most, if not all, operating systems today are ISO 9660 compatible.

FileCD also adds full support of the UDF 1.5 standard, which is compatible with other popular packet writing programs. The flexibility of FileCD enables you to choose ISO or UDF depending on your needs.


What can FileCD™ do?

Using FileCD™, you can:

1.	Add files incrementally to a CD-RW disc.

2.	Delete files or folders from a disc randomly (random erase).

3.	Rename files or folders already written on a disc.

4.	Discs written by FileCD™ can be read back in a CD-RW drive with an ISO 9660 or UDF 1.5 compatible operating system. No special driver software is required for ISO 9660 discs!

•	Note:

Discs written under the UDF 1.5 format will require driver or "reader" software to be accessed from most Windows operating systems. All current versions of Windows, except Windows 2000, will require this UDF reader. If you are already using a UDF packet writing program then you already have the necessary drivers or you can download them from the vendor’s web site. We have included UDF compatibility for those users that were using a UDF packet writer and have switched to FileCD™. For users that do not have other packet writing software, we highly recommend that you use the ISO 9660 format when using FileCD™. It is universally supported and requires no additional drivers or reader program.


When to use CD-Maker 2000 instead of FileCD™

You should use CD-Maker 2000 when you want to make or duplicate the following CD formats:

1.	Standard CD-ROM or CD-ROM XA

2.	Audio CD

3.	Mixed-mode CD

4.	CD-Extra CD

5.	Video CD


CD-RW Technology

A CD-ReWritable (CD-RW) drive is a CD-Recorder with the additional capability of being able to write CD-RW media. It is both a CD-R and CD-ReWritable drive. It can record both CD-Recordable (CD-R) disc and CD-ReWritable (CD-RW) disc.

The CD-RW drive gives the ability to erase the contents of a CD-RW disc and re-write new information to it. A CD-RW disc can be erased and re-written about 1,000 times, making it ideal for short-term back-up and prototype.

•	Note:

Many currently installed CD-ROM drives are unable to read CD-RW media. The CD-RW media can be read back in the newer generation CD-ROM drives with "MultiRead" function. FileCD™ uses Fixed-packet writing method for CD-RW media, to read back the CD-RW written by FileCD™, the CD-ROM must have "MultiRead" and "Fixed-packet read" (Addressing method 2) functions. Only CD-RW drives can read and write data to CD-RW discs.


System Requirements

Please verify that your system meets these minimum requirements before installing and running FileCD.

Hardware

&	IBM PC or compatibles 486/33 or higher

&	Minimum 16MB RAM

&	NTI certified CD-RW drives which are capable of writing incrementally (with Packet Writing support)

&	SCSI Host Adapter is required for SCSI CD-RW drive

Software

&	Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 or Windows XP.


Installing FileCD™

FileCD™ can be installed from the installation CD. Please insert the installation CD and follow the instructions to complete the installation of your FileCD™ software. Once installed, you can open FileCD™ at any time by right clicking on the FileCD™ icon [image] located in the Windows systray and selecting the Open FileCD™ item from the menu.

The FileCD™ menu is displayed below:


Formatting a new (blank) CD-RW disc

CD-RW discs must be formatted before being written using FileCD™. All new (blank) CD-RW discs must be formatted with the Full Format option the first time you use them. Once formatted initially, you can then use the Quick Format option when you want to erase all the files on your FileCD™ disc.

•	To format a new (blank) CD-RW disc:

1.	Insert a blank CD-RW disc into your CD-RW drive.

2.	Select Format under Disc menu.

3.	You must choose Full Format for a blank CD-RW disc.

4.	Select from either ISO9660 or UDF 1.5 compatible file system.

5.	Format time depends on your CD-RW write speed.  It is roughly equivalent to writing the whole disc at full speed, plus some overhead.

6.	You have an option to give a volume label for your CD-RW disc.

7.	Click OK when CD formatting is finished.

Notes:

•	Volume labels are limited to 11 characters.

•	You may disable the Verify after format option to reduce the time it takes to complete the Full Format operation.  Verify is roughly equivalent to reading the whole disc at full speed.

•	The File System setting defaults to the file system selected in the Options dialog. Choose the Options… item from the Tools menu to change this default.


Adding files to your CD-RW disc

It is easy to use FileCD™. Reading or accessing files on a FileCD™ disc is done directly from Windows Explorer. All writing tasks are handled from the FileCD™ window itself. Once your CD-RW disc has been formatted, you can add files to your CD-RW disc by simply dragging and dropping files from Windows Explorer on to the FileCD™ window.

Alternatively, you can add any selected file by right clicking on the file and selecting SendTo -> FileCD™ from the popup menu. A confirmation message will be displayed before the file is copied to the disc. Once the file has been written to the disc, FileCD™ prompts you to open and close the tray which refreshes the Explorer system. After the refresh, the new file(s) will be visible in the FileCD™ window or can be viewed from Windows Explorer.


Delete and rename files & folders from your CD-RW disc

You can delete or rename files or folders in the CD-RW disc. When you highlight a file that you want to delete or rename, just click on the right-button of your mouse, pop-up menu with those command options will be displayed. Just choose the command you want.


Transferring files and folders from your FileCD™ disc

You can read the files written on an ISO 9660 formatted FileCD™ disc directly from the operating system. UDF 1.5 formatted may be read from some operating systems or require a reader program or driver to be accessed. UDF 1.5 compatibility (the ability to read or write to an UDF formatted disc) is provided for those users that have other UDF compatible packet writing programs installed. In such cases, the UDF reader/drivers are available from the supplier of those packet writing programs. Other UDF readers may be available for download on various Internet sites.  NTI currently does not provide UDF reader/drivers.

It is easy to transfer files/folders from your FileCD™ discs. Once a FileCD™ disc is "visible" to the operating system, the FileCD™ disc is treated like any other disk. You can drag and drop your files to your machine using standard Windows Explorer operations.


Formatting an existing FileCD™ disc

CD-RW discs must be formatted before being written using FileCD™.

•	To format an existing FileCD™ disc (or disc created by other popular packet writing software):

1.	Insert the FileCD™ (previously formatted with the Full Format option) disc into your CD-RW drive.

2.	Select Format under Disc menu.

3.	Choose the Quick Format to erase the contents of this CD or Full Format to recreate the FileCD™ file structures.

4.	Select from either ISO9660 or UDF 1.5 compatible file system.

5.	There is a progress bar during formatting.

6.	You have an option to give a volume label for your CD-RW disc.

7.	Click OK when CD formatting is finished.

•	Note:

You may use Quick Format also on disc created by other popular packet writing software.  FileCD™ will do any necessary conversion.


Setting the FileCD™ program options

When there is no CD or you have a new CD inserted in your CD-RW drive, the settings in the program options dialog allow you to select the type of file system to be used by default during the formatting of new discs. When you have a formatted disc inserted in your CD-RW drive you can use the Options dialog to display the current settings for that CD.

You may also choose to save all file names in upper case when using the ISO 9660 file system format. This option tells FileCD™ to convert all file names to upper case. It becomes effective from the time you change it. This option is not selected by default. You must select this option for true ISO 9660 cross-platform compatibility.

•	To change the FileCD™ program options

1.	Select the Option… item from the Disc menu.

2.	Choose the desired programs options.

3.	Click OK when CD formatting is finished.

•	Note:

The Convert file names to upper-case option is only applicable if you choose the ISO 9660 file system format. Select it to ensure compatibility with other machines requiring true ISO 9660 file names.


Using different languages with FileCD™

Using a different language is easy with FileCD™. Language support DLL’s (Dynamically Linked Libraries) for all supported languages are copied to your system during installation. To change languages you simply run the FileCD™ Language Select utility from the start program folder and select the language you wish to use.  The next time you run FileCD™ you will be using the selected language.

FileCD™ supports the following languages:

Language	File Name

•	Dutch	resFileCDDu.dll

•	English	resFileCDEn.dll

•	French	resFileCDFr.dll

•	German	resFileCDGr.dll

•	Italian	resFileCDIt.dll

•	Japanese	resFileCDJp.dll

•	Korean	resFileCDKr.dll

•	Portuguese	resFileCDPr.dll

•	Simplified Chinese	resFileCDCs.dll

•	Spanish	resFileCDSp.dll

•	Traditional Chinese	resFileCDCt.dll

•	To change the FileCD™ language selection:

1.	Click Start · Programs · FileCD™ · Language Select Utility.

2.	Choose the desired language from the drop-down list.

3.	Click OK.

•	Note:

FileCD™ must not be running when you run the Language Select Utility. Please verify that the FileCD™ icon is not visible in the systray area of your Windows desktop.


Format Type

Selects the type of format to use for this disc.


Quick Format

A Quick Format creates and saves the ISO 9660 or UDF 1.5 file system structures to the CD-RW disc. This usually saves time and functions like a full erase of the media.


Full Format

A Full Format formats and saves the ISO 9660 or UDF 1.5 file system structures to the CD-RW disc. You must perform a Full Format on a new or blank CD-RW disc. You can disable the verify step should you wish to save some time if necessary.


Verify After Full Format

Select this option to disable the verification of the file system structures created during the full format operation. This option can be less reliable but saves considerable time.


File System Type

Select either the ISO 9660 or UDF 1.5 (Universal Disk Format) file system format for the current format operation.


ISO 9660

Use the ISO 9660 file system format for the current format operation.


UDF (Universal Disk Format)

Use the UDF 1.5 (Universal Disk Format) file system format for the current format operation.


Volume Label

Enter the volume label for this disc.


Format Progress Bar

Indicates the progress of the current format operation.


Start Button

Click this button to begin the format operation.


Close Button

Closes the Format Disc dialog when clicked.


ISO 9660

If a formatted disc is inserted (mounted) in your CD-RW drive then this setting indicates that the mounted CD uses the ISO 9660 file system format. If there is no CD or an you have an unformatted disc in your drive, this setting indicates that you have selected to use the ISO 9660 file system as your default setting for future format operations.


UDF (Universal Disk Format)

If a formatted disc is inserted (mounted) in your CD-RW drive then this setting indicates that the mounted CD uses the UDF file system format. If there is no CD or an you have an unformatted disc in your drive, this setting indicates that you have selected to use the UDF file system as your default setting for future format operations.


Convert file names to upper case

This option tells FileCD to convert all file names to upper case. It is effective from the time you change it and is only available when using the ISO 9660 file system format. This option is not selected by default. You must select this option for true ISO 9660 cross-platform compatibility.


About NTI FileCD

FileCD is a full-featured packet writing utility. Using FileCD and a supported CD-Recorder, you can copy your data files to CD for transfer or archival purposes.

The familiar Windows interface makes copying your data files with FileCD as easy as pointing and clicking a mouse. Simply drag and drop files from your source hard disk to the FileCD window and in minutes you will have a CD containing your important data files.

For user’s of other packet writing software, FileCD includes compatibility with the UDF (Universal Disk Format) used in many popular packet writers. FileCD gives you the best of both worlds. Universal compatibility and extreme interchangeability all from one program.


NTI Web Resources

NTI is committed to your success! We hope to make your experience with FileCD  the best possible by making available news and information, product updates and upgrades, Frequently Asked Questions and our Technical Support from the Internet. Our web site is at www.ntius.com.


Company or Product News and Information

Find out the latest about NTI what we are doing at www.ntius.com/corporate/inthenews.htm or any of our world-class products at www.ntius.com/products/index.htm. Learn about the latest features or supported drives for FileCD. You can even download a trial version of any of our products directly from our web site giving you the easiest way to give our software a test drive before you buy.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You can browse the latest information and commonly asked questions about FileCD from our web site at www.ntius.com/faq.htm. Find out what questions other FileCD users had about it. Get quick answers to the most commonly asked questions.


Updating your FileCD Software

From time to time, we release product updates and upgrades from our web site. Product updates generally contain patches and other corrections to the FileCD software and are available for registered users to download for free. Upgrades involve major product enhancements along with patches to reported problems. They will also be available for download but may involve a nominal fee.

Updates can be installed by executing the downloaded file. All updated files and patches will be applied to your FileCD software automatically! It is highly recommended that you download and install any updates prior to contacting our Technical Support Department.

Visit our web site at www.ntius.com/download/index.cfm for the latest updates for all NTI products!


Contacting Technical Support

Many different types of on-line help are available with FileCD within the specified applications.  You can browse through the FileCD Help file to become familiar with all the features available within that application. You can also use context-sensitive help to display information about specific commands, dialog boxes, and other window elements.

If you still experience problems using FileCD that this documentation cannot solve, please contact the supplier of your CD Recorder or FileCD software.


Contacting Technical Support

Many different types of on-line help are available with FileCD within the specified applications. You can browse through the FileCD Help file to become familiar with all the features available within that application.

You can also use context-sensitive help to display information about specific commands, dialog boxes, and other window elements.

If you still experience problems using FileCD that this documentation cannot solve, please submit the Technical Problem Report form which can be found on the NTI CD-ROM disc (also available on our web site for download). Help and information on the latest upgrades as well as an NTI Technical Forum on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can be found on our web site.

•	To request technical support from NTI:

1.	If you have questions or technical issues to report to NTI, please COMPLETE and SUBMIT the TECHSUPT.DOC and email it to Support@NTIus.com. Without submission of this form, we regret that we will be unable to respond.

•	To locate the NTI Software Problem Reporter:

1.	Put the NTI software in your CD-R drive

2.	Click on My Computer

3.	Click on your CD-R/RW drive

4.	Click on techsupt.doc or techsupt.txt or techsupt.wri

5.	Fill it out and email it to Support@NTIus.com or FAX it to
(714) 259-9727

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!