SoftCD Basics

Version 1 – base version
July 1998

This document describes some of the basics about SoftCD and its usage.  The content of the document (on the CD) may be updated using the SoftCD amendment included with this example, showing in a simple way how productivity documents, such as word-processor files, can be updated in situ on CD-ROMs.

This copy is the original version of this document with no amendments applied.  For details of the changes that applying the amendment makes refer to the section entitled ‘About this Example’.
Contents

SoftCD Basics	1
Contents	1
Introduction to SoftCD Basics	2
SoftCD’s Epsilon Technology	3
Untethered Operation	4
Application Compatibility	5
About this Example	6

Introduction to SoftCD Basics
SoftCD may be used to make any type of updates to the data stored on a CD that you wish.  This may include changes to the structure of the CD (such as renaming files and moving folders),  and also changes to the content of files on that CD (like this example).
A collection of data that is updated as a unit by SoftCD is known as a SoftCD publication.  Typically this will be a CD, but it can be just a part of a CD (any folder and all of its contents).  In some cases a single CD may contain a number of publications, each updating a different part of the CD – this is the case with this CD, where each of the examples is a separate publication.
A publication may be updated any number of times at the publisher’s discretion.  Such an update to a publication is known as a SoftCD amendment.  Because amendments update the content of publications, rather than necessarily whole CDs this means that different parts of a CD can be updated independently, as with this example.
Once an amendment is applied the SoftCD Client, which is a software component that runs on the machines of recipients of the publications, will make the contents of the CD appear to have been updated.  A CD containing publications to which amendments have been applied is thus, in effect, a new CD containing whatever changes the publisher wishes the user to see.  This may include patches to software, new documents, changes to existing information in databases or any other sort of change you wish.
SoftCD’s Epsilon Technology
Unlike most solutions for transmitting changes to data, SoftCD operates at a content level that is not restricted to file-sized units.  This means that if an amendment contains changes within files, but the bulk of the file contents matches something that was already present in the previous version, then only the changes will be included in the amendment.  This is a stark contrast with nearly every other solution on the market today, in which a small change within a file can only be transferred by transmitting the entire file again.  Clearly this can result in huge benefits in downloading time, especially with larger files such as databases.

Uniquely, SoftCD also matches partial contents across files.  This means that if some of the new content of a modified file, or of an entirely new file, in an amendment matches something in any file that was already present, then it will not be transmitted again.  In the real world, this is extremely common – many files typically contain repeated clip-art, company logos, and the like.  It is also very common for multiple files to be based on common templates, or for several similar versions to be available on different parts of a CD.

Together these two features are embodied in iOra’s unique Epsilon technology which is a key component of SoftCD.  Its use enables practical downloading of updates to large publications over typical dial-up connections and networks such as the Internet.
Untethered Operation
SoftCD only needs a connection to a network whilst it is downloading amendments.  This means that once an amendment is downloaded the publication can be used at any time without needing a connection.  This allows SoftCD to be used to access updated data in situations where being on-line is impractical.  A typical example would be a mobile user, such as a salesman, who cannot afford to be tethered to a telephone point in the course of their job.
Similarly it is impractical to use certain types of content at all over anything but LAN network connections.  This is true of high quality video for example, where bandwidth and reliability issues make on-line playback impossible.
SoftCD is the only product that allows disconnected access to all types of information in this way.
Application Compatibility
Because SoftCD Client gives the CD the appearance of having been updated at a level below the applications running on the users PC, it appears updated to those applications as well as to the user.  This is in contrast to some bespoke solutions, which cause changes in appearance only when viewed through specific applications.  This is the key to SoftCD’s compatibility with any Windows application that you could use on a normal CD.
Because SoftCD provides this level of compatibility you are not tied to publishing your content in any particular format, or using any particular applications.  You may continue to use any of the applications that you use today.  Unlike other solutions, this means that SoftCD will work with your existing procedures and does not require expensive retraining programs.
About this Example
This document is a simple RTF document which was authored in MS Word.  The original version (this one) is physically on the CD and is what will be seen when looking at the CD with no amendments applied to this example publication.
An updated version of the document was used to construct a SoftCD amendment (which can be applied through the menu system that auto-starts when the CD is inserted).  The updated version shows this simple document with a number of minor edits.  These are:
1)	This section will be modified in a number of minor ways to be consistent with the updated content.
2)	A new section called ‘Integration with other applications’ will be added.
3)	The section entitled ‘Untethered Operation’ will be renamed to ‘Disconnected Operation’
4)	The contents will be modified to reflect the new section and the section name change.