Copyright: © 1995 Adaptec, Inc.


a-characters

Capital A to Z, digits 0 to 9, and the following symbols: (space) ! " % & ’ ()=*+,-./:;<?>_


A-Time

Absolute-time. In CD-DA, the time elapsed since the beginning of the disc. Can be used in determining the start and stop times of sound segments for programming an application on a mixed-mode disc, measuring from the very beginning of the data area (including the computer data in Track 1).


Access Time

The time it takes to retrieve a piece of information. With hard disks or compact discs, maximum access time is measured as the time it takes to move from one end of the disc to the other, find a piece of information, and transfer that information to RAM.


ASPI

Advanced SCSI Programmer’s Interface. Set of software primitives and data structures which allow software using the ASPI interface to be SCSI host adapter-independent.


Barcode

A unique code for a compact disc. With recordable CDs, this number is often printed in the clear inner ring of the disc.


Buffer

An amount of memory which temporarily stores data to help compensate for differences in the transfer rate of data from one device to another.


Buffer Underrun

The error that occurs when a CD recorder’s buffer is emptied during recording.


Cache

A portion of RAM used for temporary storage of data which must be accessed very quickly. In CD-ROM applications, the cache is typically used to store directory files.


Caddy

The plastic and metal carrier into which a CD must be inserted before it is loaded into some CD-ROM drives or CD recorders.


CD Plus

A multisession disc containing n audio tracks in the first session, and one CD-ROM XA data track in the second session. Additional characteristics are defined in the Blue Book standard.


CD-DA

Compact Disc-Digital Audio. Jointly developed by Philips and Sony and launched in October 1982, CD-DA was the first incarnation of the compact disc, used to digitally record and play back music at unprecedented quality. The standard under which CD-DA discs are recorded is known as the Red Book.


CD-I

Compact Disc-Interactive, a compact disc format designed to allow interactive multimedia applications to be played through a small computer/disc player on a home television screen. Especially good for real-time animation, video, and sound. The CD-I standard is also known as the Green Book.


CD-I Bridge

A set of specifications defining a way of recording CD-I information on a CD-ROM XA disc. Used for Photo CD and Video CD.


CD-R

Compact disc-recordable.


CD-ROM

Compact Disc-Read Only Memory. A standard for compact disc to be used as a digital memory medium for personal computers. Jointly developed by Sony and Philips and launched in 1985, the specifications for CD-ROM were first defined in the Yellow Book.


CD-ROM Drive

A peripheral device attached to a computer which allows it to read/play a CD-ROM disc. All CD-ROM players can also play back audio CDs, but you need external headphones or speakers to hear them.


CD-ROM XA

“XA” stands for Extended Architecture. CD-ROM XA is an extension of the Yellow Book standard, generally consistent with the ISO 9660 logical format but designed to add better audio and video capabilities (taken from the CD-I standard) so that CD-ROM can more easily be used for multimedia applications. CD-ROM XA is also the physical format for Photo CD discs.


CD-RTOS

CD-Real Time Operating System. An operating system derived from the OS-9 operating system, used with CD-I.


CIRC

Cross-Interleaved Reed-Solomon Code. The first level of error correction used in every compact disc, and the only one used for audio CDs. It consists of two Reed-Solomon codes interleaved crosswise. Now you know!


Close Disc

To close (or finalize) a recordable disc so that no further data can be written to it. This is done when the last session’s lead-in is written — the next writeable address is not recorded in that lead-in, so the CD recorder in subsequent attempts to write has no way of knowing where to begin writing. It is NOT necessary to close a disc in order to read it in an ordinary CD-ROM drive.


Close Session

When a session is closed, information about its contents is written into the disc’s Table of Contents, and a lead-in and lead-out are written to prepare the disc for a subsequent session. It is necessary to close a session in order to read its contents on an ordinary CD-ROM drive.


d-characters

Capital A to Z, digits 0 to 9, and the underscore symbol ( _ ).


Data Area

In ISO 9660, the space on a CD-ROM where the user data is written. It begins at the absolute or physical address 00:02:16, immediately following the System Area.


Disc-at-Once

A method of writing more than one track on a disc without ever turning off the recording laser between tracks, so that no run-in/run-out blocks are written. It is preferable to write audio discs as Disc-at-Once, because if audio tracks are laid down separately in Track-at-Once mode, the run-in/run-out blocks (also known as link blocks) may produce an audible click between tracks on some CD audio players.


ECC

Error Correction Code. A system of scrambling data and recording redundant data onto disc as it is premastered. On playback this redundant information helps to detect and correct errors that may arise during data transmission.


EDC

Error Detection Code. 32 bits in each sector which are used to detect errors in the sector data.


File System

A data structure that translates the physical (sector) view of a disc into a logical (files, directories) structure, which the application and user can more easily use to locate files. See also Logical Format.


Gold Disc

The recordable disc used in CD-R systems. The blank disc is made, like all other compact discs, of a bottom layer of polycarbonate, but instead of having a series of pits and lands stamped into it, it contains a preformed track spiral, which the recording laser beam will follow when writing information onto the disc. A translucent layer of recordable material (green or yellow-green) is laid on top of the polycarbonate, then a reflective layer of gold. Then a layer of lacquer and a label are applied.


Green Book

The Philips/Sony specification for CD-I.


Header Field

Four bytes recorded at the beginning of each sector which tell the address of the sector (expressed as a Logical Block Number) and the mode in which the sector is recorded.


HFS

The file system used by the Macintosh operating system to organize data on hard and floppy disks. Can also be used for CD-ROMs.


High Sierra Format

The standard logical format for CD-ROM originally proposed by the High Sierra Group, on which the ISO 9660 standard is based; essentially identical to ISO 9660, and now defunct as a separate standard.


Hybrid

Under the Orange Book standard for recordable CD, hybrid means a recordable disc on which one or more sessions are already recorded, but the disc is not closed, leaving space open for future recording. However, in popular use the term “hybrid” often refers to a disc containing both DOS/Windows and Macintosh software, which on a DOS/Windows platform is seen as a normal ISO 9660 disc, while on a Mac it appears as an HFS disc.


ISO 9660

An international standard specifying the logical format for files and folders on a CD-ROM.


ISO 9660 Interchange Levels

These are three methods of recording and naming files on disc under the ISO 9660 standard. There are three nested, downward-compatible Levels.

In Level 1 (the most restrictive):

n	Each file must be written on disc as a single, continuous stream of bytes — files may not be fragmented or interleaved.

n	A filename may not contain more than eight d-characters (the letters A through Z, the numerals 0 through 9, and the underscore symbol (_).

n	A Filename Extension may not contain more than three d-characters.

n	A directory name may not contain more than eight d-characters.

In Level 2, again, each file must be written on disc as a single, continuous stream of bytes.

In Level 3 there are no restrictions.


ISO 9660 Image

Or CD-ROM image, image, disc image, real ISO image. A single large file which is an exact representation of the whole set of data and programs as it will appear on a CD, in terms of both content and logical format.


ISRC

International Standard Recording Code. Some recorders allow the ISRC to be recorded for each audio track on a disc. The code is made up of: Country Code (2 ASCII characters), Owner Code (3 ASCII characters), Year of Recording (2 digits), Serial Number (5 digits).


Joliet

A standard eveloped by Microsoft for Windows 95 to allow CDs to be recorded using long filenames (it also allows for using the Unicode international character set). For files recorded to CD, Joliet allows you to use filenames up to 64 characters in length, including spaces. Joliet also records the associated DOS-standard name (8 + 3 characters) for each file so that the disc may be read on DOS systems or earlier versions of Windows.


Lead-In

An area at the beginning of each session on a recordable compact disc which is left blank for the session’s Table of Contents (track numbers and start-and-stop points). The lead-in is written when a session is closed, and takes up 4500 sectors on disc (1 minute, or roughly 9 megabytes). The lead-in also indicates whether the disc is multisession, and if the disc is not closed, which is the next writeable address on the disc.


Lead-Out

The area at the end of a session which indicates that the end of the data has been reached; there is no data written in the lead-out. The first lead-out on a disc is 6750 sectors (1.5 minutes, about 13 megabytes) long; any subsequent lead-outs are 2250 sectors (.5 minute, about 4 megabytes).


Link Blocks

When the recording laser is turned off after writing, two run-out blocks are written. When it is turned back on again, five run-in blocks are written. These seven blocks are also known as link blocks.


Linked Multisession

A disc containing more than one session, in which all of the data in the various sessions on disc can be seen as if it had all been recorded in one single, large session.


Logical Block

The smallest addressable space on a disc. Each logical block is identified by a unique Logical Block Number (LBN), assigned in order starting from 0 at the beginning of the disc. Under the ISO 9660 standard, all data on a CD is addressed in terms of Logical Block Numbers. At present, CD recording is supported at one Logical Block per logical sector.


Logical Format

A logical file format such as ISO 9660 translates the sector-by-sector view of a compact disc into a virtual “tree” of directories and files, which makes it easier for both humans and computers to use the information on the disc.


Mastering

Technically, refers to the process of creating a glass master from which compact discs will be reproduced in quantity. Data is read from a tape or recordable CD to a powerful modulated laser beam that “engraves” the corresponding pits into a photoresistant surface. In desktop recordable CD systems, mastering is done together with premastering by the desktop CD recorder, and the term “mastering” is used to mean recording in general.


Mixed-Mode Disc

A compact disc including both computer data in CD-ROM or CD-ROM XA format, and CD-DA tracks. The data is all contained in Track 1, and the audio in one or more following tracks.


Mode

There are two recording modes for compact discs. In Mode 1, used with CD-ROM, 288 bytes of each sector are used for storing error correction code, and the remaining 2048 bytes per sector are available for user data. Mode 2, used in CD-I and CD-ROM XA, has two forms: Form 1 is similar to Mode 1, as it is also used to record data that requires error correction; Form 2 is used for recording information such as sound or images which do not require such extreme precision. Since less error correction is needed, more bytes in the sector can be freed for information storage, resulting in a data area of 2336 bytes per sector.


Mount

To install a compact disc so that the computer recognizes its presence and can read data from it.


MSCDEX

Microsoft DOS extensions for CD-ROM. Allows the DOS operating system to recognize a CD-ROM as a DOS volume.


Multisession

A compact disc to which data is added incrementally in more than one recording session. If data is linked between session, all data on a multisession disc, when read on a multisession CD-ROM drive, may be seen as part of a single logical structure.


On the Fly

To write on-the-fly means to write to CD data referenced in a file list without first writing a real ISO 9660 disc image.


Orange Book

The Philips/Sony specification for Compact Disc Magneto-Optical (CD-MO) and Write-Once (CD-WO) systems — in other words, the standard by which recordable CDs are recorded.


PCA

(Power Calibration Area). A space reserved at the beginning of the disc for calibrating the laser to record to that disc.


Photo CD

A compact disc format based on the CD-ROM XA and Orange Book Hybrid Disc specifications, used to store photographic images for display and printing.


PMA

(Program Memory Area) On a recordable disc, an area which “temporarily” contains track numbers and their starting and stopping points (that is, the session Table of Contents) when tracks are written in a session which is not yet closed. When the session is closed, this same TOC information is written in the session lead-in.


Post-Gap

A space dividing tracks, recorded within the track data area at its end. The post-gap is 150 sectors (2 seconds) long and is required only where successive tracks are of different types. However, because many disc replicators expect a post-gap at the end of every track and may erroneously strip out data sectors if they do not find one, Easy-CD Pro 95 records a post-gap after every track.


Pre-Gap

A space dividing tracks, recorded before the track data area. The length of the pre-gap varies with the CD recorder and the types of tracks. Where successive tracks are both of data, one track is separated from another by a track pre-gap of 150 sectors (2 seconds). Where successive tracks are of different types, the pre-gap is usually of 225 sectors (or three seconds). If two successive tracks are audio, there may be no pre-gap at all.


Premastering

The process of preparing data to be mastered onto a compact disc. It includes breaking the data into logical blocks and recording those blocks with the appropriate header (address) and error correction information. The result of premastering may be a tape ready to go for mastering, or, in the case of recordable CD systems, premastering and mastering are done in one operation, resulting in a ready-to-read compact disc.


Red Book

The Philips/Sony specification for audio (CD-DA) compact discs.


Replication

Or duplication. The factory process of making multiple copies of a compact disc by injection-molding.


Romeo

An option in Easy-CD Pro 95 which allows you to write files to disc with names up to 128 characters long, including spaces. This is not part of the Joliet standard, the Unicode character set is not supported, and there is no provision for associated DOS filenames. Romeo filenames can be read on Windows 95 and NT systems. Romeo discs can be read on Macintosh systems if the filenames are not longer than 31 characters. Do not use Romeo if your disc must be read in other conditions.


Run-In/Run-Out Blocks

When the recording laser is turned off after writing, two run-out blocks are written. When it is turned back on again, five run-in blocks are written. These seven blocks are also known as link blocks.


SCSI

Small Computer System Interface (pronounced “scuzzy”). An interface which allows up to eight peripheral devices to be linked to a single controller. All CD recorders are connected via a SCSI host adapter card.


Sector

The smallest recordable unit on a CD. A disc can contain [(75 sectors per second) x (60 seconds per minute) x (number of minutes on disc)] sectors. The amount of data contained in the sector depends on what physical format and mode it is recorded in; for “regular” CD-ROM (Mode 1) data, you can fit 2048 bytes (2 kilobytes) of data into a sector.


Session

As defined under the Orange Book, a recorded segment of compact disc which may contain one or more tracks of any type (data or audio).


Table of Contents (Disc)

Shows the number of tracks, their starting locations, and the total length of the data area of the disc.


Track

Every time you write to CD, you will create at least one track, which is preceded by a pre-gap and followed by a post-gap. Any session may contain one or more tracks, and the tracks within a session may be of the same or of different types (for example, a mixed-mode disc contains data and audio tracks).


Track-at-Once

A method of disc writing in which the recording laser is turned off after each track is written, and on again when a new track is written. This means that run-in/run-out blocks will be written between tracks.


UPC

Universal Product Code. With some CD recorders, you may define a thirteen-digit UPC catalog number for the entire disc, which will be written in the disc’s Table of Contents. Also known as EAN.


Video CD

A reproduction system to present full motion pictures with associated audio by using the Compact Disc format. The video and sound are compressed together using the MPEG 1 standard, and recorded onto a CD Bridge disc.

A Video CD disc contains one data track recorded in CD-ROM XA Mode 2 Form 2. It is always the first track on the disc (Track 1). The ISO 9660 file structure and a CD-I application program are recorded in this track, as well as the Video CD Information Area which gives general information about the Video CD disc.

After the data track, video is written in one or more subsequent tracks within the same session. These tracks are also recorded in Mode 2 Form 2. The session is closed after all tracks have been written.


Volume

Under the ISO 9660 standard, a single CD-ROM disc.


Volume Descriptors

In ISO 9660, a set of information on the disc containing information about the CD and how the computer should read it.


Yellow Book

The book which sets out the standard developed by Philips and Sony for the physical format of compact discs to be used for information storage.


Help Version

11/20/95


Overview

This is a complete software package for CD publishing. It can be used to produce discs in the following formats:

n	CD-ROM

n	CD-ROM XA (also known as Mode 2)

n	CD-DA (digital audio)

n	Mixed-Mode (CD-ROM + CD-DA)

Discs can be created from files stored on hard disk or other peripherals, including networks. Backup copies can be made of existing data or audio discs.


Hardware: Minimum Configuration

n	PC sufficient to run Windows 95 or NT.

n	3.5 floppy disk drive for installation.

n	Fast hard disk (average access time should be less than 19 msec, n	transfer rate 600 kilobytes per second or better), large enough to hold your application executables and data.

n	SCSI host adapter to connect your CD recorder. (This software does not require two SCSI cards, nor are there any performance benefits to be gained by having two.)

n	CD recorder.


Software

n	Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT 3.51 or later.


Getting Technical Support
Solving Problems

For set-up and connection problems with your CD recorder, refer to its user manual.  If you still have problems, please contact your CD recorder manufacturer’s or distributor’s technical support.  For problems arising from the Easy-CD Pro 95 software, explanations of Error Messages are included in this on-line help.

If these resources do not help you resolve the problem, your first contact should be the reseller from whom you bought the software. You should write down precisely any error messages you see, as well as the configuration of your computer. If possible, when you call be at the computer where the software is installed.

If your reseller’s technical support department cannot help you, you are welcome to contact Incat Systems’ technical support by calling (408) 379-2400 or faxing (408) 364-6597. In Europe call +39 (2) 3931-1341 or fax +39 (2) 3931-1374. In the rest of the world contact the office where sent your software registration card.

Note: Before calling, please fill out the tech support form you will find on the installation diskette (TECHFORM.DOC), and send it to us by fax or e-mail — we can help you much more efficiently if we already have your system information in hand.


Incat On-Line

Incat Systems has a library and message center on CompuServe for technical support and information for users of all Incat products. If you are a CompuServe member, simply log on and type GO INCATS at any prompt to enter the CD-ROM Vendors B Forum, where you will find the Incat sections. The Incat library contains recent technical information as well as marketing and general-interest information on all Incat products. The message section is checked daily; questions and problems are responded to promptly.

If you are on the Internet, you can send messages to us at: 74431.2004@compuserve.com, and we can be found on several CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD publishing newsgroups and lists.

Web site...


Installing the SCSI Adapter

1	Install the SCSI host adapter card in your computer. Refer to the manual that came with your SCSI card for more information.

2	Reboot your computer.


Installing the CD Recorder

1.	Connect the SCSI cable to the SCSI adapter in your computer. Connect the other end to one of the SCSI ports at the back of the CD recorder. Use only good-quality, shielded SCSI cables.

2.	You can use the other ports to daisy-chain the CD recorder with other SCSI devices. If you do, be sure to set a different SCSI ID for each device on the chain. (See your CD recorder’s manual for settings to change its SCSI address.)

1.	Connect the power cable to the CD recorder and to an outlet.

1.	If no other devices are connected to your CD recorder, you may need a SCSI terminator. Check your CD recorder’s manual to determine whether it is self-terminating; if it is not, you should put a SCSI terminator on the unused SCSI port.


Software Installation

To install the software either:

n	From the Start menu in the Taskbar choose Run. Type a:setup in the box.

n	Open the window for your floppy drive and double click on SETUP.EXE.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.


Installation for Windows NT

If you are installing Easy-CD Librarian on a Windows NT system, the files WNASPI32.DLL, ASPI32.SYS, WINASPI.DLL, and WOWPOST.EXE will be automatically installed for you.


Using Your CD Recorder as a CD Reader

With Windows 95, Microsoft supplies software drivers which are loaded automatically when a particular type of device is recognized on the system. One type of device which is automatically recognized is a CD-ROM drive, which is identified in its firmware as a SCSI Device Type 5.

Most CD recorders in the current generation are set as SCSI Device Type 4 (writeable optical device). Other recorders will need to be changed to SCSI Device Type 5, or else their manufacturers or Microsoft will need to supply software drivers allowing the recorders to be used as readers. Please contact your recorder's manufacturer for more information.


Software Deinstallation

If for any reason you need to deinstall the software, use Add/Remove Programs option in the Windows 95 Control Panel.


Registration Card

Be sure to fill out and send in your registration card right away, so that we can provide tech support, and keep you informed of updates to the software.


Launching the Program

You can launch Easy-CD Pro 95 from the Start button in the Taskbar. If your CD recorder is powered on and connected it will automatically be recognized and installed. If more than one CD recorder is recognized, a dialog box will open in which you can select the target recorder. This setting will be maintained until you change or add a CD recorder, or you Select CD Recorder from the CD-Recorder menu.

To learn how to use Easy-CD Pro 95, select Help Topics from the Help menu. We suggest you start by reading the help section entitled “About CD-Recordable,” especially (but not only) if you are new to CD-Recordable technology and concepts.

 The Help menu also contains commands which allow you to jump directly to specific chapters in the on-line help so that you can immediately learn how to make the CD you need.


What is a Compact Disc?

A CD is simply a medium for storing digital information; you can think of it as a very large, write-protected floppy disk. The difference is that, while DOS floppy and hard disks are written using the DOS file format, CD-ROMs are usually written using a file format called ISO 9660. The ISO 9660 standard is so widely accepted that it can be read back on any computer platform, under any operating system.


What Kind of Information Can a CD Hold?

The simple rule of thumb is: whatever you have stored as a file on any other storage media can also be stored as a file on a CD-ROM. Under the ISO 9660 standard, a file is a file, and ISO doesn’t care whether it contains pictures, text, or sound.

There are a few special cases where you would want to record a file to CD in a special format. The most obvious is CD-DA audio: if you want to record an audio file to CD so that it could be played back by your home stereo, you need to write a CD-DA (Digital Audio) disc. For instructions on making audio and other special kinds of discs, see the related How to... chapters.


How Much Information Can a CD Hold?

When you copy data to a CD, you must take care that the your data does not exceed the capacity of the CD you are recording to. Due to the audio origin of CDs, the amount of information a CD can hold is measured in minutes:seconds:sectors. Each second contains 75 sectors, each of which can hold 2048 bytes (2 kilobytes) of Mode 1 user data. Recordable CDs come in 21- (80 mm diameter), 63-, and 74-minute sizes (both 120 mm diameter), which can contain:

21 min x (60 sec) x (75 sectors) x (2 kbytes) = 189,000 kilobytes

= 184 megabytes

63 min x (60 sec) x (75 sectors) x (2 kbytes) = 567,000 kilobytes

= 553 megabytes

74 min x (60 sec) x (75 sectors) x (2 kbytes) = 660,000 kilobytes

= 650 megabytes

Factory-recorded CDs can hold up to 74 minutes of data.

And Subtract...

Files on CD do not occupy a space exactly equal to their original size, but usually a bit more. This is because the minimum recordable unit on a compact disc is the logical block. In theory a logical block could be 512, 1024 or 2048 bytes in size (that is, that you could fit 1, 2, or 4 logical blocks into a sector). In practice, MSCDEX reads only the 2048-byte block size. This means that a file will occupy a space equal to the closest (higher) multiple of 2048 bytes. In ISO 9660, just as in the DOS file system, directories are also files, and also take up space.

The Yellow Book (the standard defining the physical format of CD-ROM) specifies that the CD data starts after a pause of two seconds. This means that the first two seconds on a CD are not available for user data. So, from the theoretical capacity of any CD you must subtract:

[(2 sec) x (75 sectors) x (2 kilobytes)] = 300 kilobytes

Furthermore, the ISO 9660 file structure needs space for the following:

n	Root file: Minimum 1 sector

n	Path Tables: Minimum 2 sectors

n	Primary Volume Descriptor: 1 sector

n	Volume Descriptor Set Terminator: 1 sector

n	The first 16 sectors are also reserved for system use.

More sectors may be needed to store the path tables, or the root directory if its size exceeds one sector as files are added. All this adds up to some space which will not be available for your applications and files, a fact which you must keep in mind when determining how much information you can fit onto the CD.


For Further Information

If you really want to know all about CD-ROM in deep detail, we humbly suggest that you read our book, “Publish Yourself on CD-ROM,” by Fabrizio Caffarelli & Deirdré Straughan. It explains all you ever wanted to know about CD-ROM in all its incarnations (and a great deal more than you need to know), and is published by Random House Electronic Publishing, ISBN Number 0-679-74297-2.


CD Physical Sector Layouts

This diagram shows the formats of the physical sectors in which different kinds of discs are written. Note that the total size of the sector always adds up to 2352 bytes.

CD-DA (CD-Digital Audio)
2352 bytes user data (music)
CD-ROM Mode 1
12 bytes sync	4 bytes header	2048 bytes user data	4 bytes EDC	8 bytes blank	276 bytes ECC
CD-ROM Mode 2 (never used)
12 bytes sync	4 bytes header	2336 bytes user data
CD-ROM XA / CD-I Mode 2 Form 1
12 bytes sync	4 bytes header	8 bytes sub-header	2048 bytes user data	4 bytes EDC	276 bytes ECC
CD-ROM XA / CD-I Mode 2 Form 2
12 bytes sync	4 bytes header	8 bytes sub-header	2324 bytes user data		4 bytes EDC


The CD Family

This graphic shows part of the compact disc family, combining physical formats (how many bytes of user data are written per sector) with logical formats. You can click on hotspots on the picture for more information.


Making Sure Your System is Ready for CD-R

Writing data to recordable compact disc is a complex process which demands a great deal from hardware and software. Most of this complexity is hidden by the power of Easy-CD Pro 95, but you should be aware of some factors which can influence the success of the operation.

The most important thing to realize is that CD recording is a real-time operation: the recording laser inscribes pits into the surface of the CD at a steady speed which cannot be altered or interrupted. This speed depends on the physical format in which the data is written, and on the writing speed:

Format/Mode	Required transfer rate at:
(user data bytes/sector)	1x	2x	4x
CD-ROM Data (2048)	150 kilobytes/ second	300 kilobytes/ second	600 kilobytes/ second
Audio (2352)	172 kilobytes/ second	344 kilobytes/ second	688 kilobytes/ second
Your entire system configuration, as well as the type and amount of data you are writing, influences the recorder’s ability to maintain the required speed, and therefore the success or failure of CD recording.


The Data

The total amount of data you are writing is less important than whether it contains a few large or many small files; if you are recording many small files the system may have trouble locating and opening the files quickly enough to send them smoothly to the CD recorder, particularly if the small files are all grouped together.


The System

By “system” we mean your computer and everything running on it or connected to it. ANY interruption is fatal to CD recording, so ensure that your system does not load any TSR utilities which may periodically or otherwise interrupt operations. Screen savers, alarms or reminders, and incoming faxes will kill disc writing. You should also turn off network sharing of the drive you will be writing data from, so that no one tries to access files when you’re trying to write them.


Hard Disk: Speed

To write a virtual image on the fly to compact disc, the hard disk from which you are writing MUST have a transfer rate fast enough to keep the buffer full in the CD recorder. This usually means an average hard disk access time of 19 milliseconds or better.


Hard Disk: Fragmentation

Having to search all over a fragmented hard disk for the data to be written (whether on the fly or from a real ISO image) causes operations to slow down, possibly fatally. Defragment your hard disk regularly!


Hard Disk: Thermal Calibration

Most hard disks automatically periodically perform a thermal calibration to ensure proper functioning. Some hard disks force a calibration at fixed intervals, even if the disk is in use, causing interruptions fatal to CD writing. This problem arises particularly when the amount of data to be written is large, and the writing process therefore takes longer.

Other hard disks calibrate intelligently, postponing it when the disk is being used. AV (audio/visual) hard drives do this, as well as some drives not specifically designated AV.


The CD Recorder: Writing Speed

Many CD recorders are capable of writing at two times (some at four or even six times!) the standard writing/playback speed of 150 kilobytes (75 sectors) per second. Recording speed is simply a matter of how fast the bits are inscribed by the laser on the disc surface, and has nothing to do with how fast you read them back or how much data you can fit on the disc. Writing a disc at 4x does not mean that you can only read it back on a quad-spin CD-ROM drive.

Recording a CD at high speed is similar to recording an analog music cassette on a high-speed dubbing machine: it doesn’t mean that all your Grateful Dead albums are going to sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks! You are putting exactly the same information on disc in exactly the same way; you’re just getting it on there faster.

When you write a real ISO image from hard disk to CD, speed is rarely a problem because the image is already one gigantic file in which the files and structures are already in order, so it is only necessary to stream off the data to the recorder.

When you write from a file list, things get trickier. In order to write to CD on-the-fly, Easy-CD Pro 95 must consult its database to learn where each file is stored on hard disk, and where it should go on CD. It must then locate and open each file, while sending data in a smooth, continuous stream to the recorder. Finding and opening files is often the more time-consuming part of the process, so why writing on-the-fly is more difficult when you have many small files and/or your hard disk is badly fragmented.


The CD Recorder: Buffer

Most of the time your computer actually passes data to the CD recorder faster than it is needed. The CD recorder’s buffer memory stores some of this extra data as it arrives, to help maintain a steady flow of data to the writing laser. The size of the buffer is critical to trouble-free writing: a slow-down or interruption in the transfer of data from the computer will not stop writing so long as the buffer is not completely emptied. The larger the buffer, the more safety margin you have in case of interruptions. If your CD recorder has a very small buffer and your hard disk is slow, you may find it difficult to write on-the-fly to CD, particularly at higher speeds. Your options are: record at a lower speed; make a real ISO image on hard disk and record from that; use a faster hard disk; or, if possible, increase your recorder’s buffer size.


The CD Recorder: Environment

It is best to keep your CD recorder on a vibration-free surface which doesn’t experience sudden shocks. For example, slamming something down onto your desk while the recorder on your desktop is writing can cause errors which ruin the disc.

Also ensure that your recorder has plenty of room to eject its caddy or tray without running into anything.


Matching Discs to Recorders

There are many different brands of recordable CDs available. Quality varies from brand to brand, and sometimes even from batch to batch within a brand. To make matters still more confusing, some discs work better with certain recorders than other discs do. If you are going to record at high speed (4x or 6x), it is wise to use discs certified for high-speed recording. Some CD recorder manufacturers certify specific disc brands for use with their recorders; contact your recorder’s manufacturer for up-to-date information.

If you have repeated problems in recording or in reading back a successfully-recorded disc that can be traced to the discs you are using, try using a different brand or even a different batch of the same brand. 74-minute discs are sometimes more difficult to read back than 63-minute discs because of their denser track pitch (on a 74-minute disc, more tracks must be fit into the same disc radius, so the tracks must be closer together and it is harder for the CD-ROM drive to stay on track).


Kodak Photo CD and Other Special-Purpose Discs

Kodak Photo CD discs are designed to be used only with Kodak Photo CD professional workstations. These discs have a protection bit which prevents them from being written on many CD recorders (you will get an error message if you try). Other special-purpose discs are now becoming available which also have a protection bit.


Care of Recordable CDs

Issues about the longevity and durability of recordable CDs are subject to lengthy and acrimonious debate. Here we distill some general principles:

n	Don’t expose discs to sun or other strong light for long periods. Also try to avoid high heat and humidity.

n	The top (label) side of the disc is much more vulnerable than the bottom, because there is only a thin layer of lacquer protecting the recording surface. Handle discs carefully to avoid scratching them, especially on the label side.

n	Don’t use alcohol-based pens to write on discs; the ink may eventually eat through the top (lacquer) surface and damage your data. Don’t use ballpoint or other sharp-tipped pens: you may scratch right through the lacquer and damage your data.

n	Don’t put labels on discs unless they are expressly designed for recordable CDs. There are two reasons for this: the glue may each through the lacquer surface just as some inks do, and/or the label may unbalance the disc and cause problems in reading it back or recording to it again. Never try to remove a label — you might tear off the lacquer and some of the reflecting surface.


Using 8mm (21 min) Discs

If your CD recorder requires a caddy, a caddy adapter must be used to hold the disc, then disc/adapter is inserted into the caddy. We can recommend the Sony model CSA-8 adapter.


The CD Type Dialog Box

Click on the picture for details about each type of disc you can make.


CD Type: CD-ROM

To make a standard ISO 9660 data CD in CD-ROM or CD-ROM XA format. For further details, see the help section How to Write an ISO 9660 Disc.


CD Type: CD-DA

To make a disc-to-disc copy of an existing CD. Requires a CD-ROM drive to use as the source drive. Formats supported depend on the capabilities of the source drive. For further details, see the help section How to Make an Audio Disc .


CD Type: CD Copy

To make a disc-to-disc copy of an existing CD. Requires a CD-ROM drive to use as the source drive. Formats supported depend on the capabilities of the source drive. For further details, see the help section How to Make Backup Copies of CDs.


CD Type: Mixed-Mode Disc

To make a mixed-mode disc (first track of data, n additional tracks of CD-DA audio). If the data track already exists as a real ISO image on hard disk, click in the check box to “Write data track from a real ISO image on hard disk.” For further details, see the help section How to Make a Mixed-Mode Disc.


CD Type: CD from an Image

To record to CD a real ISO image file already prepared on hard disk. For further details, see the help section How to Make a Disc from an Image File. To learn how to create a real ISO image on hard disk, see the help section Saving a Real ISO Image to Hard Disk.


To make a standard ISO 9660 data CD in CD-ROM or CD-ROM XA format. For further details, see the help topic “How to Make an ISO 9660 Disc.”


To make a disc-to-disc copy of an existing CD. Requires a CD-ROM drive to use as the source drive. Formats supported depend on the capabilities of the source drive. For further details, see the help topic “How to Make Backup Copies of CDs.


To make a mixed-mode disc (first track of data, n additional tracks of CD-DA audio). If the data track already exists as a real ISO image on hard disk, click in the check box to “Write data track from a real ISO image on hard disk.” For further details, see the help topic “How to Make a Mixed-Mode Disc.”


To record to CD a real ISO image file already prepared on hard disk. For further details, see the help topic “How to Make a Disc from an Image File.” To learn how to create a real ISO image on hard disk, see the help topic “Saving a Real ISO Image to Hard Disk.”


To record an audio disc (CD-DA). The source audio tracks can be Wave files on hard disk, audio tracks from existing CDs, or a combination. See the help topic “How to Make an Audio Disc.”


The General Tab

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this tab.

Note: All the settings made in this dialog box are saved as part of this CD-recording project, in a file with the extension.ECD, when you select Save from the File menu.


Identifies the type of disc being written in this project.


You may fill in this box with text describing the project for future reference. This information is not written on the disc; it is only saved in the .ECD project.


Enter the path of a temporary folder where Easy-CD Pro 95 can store its index files (and a real ISO image, if you choose to write one). The default is the system temporary folder. All temporary files are deleted when writing is completed.


To write a real ISO image to hard disk, instead of writing your data to CD.

Enter the full path and name where you wish to store the real ISO image, or click on ISO File to open a Save dialog box.


Select the desired writing speed; the options available will depend on your CD recorder. You can click on the Speed Test button to see if the selected speed is correct for your system’s capabilities and the amount of data you want to record to CD; if not, a dialog box will suggest the optimum writing speed.

This test does not actually pass data to the CD recorder, but simply runs through the files to be written to see if your CPU and hard disk can maintain adequate throughput to write to CD on the fly. Even if the performance test results are positive, you should still select “Test before writing” the first few times you write to CD.


Write files directly from the Data Track list to CD, without first creating a real ISO image on hard disk.


Select “Test before writing” to perform a real test in which files are located on hard disk, opened, and passed to the CD recorder. The Write LED on your CD recorder may light up during testing, but nothing is actually being written to disc! This test is the most reliable indicator of whether or not CD recording will be successful.

If “Test before writing” is selected, you may also choose to begin writing automatically after a successful test, after the selected amount of time has lapsed.

If you select “Do not start,” you can still launch the writing process immediately after testing by clicking Yes in the dialog box that appears after a successful test is completed.


Set the session type (physical CD format) in which your disc will be written. For some types of discs this is set automatically.

Note: The selection you should make here may depend on whether you intend later to make the disc multisession. See the help section on “How to Make a Multisession Disc” for details.


To “close” a recordable disc so that no further data can be written to it. It is NOT necessary to close a disc in order to read it in a normal CD-ROM drive. Recommended if you are creating a master disc for replication.


Write and close a disc in one operation, without turning the writing laser on and off or writing link blocks. Requires a blank disc. Recommended for audio and mixed-mode discs, and for data if the disc will be used as a master for replication.


The Load Contents Tab

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this tab.


For linked multisession. The data you are adding now will be linked to the data in the most recent session on the disc. After writing, all the data in the two sessions will be seen as if it were part of one large session. If the last session on disc was also linked to previous sessions, their files will also be seen.

Newer versions of files already recorded on disc may be overwritten, depending on the settings you make here below.


For linked multisession. Use if you prefer to link the new data to be recorded to a session other than the last one written on disc. Mount the disc in the CD recorder, check the “Select the track to load” check box, and select the desired track in the list that will appear below.


In recording multisession, you may have files already on disc whose  paths and names are identical to those of files in the Data Track list. Select this option if you do not want files on disc to be “overwritten” by the (possibly newer) identical files in the list.


In recording multisession, you may have files already on disc whose  paths and names are identical to those of files in the Data Track list. Select this option if you want the files on disc always to be “overwritten” by identical files in the list, regardless of whether the files in the Data Track list are newer or not.


In recording multisession, you may have files already on disc whose  paths and names are identical to those of files in the Data Track list. Select this option if you want the files on disc to be “overwritten” by identical files in the list only if the files in the Data Tracks list are newer .


The File Names Tab

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this tab.


Use this option to record discs with filenames which comply strictly with ISO 9660 Level 1 restrictions.


Although Windows 95 allows long filenames, to maintain DOS compatibility, a DOS-standard (8+3) filename is associated with each file; these names are created automatically by Windows 95 and can be viewed in Properties for each file. If you select the “DOS names only” option, these DOS names will be used in recording the files to disc, and any long filenames will be lost.


Filenames up to 64 characters long will be allowed. Readable on Windows 95 systems only.


Filenames up to 128 characters long will be allowed. Romeo discs can be read on Windows 95 and Windows NT systems, and on Macintosh systems if the filenames are not longer than 31 characters. Do not use Romeo if your disc must be read in other conditions.


To exclude specific or certain types of files from the Data Track list during writing, you can type in wildcards (with or without full or partial paths) or specific filenames (with full paths) as shown in the examples.


The Volume Info Tab

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this tab.


The only ISO 9660 Volume Descriptor available in DOS/Windows: the first 11 characters of the Volume Name are displayed with the DIR or VOLUME command or in the Windows 95 Properties dialog box for the disc.

Record the ISO 9660 Volume Name. Maximum: 32 d-characters


The operating system under which the application will run. Maximum 32 a-characters allowed.


If the CD you are preparing is part of a set of discs, every disc in the set may have the same name recorded in this field. Maximum 32 d-characters allowed.


Identifies the publisher of the disc. Maximum 128 a-characters allowed.


Records the name of author of the content of the disc. Maximum 128 a-characters allowed.


Records the name under which the application is known, if any. Maximum 128 a-characters allowed.


Authors can protect their work with a copyright notice stored in a file which must be placed in the root directory. The name of this file can be recorded here. Copyright file must be located, if present, in the root directory of the CD. Maximum: 8.3 d-characters.


Records the name of an file stored in the root directory which describes the work. Abstract file must be located, if present, in the root directory of the CD. Maximum: 8.3 d-characters.


Refers to a file, stored in any directory, containing bibliographic information such as an ISBN number. Maximum: 8.3 d-characters.


May be filled in in this format: year, month, day; hour, min, sec.


The Data Track Tab

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this tab.


The total amount of data which will be written to CD. You can check the recordable disc in the Disc Info and Tools tab to ensure that it has enough space free to contain your data. Click on [image] in the toolbar to refresh the total data size when you add or remove items in the list.


The names (and, where applicable, paths) of the items you have added to the Data Track list.


The size of each item added to the Data Track list. For folders, this includes the total contents of the folder and any subfolders it may contain.


The type of each item added to the Data Track list.


The last modification date of each item added to the Data Track list.


The Audio Tracks Tab

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this tab.


The total number of tracks you have added to the Audio Tracks list.


The total time of the audio tracks in the list.


The total playing time of the disc, which includes the two-second post-gap which is added to each track.


Displays information about the tracks in the Audio Tracks list. For tracks to be recorded from existing CD audio discs, the track title, artist, and disc title are displayed if they have been entered in the Play List of the Windows CD Player. If a Wave file is included in the Audio Tracks list, its filename is given. Length in minutes:seconds and file type are given for both kinds of tracks.


The Image File Tab

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this tab.


Select the.ISO file you wish to record. You can use the Browse button to locate it. Information about the track is given in the lower part of the tab. You can use the Detect button to refresh the image info below, and to automatically set CD Format properties in the General tab according to the attributes of the image file.


Gives the following information about the real ISO image you have selected:

•	The type of data recorded in the track.

•	Gives the ISO 960 Volume Name, if any, of a data track.

•	The ISO 9660 Creation Date of the data track.


Click to refresh the image file info and to automatically set CD Format properties in the General tab for the selected image file.


The Disk Copy Tab

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this tab.


Select the desired source device from which you wish to copy data to the CD recorder. The “Unit” area below will give the device’s model and type.


When your source CD is mounted in the selected device, you will see a dialog box saying “Scan Media for Content Structure.” After this process is finished, the total amount of data on the source CD and its type will be reported.


Gives the model and device type for the selected source SCSI device. You can click on the Refresh button to update the media information below when a new source disc is inserted into the source drive.


The CD Recorder Tab

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this tab.


The CD recorder model.


The CD recorder manufacturer.


The firmware revision of the recorder.


The SCSI Host Adapter, ID, and Logical Unit Numbers.


Lists the disc formats which this recorder is capable of reading to hard disk in digital format.


Lists the speeds at which the recorder can read data. These are not always the same as possible writing speeds.


Shows whether this recorder is capable of reading UPC and ISRC codes.


Shows whether this recorder is capable of reading barcodes.


Lists the disc formats which this recorder can write to CD.


Lists the speed(s) at which this recorder can write to CD.


Shows whether this recorder can perform a real speed test. In such a test, data is passed to the CD recorder and the writing laser is turned on, just as in a write. The only difference is that the laser does not actually touch the disc surface.


Shows the size of the buffer in the CD recorder.


In Track-at-Once recording, each time a track is finished the writing laser is stopped, and each time the laser is stopped it writes Run-Out blocks. When starting again (to write a new track) it writes Run-In blocks, for a total of seven blocks (also known as link blocks) between tracks. With data tracks, the Run-In/Out blocks are ignored by CD-ROM readers and so do not disturb data transmission, but if you use Track-at-Once to record audio discs, in some audio players these blocks might produce an audible click between tracks.


In Disc-at-Once recording all tracks are recorded without ever stopping the laser, and the disc is closed, so there are no link blocks between tracks. Disc-at-Once has only been added/available with the recent generation of CD recorders and recent firmware upgrades.


Shows whether this recorder is capable of writing UPC and ISRC codes.


The Disc Info and Tools Tab

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this tab.


The type of the disc. Possible types include:

n	Audio

n	CD-ROM with first track in Mode 1

n	CD-ROM with first track in Mode 2

n	CD-I


Displays the number of sessions on disc. For a recordable disc, if the last session written has been closed, a new session already prepared to accept the new track may also be listed, even if it is currently empty.


The total number of tracks on disc. Tracks are numbered consecutively from the beginning of the disc, regardless of how many sessions they are divided among.


Shows whether the disc is recordable.


Displays the amount of free space, expressed in CD sectors and in megabytes, available for recording on the CD. On a closed disc this value will always be zero, no matter how much space is actually left.


The total amount of space on disc, expressed in CD sectors and in megabytes.


(Not supported by all CD recorders!) Reports the thirteen-digit UPC (Universal Product Code), if any, for the disc.


(Not supported by all CD recorders!) Reports the barcode (if any) of the disc. On recordable discs, you will usually also find this number printed in the clear inner ring of the disc.


Session: A session may contain more than one track. On a recordable disc, you may see a final session which contains no tracks. This is because when you close a session without closing the disc, the disc is automatically prepared to accept a further session.

Track: Sequential number of the track; tracks are numbered in order from the beginning of the disc, no matter how they are divided among sessions. A disc can contain no more than 99 tracks.

Format: The physical format in which the individual track is recorded.

Address: Sector starting address of the track given as an absolute sector address on disc.

Length: The length of each track is given in CD sectors. It is also given in megabytes for data tracks and in minutes:seconds for audio tracks.


To copy selected track(s) to hard disk. For detailed instructions, see “How to Copy a Track to Hard Disk.”


Opens the Track Info dialog box giving more detailed information about an individual track.


To compare a track recorded on CD with its the real ISO image it was recorded from. Compare Track is not possible for tracks which were recorded on-the-fly. For detailed instructions, see “To Compare a Track on CD with its Original Real ISO Image on Hard Disk.”


If the selected track is damaged, you can click Recover to repair it. This function is not possible with all CD recorders!


If your disc contains an open session with one or more tracks in it, you may click on this button to close the session. It is necessary to close a session to read the data in it or, in the case of audio discs, to play the audio.


The Read Track Dialog Box

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this tab.


Gives the starting address of the selected track. (If more than one track is selected, this is grayed out.)


Gives the total length in sectors of the selected track. (If more than one track is selected, this is grayed out.)


n	Auto: Audio tracks will be copied at 1x speed, data tracks at the maximum read speed of your CD recorder.

n	nx: Set the desired read speed for this track copy. Possible speeds depend on the reading speed of your CD recorder, which is not always the same as its writing speed.


Type in the name (and, optionally, the full path) under which to save the file. If you do not include a path, the file will be saved to Easy-CD Pro 95’s working directory. Data tracks will be saved with the extension .ISO. Audio tracks will be saved with the extension .WAV. You can click on the Browse button to find the folder where you want to save the file, and give it a name. If you had selected more than one track, an incremental number will be given to each track as it is read and saved.


Disc Info and Tools: Track Info

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this dialog box.


The copy protection bit is set for this track. (In any existing CD recording system the status of this bit makes no difference — the track can be copied. Consider it, instead, a warning of copyright: if this bit is turned on, the copyright owner is making a clear statement that she does not want the disc to be copied.)


The type of data recorded in the track. Possibilities include:

n	Red Book Audio

n	ISO 9660


Gives the ISO 960 Volume Name, if any, of a data track.


The ISO 9660 Creation Date of the data track.


Possible values are:

n	Complete

n	Damaged

n	Incomplete


Set for audio which requires four-speaker playback.


If “yes,” the initial playback volume of an audio track has been raised by two decibels.


TheInternational Standard Recording Code is a code which may be assigned to individual audio tracks. It is a number made up of the following characters:

n	Country Code: 2 ASCII characters

n	Owner Code: 3 ASCII characters

n	Year of Recording: 2 digits

n	Serial Number: 5 digits


The Compare Track Dialog Box

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this dialog box.


The track number on disc of the track you have selected to compare.


The type of data recorded in the track to be compared. Possibilities include:

n	Red Book Audio

n	ISO 9660


Gives the ISO 960 Volume Name, if any, of a data track.


The ISO 9660 Creation Date of the data track.


n	Auto: Audio tracks will be copied at 1x speed, data tracks at the maximum read speed of your CD recorder.

n	nx: Set the desired read speed for this track copy. Possible speeds depend on the reading speed of your CD recorder, which is not always the same as its writing speed.


The size in CD sectors of the track you have selected for comparison.


Enter the full pathname and name of the real ISO image to compare with the selected track on CD, or click on the Browse button to locate it.


The ISO-Compliant Naming Dialog Box

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this dialog box.


Stops the entire recording operation.


Select to accept the suggested substitute name, or edit the substitute name and then click Yes.


Clicking on Yes to All means that you accept this suggested name, and that all other illegally-named files will also be renamed automatically without further prompting.


The Close Session Dialog Box

Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this dialog box.


Select the format in which to close the session. Be sure you do not mix CD-ROM and CD-ROM XA sessions on the same disc!


Select this check box if you want to close the entire disc at the same time that you close the current session.


How to Write an ISO 9660 Disc

The steps in writing an ISO 9660 disc are:

1.	Launch Easy-CD Pro 95.

2.	Select New from the File menu or the [image] button from the toolbar.

1.	Select “CD-ROM” in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

2.	Set recording properties in the General tab.

3.	Set filenames options in the File Names tab.

4.	Fill in any desired Volume Descriptors in the Volume Info tab.

5.	Ignore the Load Contents tab (it is used in adding data to multisession discs).

6.	Click on the Data Track tab to open the empty file list.

7.	Drag and drop into the file list the files/folders you want to write to disc. You can drag them from the1.	 Windows Explorer or any other desktop window.

1.	Insert a recordable CD into your CD recorder.

1.	Click on the [image] button in the toolbar, or select Write! from the CD-Recorder menu.


What is an ISO 9660 Disc?

A logical format (or file system) arranges the files in a virtual “tree” of folders, which makes it easier for both humans and computers to use the information. ISO 9660 is a worldwide standard for the logical format of data on a CD-ROM. ISO 9660 is different from the file systems which Windows 95, NT, DOS, Macintosh, and other operating systems use to manage data stored on hard and floppy disks, so every operating system has a system extension which allows it to read ISO 9660 discs. A useful side effect of this is that ISO 9660 discs are ideal for exchanging data among different platforms.


Write real ISO image only to

A real ISO image is a single large file which contains all of the files to be written to CD, in the order in which they will be written to CD. By selecting this option you choose to write a real ISO image to hard disk, instead of writing your data to CD.

Why would you want to do this?

n	To write multiple copies of the same disc. Saving a real ISO image to hard disk saves processing time in writing multiple copies of the same set of data — you can write the ISO image to hard disk once, then use the “CD from image” option in the CD Type dialog box to record it several times to different discs.

n	If you need to create an ISO image file to be written to CD on another system. With Easy-CD Pro 95, an ISO image file can be written to CD using the “CD from an image” option in the CD Type dialog box.

n	If you have a strong need to verify data after it has been written to CD. Easy-CD Pro 95’s Compare Track function only works for comparing tracks recorded on CD with their originating real ISO images on hard disk.

If you need to record your data to CD via a real ISO image only because your system cannot keep up with on the fly recording, but you do not need to save the real ISO image after writing is completed, do not use this option, but rather deselect “Write on the fly.” In this case a temporary ISO image will be written to hard disk and then automatically copied to CD.


Saving a Real ISO Image to Hard Disk

1.	Select “Write real ISO image only to” in the General tab.

2.	Click on the ISO File button to open a Save As dialog box in which you can set the location and name under which the ISO file is to be saved. This file will require as much space on hard disk as the total amount of data which will be written to CD. If there is not enough space on the selected hard disk, you will be warned before writing begins. The file will be saved with the extension .ISO.

3.	If you plan to write this real ISO image to a disc which already contains data (a multisession disc), insert this disc now and click on Yes. In this way the sector addresses for your files can be correctly calculated, taking into account the space already used on the disc.(When you later record the ISO image to CD, be sure that the same disc is inserted, and that no other data has been recorded on it in the meantime — otherwise incorrect addresses will render your disc unusable.)

4.	Click on the [image] button or select Write! from the CD-Recorder menu.

5.	If a disc containing data is inserted in the CD recorder, Easy-CD Pro 95 will read the disc in order to link the new data with that already on disc. You will then see a progress dialog box as your data is saved to hard disk.

6.	To record the real ISO image to CD, use the “CD from image” option in the CD Type dialog box.


Writing Speed

Select the desired writing speed; the options available will depend on your CD recorder. Click on the Speed Test button to see if the speed you select is correct for your system’s capabilities and the amount of data you want to record to CD; if not, a dialog box will suggest the optimum writing speed.


Speed Test

Click to test whether the speed you select is correct for your system’s capabilities and the amount and type of data you want to record. This test does not actually pass data to the CD recorder, but simply runs through the files to be written to see if your CPU and hard disk can maintain adequate throughput to write to CD on the fly. When testing is completed, a dialog box similar to this one appears:

Even if the performance test results are positive, you should still select “Test before writing” the first few times you write to CD.


Write on the fly

In writing on the fly, Easy-CD Pro 95 consults the Data Track list and records the files in the list directly to CD. This demands a fast and steady flow of data from your hard disk through your system to the CD recorder, because CD recording is a real-time process: recording must proceed at a fixed speed (the Writing Speed that you set) without slowdowns or interruptions. If the flow of data is interrupted for too long, a buffer underrun occurs, and your recordable disc is probably ruined.

If your system is not able to maintain the required flow of data even at the lowest recording speed, a final solution is to deselect “Write on the fly.” Easy-CD Pro 95 will then write a real ISO image in the temporary directory before writing to CD.

Be aware that there are two drawbacks to this:

n	It takes more time, because the real ISO image must be written to hard disk before it is copied to CD. (This temporary ISO image will be deleted when writing is completed.)

n	It requires as much free hard disk space as the total amount of data which you will write to CD.


Test Before Writing

This option performs a real test in which files are located on hard disk, opened, and passed to the CD recorder. The Write LED on your CD recorder may light up during testing, but nothing is actually being written to disc! This test is the most reliable indicator of whether or not CD recording will be successful.

The test is performed at the selected Writing Speed. If the test fails, another test will be run a lower speed, until Easy-CD Pro 95 finds a speed at which writing will be successful, or reports that writing will not succeed at any possible speed.

When the test is finished successfully, writing may proceed automatically according to the “Start Writing if Test Completes OK” settings.

After a successful test is complete, the CD recorder may open and close its tray, or eject its caddy. For most CD recorders this is necessary to reset the recorder after a test, and means that if your recorder uses a caddy you will have to manually reinsert it in order to proceed with writing.


Start Writing if Test Completes OK...

If “Test before writing” is selected, you may also choose to begin writing automatically after a successful test, after the selected amount of time has lapsed.

The options for automatically beginning writing after a successful test are:

n	Immediately

n	10 seconds

n	30 seconds

n	60 seconds

n	Do not start

When a test is successfully completed, a dialog box like this one will open:


Making Settings in the File Names Tab

The ISO 9660 Interchange Levels

In order to really understand the File Names settings, you need to know a little something about the ISO 9660 Levels of Interchange. These are three methods of recording and naming files on disc. There are three nested, downward-compatible Levels.

In Level 1 (the most restrictive):

n	Each file must be written on disc as a single, continuous stream of bytes — files may not be fragmented or interleaved.

n	A filename may not contain more than eight d-characters (the letters A through Z, the numerals 0 through 9, and the underscore symbol (_).

n	A Filename Extension may not contain more than three d-characters.

n	A directory name may not contain more than eight d-characters.

In Level 2, again, each file must be written on disc as a single, continuous stream of bytes.

In Level 3 there are no restrictions.

File Naming and MSCDEX

MSCDEX, the system extension used to read CD-ROMs in DOS and Windows 3.1, is largely Level 1-compliant, meaning that it can read filenames only up to 8+3 characters (as in DOS). However, it does not restrict you to the d-character set, and will accept characters such as the dollar sign in filenames. Discs which must be read on DOS or Windows 3.1 platforms should therefore use the “ISO 9660 Level 1-compliant DOS names” or “DOS filenames (8+3)” option for file naming.

File Naming and CDFS

CDFS, the new file system developed by Microsoft for reading CD-ROMs in Windows 95 and NT, complies with ISO 9660 Level 3. You can therefore use the Joliet or Romeo option for file naming, for discs which will be read only on these platforms.


ISO 9660 Level 1-compliant DOS names (8+3, restricted character set), and file version.

Note: If you are going to make an ISO 9660 Level 1-compliant disc, we strongly suggest that you take ISO 9660’s filename limitations into consideration from the start when creating your files and applications.

Use this option to record discs with filenames which comply strictly with ISO 9660 Level 1 restrictions.

File Version

In ISO 9660, all directory entries of files must contain the file name followed by a semicolon and the file version number, “;1.” Most systems automatically remove these two characters from the filename when accessing a file or displaying a directory, but versions of the Macintosh operating system earlier than 7.5 did not. The result is that when you look at an ISO 9660 disc on a Macintosh with System 7.0 or earlier, all the filenames appear as “FILENAME;1”.

This could cause problems with an application that must run from CD on the Macintosh: if your application looks for a file named “MYFILE.TXT”, it will only find a file named “MYFILE.TXT;1”.


The Compliant Naming Dialog Box

If any of the files in the Data Track list do not comply with the setting you have chosen in the File Names tab, during the “Adding Files…” process a dialog box like this one will appear:


Stops the entire recording operation.


Select to accept the suggested substitute name, or edit the substitute name and then click Yes.


Clicking on Yes to All means that you accept this suggested name, and that all other illegally-named files will also be renamed automatically without further prompting. Some things to keep in mind when using this option:

n	Because the set of d-characters is smaller than the character set available for file naming under DOS, when Easy-CD Pro 95 encounters an illegal character such as $ or & in a filename, it has only one possibility for substitution, the underscore. It is therefore very possible that in automatically renaming files, substituting the underscore for every illegal character, it would come up with identical names for different files, which would cause problems.

n	It is also desirable that you be aware what filenames have been changed, because you may have overlooked the fact that a file is illegally named, while your CD-ROM or other application needs to locate files by their exact names.


DOS filenames (8+3)

Windows 95 allows you to use file and folder names up to 256 characters long, which may include spaces. To maintain DOS compatibility, a DOS-standard (8+3) filename is associated with each file; these names are created automatically by Windows 95 and can be viewed in Properties for each file. To create these DOS-standard names, long filenames are truncated and the tilde (~) is added; a number may also be added to distinguish between files which would otherwise have identical names when truncated. For example, the filename “LETTERS TO SEND.DOC” might become “LETTER~1.DOC.

If you select the “DOS names only” option, these DOS names will be used in recording the files to disc, and any long filenames will be lost.


Joliet: DOS (8+3) and Windows 95 (up to 64 characters). Unicode char. set

Joliet is an extension of the ISO 9660 standard, developed by Microsoft for Windows 95, to allow CDs to be recorded using long filenames (it also allows for using the Unicode international character set). For files recorded to CD, Joliet allows you to use filenames up to 64 characters in length, including spaces. Joliet also records the associated DOS-standard name for each file so that the disc may be read on DOS systems or earlier versions of Windows.

WARNING: Versions of Windows NT up to 3.51 build 1057 do not read Joliet discs. This should be corrected in a future version; contact Microsoft for more information.

If you select this option, filenames up to 64 characters long will be allowed. If a filename is longer than 64 characters, a message will appear asking if you want to skip this file. Choose OK to skip the file. Choose Cancel to stop the process; in this case nothing will be written.


Romeo: Windows 95 long filenames only, up to 128 characters

“Romeo” allows you to write to disc filenames up to 128 characters long, including spaces. This is not part of the Joliet standard, the Unicode character set is not supported, and there is no provision for associated DOS filenames. Romeo filenames can be read on Windows 95 and NT systems. Romeo discs can be read on Macintosh systems if the filenames are not longer than 31 characters. Do not use Romeo if your disc must be read in other conditions.

If you select this option, your disc can include filenames up to 128 characters long.


Files to Exclude

The file list you will build in the Data Track tab can include individual files or entire folders. If your file list contains folders, everything within those folders at the time of writing (including any subfolders and all their contents) will be written to disc. If you wish to exclude specific or certain types of files from writing, use this window. You can type in wildcards (with or without full or partial paths) or specific filenames (with full paths) as shown in the examples.


Volume Info

ISO 9660 allows you to record information about the CD in a set of special fields called Volume Descriptors. The information stored in these fields is not accessible from DOS or Windows, except the Volume Name, whose first eleven characters are displayed with the DIR or VOLUME command or in the Windows 95 Properties dialog box for the disc. All of these Volume Descriptors are optional, though you probably want to include a Volume Name.

Click on the Volume Descriptors depicted here for details.


Volume Name

The name of the Volume.

Example: MAMMALS.

Maximum: 32 d-characters


System Name

The operating system under which the application will run.

Example: Windows 95

Maximum 32 a-characters allowed.


Volume Set Name

If the CD you are preparing is part of a set of discs, every disc in the set may have the same name recorded in this field.

Example: WILDLIFE_ENCYCLOPEDIA

Maximum 32 d-characters allowed.


Copyright File Name

Authors can protect their work with a copyright notice stored in a file which must be placed in the root directory. The name of this file can be recorded here. Copyright and Abstract files must be located, if present, in the root directory of the CD.

Example: COPYRITE.TXT

Maximum: 8.3 d-characters.


Abstract File Name

Records the name of an file stored in the root directory which describes the work.

Example: ABSTRACT.TXT

Maximum: 8.3 d-characters.


Bibliographic File Name

Refers to a file, stored in any directory, containing bibliographic information such as an ISBN number.

Example: BIBREF.TXT

Maximum: 8.3 d-characters.


Publisher's Name
Publisher’s Name

Identifies the publisher of the disc.

Example: JONES ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING

Maximum 128 a-characters allowed.


Data Preparer's Name
Data Preparer’s Name

Records the name of author of the content of the disc.

Example: Sally Jones

Maximum 128 a-characters allowed.


Application Name

Records the name under which the application is known, if any.

Example: MY APPLICATION

Maximum 128 a-characters allowed.


Dates

May be filled in in this format:

year, month, day; hour, min, sec.


Creating a File List

1.	Click on the Data Track tab. An empty file list is shown.

2.	To add folders and files to the list write to CD, select the desired items in any desktop window or from the Windows Explorer or Find dialog box, and drag and drop the item(s) into the Data Track tab:

n	To select multiple contiguous items, hold down the Shift key while selecting the top and then the bottom file of the desired group.

n	To select multiple non-contiguous items, hold down the CTRL key while selecting the desired files.

When you select multiple items in either of these ways and copy them to the Easy-CD Pro 95 window, the item at the top of the file list will be the last one one which your cursor was “focused” before you activated the Easy-CD Pro 95 window. To maintain strict alphabetical order, ensure that you select the top file in the selected group last.

3.	Instead of dragging and dropping files you can select Copy from the Edit menu in the Windows Explorer. Then activate the Easy-CD Pro 95 window and select Paste from the Edit menu.

4.	If your file list contains folders, everything within those folders at the time of writing (including any subfolders and all their contents) will be written to disc. If you wish to exclude specific or certain types of files from writing, use the “Files to Exclude” window in the File Names tab described above.


What Kinds of Devices Can I Copy Files From?

You can drag and drop items into the file list from any source visible to your system. This includes files on CD (in another CD-ROM drive, not in your CD recorder), magneto-optical drives, network drives, and even floppy disks.

However, depending on the size of the buffer in your CD recorder, you may find it difficult to write on-the-fly from these devices to recordable CD. They are often too slow to keep up the steady flow of data required by the CD. If you need to write data from a slow device, you can create the file list using files from any source, and deselect the “Write on the fly” option in the General tab.


Working with Files in the List

Items added to an existing list are placed before the item currently highlighted in the list. The (End of List) marker is highlighted by default (until you click on something else in the list), so that new items are added to the end of the list.

The file list is recorded to CD in the order shown in the Data Track tab. Files within directories are recorded in alphabetical order.


Optimizing Disc Performance by File Positioning

The read-back performance of an application on CD-ROM can be improved by careful positioning of the files and folders on disc to minimize seek time (the time that the CD-ROM drive’s reading head spends moving from point to point on the disc seeking a piece of data). So you need to know how files should be organized on a CD, and how Easy-CD Pro 95 helps you do it.

About Directories

In ISO 9660, a directory (shown as a folder in Windows 95) is a special file which contains the names and addresses of all the files and subdirectories which you see within that directory when you look at the disc’s logical structure. When an application needs to find a file, it goes first to the directory file to learn the file’s address, then it goes to get the file. Therefore, keeping directories physically close to their files minimizes seek time. When you add entire folders to the file list, Easy-CD Pro 95 will record the directory information to CD, immediately followed by all the files contained in the directory (folder). This is the optimum situation for efficient read-back.


Deleting Files and Folders

You can delete any item from the file list at any time. Deleting a folder implies deleting the folder itself, any subfolders it may contain, and all their files. Deleting a file or a folder from the file list does not affect the originals on your hard disk.

1.	Select the files or folders to delete in the file list.

2.	Click [image] in the toolbar or select Delete from the Edit menu.

3.	To delete the entire list, choose Delete All from the Edit menu, or click [image] in the toolbar.


Saving the ECD Project

1.	Click [image] in the toolbar or select Save from the File menu.

2.	An. ECD project includes all the settings you have made for this recording session, as well as all the file list. When you re-open the project, you will find everything set up exactly as it was before.

3.	If you wish to use the same recording settings for a different file list, you can open the project with the desired settings, select Save As from the File menu, and save the project under a different name.


The Writing Process

1.	Before writing begins, you will see a message box with the title “Adding files to CD image...”

2.	This will be followed by a progress dialog which will show the messages “Fixing up” and “Mounting.” When these processes are completed, if you had set “Test before writing” in the General tab, you will see a testing progress dialog.

3.	If the test is successfully completed, the CD recorder’s caddy or tray will eject, and a message will appear. If you had set a timer under “Start writing if test completes OK” in the General tab, a countdown will begin.

4.	Reinsert the disc caddy if necessary. You can click on Yes to begin writing immediately, or No to halt before writing begins. If you do nothing, and you had selected to start writing automatically after a test, writing will begin and you will see a write progress dialog box.

5.	When the data has been written, you will see a message “Closing session.” This will take a few more minutes.

6.	When writing is completed, the tray or caddy will be ejected, and you will see a “Write successfully completed” message.


What is a Multisession Disc?

A multisession disc is an ISO 9660 disc to which data is added incrementally in more than one session, allowing you to add and “update” files and directories. All the data on a multisession disc, when read on a multisession CD-ROM drive, may be seen as part of a single logical structure.


Uses for Multisession Discs

Uses for multisession include periodically backing up quantities of data less than the full capacity of a disc, or distributing data which is periodically updated. Because only multisession CD-ROM drives can access all the data on a multisession disc, it’s best to consider such discs for use only where you have some certainty or control over what system will be used to read them.

If you have a strong need to distribute data on multisession discs — you send discs out to clients or colleagues, they send them back to be updated, and then you send them out them again — you should ensure that all the interested parties will be able to read your multisession discs. A simple test would be to make a multisession disc (as described below) with directories A through M in the first session, and directories N through Z in a second session. Send that disc to whoever will need to read your data; if they can see all the way to directory Z, you’re all right.


Sessions and Tracks

A session, as defined under the Orange Book, is a recorded part of a compact disc which contains one or more tracks of any type (data or audio). When a session is closed, a lead-out is written which allows a CD-ROM drive to recognize the session and read data from it.

Closing a session takes some extra space on disc for the session lead-in and lead-out, about thirteen megabytes in data terms. This isn’t excessive if you are recording only a few sessions per disc, but you probably don’t want to use multisession to back up small amounts of data at a time — you could end up using more space in closing the session than the data you are storing actually occupies.

Every time you write to CD, you will create at least one track, which is preceded by a pre-gap and followed by a post-gap (these gaps are small, at most 300 kilobytes each). Any session may contain one or more tracks, and the tracks within a session may be of the same or of different types (for example, a mixed-mode disc contains one data and one or more audio tracks).


How Data is Recorded in Multiple Sessions

When you record the first session of a disc and close the session, the directory structure and the addresses of the files on disc are recorded within the data area of the session in the ISO 9660 format. When you want to add data in a subsequent session, the filename and directory structure for the new session can include references to files and directories which were actually recorded in the previous session — this is known as “linked” multisession. The files already on disk are not re-recorded in the new session; only their addresses are included in the new session’s logical structure. These addresses can be carried forward in additional sessions, so that all files recorded on the disc are shown as if they were part of one overarching file system, even though they may have been recorded in many different sessions.

You can even “overwrite” files already recorded on disc. Because CD is a write-once medium, you cannot really delete or replace files on disc, but you can “virtually” do so by writing a newer version of the same file (with an identical filename and directory path) into a new session on the disc.


CD-ROM vs. CD-ROM XA Multisession Discs

Multisession discs are recorded according to the Orange Book Part II standard, which states that they can be written in either the CD-ROM or CD-ROM XA format. It should not matter which; a multisession CD-ROM drive should always look at the LAST session on a disc, no matter its format.

However, there have been misunderstandings and misinterpretations of the standard, largely for historical reasons. Multisession recording was first used by Kodak for Photo CD, because one roll of film does not fill up a Photo CD disc. When you take your disc and a new roll of film to be Photo CD’d, the new photos are added in a new session, which is linked to previous sessions so that you can see all the photos on the disc, no matter how many sessions they are recorded in.

Kodak chose CD-ROM XA for its disc format for reasons which had nothing to do with the Orange Book standard. But because Photo CD was the first reason CD-ROM drive manufacturers had to create multisession drives, some assumed that the Kodak way to do multisession (CD-ROM XA) was the ONLY way. They accordingly wrote software drivers which assume that, to be multisession, a disc must also be XA. When one of these drivers sees a disc which is not XA, it assumes that the disc is also NOT multisession — and it tells the CD-ROM drive to read only the first session on the disc. The result is that a multisession disc is read as if it were a single-session disc, and you see only the data in the first session.

The drive manufacturers have largely resolved the problem in newer drives and drivers, but if you record a multisession disc in CD-ROM XA format you run the risk that some older drives, even if multisession, may not read beyond the first session on the disc. If you need to share multisession discs with others, you may want to test what their CD-ROM drives can handle, or, to be on the safe side, write your disc in the CD-ROM XA format.

WARNING: You cannot mix formats on the same disc; a disc containing both CD-ROM and CD-ROM XA sessions would be unreadable on any drive!


Writing the First Session

Simply follow the instructions for creating an ISO 9660 disc. Be sure to DEselect the “Close Disc” option in the General tab.

Save your project so that you will be able to use your file list as a starting point for adding future sessions to the disc.

You can turn a single-session disc into a multisession disc at any time simply by adding another session to it. However, it’s best to decide in advance whether your disc will be multisession or not, so that you can decide whether to record the first session in CD-ROM format (aka Mode 1) or CD-ROM XA format (aka Mode 2).


Adding the Second Session

When you are ready to add another session, insert the disc into your CD recorder and proceed as follows:

1.	Select “CD-ROM” in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

2.	Set recording properties in the General tab.

3.	Open the Load Contents tab.

4.	The default option is “Load the last complete track, if present.” This means that the data you are adding now will be linked to the data in the most recent session of the disc, and that all the data on the disc will be seen as part of the same logical structure.

5.	If you have recorded more than one session on the disc, you may in some cases wish to select a different previous session to which the current session will be linked. Check the “Select track to load” box and select the desired track in the list that will appear below.

6.	Set filename options in the File Names tab.

7.	Fill in any desired Volume Descriptors in the Volume Info tab.

8.	Click on the Data Track tab to open the empty file list.

9.	Drag and drop into the file list the files/folders you want to write to disc. You can drag them from the Windows Explorer or any other desktop window.

10.	Click on the [image] button in the toolbar, or select Write! from the CD-Recorder menu.


The Writing Process in Multisession

(Writing may begin automatically after testing, depending on the settings you made in the General tab.)

1.	Before writing begins, you will see a dialog box saying “Loading contents of previous session.” This means that the files recorded in the previous session on disc are being scanned for comparison with the new files and directories being added.

1.	You will see a message “Adding...” This means that the files referenced in the file list are being put into a temporary database. Any files which were found to be already recorded on disc during the loading process, and which have not been updated since they were last written, will be added.

1.	This will be followed by the messages “Fixing up” and “Mounting.” When these processes are completed, writing to CD begins.

1.	When writing is completed, you will see a “Write successfully completed” message.


How to Write a Disc from a Real ISO 9660 Image

Use this option to write to CD a real ISO image  previously prepared with Easy-CD Pro 95 or with any other software.

1. 	Launch Easy-CD Pro 95.

2.	Select New from the File menu or the [image] button from the toolbar.

3.	Select “CD from an image” in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

4.	Set recording properties in the General tab.

5.	In the Image File tab, select the .ISO file you wish to record.

6.	You can use the Browse button to locate it. Information about the track is given in the lower part of the tab. You can use the Detect button refresh the track information displayed, and to automatically set CD Format properties in the General tab.

7.	Click on the [image] button in the toolbar, or select Write! from the CD-Recorder menu.


Type Caption for New Topic Right Here
The Toolbar

The toolbar offers shortcuts for the program’s most important functions. For details on the commands activated by these buttons, click on the buttons in the picture.


File Menu

Click on the menu commands for more information.


New

Keys: ALT + F, N

Hotkeys: CTRL + N

To create a new .ECD document in the main window. You can open an existing .ECD document with the Open command. If you are preparing an .ECD document and use the New command without having saved it, a dialog box will appear prompting you to do so.

An .ECD document includes all the settings you have made for this recording session, as well as all the files listed under the Data Track or Audio Track tabs and all of their settings. When you re-open an .ECD document, you will find everything set up exactly as it was before.


Open

Keys: ALT + F, O

Hotkeys: CTRL + O

To open an existing .ECD document. If you already have one open and have modified it since it was opened, you will be asked if you want to save it before opening a new one. If you answer NO, all changes will be lost. You can create a new .ECD document with the New command.

In the dialog box, type or select the project filename you want to open. This box lists only files with the extension .VCD; you cannot open any other type of file using this command.


Save

Keys: ALT + F, S

Hotkey: Ctrl S

To save the open project at its current name and location. When you save an .ECD project for the first time, the Save As dialog box is opened so that you can name the file. If you want to save an existing project under a different name or location, use Save As.


Save As

Keys: ALT + F, A

To save the open project under a different name or location. To save an .ECD project with its existing name, use the Save command.


Exit

Keys: ALT + F, X

Quit Easy-CD Pro 95.


CD-Recorder Menu

Click on the menu commands for more information.


Eject/Tray

Click to eject the CD recorder’s caddy or open its tray.


Write!

Begin writing (a test may be performed first, depending on settings in the General  tab).


Edit Menu

Click on the menu commands for more information.


Paste

You can use the Copy command in the Windows Explorer or a desktop window to select one or more items to paste to the Clipboard. Then use Paste in Easy-CD Pro 95 to insert the items into the Data Track or Audio Tracks list.


Delete

Delete selected files/folders from the list.


Delete All

Delete all items from the list.


Move Up

Move the selected item up one place in the Audio Tracks or Data Track list.


Move Down

Move the selected item down one place in the Audio Tracks or Data Track list.


Refresh Totals

Click to refresh the total on the amount of data in the Data Track list when you add or remove items.


View Menu

Click on the menu commands for more information.


View Toolbar command
Toolbar

Use this command to display and hide the Toolbar, which includes buttons for some of the most common commands in Easy-CD Pro 95.  A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Toolbar is displayed.


View Status Bar Command
Status Bar

Use this command to display and hide the Status Bar, which describes the action to be executed by the selected menu item or depressed toolbar button. A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Status Bar is displayed.


Help Menu

•	Help Topics

•	How to Use Help

•	About Easy-CD Pro 95


Help Topics

Opens the Contents of the help for Easy-CD Pro 95.


Search for Help On...
How to Use Help

Provides information on how to use Windows 95 help.


About Easy-CD Pro 95

Opens the About dialog box for Easy-CD Pro 95.


Disc Info and Tools

Opens the Disc Info and Tools and CD Recorder tabs.


Select CD Recorder

When you launch Easy-CD Pro 95, if your CD recorder is powered on and connected it will automatically be recognized and installed. If you have more than one CD recorder, or if you turn it on after starting the program, select this command to choose the one you wish to record to. This setting will be maintained until your setup changes or you select this command again.


CD Recorder

This tab provides technical information about your CD recorder. Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this tab.


CD Recorder tab: Product ID

The CD recorder model.


CD Recorder tab: Vendor

The CD recorder manufacturer.


CD Recorder tab: Firmware Rev.

The firmware revision of the recorder.


CD Recorder: Buffer

Shows the size of the CD recorder’s buffer.


CD Recorder tab: SCSI Address

The SCSI ID, Logical Unit Number, and Host Adapter number.


CD Recorder tab: (Reading) Formats

Lists the disc formats which this recorder is capable of reading to hard disk in digital format.


CD Recorder tab: (CD Recorder tab:Reading) Speeds
CD Recorder tab: (Reading) Speeds

Lists the speeds at which the recorder can read data. These are not always the same as possible writing speeds.


CD Recorder tab: (Reading) UPC and ISRC

Shows whether this recorder is capable of reading UPC and ISRC codes.


CD Recorder tab: (Reading) Barcode

Shows whether this recorder is capable of reading barcodes.


CD Recorder tab: Write Capabilities

Refers to the formats and speeds at which the CD recorder can write to CD.


CD Recorder tab: (Writing) Formats

Lists the disc formats which this recorder can write to CD.


CD Recorder tab: (Writing) Speeds

Lists the speed(s) at which this recorder can write to CD.


CD Recorder tab: Speed Test

Shows whether this recorder can perform a Speed Test. In such a test, data is passed to the CD recorder and the writing laser is turned on, just as in a write. The only difference is that the laser does not actually touch the disc surface.


CD Recorder tab: Track-at-Once Capability

In Track-at-Once recording, each time a track is finished the writing laser is stopped, and each time the laser is stopped it writes Run-Out blocks. When starting again (to write a new track) it writes Run-In blocks, for a total of seven blocks (also known as link blocks) between tracks.

With data tracks, the Run-In/Out blocks are ignored by CD-ROM readers and so do not disturb data transmission, but if you use Track-at-Once to record audio discs, in some audio players these blocks might produce an audible click between tracks.


CD Recorder tab: Disc-at-Once Capability

In Disc-at-Once recording all tracks are recorded without ever stopping the laser, and the disc is closed, so there are no link blocks between tracks.

Disc-at-Once has only been added/available with the recent generation of CD recorders and recent firmware upgrades.


CD Recorder tab: (Writing) UPC and ISRC

Shows whether this recorder is capable of writing UPC and ISRC codes.


Disc Info and Tools

Disc Info and Tools can be used to examine any disc, recordable or commercially-produced, mounted in the CD recorder. Click the hotspots in the picture for details about the items in this tab.


Disc Info and Tools: Disc Type

Possible types include:

n	Audio

n	CD-ROM with first track in Mode 1

n	CD-ROM with first track in Mode 2

n	CD-I


Disc Info and Tools: Sessions

Displays the number of sessions on disc. For a recordable disc, if the last session written has been closed, a new session already prepared to accept the new track will also be listed, even if it is currently empty.


Disc Info and Tools: Tracks

The total number of tracks on disc.


Disc Info and Tools: Recordability

Possibilities include:

n	Blank

n	Gold recordable.

n	Silver or closed gold.


Disc Info and Tools: Free Sectors

Displays the amount of free space, expressed in CD sectors and in megabytes, available for recording on the CD. On a closed disc this value will always be zero, no matter how much space is actually left.


Disc Info and Tools: Total Sectors

The total number of sectors  on disc, expressed in CD sectors.


Disc Info and Tools: UPC

(Not supported by all CD recorders!) Reports the thirteen-digit UPC (Universal Product Code), if any, for the disc.


Disc Info and Tools: Barcode

(Not supported by all CD recorders!) Reports the barcode (if any) of the disc. On recordable discs, you will usually also find this number printed in the clear inner ring of the disc.


Disc Info and Tools: Disc TOC: Session

Sequential number of the session. A session may contain more than one track. On a recordable disc, you may see a final session which contains no tracks. This is because when you close a session without closing the disc, the disc is automatically prepared to accept a further session.


Disc Info and Tools: Disc TOC: Track

Sequential number of the track; tracks are numbered in order from the beginning of the disc, no matter how they are divided among sessions. A disc can contain no more than 99 tracks.


Disc Info and Tools: Disc TOC: Format

Possibilities include:

n	CD-ROM (Mode 1)

n	CD-ROM XA (Mode 2)

n	Audio


Disc Info and Tools: Disc TOC: Address

Sector starting address of the track.


Disc Info and Tools: Disc TOC: Length

The length of each track is given in CD sectors. It is also given in megabytes for data tracks and in minutes:seconds for audio tracks.


To Copy a Track to Hard Disk

The types of tracks that can be read depends on the read capabilities of the CD recorder; check the CD Recorder tab to see what your recorder supports.

1.	Mount the disc you wish to copy from in the CD recorder.

2.	Click on the [image] button in the toolbar or select Disc Info and Tools from the CD-Recorder menu.

3.	Select the Disc Info and Tools tab. If necessary, click on the Refresh button to view information about the disc.

4.	Select the track(s) to copy from the list at the bottom of the Disc Info and Tools tab.

5.	Click on the Read Track button. (This button will be grayed out if your recorder does not support reading the selected type of track.)


To Compare a Track on CD with its Original Real ISO Image on Hard Disk

1.	Select the track you want to compare from the list of tracks, and click on Compare Track. This dialog box will appear:

2.	Locate the real ISO image file on hard disk to compare with the track on CD, and click Compare. A progress bar will be displayed.

3.	If differences are found, you will see a message saying “Verify failed at sector _____.”


To Close a Session

If your disc contains an open sessionSession with one or more tracksTrack in it, you may click on the Close Session button in the Disc Info and Tools tab to close the session. It is necessary to close a session to read the data in it or, in the case of audio discs, to play the audio.


To Recover a Track

Note: Not supported for all CD recorders!

If the selected track is damaged, you can click Recover to repair it.


The Read Error Dialog Box

If there are problems reading a track, this dialog box will appear:

Your options are:

n	Retry: ???

n	Restart Track: Use this option to attempt reading the track again from its beginning.

n	Skip Track: Use this option to skip reading this track. If you had selected other tracks to be read, Easy-CD Pro 95 will attempt to read the next selected track.

n	Abort All: Use this option to abort the Read Track operation.


Retry the Read Track operation from the point where the error occured. For an audio track, this might mean you would hear a click in the track at that point when playing it back. To avoid this, use the Restart Track option instead.


Use this option to attempt reading the track again from its beginning.


Use this option to skip reading this track. If you had selected other tracks to be read, Easy-CD Pro 95 will attempt to read the next selected track.


Use this option to abort the Read Track operation.


How to Make Backup Copies of CDs

WARNING: It is illegal and unethical to duplicate copyrighted CDs for any reason other than personal use, unless you happen to be the copyright owner.  Incat products are not intended for this purpose, and we discourage any Incat customer from doing so.  Incat takes no responsibility for any illegal use of this product by our customers.

If you are creating a disc for sale or commercial distribution, and you use material that has been created and/or copyrighted by someone else, make sure that you have the legal right to use and sell it!

n	If you want to copy an audio disc, you will need a CD-ROM drive capable of reading CD-DA audio in digital format. Please read “About Copying CD-DA Tracks from Disc.”

n	Any kind of disc copy requires a SCSI CD-ROM drive as the source drive.

1.	Launch Easy-CD Pro 95.

2.	Select New from the File menu or [image] from the toolbar.

3.	Select “CD Copy” in the CD Type dialog box and click on OK.

4.	Set recording properties in the General tab.

5.	Open the Disc Copy tab. A list of SCSI devices available on your system will be shown under “Source device.” (Your CD recorder is not included in this list because it is the target device.)

6.	Select the source device you want to copy from and mount your source CD in it.

7.	Click the Refresh button to read the source disc. The information displayed under “Media” will depend on the type of  disc you are copying.

8.	Insert a blank CD in the CD recorder.

9.	Click on [image] in the toolbar or select Write! from the CD-Recorder menu.

10.	A progress dialog box will keep you informed. If the source disc has more than one track, progress will be shown for each track in turn.


Problems in Reading "Recordable CDs
Problems in Reading Recordable CDs

If you have successfully completed a writing session but have problems reading the CD you wrote, there are a number of possible reasons:

n	If the disc can be read on the CD recorder but not on a normal CD-ROM drive, check in Disc Info and Tools to ensure that the session containing the data you just wrote is closed. CD-ROM drives cannot read data from a session which is not closed.

n	If your disc is ejected or an error message is reported in reading it, or you have random problems accessing files from it, the problem may be that your CD-ROM drive is not well calibrated to read recordable discs.

n	If you recorded the disc using the “DOS filenames” option in the File Names tab, but there are nonetheless difficulties in reading back the disc on DOS or Windows 3.1 system, it may be that the version of MSCDEX on that system is an older one with a known bug.

Multisession Discs

n	Can you see only data recorded in the first session on the disc? If so, it may be that you recorded the disc in CD-ROM (Mode 1) format, while your multisession CD-ROM drive only recognizes CD-ROM XA (Mode 2) multisession discs.

n	…or it may be that your CD-ROM drive is not multisession at all.

n	Can you see only data recorded in the last session? If so, you probably forgot to link your new data with data previously recorded on the disc by selecting a track in the Load Contents tab before recording.


CD-ROM Drive Incompatibility with Recordable CDs

It sometimes happens that you write a disc apparently without trouble, and can even read it on your CD recorder, but when you put it in a normal CD-ROM drive, the disc is ejected, or you get error messages such as “no CD-ROM” or “not ready reading,” or you have random problems accessing some files or the entire disc. You may find that the problems vanish completely when reading the disc on another CD-ROM drive.

Unfortunately, there are compatibility problems with some CD-ROM drives, especially older ones, and CD-Recordable discs. Some CD-ROM drives’ lasers were not calibrated to read recordable discs, whose surface is different from that of factory-pressed discs. If your CD-ROM drive reads mass-produced (silver) CDs but not recordable CDs, check with the CD-ROM drive manufacturer to determine whether this is the problem. In some cases an upgrade is available which will resolve the problem.

The combination of disc brand and CD recorder can make a difference. Check with your recorder’s manufacturer for a list of discs which they have certified for use with their recorder. (We do not attempt to provide such a list here, because CD-R media, like every other part of the industry, is constantly changing and improving.)


MSCDEX Errors

Versions of MSCDEX prior to 2.23 had a problem in dealing with filenames which contain illegal characters. If a directory contains a filename with an illegal character in it, you will be able to see all the files by doing a DIR from DOS, and even open the illegally-named file. But any files listed after that one may not be accessible or may give errors. MSCDEX 2.23 appears to have fixed this bug. A similar problem has been reported with a third-party MSCDEX-type extension as well.


How to Write an Audio Disc
Three Ways to Make an Audio Disc

There are three basic ways to make an audio disc:

1.	Copy an existing disc from start to finish. Use the CD Copy function for this.

2.	Make a new “collection” disc using tracks from one or more audio disc.

3.	Create a disc from Wave files stored on hard disk.

You can also make a disc which combines tracks copied from CD and tracks stored on hard disk as Wave files.


What is an Audio Disc?

An audio disc is a compact disc containing digital audio tracks recorded in the CD-DA format. It may contain up to 99 tracks, each usually representing a separate piece of music.

The Compact Disc-Digital Audio standard was jointly developed by Philips and Sony; it is the worldwide standard to which all digital audio CDs and audio CD players adhere. CD-DA requires sound files to be written at a frequency of 44.1 kHz and a sample size of 16 bits; this results in a storage size of approximately 10 megabytes of memory per minute. CD-DA discs can be played back from a stereo CD player, or from a CD-ROM drive through speakers or headphones attached to the drive’s output jack.


About Copying CD-DA Tracks from Disc

WARNING: If you are creating a disc for sale or commercial distribution, and you use audio material that has been created and copyrighted by someone else, make sure that you have the legal right to use and sell it!

Not all CD-ROM drives are capable of reading CD-DA tracks in digital format. Follow all the steps described; you will be warned if your CD-ROM drive cannot read digital audio tracks.

If this is the case, check the CD-Recorder tab in Disc Info and Tools to see whether your CD recorder can read CD-DA tracks. If so, you can copy your audio tracks from your CD recorder to hard disk as Wave files, and then record them to CD.


How to Make an Audio Collection Disc from CD-DA Tracks on Disc

1. 	Read “About Copying CD-DA Tracks from Disc.”

2. 	Launch Easy-CD Pro 95.

3.	Select New from the File menu or [image] from the toolbar.

4.	Select “CD-DA” in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

5.	Set recording properties in the General tab.

6.	Click on the Audio Tracks tab to open the empty Audio Tracks list.

7.	Insert the first source audio disc into your source CD-ROM drive. Windows’ CD Player will automatically start playing the disc. You can use the CD Player’s Edit Play List function to enter add author, title, and track names for the disc. This information is stored in your system, and the disc will automatically be recognized every time you put it back in your drive. Note: It is important to enter the author and/or title so that you will know which disc to insert when Easy-CD Pro 95 prompts you during recording!

8.	Select the track(s) you wish to add to your compilation. Drag them from the Windows Explorer or desktop window into the Easy-CD Pro 95 track list. The author, disc title, and track title will be displayed in the track list.

You can also add Wave files to the list.

9.	Tracks are recorded in the order shown in the Audio Tracks list. You can use the [image] and [image] buttons to rearrange them if necessary.

10.	Insert a recordable CD into your CD recorder.

11.	Click on the [image] button in the toolbar, or select Write! from the CD-Recorder menu. A dialog box will display a list of the source discs that will be needed for recording.

12.	Click on OK. You will be prompted to insert the first source disc. When all the tracks from this disc have been written to CD, you will be prompted for the next disc, and so on, until writing is completed.


How to Make an Audio Disc from Wave Files

1.	Prepare the Wave files you wish to record.

2.	Launch Easy-CD Pro 95.

3.	Select New from the File menu or [image] from the toolbar.

4.	Select “CD-DA” in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

5.	Set recording properties in the General tab.

6.	Click on the Audio Tracks tab to open the empty track list.

7.	Drag and drop the Wave files you want to write to disc from the Windows Explorer into the Audio Tracks list. You can also add to the list CD-DA tracks from audio discs.

8.	Tracks are recorded in the order shown in the list. You can use the [image] and [image] buttons to rearrange them if necessary.

9.	Insert a recordable CD into your CD recorder.

10.	Click on [image] in the toolbar, or select Write! from the CD-Recorder menu.

11.	If your list includes CD-DA tracks from audio discs, a dialog box will display a list of the source discs that will be needed for recording.

12.	Click on OK. You will be prompted to insert the first source disc. When all the tracks from this disc have been written to CD, you will be prompted for the next disc, and so on, until writing is completed.


Preparing Wave Files for Recording

Audio files to be recorded to a CD-DA disc must be 44.1 kHz 16-bit stereo Wave files. If you have Wave files recorded at other frequencies or sample sizes, such as 22 kHz/16-bit or 11 kHz/8-bit, you must use a sound utility to convert them. Wave files shorter than four seconds long will be padded with silence to the minimum four seconds.

If your CD recorder supports it, you can use the Read Track function in Medium Info to grab CD-DA audio tracks from existing CDs.


About Gaps Between Tracks

Tracks on a CD are preceded by a pre-gap and sometimes followed by a post-gap. These are not to be confused with the link blocks written in Track-at-Once recording!

The post-gap at the end of a track is 150 sectors (two seconds) long and is required only where successive tracks are of different types (e.g., a data track followed by an audio track within the same session, as in a mixed-mode disc). However, because many disc replicators expect a post-gap at the end of every track and may erroneously strip out data sectors if they do not find one, Easy-CD Pro 95 records a two-second post-gap after every data track.

The length of the pre-gap varies with the CD recorder and the types of tracks. Where successive tracks both contain data, one track is separated from another by a pre-gap of 150 sectors (two seconds). Where successive tracks are of different types, the pre-gap is usually 225 sectors (three seconds). If two successive tracks are audio, there may be no pre-gap at all.

When recording Disc-at-Once, Easy-CD Pro 95 puts a gap of 150 sectors between two data tracks (if they are the same mode, e.g. CD-ROM XA Form 1), 225 sectors if the mode is different (e.g., CD-ROM XA Form 1 and Form 2), 150 sectors between data and audio, and no pre-gap between audio tracks.


What is a Mixed-Mode Disc?

A mixed-mode disc is a compact disc containing data (in CD-ROM or CD-ROM XA format) in the first track and audio data (CD-DA) in one or more subsequent tracks. (For a complete description of CD-DA, see How to Write an Audio Disc.)

Mixed-mode discs can be used to create multimedia applications with sound that can be played back from any CD-ROM drive (through headphones or external speakers), regardless of the sound capabilities of the computer used to run the application. Because they are standard CD-DA tracks, the sound tracks on a mixed-mode disc can also be played on home CD players.

In a mixed-mode application, sound is accessed by commands which instruct the CD-ROM player to play the desired bit of sound, usually addressed in terms of start and stop time from the beginning of the audio track. The authoring program which you use to create your multimedia application will do this for you. When the authoring process is finished, you should have a set of executable and data files to put into the ISO 9660 track, and one or more audio files to be recorded as CD-DA tracks.


How to Write a Mixed-Mode Disc Using a File List

1.	Prepare the audio tracks you wish to record. These can be Wave files (44.1 kHz 16-bit stereo), or CD-DA tracks on CD.

2.	Launch Easy-CD Pro 95.

3.	Select New from the File menu or [image] from the toolbar.

4.	Select “Mixed-Mode CD” in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

5.	Set recording properties in the General tab.

6.	Set filename options for your data files in the File Names tab.

7.	Fill in any desired Volume Descriptors in the Volume Info tab.

8.	Click on the Data Track  tab to open the empty file list.

9.	Drag and drop into the file list the files/folders you want to write to disc. You can drag them from the Windows Explorer or any other desktop window.

10.	Click on the Audio Tracks tab to open the empty track list.

11.	Drag and drop into the list the audio files you want to write to disc; these can be Wave files stored on hard disk, CD-DA tracks from existing CDs, or a combination. You can drag them from the Windows Explorer or any other desktop window.

12.	Insert a recordable CD into your CD recorder.

13.	Click on [image] in the toolbar, or select Write! from the CD-Recorder menu.

14.	If your list includes CD-DA tracks from audio discs, a dialog box will display a list of the source discs that will be needed for recording.

15.	Click on OK. You will be prompted to insert the first source disc. When all the tracks from this disc have been written to CD, you will be prompted for the next disc, and so on, until writing is completed.


Preparing the Real ISO Image

1.	If you prefer to write the data portion of the disc from a real ISO image, first prepare the ISO image as follows:

2.	Launch Easy-CD Pro 95.

3.	Select New from the File menu or click [image] in the toolbar.

4.	Select “CD-ROM” in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

5.	In the General tab, select “Write real ISO image only to”.

6.	Click on the ISO File button to open a standard Save As dialog box in which you can set the location and name under which the ISO file is to be saved. This file will require as much space on hard disk as the total amount of data which will be written to CD. If there is not enough space on the selected hard disk, you will be warned before writing begins.

7.	Set filename options in the File Names tab.

8.	Fill in any desired Volume Descriptors in the Volume Info tab.

9.	Click on the Data Track tab to open the empty file list.

10.	Construct and arrange your file list.

11.	Click on the [image] button in the toolbar, or select Write! from the CD-Recorder menu.

12.	You will see a progress dialog box as your real ISO image is written to hard disk.


Preparing and Writing the Disc

1.	When the ISO track has been written to hard disk, select New from the File menu or [image] from the toolbar.

2.	Select “Mixed-Mode CD” in the CD Type dialog. Click the check box for “Write data track from a real ISO image on hard disk,” and click on OK.

3.	Set recording properties in the General tab.

4.	In the Image File tab, select the .ISO file you just wrote to hard disk. You can use the Browse button to locate it and the Detect button to automatically set the Session Type for the track in the General tab. Information about the track is given in the lower part of the Image File tab.

5.	Click on the Audio Tracks tab to open the track list.

6.	Drag and drop into the list the audio files you want to write to disc; these can be Wave files stored on hard disk, CD-DA tracks from existing CDs, or a combination. You can drag them from the Windows Explorer or any other desktop window.

7.	Insert a recordable CD into your CD recorder.

8.	Click on the [image] button in the toolbar, or select Write! from the CD-Recorder menu.

9.	If your list includes CD-DA tracks from audio discs, a dialog box will display a list of the source discs that will be needed for recording.

10.	Click on OK. You will be prompted to insert the first source disc. When all the tracks from this disc have been written to CD, you will be prompted for the next disc, and so on, until writing is completed.


Adding files to CD image...

Easy-CD Pro 95 is in the process of creating the virtual CD image, a database which tracks where your files are on hard disk, and where they will be written on CD.


Buffer underrun at sector (filename).
Buffer underrun at sector  ____. Ensure that the flow of data from hard disk to CD recorder is not being interrupted by other software, network accesses, or thermal calibration of your hard disk.

The flow of data to the CD recorder must be extremely regular so that its working buffer is never empty when it prepares to write a block of information to disc. This message indicates that for some reason the flow of data from hard disk to CD recorder has been interrupted. Also ensure that no screen savers or other TSR utilities are active which might momentarily interrupt operations, and that your working hard disk cannot be accessed via network.

The CD recorder’s position in the SCSI chain or the length of cabling between the computer and CD recorder may also cause data slow-downs; try connecting the CD recorder as the first peripheral in the SCSI chain, and keep the cable short.


Error reading the Table of Contents (TOC) or Program Memory Area (PMA) from the CD.
Error reading the Table of Contents (TOC) or Program Memory Area (PMA) from the CD. You should NOT try to write to this disc.

This disc has serious problems, perhaps from damage in a previous write. You should not try to write to it.


Generating  ISO 9660 image file...

“Write on the fly” is DEselected or “Write real ISO image” is selected.


Loading file from previous track...
Loading files from previous track to make linked multisession....

This message appears when you have chosen to make a linked multisession disc. During this process the file system information is being loaded from the track you chose in the Load Contents tab so that it can be linked with the new files which will now be recorded.


SCSI initialization failed. In order to run this program you must have WNASPI32.DLL installed and started.
SCSI initialization failed. In order to run this program under Windows NT, you must have WNASPI32.DLL installed and started.

If you are using Easy-CD Pro 95 under Windows NT, you must have installed and started WNASPI32.DLL. This should have been installed automatically when you install Easy-CD Pro 95; if the problem persists, try reinstalling the software.


The current CD already contains a closed audio session. If you continue you may have problems to reading the last audio
The current CD already contains a closed audio session. If you continue you may have problems to reading the last audio session on some CD audio players. Continue anyway?

Under the Red Book standard for audio CDs, all audio tracks must be written in a single session. If you add audio tracks in more than one session, playback results will be unpredictable. Most CD-ROM drives will play back all audio tracks on a disc even if they are recorded in several sessions. Most CD players will only play the tracks in the first session.


The current CD already contains tracks and or sessions that are incompatible with the requested operation.

This error appears if you are trying to add data in a different format to a disc which already contains data.


The current CD contains a session that is not closed. Close the session before writing further data to the disc.

CD-ROM drives can only read back one data track per session, so you do not want to record another data track in an open session.


The currently selected source CD-ROM drive or CD recorder cannot read audio in digital format.

Reading audio tracks in digital format is NOT the same as being able to play the music. Few CD-ROM drives can read audio tracks in digital format.


The destination CD is smaller than the source.

There is not enough room on the recordable CD to copy the source CD.


The selected CD track is longer than the image file.

The verify fails immediately because the source ISO 9660 image and the ISO 9660 track on disc are not identical sizes.


The selected CD track is shorter than the image file.

The verify fails immediately because the source ISO 9660 image and the ISO 9660 track on disc are not identical sizes.


The source image file was not prepared for the current CD. Write anyway ?
The selected ISO image file was not prepared for the current CD. Write anyway ? (This is not likely to produce a readable disc!)?

This error occurs if you had prepared the ISO image file for a blank CD and are now trying to record it to a CD containing data, or vice-versa. In either case you would write a disc that cannot be read at all because the disc addresses calculated for the ISO image are wrong for this disc!


File Open

The following options allow you to specify which file to open:

File Name

Type or select the filename you want to open. This box lists files with the extension you select in the List Files of Type box.

List Files of Type

Select the type of file you want to open.

Drives

Select the drive in which Easy-CD Pro 95 stores the file that you want to open.

Directories

Select the directory in which Easy-CD Pro 95 stores the file that you want to open.

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter.


File Save As

The following options allow you to specify the name and location of the file you're about to save:

File Name

Type a new filename to save a document with a different name. A filename can contain up to eight characters and an extension of up to three characters.

Drives

Select the drive in which you want to store the document.

Directories

Select the directory in which you want to store the document.

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter.


File 1, 2, 3, 4 command
1, 2, 3, 4

Use the numbers and filenames listed at the bottom of the File menu to open the last four ECD projects you closed. Choose the number that corresponds with the document you want to open.


Help Topics

Use this command to display the opening screen of Help. From the opening screen, you can jump to step-by-step instructions for using Easy-CD Pro 95 and various types of reference information.

Once you open Help, you can click the Contents button whenever you want to return to the opening screen.


How to Use Help

Use this command for instructions about using Help.


About

Use this command to display the copyright notice and version number of your copy of Easy-CD Pro 95.


Help Using Help Command
Context Help

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of Easy-CD Pro 95. When you choose the Toolbar's Context Help button, the mouse pointer will change to an arrow and question mark. Then click somewhere in the Easy-CD Pro 95 window, such as another Toolbar button. The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+F1


Size

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can size the active window with the arrow keys.

After the pointer changes to the four-headed arrow:

1.	Press one of the DIRECTION keys (left, right, up, or down arrow key) to move the pointer to the border you want to move.

2.	Press a DIRECTION key to move the border.

3.	Press ENTER when the window is the size you want.

Note: This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Drag the size bars at the corners or edges of the window.


Move

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can move the active window or dialog box with the arrow keys.

Note: This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F7


System Minimize Command
Minimize

Use this command to reduce the Easy-CD Pro 95 window to an icon.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the minimize icon on the title bar.

Keys:	ALT+F9


Maximize

Use this command to enlarge the active window to fill the available space.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the maximize icon on the title bar; or double-click the title bar.

Keys:	CTRL+F10 enlarges a document window.


Close

Use this command to close the active window or dialog box.

Double-clicking a Control-menu box is the same as choosing the Close command.

Note: If you have multiple windows open for a single document, the Close command on the document Control menu closes only one window at a time. You can close all windows at once with the Close command on the File menu.

Shortcuts

Keys: 	CTRL+F4 closes a document window

ALT+F4 closes the Easy-CD Pro 95 window


Restore

Use this command to return the active window to its size and position before you chose the Maximize or Minimize command.


Switch to

Use this command to display a list of all open applications. Use this "Task List" to switch to or close an application on the list.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+ESC

Dialog Box Options

When you choose the Switch To command, you will be presented with a dialog box with the following options:

Task List

Select the application you want to switch to or close.

Switch To

Makes the selected application active.

End Task

Closes the selected application.

Cancel

Closes the Task List box.

Cascade

Arranges open applications so they overlap and you can see each title bar. This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Tile

Arranges open applications into windows that do not overlap. This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Arrange Icons

Arranges the icons of all minimized applications across the bottom of the screen.


No Help Available

No help is available for this area of the window.


No Help Available

No help is available for this message box.