What is a CD?

A compact disc is simply a place to store digital information; you can think of it as a very large, write-protected floppy disk.

So why can't you just copy files to a CD the way you copy them to a floppy? There are several reasons:

•	Because of the way CD-Recordable technology is currently used, it’s a good idea to write a (fairly) large amount of information to CD all at once rather than a few files at a time -- a great deal of overhead space is lost on disc each time you write a set of data, no matter how large or small the amount.

•	This writing is a "real-time" process that cannot be slowed down or interrupted.

•	Files are written to CD-ROM in a special logical format called ISO 9660. Current operating systems such as Windows 95 cannot write ISO 9660 directly; they need some intervening software to do the job for them.


What Kind of Information Can I Put on a CD?

The simple rule of thumb is: whatever you have stored as a file on any other storage media (for example, a hard disk or a floppy disk) can also be stored as a file on a CD-ROM. It rarely matters what kind of data is in the file.

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.


How Much Information Can a CD Hold?

Due to the audio origin of CDs, disc capacity is measured in minutes:seconds:sectors. Each second contains 75 sectors, each of which can hold 2048 bytes (2 kilobytes) of user data. Recordable CDs come in 21- (80 mm diameter), 63-, and 74-minute sizes (both 120 mm diameter), which can contain the following amounts of data:

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

 And subtract...

 Why do some recordable discs appear to hold more data?


And Subtract...

There are several factors that you must subtract for when calculating the total amount of data that you can fit on a CD:

•	Session Lead-In and Lead-Out The first lead-in and lead-out on a disc are not usually taken into consideration when calculating space available on disc; they are outside the usable disc area. If you make a multisession disc, you will need to consider the space used for subsequent lead-ins and lead-outs.

•	Logical Block Size


Logical Block Size

Files usually occupy a bit more space on CD than they did on hard disk. This is because the smallest recordable unit on a compact disc is the sector, which is 2048 bytes (2 kilobytes) in size. No single sector can contain more than one file. So if the size of your file is not an exact multiple of 2048 bytes, some space will be left over in the last sector it is recorded in, and the next file will be recorded starting from the beginning of the following sector. This usually does not add up to a significant amount of wasted space, unless you are writing a very large number of files smaller than 2 kilobytes.


Why Do Some Recordable CDs Appear to Hold More Data?

Some disc manufacturers advertise CD capacities of 700 megabytes or more, which seem larger than the capacities we told you about in "How Much Information Can a CD Hold? " How is this possible? They are probably calculating the number of bytes which are stored on a CD when it is recorded in CD-DA (audio) format.

The number of bytes of user data you can record in a sector depends on the type of data you're writing. For CD-ROM data it's 2048 bytes (2 kilobytes) as we showed you before; for audio it's 2352 bytes (to understand why this is, see "CD Physical Sector Layouts").

74 min x (60 sec) x (75 sectors) x (2352 bytes) = 783,216,000 bytes = 764,859 kilobytes

= 747 megabytes


How Many Files Can I Put on a CD?

The ISO 9660 standard does not limit the number of files you can put on CD, nor does Easy-CD Pro. But there are practical limits But there are practical limits to the number of files that you should include in one directory and will then be able to read back quickly. As a rule of thumb, it's best to organize large numbers of files by spreading them among many directories. Otherwise your user may end up waiting several minutes just for a directory to load from CD.


CD Physical Sector Layouts

This shows the formats of the physical sectors in which different kinds of CDs 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 in real life)

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 picture shows part of the compact disc family, combining physical formats (how many bytes of user data are written per sector) with logical formats. Move your cursor over the picture; wherever the cursor becomes a pointing hand you can click for more information.


Making Sure Your System is Ready for CD-Writing

Writing data to recordable CD is a complex process which demands a great deal from hardware and software. You don't need to worry about most of this complexity, but you should be aware of a few factors which can influence the success of the operation.

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

Format/Mode	Required transfer rate at:
(user data bytes/sector)	1x	2x
CD-ROM Data (2048)	150 kilobytes/ second	300 kilobytes/ second
CD-ROM XA Data (2336)	171 kilobytes/ second	344 kilobytes/ second
CD-DA Audio (2352)	172 kilobytes/ second	344 kilobytes/ second

Your entire computer system, as well as the type and amount of data you are writing, also influences the CD recorder's ability to maintain the required speed.


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 writing many small files, your 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 writing, so ensure that your system does not load any utilities which may periodically or otherwise interrupt operations. Screen savers, alarms or reminders, and incoming faxes will fatally interrupt 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

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 (most new hard disks sold today are faster than this).


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 the flow of data to slow down, possibly fatally. Defragment your hard disk regularly (from the Start button in the Taskbar, select Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter).

Note:

There is no such thing as fragmentation on an ISO 9660 CD (in any current implementation of the ISO 9660 standard). ISO 9660 Interchange Levels 1 and 2 require that a file be written in a single piece, from start to finish, then the next file written, and so on.


Hard Disk: Thermal Calibration

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

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


The CD-Writer: Writing Speed
The CD Recorder: Writing Speed

The standard speed at which audio CDs are played back is 75 sectors per second. The first generation of CD recorders wrote at this standard speed, also known as "1x." Your CD recorder can also record at 2x speed, or twice the standard speed.

Writing speed refers only to how fast data is inscribed onto the CD’s surface. It has nothing to do with how fast you read it back, or how much data you can fit on the CD. Writing at 2x does not mean that you can only read it back on a 2x CD-ROM drive!

To put it another way: writing a CD at 2x  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 CD 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 CD recorder.

In order to write to CD on-the-fly, Easy-CD Pro 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 CD recorder. Finding and opening files is often the more time-consuming part of the process, which is 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. If data does not arrive quickly enough from your computer to keep at least some data in the buffer, a buffer underrun error occurs and writing is halted.


The CD-Writer: Environment
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 CD recorder on your desktop is writing can cause errors which ruin the CD.

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


The Right CDs for Your CD-Writer
The Right CDs for Your CD Recorder

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. It is safest to use a brand of CDs which has been tested and recommended by your CD recorder manufacturer.


Kodak Photo CD and Other Special-Purpose Discs

Kodak Photo CD discs are designed to be written only with Kodak Photo CD professional workstations. These discs have a protection bit which prevents them from being written on your CD recorder (you will get an error message if you try). Other special-purpose discs are now becoming available, and some of these may 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:

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

•	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 writing surface. Handle discs carefully to avoid scratching them, especially on the label side.

•	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.

•	Don't put labels on discs unless they are expressly designed for recordable CDs. There are two reasons for this: the glue may eat 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 writing to it again. Never try to remove a label -- you might tear off the lacquer and some of the reflecting surface.

•	Store and ship CDs in their jewel cases or other containers. Don't stack them together; sometimes they stick to each other and parts of the reflective surface may peel off.


Turning Off Auto Insert Notification for Your Source CD-ROM Drive
Turning Off Auto Insert Notification

Auto Insert Notification is a feature of Windows 95 which causes audio CDs and some data CDs to be automatically recognized and played as soon as they are inserted into a CD-ROM drive. Unfortunately, it can interfere with CD writing, so it's best to turn it off before any writing operation.

Note:

You should do this for every CD unit on your SCSI bus, including the CD recorder itself!

1	Right-click the My Computer icon on the desktop.

2	Select Properties from the popup menu. The System Properties dialog box opens.

3	Click the Device Manager tab.

4	Click the plus sign next to the CD-ROM icon until you see the name of your CD drive. Select it.

5	Click on the Properties button. The Properties dialog box for your CD drive will open.

6	Click on the Settings tab.

7	Deselect Auto insert notification.

8	Restart your system as prompted.


What is an Audio CD?

An audio disc is a compact disc containing audio tracks recorded in the CD-DA format. It may contain up to 99 tracks, each usually representing a separate piece of music. Audio discs can be played back from a home, car, or portable CD player, or from a CD-ROM drive through speakers or headphones attached to the drive’s output jack.


Overview of Steps in Writing an Audio CD

NOTICE:

Easy-CD Pro is designed to assist you in reproducing material in which you own the copyright or have obtained permission to copy from the copyright owner. Unless you own the copyright or have permission to copy from the copyright owner, you may be violating copyright law and be subject to payment of damages and other remedies. If you are uncertain about your rights you should contact your legal advisor.

1	Prepare the tracks you will want to record to CD.

2	Build an Audio Tracks list.

3	Write the Audio Tracks list to CD.

Tip:

To copy an entire audio disc from start to finish, use the CD Copy function.


Preparing Audio Tracks for Writing

You can write audio tracks from Wave files stored on hard disk, from tracks on an existing CD, or both. A little advance preparation is required for both types of tracks.

•	Preparing Wave files.

•	Preparing tracks on an audio CD.


Preparing Wave Files to Write to an Audio CD

Wave files to be written to an audio CD can be stored on your hard disk at 11, 22, or 44  kHz; 16 or 8 bits, mono or stereo. Where necessary, they will be converted to the standard for CD-DA (44 kHz, 16-bits, stereo) before being written to CD.

Note:

You can use the Read Track function to copy audio tracks from an audio CD in your CD recorder to hard disk in the correct Wave format.


Preparing Audio Tracks on a CD to Write to Another CD

You can use the CD-Deck’s Disc Titling function to register the author, disc title, and track title information for the CD(s) you will be copying tracks from. This is useful for two reasons:

•	When it’s time to record, Easy-CD Pro will prompt you to insert the disc by its title.

•	The information you enter here can be used to print a sleeve for the CD.

Steps

1	Insert the audio disc from which you will be copying tracks into the CD writer or a CD-ROM drive attached to your system.

2	Click on [image] to open the CD-Deck.

3	Click on the [image] to open the Disc Titling window.

4	Type name of the artist and the title of the CD into the appropriate text boxes.

5	Select a track from the scrolling Track List.

6	Type the track’s name into the Track Name text box below.

7	Click on Set Name to set the name for that track.

8	When you have set all the track names you wish, click on OK to exit the dialog box and save the information.

Note:

This CD information is stored in the CDPLAYER.INI file in your \WINDOWS directory. Any CD information you register using the Windows CD Player is also available to Easy-CD Pro.


Building an Audio Tracks List

1	Select File, New  or click on [image] in the toolbar.

2	Select Audio CD in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

3	The Audio Tracks tab is shown. You now have two options:

Add Wave files stored on hard disk to the Audio Tracks list, and/or

Add Audio Tracks from other CDs to the Audio Tracks list.


The CD-Deck Toolbar

Click	To
	Play the disc or compilation (Audio Tracks list) from the currently selected track.
	Pause audio play. Click on the button again to resume play.
	Stop audio play.
	Return to the beginning of the current track. Click on the button repeatedly to skip backwards in the track list.
	"Rewind" during audio play.
	"Fast forward" during audio play.
	Skip to the beginning of the next track.Click on the button repeatedly to skip forward in the track list.
	Eject the disc from the drive.
	Open the Disc Titles dialog box where you can set names for the disc, artist, and individual tracks.


Using the CD-Deck to Play Back an Audio Tracks List

When you have created an Audio Tracks list, you can use the CD-Deck to play it back before actually writing to CD.

1	With the CD project open, select [image] from the toolbar or Edit, CD-Deck. The CD-Deck opens.

2	Select Compilation in the Source area of the CD-Deck.

3	If your compilation includes tracks from one or more audio CDs, also select the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive you want to play back from.

4	Click on [image] to begin playing the compilation.

 The CD-Deck toolbar


Adding Wave Files to the Audio Tracks List

1	Open the Windows Explorer.

2	Select the desired Wave files in the window. You can use Windows’ standard keyboard shortcuts to select multiple files.

3	While still holding the mouse button down, drag the selected files over to the Audio Tracks tab.

4	Release the mouse button to drop the selected files into the Audio Tracks tab.

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


Adding Audio Tracks from Other CDs to the Audio Tracks List

1	Click on the [image] button in the toolbar to open the CD-Deck.

2	Insert your source audio CD into the CD recorder or another CD-ROM drive.

3	In the Source area of the CD-Deck, select the drive letter of the drive where you have mounted the audio disc.

4	If you have not already done so, you can use the Disc Titling function to register the artist, disc, and song titles for this disc.

5	Select a track you want to write to CD from the Track drop-down box.

6	Click on the Add Track button. The track name will now be shown in the Audio Tracks list.

7	Select and add any other tracks that you wish to copy from this CD. If you wish to add tracks from a different CD, click on the [image] button in the CD-Deck to eject the current disc, mount the new one, and proceed as above.

8	When you have added all desired tracks to the Audio Tracks list, click on the [image] button in the upper right corner of the CD-Deck to close it.


Writing Your Audio Tracks List to CD

There are three ways to write audio tracks:

•	From Wave files on hard disk to a recordable CD in your CD recorder. Note: This is the only way you can write a disc in Disc-at-Once mode.

•	From an audio CD in another CD-ROM drive to a recordable CD in your CD recorder. This is the most efficient method for copying tracks from existing CDs, but it requires a source CD-ROM drive which supports Digital Audio Extraction.

•	From an audio CD in your CD recorder to a recordable CD in your CD recorder. If you do not have a CD-ROM drive which supports Digital Audio Extraction, you can copy tracks from CD using your CD recorder. In this case you will need enough hard disk space free to hold the largest single track you intend to copy (calculate about 10 MB per minute of audio).

It is also possible to combine writing from Wave files on hard disk with copying audio tracks on CD from your CD recorder or from another CD-ROM drive.


General Tab Settings for Audio Writing

•	Writing Speed

•	Test before writing

•	Start writing if test completes OK

•	Session Type

•	Close Disc

•	Disc-at-Once


Writing Audio Tracks from Wave Files on Hard Disk to the CD-Writer
Writing Audio Tracks from Wave Files on Hard Disk to the CD Recorder

1	Insert a blank recordable CD into your CD recorder.

2	Set CD-writing parameters in the General tab.

3	Click on [image] in the toolbar, or select CD-Writer, Write!

4	If one or more of your Wave files are not recorded at 44.1 kHz, 16-bits, stereo, you will see a message “Converting.” This means that the file is being converted to the proper standard to prepare it for recording to disc as a CD-DA track.


Writing Audio Tracks from a CD-ROM Drive to the CD-Writer
Writing Audio Tracks from a CD-ROM Drive to the CD Recorder

Note:

This requires a source CD-ROM drive capable of digital audio extraction.

1	Insert a blank recordable CD into your CD recorder.

2	Set CD-writing parameters in the General tab.

3	Click on [image] in the toolbar, or select CD-Writer, Write!

4	A dialog box will display a list of the source discs that will be needed for writing; in the lower half of the dialog box, select the CD-ROM drive as the Source from which you wish to copy audio tracks.

5	Click on OK. You will be prompted to insert the first source disc into your source CD-ROM drive.

6	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. (Any Wave files on hard disk included in your audio tracks list are recorded automatically.)


Writing Audio Tracks from the CD-Writer to the CD-Writer
Writing Audio Tracks from the CD Recorder to the CD Recorder

1	Insert a blank recordable CD into your CD recorder.

2	Set CD-writing parameters in the General tab.

3	Click on [image] in the toolbar, or select CD-Writer, Write!

4	A dialog box will display a list of the source discs that will be needed for writing; in the lower half of the dialog box, select your CD recorder as the Source from which you wish to copy audio tracks.

5	Click on OK. You will be prompted to insert the first source disc into the CD recorder.

6	The first audio track will be copied to the temporary drive you set in the General tab. When this is completed, you will be prompted to insert your target recordable CD into the CD recorder.

7	The first audio track will be written from hard disk to the recordable CD. When this is completed, the track will be erased from hard disk, and you will be prompted to insert the source audio CD back into the CD recorder to copy the next track, and so on.


Session Type:for an Audio CD
Session Type for an Audio CD

When you create an audio project, you have two options under Session Type in the General tab:

•	Audio

•	Leave Open

Select Audio if you wish to complete this audio CD in one sitting and close the session so that the disc can be played back immediately on a normal CD player.

Select Leave Open if you do not want to completely write an audio CD in one sitting. In this way you will be able to add more audio tracks to the CD at another time.

However, you will not be able to play the CD back on a normal CD player until the session is closed. Most CD-ROM drives will correctly play back an audio CD even if the session is not yet closed.


What is a Data CD-ROM?
What is a Data CD?

A data CD, usually known as a CD-ROM, is simply a compact disc used to store computer data. It is usually written in the ISO 9660 logical file format. Any kind of data which can be stored as a file on hard disk or other storage media can also be stored on a CD.


Steps in Writing a Data CD

1	Select File, New or [image] from the toolbar.

2	Select CD-ROM in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

3	Set the Writing Parameters and CD Format in the General tab.

4	Set filename options in the File Names tab.

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

6	Click on the Data Track tab to open it.

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

8	Save the CD project.

9	Insert a recordable CD into your CD recorder.

10	Click on [image] in the toolbar, or select CD-Writer, Write!


What Can I Copy Files From?

You can drag and drop files and folders into the Data Track 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 for CD writing. If you need to write data from a slow device, you can create the Data Track list using files from any source, and deselect the Write on the fly option in the General tab.


Creating a File List in the Data Track Tab

 What can I copy files from?

If you add entire folders to the Data Track list, 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 option in the File Names tab.

WARNING!

If your Data Track list includes identically-named directories from two different sources (e.g., two different hard disks), the two directories will be merged on CD. If there are identically-named files in the two different directories, the files arriving later (those further down in the Data Track list) will be recorded.

 Selecting multiple items in Windows Explorer


Selecting Multiple Items in Windows Explorer or File Manager
Selecting Multiple Items in Windows Explorer

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

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

Tip:

When you use either of these methods to select multiple items in Windows 95 Explorer and copy them to a Data Track or Audio Tracks list, the item at the top of the list will be the last one on which your cursor was focused before you activated the Easy-CD Pro window.

To keep files in the order in which you view them in the Explorer, ensure that you select from bottom to top, so that the topmost file in your selection is chosen last.


Arranging Files in the Data Track or Audio Tracks List

•	Items added to the Data Track or Audio Tracks 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.

•	Files and folders in the Data Track list are recorded to CD in the order shown. If your Data Track list contains folders, files within those folders will be recorded in alphabetical order.

•	By default, files and folders are recorded to CD with the same directory structure that they have on hard disk. If you wish to record them to CD in a different directory, use the Reparenting function.

•	Audio tracks in the Audio Track list are recorded in the order shown.

•	You can use the [image] and [image] buttons to rearrange items in a list.


Deleting Items from the Data Track or Audio Tracks List

You can delete any item from a Data Track or Audio Tracks 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 Data Track list does not affect the original items on your hard disk.

1	Select the item(s) to delete in the list.

2	Click on [image] in the toolbar or select Edit, Delete.

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


Files to Exclude
Excluding Files from the Data Track List

The file list you build in the Data Track tab can include individual files or entire folders, or any combination. If your 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 files or certain types of files from writing, use the Files to Exclude window at the bottom of the File Names tab. You can type in wildcards (with or without full or partial paths) or specific filenames (with full paths) as shown in the examples in the window.


Writing Files to CD with a Custom Directory Structure

By default, files and folders are recorded to CD with the directory structure (path) shown under the Name column in the Data Track tab; this is the same path that they had on hard disk. If you wish to record files to CD with a different path, use the Reparenting function:

1	Click on to open the Data Track tab.

2	Resize the Easy-CD Pro window so that you can see the Destination column at the right side of the window.

3	Select the item(s) whose paths you want to change. You can use Windows' standard multiple selection commands to select more than one item.

4	Select Edit, Reparenting. A dialog box opens.

5	If all the items you selected have the same original path, this path will be shown in the dialog box, and you can edit it. If the selected items have different paths, simply type in the desired destination path. If you leave the box blank or put in a single " \ ", all the selected items will be placed in the root of the CD.


Writing Parameters

In this section of the General tab you may make the following CD writing settings:

•	Temporary directory

•	Write real ISO image only to

•	Writing speed

•	Write on the fly

•	Test before writing

•	Start writing if test completes OK


Temporary Directory

Enter the path of a temporary folder where Easy-CD Pro can store its temporary files (and a temporary 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.

Your temporary directory must be set to a physical volume with at least 10 MB of space free, more if you will be working with very large numbers of files (e.g., > 50,000 files).

Furthermore, if you deselect Write on the fly, you will need as much free space in the temporary directory as your entire set of data will occupy on CD (check the Total Size in the Data Track tab).


Write Real ISO Image Only to Hard Disk

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?

•	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.

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

•	If you have a strong need to verify data after it has been written to CD. Easy-CD Pro’s Compare Track functionly 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 writing, 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. This ISO image is deleted after writing is completed.


Writing Speed

Select the desired writing speed.


Speed Test

Click on 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 is a low-level test which 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.

You can stop testing at any time by click oning the Cancel button in the progress dialog box.

When testing is completed, a dialog box appears to report the results.

If your system does not pass the Speed Test, it will definitely not be able to keep up with writing on the fly. However, even if the Test results are positive, you should still select Test before writing to ensure that the data can also be passed to the CD recorder fast enough.


Write On the Fly

(Available only when writing files from a Data Track list.)

In writing on the fly, Easy-CD Pro consults the Data Track list and records the files in the list directly to CD, without first creating a real ISO image on hard disk.

 Why writing on the fly may cause buffer underruns.


Why Writing on the Fly May Cause Buffer Underruns

Writing on the fly demands a fast and steady flow of data from your hard disk through your system to the CD recorder. This is because CD writing is a real-time process: writing 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.

 NOT writing on the fly as a cure for buffer underruns.


NOT Writing on the Fly

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

There are two drawbacks to this method:

•	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.)

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


Test Before Writing

Performs a real test in which the files to be recorded are 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 writing will be successful.

1	The test is performed at the selected Writing Speed. If the test fails (usually due to a buffer underrun), Easy-CD Pro will try again at a lower speed (if there is one), until it finds a speed at which writing will be successful. If writing fails even at the lowest possible speed, Easy-CD Pro will give up and report back to you.

2	After a test is completed, the CD recorder will open and close its tray, or may eject its caddy. This is normal, and is necessary to clear the CD recorder’s memory after a test. If your CD recorder uses a caddy and ejects it (unavoidable with some models), you will need to reinsert it manually after the test!

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

 Aborting a test


Aborting a Test

If a Test before writing proceeds smoothly long enough that you are certain you will be able to complete the entire write without problems, you can click on Cancel to interrupt the test. A dialog box will appear asking if you want to proceed imediately with writing.

If you abort a test before it ends, it is important to make sure that no applications are running which might be using any of the files in the Data Track list! This would cause a "sharing violation" error and a buffer underrun during an actual write.


Start Writing if Test Completes OK
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:

•	Immediately

•	10 seconds

•	30 seconds

•	60 seconds

•	Do not start

When a test is successfully completed, a dialog box will open saying "The currently selected recording speed is OK. Proceed with writing?"

The start time of the countdown at the bottom of the dialog box will depend on the setting you made. If you had selected "Do not start," there is no countdown, and the dialog box remains open until you click on Yes or No.


CD Format

Click on for details:

•	Session Type

•	Close Disc

•	Disc-at-Once


Session Type

Set the physical format of the session you will write. (In some cases it is set automatically.) The options are:

•	CD-ROM

•	CD-ROM XA

•	CD-DA

 Session Type for an Audio CD

Note:

The selection you should make here when writing data may depend on whether you intend later to make the disc multisession. See CD-ROM vs. CD-ROM XA Multisession Discs for details.


Close Disc Command

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. However, it is recommended if you are creating a master disc for replication. If Easy-CD Pro detects that there will not be enough space on disc to close another session after the current one, it automatically closes the disc.


Disc-at-Once Command

Write and close a disc in one operation, without turning the writing laser on and off between tracks. Requires a blank disc. Supported only for audio.

It is not possible to record an audio disc in Disc-at-Once mode if the tracks come from more than one source (e.g., more than one audio CD, or a combination of Wave tracks on hard disk and an audio CD).

Note:

If you record in Disc-at-Once mode, there will automatically be NO gap of silence between tracks.


File Naming Options

The File Names tab offers the following options:

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

•	DOS filenames (8+3)

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

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

In all cases Easy-CD Pro will write a standard ISO 9660 disc. However, these options support different ISO 9660 Interchange Levels, and not all of them can be read on all computer platforms. Please read the individual descriptions for details.


ISO 9660 Level 1 Filenames

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 Interchange Level 1 restrictions.

 Compatibility

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.


ISO 9660 Filenames Compatibility

Discs using ISO 9660 Level 1 filenames can be read on any computer platform which supports ISO 9660 (most systems have built-in support for ISO 9660; Macintosh systems prior to 7.5 require a Foreign File Access extension to read ISO 9660 discs).


DOS Filenames

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 MOM.DOC might become LETTER~1DOC.

If you select the DOS names only option, only these DOS names will be used in writing the files to disc -- the long filenames are not recorded to disc.

 Compatibility


DOS Filenames Compatibility

Discs using DOS filenames can be read on any computer platform which supports ISO 9660 (most systems have built-in support for ISO 9660; Macintosh systems prior to 7.5 require a Foreign File Access extension to read ISO 9660 discs).


Joliet Filenames

WARNING:

Versions of Windows NT up to 3.51 build 1057 do NOT read the long filenames on Joliet discs. Windows NT 4.0 does support Joliet.

If you select the Joliet option, filenames up to 64 characters long will be allowed.

 Compatibility


Joliet Filenames Compatibility

As of this writing (04/06/96),the long filenames on Joliet discs can be read only on Windows 95 systems. Joliet will reportedly be supported by Windows NT version 4.0. If you are using other systems, the DOS-style (8 + 3) filenames are also written, so these discs can also be read on DOS systems.


Romeo Filenames

Romeo allows you to write to disc filenames up to 128 characters long, including spaces. This is not part of the Joliet standard, and the Unicode character set is not supported. If read under DOS or Windows 3.1, file and directory names will appear truncated to 8+3. (However, if two or more filenames become identical when truncated, you will probably be able to see only the first.) Romeo long filenames can be read on Windows 95 and NT 3.51 systems. (Our testing shows that Romeo can also be read on NT 4.0, but this version of NT is still in beta, so this could change!) Romeo discs can be read on Macintosh systems if the filenames are not longer than 31 characters.

When you select this option, your disc can include filenames up to 128 characters long. File and directory names are automatically converted to uppercase for maximum compatibility with NT 3.51 and DOS.

 Compatibility


Romeo Filenames Compatibility

Readable on Windows 95 and NT systems, and on Macintosh systems if filenames are no longer than 31 characters. NOT readable on DOS or Windows 3.1.


MSCDEX and File Naming

MSCDEX, the system extension used to read CD-ROMs in DOS and Windows 31, 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.


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 the Compliant Naming dialog box will appear showing the original filename and a suggested substitute filename. Your options are:

Click on	To
Yes	Accept the suggested substitute name, or edit the substitute name. You can also edit the substitute name before you accept it by click oning Yes.
Yes to All	Accept this suggested name, and for all other illegally-named files to be renamed automatically without further prompting. Some things to keep in mind when using this option: Because the set of d-characters is smaller than the character set available for file naming under DOS, when Easy-CD Pro 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. 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.
Cancel	Stop the entire writing operation.


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.

1	Open the Volume Info tab.

2	Fill in any Volume Descriptors you desire; the characters you will be allowed to use depend on the settings you made in the File Names tab. If you had selected ISO 9660 Level 1, the restrictions shown here apply:

Volume Descriptor	Explanation
Volume Name	The name of the Volume.  Maximum: 32 d-characters
System Name	The operating system under which the application will run. 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. 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. Maximum: 8.3 d-characters.
Abstract File Name	Records the name of a file stored in the root directory which describes the work. Maximum: 8.3 d-characters.
Bibliographic File Name	Refers to a file, stored in any directory, containing bibliographic information such as an ISBN number. Maximum: 8.3 d-characters.
Publisher’s Name	Identifies the publisher of the disc. Maximum 128 a-characters allowed.
Data Preparer’s Name	Records the name of author of the content of the disc. Maximum 128 a-characters allowed.
Application Name	Records the name under which the application is known, if any. Maximum 128 a-characters allowed.
Dates	May be filled in in this format: year, month, day; hour, min, sec.


Saving the ECD Project
Saving the CD Project

Click on [image] in the toolbar or select File, Save.

A CD project includes all the settings you have made for this writing session, all the Data Track or Audio Tracks list, and the data and settings you have made in the Sleeve tab. When you re-open the project, you will find everything set up exactly as it was before.

If you wish to use the same writing settings for a different Data Track or Audio Tracks list, you can open the project with the desired settings, select File, Save As, 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 tray will open (or its caddy may be ejected, if it uses one), 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 saying "Closing session." This will take a few more minutes.

6	When writing is completed, the tray will open or the caddy will eject, and you will see a "Write successfully completed" message.

7	You can use the Sleeve tab to create and print a sleeve for your CD showing the list of files and directories recorded..


What is a Multisession CD?

A multisession disc is an ISO 9660 disc to which data is added incrementally in more than one writing session, allowing you to add and "update" files and directories.


Uses for Multisession CDs

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.


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. When you 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 files recorded in previous sessions are shown as if they were part of the last session.

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) in a new session the disc. The link to the previous version of the file is lost (but all previous versions of a file can be recovered at any time using the CD File History function).


How to Write a Multisession CD

Note:

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).

1	To write the first session, follow the instructions for writing a data CD. Be sure you do not select the Close Disc option in the General tab.

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

3	When you are ready to add another session, insert the disc into your CD recorder and launch Easy-CD Pro.

4	If you wish to rewrite the same set of data (for example, if you regularly back up the same set of files), you can open the project you originally wrote to the CD by selecting Open in the opening screen of Easy-CD Pro. Otherwise, select File, New and then, Multisession CD-ROM in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

5	Set Writing Parameters and the CD Format in the General tab. (You will not be allowed to mix CD-ROM and CD-ROM XA sessions on the same disc.)

6	Open the Load Contents tab.

7	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.

8	If you have recorded more than one session 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 the track to load box and select the desired track in the list that will appear below.

9	Set filename options in the File Names tab.

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

11	Click on to open the Data Track tab.

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

13	Click on [image] in the toolbar, or select CD-Writer, Write!


CD File History

Because recordable CD is a write-once medium, it is not physically possible to overwrite or delete files already on the disc. Therefore, no matter how many times you "overwrite" old files with new versions in subsequent write sessions, all the previous versions are still on disc and can be retrieved at any time using the CD File History function.

1	Insert the CD into your CD recorder.

2	Select CD-Writer, CD File History. A standard Windows 95 Select dialog box opens.

3	Browse your hard disk to find the current version of the file whose previous versions you want to locate. Highlight it and click on the Select button.

4	Easy-CD Pro will scan the CD for occurrences of the same file, with the same path.

5	The CD File History dialog box will display all the occurrences of that file on the CD, showing the number, Session name, date, and time of the session(s) in which it is found, and the date, time, and size of each occurrence found.

6	If you wish to copy one of the found occurrences of the file back to hard disk, click on Copy.


Why Would You Want to?

When people say multimedia, they usually mean the combination of text, graphics, and sound in an interactive application such as a game or presentation. There are many ways to achieve this, and any of several CD formats can be used, depending on what system you want the disc to play back on.

If you are creating an application to run from a computer with a standard CD-ROM drive, the easiest way to ensure that everyone will be able to hear the sound is to record it to disc in the standard CD-DA format (the same one used for audio CDs). Headphones or external speakers will be needed in order to hear it, but at least the end user doesn’t have to worry about installing and configuring a sound card.

Because the audio tracks are recorded in CD-DA format, they can also be played back on a home or car stereo, independent of the application they are associated with. When the application is running on a computer, sound is accessed by commands which instruct the CD-ROM player to play the desired bit of sound.

How to Do It

You will need an authoring program to combine text, graphics,and sound into a multimedia application. When the authoring process is finished, you should have a set of executable and data files to put into the Data Track tab, and one or more audio files to be recorded as CD-DA tracks. You then have a choice of two methods for combining data and CD-DA audio on a CD:

•	Mixed-mode

•	CD Extra


Mixed-Mode Defined

The classic mixed-mode CD contains computer data (in the CD-ROM format) in the first track, followed by one or more tracks of CD-DA audio, in a single session. A mixed-mode disc can be read back by any CD-ROM drive.

However, there is a problem with the classic mixed-mode disc: the data in Track 1 can also be played back (accidentally or otherwise) by most home CD audio players, with disastrous results -- the data is played as a very loud and grating noise, loud enough in some cases to blow out speakers, not to mention your ears. Some CD players detect a data track and either skip or mute it, but most do not. Many CD publishers who have been interested in the possibilities of adding multimedia to a standard music CD have been deterred by this problem. A solution is in sight, however: CD Extra.


CD Extra Defined

CD Extra (formerly known as CD Plus or Enhanced CD) is a simple solution whose workability is based on the fact that most of the current generation of CD-ROM players support multisession.

A CD Extra disc contains two sessions. The first session contains up to 98 audio tracks, the second contains a data track written in CD-ROM XA format.

A home or car CD audio player plays the tracks in the first session, but will never read beyond the first session, so the data track is never played.

A multisession CD-ROM drive, however, by default reads the last session a disc, so it finds the data track. The application in the data track can then be used to play back the sound.

Some additional features of CD Extra are defined under the new Blue Book standard. However, these features are not necessary to create a disc which performs as described above on multisession CD-ROM drives.


How to Write a Mixed-Mode CD

There are two methods for making a mixed-mode disc:

•	Write the data on the fly from a data track list.

•	Write the data from a real ISO image.


How to Write a Mixed-Mode CD on the Fly

1	Prepare the data portion of your disc. You will usually do this with an authoring software application outside of Easy-CD Pro.

2	Prepare your audio tracks.

3	Select File, New or click on [image] in the toolbar.

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

5	Set Writing Parameters and the CD Format in the General tab.

6	Set filename options in the File Names tab.

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

8	Click to open the Data Track tab.

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

10	Click to open the Audio Tracks tab.

11	Drag and drop into the Audio Tracks tab the audio files you want to write to disc; 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 CD-Writer, Write!


How to Write a Mixed-Mode CD Using a Real ISO Image

1	Prepare the data portion of your disc. You will usually do this with an authoring software application outside of Easy-CD Pro.

2	Prepare your audio tracks.

3	Select File, New or click on [image] in the toolbar.

4	Select Mixed-Mode CD from an image in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

5	Set Writing Parameters and the CD Format in the General tab.

6	Click to open the Image File 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.

7	Click to open the Audio Tracks tab.

8	Drag and drop into the Audio Tracks tab the audio files you want to write to disc; you can drag them from the Windows Explorer or any other desktop window.

9	Insert a recordable CD into your CD recorder.

10	Click on [image] in the toolbar, or select CD-Writer, Write!


How to Write a CD Extra Disc

There are two methods for making a CD Extra disc:

•	Write the data on the fly from a data track list.

•	Write the audio tracks using the Audio CD function in the CD Type dialog box, then write the the data Track from a real ISO image.


How to Write a CD Extra on the Fly

1	Prepare the data portion of your disc. You will usually do this with an authoring software application outside of Easy-CD Pro.

2	Prepare your audio tracks.

3	Select File, New or click on [image] in the toolbar.

4	Select CD Extra in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

5	Set Writing Parameters and the CD Format in the General tab.

6	Set filename options in the File Names tab.

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

8	Click to open the Data Track tab.

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

10	Click to open the Audio Tracks tab.

11	Drag and drop into the Audio Tracks tab the audio files you want to write to disc; 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 CD-Writer, Write!


How to Write a CD Extra Using a Real ISO Image

1	Prepare your audio tracks.

2	Select File, New or click on [image] in the toolbar.

3	Select Audio CD in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

4	Set Writing Parameters and the CD Format in the General tab.

5	Click to open the Audio Tracks tab.

6	Drag and drop into the Audio Tracks tab the audio files you want to write to disc; 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 [image] in the toolbar, or select CD-Writer, Write!

9	Prepare the data portion of your disc. You will usually do this with an authoring software application outside of Easy-CD Pro.

10	Make a real ISO image of this data.

11	Select File, New.

12	In the CD Type dialog box, click to open the Image File 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.

13	Click on [image] in the toolbar, or select CD-Writer, Write!


About Copying CDs

Due to technical limitations of CD-ROM drives and CD recorders, not every kind of disc can be copied perfectly. Problems can arise both from the source CD-ROM drive used and from the CD to be copied.

We strongly recommend that you always set test before writing when copying discs, however, it is possible to copy some types of discs without error messages, yet be unable to use them.

Type of Disc	Notes
Audio	Requires a source CD-ROM drive capable of reading audio digitally. Relatively few drives support this. (Easy-CD Pro will test your drive to determine its capabilities when the source disc is inserted.) Caveat: This release of Easy-CD Pro does not support copying audio discs in Disc-at-Once mode. This means that two seconds of gap (silence) will be inserted between tracks.
Mixed-Mode	Mixed results. Some discs copy perfectly, others do not, possibly due to formatting designed to circumvent copying.
Photo CD	Requires a source CD-ROM drive capable of reading CD-ROM XA. Most current CD-ROM drives do support this.
Video CD	Requires a source CD-ROM drive capable of reading CD-ROM XA. Most current drives support this.


Source CD-ROM Drives for Copying

In order to copy directly from a source disc in a CD-ROM drive to a recordable disc in the CD recorder, you must have a SCSI 2 CD-ROM drive to use as your source (see the drive’s manual for more information).

However, not all SCSI 2 drives are equal. When you select your source CD-ROM drive in the Disc Copy tab and insert a CD into it, Easy-CD Pro performs a test of both the drive and the disc in order to determine whether the selected drive can successfully read the selected disc. If not, an error message will be displayed.

Copying Audio and Mixed-Mode

Although most CD-ROM drives can play back music from an audio disc, not all are capable of digital audio extraction. When you insert an audio disc into your CD-ROM drive and select the Disc Copy tab, Easy-CD Pro will test to see whether your drive can copy the disc.


Steps in Copying CDs

1	Select File, New  or [image] from the toolbar.

2	Select CD Copy in the CD Type dialog box and click on OK.

3	Set Writing Parameters in the General tab. (CD Format settings will be made automatically.)

4	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.)

5	Click on the name of the source device you want to copy from; information about the device will appear under Unit Info.

6	Insert your source CD in the source drive.

7	Click the Refresh button (if necessary) to read the source disc. Easy-CD Pro will examine the disc and determine whether your source CD-ROM drive can copy it, and will display information about the disc under Media.

8	Insert a blank CD into the CD recorder.

9	Click on [image] in the toolbar or select CD-Writer, Write!

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.


Making a Real ISO 9660 Image from Files on Hard Disk

1	Select File, New or [image] from the toolbar.

2	Select CD-ROM in the CD Type dialog and click onOK.

3	Set filename options in the File Names tab.

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

5	Click onthe Data Track tab to open the empty Data Track list.

6	Drag and drop into the Data Track list the files/folders you want to write to disc. You can drag them from the Windows Explorer or any other desktop window. See Creating a Data Track list for details.

7	Select Write Real ISO image only to in the General tab.

8	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. The file will be saved with the extension .iso.

9	Click on [image] in the toolbar or select CD-Writer, Write! You will see a progress dialog box as your data is saved to hard disk.

10	To record the real ISO image to CD, following the instructions in How to Write a Real ISO Image to CD.


Copying an ISO 9660 Image from an Existing CD

You can use the Read Track function in Disc Info to copy a data track from CD as a real ISO image to hard disk.


Writing a Real ISO 9660 Image to CD

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

1	Select File, New  or click on the [image] button in the toolbar.

2	Select CD from an image in the CD Type dialog and click on OK.

3	Set Writing Parameters in the General tab.

4	In the Image File 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.

5	Click on [image] in the toolbar, or select CD-Writer, Write!


The CD-Writer Tab

The CD-Writer tab gives information about the technical specifications and reading and writing capabilites of your CD recorder.

Item in the Tab	Explanation
Product ID	The model number of the CD recorder.
Vendor	The CD recorder manufacturer’s name.
Firmware Rev.	The firmware revision of the CD recorder.
Buffer	The size of the CD recorder’s buffer.
SCSI Address	The SCSI ID, Logical Unit Number, and Host Adapter number.
Read Capabilities
Mode	The disc formats which the CD recorder is capable of reading (copying) to hard disk.
Speeds	The speeds at which the CD recorder can read data.
UPC and ISRC	Shows whether the CD recorder is capable of reading UPC and ISRC codes.
Barcode	Shows whether the CD recorder is capable of reading barcodes.
Write Capabilities
Mode	Lists the disc formats which your CD recorder can write to CD.
Speeds	Lists the speed(s) at which the CD recorder can write to CD.
Speed Test	Shows whether the CD recorder can Test before writing.
Track-at-Once	Shows whether the CD recorder can record in Track-at-Once mode.
Disc-at-Once	Shows whether the CD recorder can record in Disc-at-Once mode.
UPC and ISRC	Shows whether the CD recorder is capable of writing UPC and ISRC codes.


The Disc Info and Tools Tab

Disc Info and Tools can be used to examine any disc, recordable or commercially-produced, inserted in the CD recorder. The following information is given:

Item in the Tab	Explanation
Disc Type	Possible types include: • Audio • CD-ROM with first track in Mode 1 • CD-ROM XA with first track in Mode 2 • CD-I
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.
Tracks	The total number of tracks on disc.
Recordability	Possibilities include: • Blank • Gold recordable. • Silver or closed gold.
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.
Total Sectors	The total number of sectors on disc.
UPC	Reports the thirteen-digit UPC (Universal Product Code), if any, for the disc.
Barcode
Disc Table of Contents	This box gives detailed information about the tracks and sessions recorded on the disc.
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.
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.
Mode	Possibilities include: • CD-ROM (Mode 1) • CD-ROM XA (Mode 2) • Audio
Address	Sector starting address of the track.
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.


Disc Tools

The following functions are available in the Disc Info and Tools tab:

•	Read Track

•	Track Info

•	Compare Track

•	Close Session


Read Track

To read a track means to copy it (from a disc in the CD recorder) to hard disk. A data track copied from CD is saved on hard disk as an ISO 9660 disc image with the extension .iso. An audio track copied from CD is saved as a Wave file with the extension .wav.

Procedure:

1	Insert the disc you wish to copy from into the CD recorder.

2	Click on the [image] button in the toolbar or select CD-Writer, Disc Info and Tools.

3	Select the Disc Info and Tools tab. If necessary, click on the Refresh button to view information about the disc you have just mounted in the CD recorder.

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

5	Click on the Read Track button.

6	If there are problems in reading the track, the Read Error dialog box will open.


The Track Info Dialog Box

Item in the Tab	Explanation
Data Content	The type of data recorded in the track. Possibilities include: • Red Book Audio • ISO 9660
Volume Name	Gives the ISO 9660 Volume Name, if any, of a data track.
Creation Date	The Creation Date of the data track, if any is recorded in its ISO 9660 Volume Descriptors.
Status	Possible values are: • Complete • Damaged • Incomplete
Copy Permitted	If "yes" is shown, it means that 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.)
4 Channels	Set for audio which requires four-speaker playback.
Pre-emphasis	If "yes" is shown, this track was recorded with pre-emphasis.
ISRC	The ISRC code, if any, recorded for the track.


Compare Track: Procedure
Compare Track

This function can be used for verification, by comparing a source real ISO image on hard disk with the same ISO image written to CD.

Steps:

1	Insert the disc you wish to compare a track from into the CD recorder.

2	Click on the [image] button in the toolbar or select CD-Writer, Disc Info and Tools.

3	Select the Disc Info and Tools tab. If necessary, click on the Refresh button to view information about the disc you have just mounted in the CD recorder.

4	Select the track you want to compare from the list of tracks in the scroll box, and click on Compare Track. The Compare Track dialog opens.

5	Use the Browse button to locate the real ISO image file on hard disk to compare with the track on CD.

6	Click Compare. A progress bar will be displayed as the comparison is made.

7	If differences are found, you will see a message saying "Verify failed at sector _____."


The Compare Track Dialog Box

Compare track... (track on CD)

Item	Explanation
Number	The sequential number on disc of the track selected for comparison.
Data Content	The type of data recorded in the track. Possibilities include: • Red Book Audio • ISO 9660
Volume Name	Gives the ISO 9660 Volume Name, if any, of a data track.
Creation Date	The Creation Date of the data track, if any is recorded in its ISO 9660 Volume Descriptors.
Size	The size in sectors of the track selected for comparison.
Speed	• Auto: Audio tracks will be compared at 1x speed, data tracks at the maximum read speed of your CD recorder. • nx: Set the desired speed for this track comparison.
with track image file...

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

After the real ISO image is located, the following information is displayed:

Data Content	The type of data recorded in the track. Possibilities include: • Red Book Audio • ISO 9660
Volume Name	Gives the ISO 960 Volume Name, if any, of a data track.
Creation Date	The Creation Date of the data track, if any is recorded in its ISO 9660 Volume Descriptors.
Size	The size in sectors of the track selected for comparison.
If any of these factors do not match with those reported for the track on CD in the upper part of the dialog box, you know immediately that the comparison will fail because the tracks are not the same.


Close Session Command

If your disc contains an open session with one or more tracks 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, in a normal CD-ROM drive. You can read data or play audio from an open session in your CD recorder.


The Read Error Dialog Box

If there are problems reading a track, a dialog box will appear offering the following options:

Click	To
Retry	Try again to read the track from the point where the error occurred. If you are reading an audio track, this may cause an audible click in the track when it is played from hard disk or re-recorded to CD! To avoid this, use the Restart Track option instead.
Restart Track	Try reading the track again from its beginning.
Skip Track	Skip reading this track. If you had selected other tracks to be read, Easy-CD Pro will attempt to read the next selected track.
Abort All	Abort the Read Track operation.


Introduction

You can use Easy-CD Pro to create and print a cover and tray insert to identify your disc. Several different cover styles are available, which can be further personalized with a logo, background art, and your choice of fonts.

The cover is printed on one side of a sheet of paper and then folded. One side contains a list (of files or tracks); the other side will contain a title, and may also contain part of the list or a logo image, depending on the style you choose

The tray insert is cut and folded to fit into the bottom of the jewel case so that the disc’s title can also be seen along the edges of the jewel case. The back of the disc may repeat the track/data list, or may show a logo image.

For images you can use bitmaps in any size and number of colors; what you can actually print will depend, of course, on the capabilities of your printer.


Options in the Sleeve Tab

•	Title

•	Font

•	List

•	Graphics

•	Styles


Title for a CD Sleeve

Write the title for your CD here. Keep in mind that the amount of text which will fit comfortably will depend on the font you choose.


Font Settings for a CD Sleeve

You can make font settings for both the Title and the List.

Click on the Font button to open a standard Windows Font dialog box.

Here you can set:

•	Font (from all the fonts available on your system)

•	Font style (regular, italic, bold, bold italic)

•	Size

•	Effects

•	Color


List for a CD Sleeve

•	Audio

•	Data

•	Custom

(Different combinations of these radio buttons will be available, depending on the type of disc whose cover you are creating.)


Audio List Options

•	Include Artist: The name of the artist will be included for each track.

•	Include CD Title: The title of the source CD will be included for each track.


Data List Options

•	Current: Include only the current files and directories in the list.

•	All tracks: Include all files and directories on the CD in the list.


Making a Custom List

You can either type in your custom text from scratch,

-- or --

1	Select the Data or Audio radio button to show the default list text in the scroll box.

2	Click and drag with the mouse to select the text you will want to use as part of your custom list.

3	Click the right mouse button. A popup menu will appear.

4	Select Copy from the popup menu to copy the selected text to the Windows clipboard.

5	Select the Custom radio button. An empty, white text box will appear.

6	Place the cursor in the text box.

7	Click the right mouse button. A popup menu will appear.

8	Select Paste from the popup menu to copy the text you had selected into your new Custom list.

9	Make any desired editing changes or additions to the list.


Graphics for a CD Sleeve

You can use any BMP file.

•	Bitmap: The logo will be shown once on the front panel and (optionally) on the back panel, depending on your choice of style. Its position also varies with the style. You can type in the complete path and name of the graphics file you wish to use, or click on the Browse button to open a standard Windows Open dialog box in which you can find and select it.

•	Background


Background for a CD Sleeve

You have three choices for the background of your CD cover:

•	None

•	Color: click on the Color button to open a standard Windows color palette)

•	Tile bitmap: The graphic you choose here will be repeated as many times as possible to completely cover the page. You can type in the complete path and name of the graphics file you wish to use, or click on the Browse button to open a standard Windows Open dialog box in which you can find and select it.


Styles for a CD Sleeve

As you select each style in turn, its basic layout is shown in the image below. To see what your cover is really going to look like, select File, Print Preview.

•	Print borders: Print borders so that you can easily cut the paper to fit in the jewel case.

•	Print folding lines: Print dashed folding lines so that you can easily fold the paper to fit in the jewel case.


Easy-CD Wizard Command

To open the Easy-CD Wizard, which guides you through making a basic data or audio CD.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + F,


New Command

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

An CD project includes all the settings you have made for your writing session, as well as all the files listed under the Data Track or Audio Track tabs. When you re-open an CD project, you will find everything set up exactly as it was before.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + F, N

Hotkeys: CTRL + N


Open Command

To open an existing CD project. 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 CD project 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 ECD; you cannot open any other type of file using this command.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + F, O

Hotkeys: CTRL + O


Save Command

To save the open CD project at its current name and location. When you save an CD 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.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + F, S

Hotkey: Ctrl S


Save As Command

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

Shortcut

Keys: ALT + F, A


Print Setup Command

Set up the printer on which you will print the cover sleeve and tray insert for your CD.

Shortcuts

Keys: ALT + F, R


Print Command

Print the cover sleeve and tray insert for your CD.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + F, P


Print Preview Command

Preview the cover sleeve and tray insert for your CD before printing.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + F, V


1, 2, 3, 4 Command

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


Exit Command

Use this command to end your Easy-CD Pro session. You can also use the Close command on the application Control menu. Easy-CD Pro prompts you to save your CD project if it has changed since you last saved it.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the title bar.

Keys: ALT+F4


Select CD-Writer Command

When you launch Easy-CD Pro your CD recorder will automatically be recognized and installed. If you have more than one CD recorder, 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.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + C, S


Disc Info and Tools Command

Opens the Disc Info and Tools and CD-Writer tabs.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + C, I


Eject/Tray Command

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

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + C, E


CD File History Command

Search a CD for any and all versions of a file.

Shortcuts

Keys: ALT + C, F


Write! Command

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

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + C, W

Hotkey: Ctrl W


Paste Command

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 to insert the items into the Data Track or Audio Tracks list.


Delete Command

Delete selected files/folders from the list.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + E, D


Delete All Command

Delete all items from the list.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + E, A


Move Up Command

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

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + E, M


Move Down Command

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

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + E, O


Reparenting Command

By default, files and folders are recorded to CD with the directory structure (path) shown under the Name column in the Data Track tab, which is the exact path of the source files/folders on hard disk.

You can use the Reparenting function to record files to CD with a different path.

Shortcuts

Keys: ALT + E, E


Refresh Totals Command

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

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + E, R


CD Deck Command

Click to open the CD Deck, which can be used to:

•	register the artist’s name, title, and song titles for a disc

•	play a disc

•	play the open Audio Tracks list

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + E,


Toolbar Command

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

See toolbar for help on using the toolbar.

Shortcut

Keys: ALT + V, T


About the Toolbar

The toolbar is displayed across the top of the application window, below the menu bar. The toolbar provides quick mouse access to many tools used in Easy-CD Pro,

To hide or display the toolbar, choose toolbar from the View menu (ALT, V, T).

Click	To
	Start the Easy-CD Wizard, which will guide you through the steps of making a data or audio CD.
	Start a new CD writing project.
	Open a CD project. Easy-CD Pro displays the Open dialog box in which you can locate and open the desired file.
	Save the active CD project with its current name. If you have not named the CD project, Easy-CD Pro displays the Save As dialog box.
{bmc printbut.bmp)	Print the cover sleeve and tray insert you have created in the Sleeve tab for your CD.
	Preview the cover sleeve and tray insert you have created in the Sleeve tab for your CD before printing.
	When you launch Easy-CD Pro, if your CD recorder is powered on and connected it will automatically be recognized and installed. If you have more than one CD recorder, 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.
	Opens the Disc Info and Tools and CD-Writer tabs.
	Open the CD recorder’s tray or eject its caddy.
	Begin writing (a test may be performed first, depending on settings in the General tab).
	Delete selected files/folders from the list.
	Delete all items from the list.
	Move the selected item up one place in the Audio Tracks or Data Track list.
	Move the selected item down one place in the Audio Tracks or Data Track list.
	Refresh the total on the amount of data in the Data Track list when you add or remove items.
	Open the CD Deck. The CD Deck can be used to assign disc and song titles and artist names to your source discs. It can also be used to play tracks, discs, and compilation lists.
	Display the opening screen of Help.
	Activate context-sensitive help.


Status Bar Command

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, and keyboard latch state. A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Status Bar is displayed.

See Status Bar for help on using the status bar.

Shortcut

Keys: ALT + V, S


About the Status Bar

The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the Easy-CD Pro window. To display or hide the status bar, use the Status Bar command in the View menu.

The left area of the status bar describes actions of menu items as you use the arrow keys to navigate through menus. This area similarly shows messages that describe the actions of toolbar buttons as you depress them, before releasing them. If after viewing the description of the toolbar button command you wish not to execute the command, then release the mouse button while the pointer is off the toolbar button.


Help Topics Command

Opens help for Easy-CD Pro.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: ALT + H, H


How to Use Help Command

Provides information on how to use Windows 95 help.

Shortcut

Keys: ALT + H, U


About Easy-CD Pro Command

Opens the About dialog box for Easy-CD Pro.

Shortcut

Keys: ALT + H, A


Context Help Command

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of Easy-CD Pro. 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 window, such as another toolbar button. The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the [image] button in the toolbar.

Keys: SHIFT+F1


Title Bar

The title bar is located along the top of a window. It contains the name of the application and CD project.

To move the window, drag the title bar. Note: You can also move dialog boxes by dragging their title bars.


Scroll Bars

May be displayed at the right and bottom edges of the Data Track and Audio Tracks tabs. The scroll boxes inside the scroll bars indicate your vertical and horizontal location in the tab. You can use the mouse to scroll to other parts of the tab.


Size Command (System Menu)

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 Command (Control Menu)

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 Command (Application Control Menu)

Use this command to reduce the Easy-CD Pro window to a button in the Taskbar.

Shortcuts

Mouse: Click the minimize icon [image] on the title bar.

Keys: ALT+F9


Maximize Command (System Menu)

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

Shortcut

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


Close Command (Control Menu)

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.

Shortcut

Keys: 	ALT+F4 closes the Easy-CD Pro window


Restore Command (Control Menu)

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

Shortcut

Mouse: Click the Restore icon [image] on the title bar.


No Help Available

No help is available for this area of the window.


No Help Available

No help is available for this message box.


Startup Screen

Click on one of the following buttons:

•	Easy-CD Wizard: to open the Easy-CD Wizard, which will guide you through the steps of making a basic data or audio CD.

•	New: to start a new CD project directly in the Easy-CD Pro window without using the Wizard.

•	Open: to open a CD project you had previously saved.


The General Tab

In this tab you can set Writing Parameters and the disc format you wish to write.


The Image File Tab

The Image File tab is available when you choose CD from an image in the CD Type dialog box.

Browse

Select the real ISO image  file you wish to record by typing its full path and name into the text box, or you can use the Browse button to find the file.

Image File Info

When a file has been selected, the following information about it is given under Image file info:

•	The type of data recorded in the track.

•	Gives the ISO 9660 Volume Name, if any, of a data track.

•	The ISO 9660 Creation Date of the data track.

Refresh

Click 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.


The File Names Tab

Use to set file naming options for your disc and to exclude certain files from being written to disc.


The Load Contents Tab

Use to load file system information from a session previously written on a disc in order create a linked multisession disc.


The CD Type Dialog Box

In this opening dialog box, choose the type of disc you want to write:

•	Multisession CD-ROM

•	CD-ROM

•	Audio CD

•	CD Copy

•	Mixed-Mode CD

•	Mixed-Mode CD from an image

•	CD Extra


The Disc Copy Tab

The Disc Copy tab is available when you choose CD Copy from the CD Type dialog box. You can use it to make a backup copy of almost any type of CD.


The Data Track Tab

Drag and drop the files and/or directories that you want to write to CD from the Windows Explorer into this window.


The Audio Tracks Tab

Drag and drop the Wave files or audio tracks from CD that you want to write to CD from the Windows Explorer into this window.


Can I Record Macintosh Files?

Not from a Windows system. All Mac files are made up of two parts, the Data Fork and the Resource Fork, which have identical names. The Resource Fork contains things like the file icon but could also contain important elements needed to use the file. The Windows/DOS file system can't handle the two identically-named parts of the file, and throws away one fork assuming that it is a duplicate file, or mashes the two forks together. So you could lose some important parts of your Mac file by transferring it in any way through a Windows system.

To safely write most types of Macintosh files to CD,  you must write from a Macintosh using appropriate software.


Can I Make a Photo CD Using Easy-CD Pro?

Photo CD discs are written in the CD-ROM XA format, which your  CD recorder can write. You can use Easy-CD Pro's Disc Copy feature to copy an existing Photo CD disc.

However, you cannot build a Photo CD from scratch, nor compile a new collection of photos from several existing Photo CDs. This is because a Photo CD includes complex structures and microcodes which allow it to run from Photo CD players, and also includes CD-i software to run from CD-i players. It's a question of authoring as well as CD writing; just gathering PCD images on hard disk and putting them on CD does NOT make a Photo CD.


Can I Make a Video CD?

You can record any kind of file, including  MPEG video, on a normal ISO 9660 CD-ROM using Easy-CD Pro 95. However, there is much more to making a Video CD.


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:

•	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.

•	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.

•	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.

•	74-minute CDs are sometimes more difficult to read back than 63-minute CDs because of their denser track pitch (on a 74-minute CD, 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).


Problems in Reading Multisession Discs

•	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.

 CD-ROM vs. CD-ROM XA Multisession Discs

•	Or it may be that your CD-ROM drive does not support multisession at all.

•	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 directories. 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 CDs, whose surface is different from that of factory-pressed discs. If your CD-ROM drive reads mass-produced (silver) CDs but not recordable ones, 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 brand of recordable CD you use can make a difference; you should use discs which have been certified for use with your CD recorder by its manufacturer.


CD-ROM vs. CD-ROM XA Multisession CDs

Multisession CDs can be written in either the CD-ROM or CD-ROM XA format. However, due to misinterpretations of the Orange Book standard when the first multisession CD-ROM drives were designed, some CD-ROM drives assume that, to be multisession, a CD must also be written in the CD-ROM XA format. When one of these drives sees a disc which is not XA, it assumes that the disc is also NOT multisession, and it reads 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 problem has largely been resolved in newer CD-ROM drives, but if you record a multisession disc in CD-ROM 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 other people, 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 by selecting CD-ROM XA under Session Type in the General tab.

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!


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 one or more 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.


Numbered Error Codes

Some Easy-CD Pro error messages include a numbered code in the form xxx-xx-xx-xx. Some of these messages are explained in the error table; for others you will need to contact technical support. Please ensure that you note accurately all parts of the number!


Table of Error Codes

Note:

“Database” refers to the temporary database, created before writing, of all files and directories which will go on the CD.

Note:

Auto insert notification can result in random and apparently unrelated SCSI errors. Please turn it off!

#	Text	Explanation/Solution
0	No error
1	Data Base Out of memory.	There is not enough conventional memory to run Easy-CD Pro. Close any other open applications.
3	Data Base Read file error.	A file listed in database cannot be found or accessed. Make sure that no items in your Data Track list have been deleted from hard disk. Run hard disk diagnostics.
4	Data Base Write file error.	Hard disk is full or has a problem. Run hard disk diagnostics.
5	Data Base Path error.	Corrupt database. Rebuild the Data Track list.
6	Data Base Index key error.	Hard disk may be full.
7	Data Base Key not found.	Corrupt database. Rebuild the Data Track list.
8	Data Base Read record error.	Corrupt database. Rebuild the Data Track list.
9	Data Base Write record error.	Hard disk is full or has a problem. Run hard disk diagnostics.
10	Data Base Inconsistent CD.	Corrupt database. Rebuild the Data Track list.
11	Data Base Space group position error.	Corrupt database. Rebuild the Data Track list.
12	Data Base Build of path tree error.	Not enough memory or corrupt database. Retry the operation, or rebuild the Data Track list.
13	Data Base Position in record space not valid.	Corrupt database. Rebuild the Data Track list.
14	Data Base Search record error.	Retry the last command, rebuild the Data Track list.
15	Data Base Delete record error.	Corrupt database; Easy-CD Pro cannot find the file to delete. Rebuild the Data Track list.
17	Data Base No CD prepared.	Retry the last command, rebuild the Data Track list.
18	Data Base CD write error.	Hard disk is full or has bad sectors.
19	Data Base Position not found in space group.	Corrupt database. Rebuild the Data Track list.
20	Data Base Space pointer error.	RAM problems or corrupt database. Rebuild the Data Track list.
21	Data Base Seek or request of position error.	Database error. Retry the last command, rebuild the Data Track list.
22	Data Base Request error.	Database error. Retry the last command, rebuild the Data Track list.
23	Data Base Sizes do not correspond.	Database error. Retry the last command, rebuild the Data Track list.
24	Data Base Problem with Path Table.	Path Table created by the database no longer points to source files. Rebuild the Data Track list.
25	Data Base Record Space pointer error	Corrupt database. Rebuild the Data Track list.
26	Data Base Directory not added.	Possibly corrupt database. Retry the last command, rebuild the Data Track list.
27	Data Base Detected a bad Volume Descriptor.
28	Data Base Error accessing file.	The recorder cannot access a file listed in the database or ISO image.
29	Data Base Internal error 04
30	Data Base Internal error 05
31	Data Base Internal error 06
32	Data Base Internal error 07
33	Data Base Internal error 08. Temporary drive full or damaged.	Temporary directory full or damaged. If the hard disk is not full, run hard disk diagnostics.
34	Data Base Internal error 09
35	Data Base Internal error 10
36	Data Base Internal error 11
37	Data Base Internal error 12
38	Data Base Internal error 13
39	Data Base Maximum CD size reached.	The amount of data is too large to fit on the CD.
40	Data Base Mem of file error.
41	Data Base Make sector log error path or drive error.
42	Data Base Drive info structure missing.
43	Data Base Number of sectors are not the file length.
44	Data Base Error reading sector on hard disk.	Hard disk error prevents files from being read correctly.
45	Data Base Record already exists.	A file in the database or ISO image is already on the CD.
48	Data Base Sharing violation on file	A file in the database is in use. Make sure that all other applications are closed, and that no one can access the files you are trying to write via a network.
49	xx
50	xx
51	Data Base User cancelled operation.);	Appears if you have canceled an operation, or the software thinks you have.
100	Virtual CD image not open.	Your hard disk may be write-protected,  or the database may be corrupt. Check the hard disk, rebuild the Data Track list.
101	Bad File type specified.	The file type is illegal or unsupported.
102	File on HD not found.	The software cannot find a specified file to record.
103	XCD engine already in use.	Attempted to start more than one instance of the program.
104	Virtual CD image already open.	Attempted to open more than once instance of the same database.
105	Error saving Virtual CD image.	Your hard disk may be write-protected. Corrupt file or other error in database. Check the hard disk, rebuild the Data Track list.
106	Empty virtual CD image.	There are no files in the database to be recorded.
107	User cancelled operation.	The current operation was canceled by the user.
108	Error creating file.
109	Error writing file.	Recorder unable to write to the temporary directory, the .ISO image, or the CD.
110	Error opening file.
111	Error reading file.
112	No device driver has been selected.	No .drv file found for the recorder. Reinstall the software
113	Device driver already selected.
114	Error adding file to virtual CD image.	Database error. Retry the last command, rebuild the Data Track list.
115	Invalid parameter.	The recorder was sent a command it was unable to decipher.
116	Invalid file name.	The file name is not permitted with the filenaming option you have chosen.
117	Directory not found.	Database error. Retry the last command, rebuild the Data Track list.
118	Could not delete file.	The file may be write-protected or it may be a database error. Check the hard disk, retry the command, rebuild the Data Track list.
119	Bad XCD handle.
120	End of virtual CD image reached.
121	End of current directory in virtual CD image reached.
122	File added to virtual CD image.	A new file was added to an existing database.
123	Existing file re-added to virtual CD image.	File re-added to database.
124	Existing file in virtual CD image replaced by newer version.	File in database replaced with newer version.
125	Existing file not re-added to virtual CD image because not newer.	File not re-added. Database already contains newer or current version.
126	File not added because already present.	File not added because it is already in the database.
127	xx
128	No valid track to load has been found on disc.	The recorder is unable to access the CD to load the track.
129	No valid track to verify has been found on disc.	The recorder is unable to access the CD to verify the track.
130	Disc must be blank for Disc-At-Once.	Disc-at-Once requires a disc to be written and closed in one operation; it can only be performed on a blank CD.
131	CD size too small to hold current image.	Use a larger recordable CD.
132	The mode of this virtual CD image cannot be changed because its contents refer to previous tracks on the disc.	In adding data to a disc which already contains some data, you have selected a different format under Close Session than the format of the previous session(s). This is not allowed, so please change the selected format to match what’s already on the disc.
133	Byte-per-byte verify failed at sector xxxx .	New CD does not acceptably resemble source data.
134	Verify failed because CD track is shorter than source.	The written track is smaller than the source.
135	Verify failed because source is shorter than CD track.	The written track is larger than the source.
136	Virtual CD image Mount or FixUp not performed.
137	The specified SCSI source is not supported.	Device selected as source not supported.
138	File in VCD not found.
140	Hardware failure.	CD recorder problem. Contact the recorder manufacturer.
141	LUN failure.	Internal controller communication problem.
142	Servo system error.	Recorder’s laser not powering up properly.
143	Internal or device controller error.	Recorder unable to recover error during writing. May possibly be caused by cable problems or a conflict in SCSI device drivers.
144	Diagnostic, power on or self test failure.	Recorder error. Call the recorder’s manufacturer for help
145	Cache buffer failure.	Problem with the recorder’s buffer.
146	Unit not ready.	CD recorder not ready. Wait a few seconds and retry. If that doesn’t work, check the cables.
147	Power on, reset or bus device reset occurred.	Recorder lost power before last command was sent.
148	Medium load or eject failed.	The loading or unloading of the disc failed.
160	Unrecoverable read error.
161	Recovered data.
164	Illegal or under conflict sector size.
165	Read-write error.	Previous read command failed, possibly due to a flaw on the disc. Uncorrectable error.
166	Seek positioning error.	CD recorder error. Contact the recorder’s manufacturer.
167	Invalid sector address.
168	End of user area encountered or stopped on non-data sector.	Disc full, data transfer halted on non-data block.
169	Session closing action failed.	Recorder unable to close the session.
170	End of medium reached.	The disc is full.
171	Write or write append error.	Recorder failed to write to CD. Check your source files for empty directories, zero-byte files.
174	Device track/data verify failed .
175	Buffer under run.	Writing halted. Recorder’s cache buffer is empty.
176	Absorption control error occurred.	Problem with the recordable disc. Clean it, try a new disc, or a different brand. If the problem still persists, have your recorder checked.
178	Illegal transfer length or data track length error.	Transfer length in command descriptor block will overflow write buffer.
179	UPC\Barcode reading error.
180	ISRC reading error.
183	Current Program area empty.	Corrupt disc. Try new disc.
184	Current Program area not empty.
185	Recovery needed.	Recorder was powered down during write.
186	Catalog number conflict.
187	Invalid ISRC number.	International Standard Recording Code for track is invalid.
188	ISRC reading error.	Trouble reading the International Standard Recording Code.
189	The track mode is either illegal,mismatches with command, Disc or other track types.	The CD format chosen under Close Session in the General tab not compatible with other data already on the CD.
190	Unit busy. Reissue last write.	Command sent before unit was ready.
192	Buffer overflow.	Source device is transferring data too fast for the recorder.
193	Write area already written.
200	Medium changed.	A new disc has been put in the CD recorder.
201	Medium not present.	No disc is loaded in the CD recorder.
202	Not enough recordable area.	Attempting to write too much data to the CD.
203	Not recordable or write-protected Disc.	Disc is closed and cannot be written to.
204	Bad or corrupted medium	Recordable CD is corrupt or defective.
205	Tray out.	The recorder’s CD tray or caddy has been ejected but not retracted.
206	Operator medium removal request.	You requested to unload the disc.
207	Medium removal is prevented.	Cannot remove the CD at this time.
208	Illegal track number.	There is an invalid track number in the command descriptor block.
209	Application code conflict.
210	Unable to read Medium TOC, PMA or subcode.	Disc may be corrupt.
211	Disc style mismatch.	The CD format chosen under Close Session in the General tab not compatible with other data already on the CD. This error sometimes occurs if a previous session on the CD was written on a different recorder.
212	Total Disc track number will exceed 99.	Attempting to write too many tracks to the CD.
220	SCSl error	Generic. SCSI controller timeout before device finished. An inconsistency or a slight conflict somewhere on the SCSI bus that doesn't surface til the recorder is activated. If it happens at the end of a write, most likely the controller is timing out before the recorder is finished. Contact the manufacturer of your SCSI host adapter for tech support.
220-1	SCSI Target timeout	Device not responding before the time-out limit. The software cannot communicate with a SCSI device, possibly because your SCSI bus was reset. This is sometimes caused by conflicts between real-mode and protected-mode SCSI drivers on a Windows 95 system. Try REMming out any SCSI drivers in your CONFIG.SYS file; the drivers provided with Windows 95 should be sufficient on their own.
220-2	SCSI Check target return sense	Recorder indicates that source file(s) have changed from original configuration.
220-3	SCSI Specified Target/LUN is busy	The specified device is busy. Wait for it to become ready.
220-4	SCSI Target reservation conflict	Device is waiting for another program to release it. Reset the hardware.
220-5	SCSI Request completed with error	Write finished with error.
220-6	SCSI Selection timeout	This is a SCSI selection timeout error, indicating a SCSI setup problem. Please contact the maker of your SCSI host adapter.
220-7	SCSI Data over-run/under-run
220-8	SCSI Unexpected Bus Free	Hardware. Check for improper termination.
220-9	SCSI Target bus phase sequence failure	Controller set-up problem. Contact the manufacturer of your SCSI host adapter.
220-10	SCSI request aborted by host	The controller has aborted the procedure
220-11	SCSI Invalid Host Adapter number	Controller unknown, unsupported, or set up incorrectly.
220-12	SCSI request block has one, or more, parameters set incorrectly
220-13	SCSI manager is momentarily busy
220-14	SCSI Transfer data size too big
220-15	SCSI Unknown error
220-16	SCSI Command pending on specified device
220-17	SCSI Failed init
220-18	SCSI Device not installed	ASPI shell internal error.
220-19	SCSI Invalid command	The previous SCSl command is not supported by the device.
220-20	SCSI Unable to abort Command	Unable to cancel. Operation will continue.
221	Command sequence, descriptor, code or parameter-list error.	Commands are in string similar to CONFIG.SYS line. Hard disk unable to decipher.
222	Aborted command.	Command aborted.
223	SCSI interface comunication ,parity or select error.
223	SCSI interface communication, parity or select error	Communication error between SCSI card and servo prevent command from being performed.
224	Invalid LUN.	Logical unit field of command descriptor was non-zero.
230	Error exchanging medium.
231	Input element or magazine error.
232	Output element or magazine error.
233	Mechanical error.	Hardware error.
234	Unit stopped due to error.
234	Unit stopped due to error I	Recorder stopped. Try resending unrecorded data.
235	Door is open.	The tray or caddy has been ejected and not retracted.
240	Optimum power calibration failure.	Recorder unable to calibrate laser power for the disc.
241	Calibration area almost full.	Only a few Optimum Power Calibration areas left.
242	Calibration area full.	It is no longer possible to write to this disc because the Optimum Power Calibration area is full.
243	PMA read-update error.	Unable to access the Program Memory Area.
244	Unexpected error.	An unexpected error occurred. Restart the recorder.
245	Out of memory.	The memory/temporary directory is full.
246	The Specified device is not supported by this driver.	The device specified is not supported by the software.
247	Unrecoverable error (generic).	Generic. Restart the software.
248	Mode parameters changed.	The mode originally set for the track has been changed.
249	Function not available	The function chosen is not available.
250	The selected device does not support such function	The device specified does not support the chosen function.
252	Write process error.	Uncorrectable error. Restart the software. If this doesn’t help, reinstall software.


Adding files to CD image...
Message: Adding files to CD image...

Explanation: As part of the process of preparing to record, Easy-CD Pro is creating a database of the files to be written to CD.


Buffer underrun at sector (filename).
Message: 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.

Explanation: CD writing is a real-time process which must run constantly at the selected recording speed, without interruptions. The CD recorder's buffer is constantly filled with a reserve of data waiting to be written, so that small slowdowns or interruptions in the flow of data from the computer do not interrupt writing.

This message indicates that for some reason the flow of data from hard disk to CD recorder was interrupted long enough for the CD recorder's buffer to be emptied, and writing was halted. If this occurs during an actual write operation rather than a test, your disc may be ruined.

In order to avoid buffer underruns, 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.
Message: Error reading the Table of Contents (TOC) or Program Memory Area (PMA) from the CD. You should NOT try to write to this disc.

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


Fixing up...
Message: Fixing up...

The files in the Data Track list are being checked on the hard disk for potential problems such as hard disk corruption, and their length is computed in preparation for writing.


Generating  ISO 9660 image file...
Message: Generating  ISO 9660 image file...

Explanation: A real ISO image is being written to hard disk, because Write on the fly is DEselected or Write real ISO image is selected in the General tab.


Initializing
Message: Initializing

The CD recorder’s laser is calibrated and the disc is checked in preparation for writing. Writing should begin immediately after this, if there are no problems.


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

Explanation: This message appears when you have chosen to make a linked multisession disc. During this process the ISO 9660 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.


Mounting...
Message: Mounting...

The ISO 9660 disc structure is prepared on hard disk. This generates a large temporary file in your set temporary directory.


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

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

Explanation: This error appears if you are trying to add data in a different format to a disc which already contains data, for example if you are trying to add a CD-ROM XA session to a disc which already contains a CD-ROM session. A disc containing both formats would be unreadable, so you are not allowed to record the different session type.


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

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

Explanation: 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.
Message: The destination CD is smaller than the source.

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


The selected CD track is longer than the image file.
Message: The selected CD track is longer than the image file.

Explanation: The verify fails immediately because the source ISO 9660 image and the ISO 9660 track on disc are not the same size.


The selected CD track is shorter than the image file.
Message: The selected CD track is shorter than the image file.

Explanation: The verify fails immediately because the source ISO 9660 image and the ISO 9660 track on disc are not the same size.


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

Explanation: 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!


Solving Problems

For set-up and connection problems with your CD recorder, refer to its user manual.  If you still have problems, please contact Adaptec technical support.


Contacting Adaptec

For technical support in the US for Easy-CD Pro, you can call (408) 379-9900 or fax (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 most convenient for you.

Technical support will not be provided without a valid software registration number.

Note:

Before calling, please fill out the tech support form you will find in the installation directory (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. This form can also be filled out and e-mailed directly from our Web site.


Adaptec Online

The Website for Easy-CD Pro and other Adaptec software products is http://www.adaptec.com/easycd; drop in frequently for the latest for technical and marketing information. You can reach tech support directly through the site, or by e-mailing 74431.2004@compuserve.com.

We have a library and message center on CompuServe for technical support and information for users of all Adaptec software products. If you are a CompuServe member, simply log on and type GO EASYCD at any prompt to enter the CD-ROM Vendors B Forum, where you will find our message section. Our library contains recent technical information as well as marketing and general-interest information on our CD-R 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. We can also be found on several CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD publishing newsgroups and lists.


a-characters

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


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. A language the Easy-CD software uses to communicate through the SCSI host adapter with the CD recorder.


Authoring

Authoring is what you do to create an application before you are ready to write to CD. For example, if you wish to create a multimedia game or presentation, you will need authoring software that allows you to combine sound, graphics, and text, and which provides some user interactivity.

When you have finished creating your application with authoring software application, you can use Easy-CD Pro to write it to CD.


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. For example, the CD recorder's buffer stores data as it arrives from your hard disk to help protect against buffer underruns when the flow of data from hard disk is slowed down or interrupted.


Buffer Underrun

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


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
CD Plus (aka CD Extra)

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 Project

An CD project includes all the settings you have made for a writing session, as well as the Data Track or Audio Tracks list. When you re-open the project, you will find everything set up exactly as it was before. This allows you to easily make another identical CD.


CD-DA

This is the format used to record audio CDs so that they can be played back by a home or car CD player or from a CD-ROM drive through speakers or headphones attached to the drive’s output jack. Compact Disc-Digital Audio. CD-DA discs are recorded according to the Red Book standard, which was developed by Philips and Sony.

A CD-DA disc may contain up to 99 tracks, each usually representing a separate piece of music. In CD-DA, sound files are written at a frequency of 44.1 kHz and a sample size of 16 bits, and in stereo; this results in a storage size of approximately 10 megabytes of memory per minute of sound.


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 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 defined
CD-ROM Drive

A peripheral device attached to a computer for reading CD-ROM discs.


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 the physical format for Photo CD discs and can also be used for simple data storage.


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 a session lead-in is written, so a session must be closed in order to close the disc. It is NOT necessary to close a disc in order to read it in an ordinary CD-ROM drive.


Close Session defined
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, or to play back an audio disc. However, you can read or play back a disc in your CD recorder without closing a session.


d-characters

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


Digital Audio Extraction

The process of copying CD-DA audio tracks digitally, from your CD recorder or another CD-ROM drive, to hard disk or to recordable CD. Not all CD-ROM drives support this!


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. When you write in Disc-at-Once mode, the disc is also automatically closed, and no further tracks can be added to it.

It is preferable to record in Disc-at-Once mode if you are making an audio disc which will be replicated in a disc factory.

When you record an audio disc in Disc-at-Once mode from Wave files on hard disk, the gap (silence) between the audio tracks is set to zero seconds.


ECC

Error Correction Code. A system of scrambling data and recording redundant data onto disc as it is premastered. When the disc is read back, this redundant information helps to detect and correct errors that 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.


Form 1
Form 1 and Form 2

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 user data area of 2336 bytes per sector.


Gold Disc

The recordable disc used in CD-R systems. The blank disc is made of a layer of polycarbonate, stamped with a preformed track spiral which the recording laser beam will follow when writing information onto the disc. A translucent layer of recordable material (green, yellow-green, or blue) is laid on top of the polycarbonate, then a reflective layer of gold or silver. Then a layer of lacquer and a label are applied.


Green Book

The Philips/Sony specification for CD-I.


Header Field
Header

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 (Hierarchical File System)

The file system used by the Macintosh operating system to organize data on hard and floppy disks. Can also be used for CD-ROMs. This software does not support recording in the HFS format!


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

In popular use the term hybrid 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. This software does not support recording hybrid discs!


ISO 9660

An international standard which specifies how data is arranged (its logical format) on a CD-ROM. All computer operating systems (Windows 95, NT, DOS, Macintosh, etc.) have special system extensions to allow them to read ISO 9660 discs. A useful side effect of this is that ISO 9660 discs can be used to exchange data among the different operating systems.


ISO 9660 Interchange Levels

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

In Level 1 (the most restrictive):

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

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

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

•	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 File, or 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. The code consists of: Country Code (2 ASCII characters), Owner Code (3 ASCII characters), Year of Recording (2 digits), Serial Number (5 digits).


Jewel Case

The hinged plastic box in which most CDs are packaged.


Jewel Case Tray

The non-transparent part of the jewel case in which the CD is inserted for storage.


Joliet

A 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 (8 + 3 characters) 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.


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. 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).


Linked Multisession

A disc containing more than one session, in which all of the data in the various sessions is linked together so that it 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 way the data is physically recorded on the CD (sector-by-sector) into a directory tree structure which makes it understandable to humans. ISO 9660 is a logical format.


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 CD

A compact disc including both data and audio tracks. The data is written in CD-ROM or CD-ROM XA format in the first track of the disc, and the audio in CD-DA format 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 user 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 sessions, 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 data directly from the source files to CD 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.


Packet Writing

A method of CD recording in which data can be written in much smaller chunks than are possible with the current Disc-at-Once and Track-at-Once methods. Not currently supported by most CD recorders or operating systems, and not possible with Easy-CD Pro. Contact Adaptec for more information about new software we will be releasing to support packet writing.


PCA

(Power Calibration Area). A space reserved at the beginning of a recordable disc for calibrating the recorder's laser for that particular disc.


Photo CD

A compact disc format based on the CD-ROM XA and Orange Book 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.


Pre-Gap

A space dividing tracks, recorded before the track data area. The length of the pre-gap varies with the CD recorder, the types of tracks being recorded, and whether recording is done in Track-at-Once or Disc-at-Once mode.

n	Gaps in Track-at-Once Recording

n	Gaps in Disc-at-Once Recording


Gaps in Track-at-Once Recording

The pre-gap length varies depending on the types of tracks being separated and the CD recorder used:

Track Types	Gap
CD-ROM followed by...
Audio	2 or 3 seconds*
CD-ROM	2 seconds
CD-ROM XA	3 seconds
CD-ROM XA followed by...
Audio	2 or 3 seconds*
CD-ROM	3 second
CD-ROM XA	2 seconds
Audio followed by...
Audio	2 seconds
CD-ROM	3 seconds
CD-ROM XA	3 seconds
*According to the standards the gap between a data track and an audio track should always be 2 seconds, but some recorders automatically write a 3-second gap.


Gaps in Disc-at-Once Recording

Track Types	Gap
CD-ROM followed by...
Audio	2 seconds
CD-ROM	2 seconds
CD-ROM XA	3 seconds
CD-ROM XA followed by...
Audio	2 seconds
CD-ROM	3 second
CD-ROM XA	2 seconds
Audio followed by...
Audio	0 seconds
CD-ROM	3 seconds
CD-ROM XA	3 seconds


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.  With recordable CD systems, premastering and mastering are done in one operation, resulting in a ready-to-read compact disc.


Real ISO Image

See ISO File.


Recordable CD

See Gold 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 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

Whenever the recording laser is turned off after writing, two run-out blocks are written. When it is turned back on again, one link block and four run-in blocks are written.


SCSI

Small Computer System Interface (pronounced "scuzzy"). An interface which allows up to seven peripheral devices to be linked to a single controller.


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

A recorded area of a compact disc which may contain one or more tracks of any type (data or audio).


Table of Contents (Disc)

Shows the number of tracks recorded on disc, 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. 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). A track on an audio CD is usually an individual song or piece of music. For a data CD, you will always write one track or data per session.


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.  A thirteen-digit UPC catalog number for the entire disc, which may be written in the disc’s Table of Contents.


Video CD

A reproduction system to present full motion pictures with associated audio using the compact disc format. 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

Easy-CD Pro 2.0 beta 06/14/96


Identifies the type of CD being written in this project.


Enter the path of a temporary folder where Easy-CD Pro 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.

DO NOT set your temporary directory to any volume which has less than 10 MB of space free! If you will be writing a very large number of files (more than 50,000) in a single session, you may need more temporary space.


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.

Note:

This test does not actually pass data to the CD recorder, but simply runs through the files to be written to see if your computer and hard disk can maintain adequate throughput to write to CD on the fly. Even if the Speed 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 CD! This test is the most reliable indicator of whether CD writing 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, by making the appropriate setting in the "Start writing if test completes OK" list box. 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 CD will be written. For some types of CDs this is set automatically. The selection you should make here may depend on whether you intend later to make the CD multisession.


To close a recordable CD so that no further data can be written to it. It is NOT necessary to close a CD in order to read it in a normal CD-ROM drive.

However, it is recommended if you are creating a master CD for replication.


Write and close all tracks on a CD in one operation, without turning the writing laser on and off or writing link blocks. Requires a blank CD.

Recommended for audio and mixed-mode CD, and for data if the CD will be used as a master for replication.


For linked multisession. The data you are adding now will be linked to the data in the most recent session on the CD. 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 CD was also linked to previous sessions, their files will also be seen.

Newer versions of files already recorded on CD 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 CD. Mount the CD 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.

You can use the Eject button to eject the CD in the CD recorder, and Refresh to update the CD information when a new CD is loaded.


In recording multisession, you may have files already on CD 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 CD to be overwritten by the (possibly newer) identical files in the list.


In recording multisession, you may have files already on CD whose paths and names are identical to those of files in the Data Track list. Select this option if you want the files on CD always to be overwritten by identical files in the list, regardless of whether the files already on CD are older than those in the Data Track list.


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


Use this option to record CDs with filenames which comply strictly with ISO 9660 Level 1 restrictions (8 + 3 characters; characters used may include capital A to Z, 0 to 9, and the underscore).


Your CD will be recorded with DOS-standard (8+3) filenames; any associated Windows 95 long filenames will be lost.


Filenames up to 64 characters long will be allowed. Long filenames are readable on Windows 95 systems only; associated DOS (8+3) filenames readable on other systems.


Filenames up to 128 characters long will be allowed. Romeo CDs can be read on Windows 95 and Windows NT systems, and on Macintosh systems if the filenames are shorter than 31 characters. If read under DOS or Windows 3.1, file and directory names will appear truncated to 8+3. (However, if two or more filenames become identical when truncated, you will probably be able to see only the first.) Romeo long filenames can be read on Windows 95 and NT 3.51 systems. File and directory names are automatically converted to uppercase for maximum compatibility with NT 3.51 and DOS.


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


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 CD.


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 CDs, every CD in the set may have the same name recorded in this field. Maximum 32 d-characters allowed.


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


Records the name of author of the content of the CD. 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. The 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. The 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 total amount of data which will be written to CD. You can check the recordable CD in CD Info and Tools 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 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 CD, 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 CDs, the track title, artist, and CD 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.


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 Refresh button to refresh the image info when a new image is selected.


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 when a new image file is selected.


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 "Scanning CD for content structures." After this process is finished, the total amount of data on the source CD and its type will be reported. You can click on the Refresh button to update this information when a new source CD is inserted into the source drive.


Gives the model and device type for the selected source SCSI device.


The CD recorder model.


The CD recorder manufacturer.


The firmware revision of the CD recorder.


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


Lists the CD formats which the CD recorder is capable of reading (copying) to hard disk in digital format.


Lists the speeds at which the CD recorder can read data.


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


Shows whether the CD recorder is capable of reading barcodes.


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


Lists the speeds at which the CD recorder can write to CD.


Shows whether the CD 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 CD 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 it is preferable to use Disc-at-Once recording for audio CDs which will be duplicated at a CD factory.


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


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


The type of the CD. Possible types include:

•	CD-DA

•	CD-ROM

•	CD-ROM XA

•	CD-I


Displays the number of sessions on CD. For a recordable CD, 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 CD. Tracks are numbered consecutively from the beginning of the CD, regardless of how many sessions they are divided among.


Shows whether the CD is recordable.


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


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


Reports the thirteen-digit UPC (Universal Product Code), if any, for the CD.


Reports the barcode (if any) of the CD. On recordable CDs, you will usually also find this number printed in the clear inner ring of the CD.


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

Track: Sequential number of the track; tracks are numbered in order from the beginning of the CD, no matter how they are divided among sessions. A CD 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 CD.

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 your CD 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 CDs, to play the audio.


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.)


Auto: Audio tracks will be copied at 1x speed, data tracks at 4x.

nx: Set the desired read speed for this track copy.


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’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.


If "yes, " the copy protection bit is set for this track. (This makes no difference to whether you can physically copy the track; it can be copied. But consider it a warning of copyright: if this bit is set to "yes," the copyright owner is making a clear statement that she does not want the CD to be copied.)


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

•	Red Book Audio

•	ISO 9660


Gives the ISO 9660 Volume Name, if any, of a data track.


The ISO 9660 Creation Date of the data track.


Possible values are:

•	Complete

•	Damaged

•	Incomplete


Set for audio which requires four-speaker playback.


If yes, this track was recorded with pre-emphasis.


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:

•	Country Code: 2 ASCII characters

•	Owner Code: 3 ASCII characters

•	Year of Recording: 2 digits

•	Serial Number: 5 digits


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


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

•	Red Book Audio

•	ISO 9660


Gives the ISO 9660 Volume Name, if any, of a data track.


The ISO 9660 Creation Date of the data track.


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.


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.


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 CD!


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


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 will attempt to read the next selected track.


Use this option to abort the Read Track operation.


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


Clicking to accept the suggested new filename. All other illegally-named files will also be renamed automatically without further prompting.


Shows the original filename which is not compliant with the filename option you have selected in the File Names tab.


Shows the filename suggested as a substitute for the original filename which is not compliant with the setting you have made in the File Names tab. You can edit the name given if you prefer.


By default, files and folders are recorded to CD with the directory structure (path) shown under the Name column in the Data Track tab, which is exactly the same directory structure as the source files/folders on hard disk.

You can use the Reparenting function to record files to CD with a different path.


Gives the total number of directories that will be written to CD. Any Files to Exclude you have set in the File Names tab will be considered in calculating this total; if you make changes to Files to Exclude or the Data Track list, click on [image] in the toolbar to update this figure.


Gives the total number of files that will be written to CD. Any Files to Exclude you have set in the File Names tab will be considered in calculating this total; if you make changes to Files to Exclude or the Data Track list, click on [image] in the toolbar to update this figure.


Provides a space for you to type the title of your CD. Click the Font button to open a dialog box from which you can select a font for your CD's title.


Specifies that the artist's name will be included for each audio track in the list.


Specifies that the source audio CD's title will be included for each audio track in the list.


Specifies to include the contents of the current data session in the list to be printed on the sleeve.


Specifies to include the contents of previous data sessions in the list to be printed on the sleeve.


Allows you to select a bitmapped image to be used as logo artwork for the sleeve. The position of the logo is determined by the Style selected.


Allows you to select a bitmapped image to be used as background art for the sleeve. The image is repeated (tiled) as many times as it will fit covering the entire sleeve.


Allows you to select a layout style for your sleeve. The basic layout is illustrated in the thumbnail image below.


Specifies that borders will be printed so you can easily cut your sleeve to the correct size.


Specifies to print a dotted line so you can easily see where to fold the sleeve and tray insert to fit in the CD jewel case.


Select the type of list you wish to create:

•	Audio: For an audio CD, specifies that the list of audio tracks will be printed.

•	Data: For a data CD, specifies that the list of files/directories will be printed.

•	Custom: For an audio or data CD, specifies that you will type in custom text to be printed.


Displays the text that will be printed on the sleeve.


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

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.


Select to open the Easy-CD Wizard, which will guide you through the steps of making a basic data or audio CD.


Select to start a new CD project directly in the Easy-CD Pro window without using the Wizard.


Select to open a CD project you had previously saved.


Ejects the disc in the CD recorder.


Select to create a real ISO image to be written on the CD that is currently inserted in the CD recorder. If you make this selection, you MUST write this ISO image on this same CD, without adding any other data in between -- writing the image anywhere else will result in an unreadable disc.


Select to create the real ISO image for a blank CD.


Displays the complete path and name of the file whose history you are searching for on CD.


Shows the matching files found on CD, with the number, date, and time of the session in which they were found, and the date, time, and size of the files.


If you have found a file you wish to recopy to hard disk, select it in the list and click this button.


Click to refresh the CD information when a new disc is inserted in the CD recorder.


Enter the name of the artist who recorded this audio CD.


Enter the title of this audio CD.


Shows the list of tracks on the disc. You can add a title to a selected  track in the Track Name box below.


Type in the name for a track selected in the list above. Click on Set Name to set the name for this track.


Shows the number and playing time of the current track.


Shows the total number of tracks on the CD and their total playing time.


Select the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive or CD recorder you want to use with the CD-Deck. Then select:

•	CD, to play tracks from an audio CD.

•	Compilation, to play back a compilation you are contructing in the Audio Tracks window.


Click to copy the selected track to hard disk in Wave format.


Click to add the selected track to the compilation you are creating in the Audio Tracks list.


Displays the currently selected track. To select a different track, click on the arrow button and select from the scrolling list. Click on [image] to set the track titles and other information for the CD.


Displays the title of the CD. Click on [image] to set the title and other information for the CD.


Displays the name of the artist who recorded the CD. Click on [image] to set this and other information for the CD.


If the test goes smoothly, and you had set a timer under “Start writing if test completes OK” in the General tab, a countdown will begin. Otherwise, this dialog box will remain open until you choose to begin writing or not by clicking on Yes or No.


Describes the type of CD to write that you have selected from the list.


Select from this list the type of CD you want to write.


Select the CD recorder to which you wish to write.


Select if you do not wish to print any background on your CD sleeve.


Select and then click on Color if you want to print a solid background color on your CD sleeve.


Select and then click on Browse (or type in a full path and name) to use a repeated BMP image as a background for your CD sleeve.


Displays a list of the audio CDs that will be needed to record your compilation.


Select to use a CD-ROM drive other than the CD recorder as the source for copying audio tracks. Then select the desired drive in the list.


Select to use your CD recorder as the source for copying audio tracks.


Displays the list of files and directories that will be written to CD.


Click to refresh the disc information when a new disc is inserted into the CD recorder.


This message will inform you of the speed at which the test was successful and writing can proceed. If your system cannot keep up with CD writing even at the lowest possible speed, and if you were writing data on the fly, try deselecting "write on the fly" in the General tab. You will need as much free space on hard disk as the total amount of data you will be writing to CD!