DMG Tool Manual 2.5

The Preferences

Use ditto -
	Use the command line tool ditto to copy files to the mounted disk image. This is typically a lot faster than using the Finder to copy file to the disk image but offers no visual feedback. Defaults to yes.

Use ZLIB - 
	Uses ZLIB compression to compress the disk image instead of the default compression scheme. ZLIB compression results in smaller raw disk image files. But they don't compress as much when used with gzip. Defaults to yes.

Use GZIP -
	Gzips the compressed disk image resulting in a .dmg.gz file. this is the most compatible format for posting to the internet. Better space savings may result in disabling ZLIB compression when using gzip. Defaults to no.

Encrypt image -
	Encrypts the image so that a password is required to mount and access the files. Due to limitations of this format these images can not be compressed, they'll lose the encryption, so the ZLIB state above makes no difference when your want your images encrypted. However the gzip option works perfectly to compress these images. Defaults to no.

Quit after drag and drop operations -
	Quits DMG Tool upon completion of drag and drop operations. Useful for drop and forget operations. Defaults to no.

Select Save Location -
	Allows you to choose where to save files. Defaults to your Desktop folder.

Use for Drag and Drop -
	Use the selected save folder for drag and drop operations instead of the folder of the source folder. Defaults to no.

The Menus

Application Menu -
	From the Application Menu you can edit the preferences for DMG Tool.

Image Menu -
	New From Folder (Command-N): Creates an image from the specified folder and saves it to the selected save location.
	Get Info (Command-I): Get info of an image, explained in detail below.
	Convert Image (Command-K): Convert a .dmg, .img or .smi file to a .dmg with the compression settings you specify.
	Convert to NDIF (Command-Option-K): Convert a .dmg to an OS 9 compatible .img.

Edit Menu -
	Standard text manipulation functions.

Window Menu - 
	Standard Window manipulation tools.

Help Menu - 
	Show the DMG Tool Manual drawer.

The Menu Options

New From Folder -
	This menu option allows you to create a disk image from a folder. 

Convert Image -
	This menu option converts a .img, .smi or .dmg file into a .dmg file respecting your current compression, ZLIB and gzip, settings. Moves original item to the trash. 

Convert to NDIF -
	The converts a .dmg into pre-Mac OS X compatible .img, NDIF, disk image. Moves original item to the trash.

Get Info -
	Displays diagnostic information about a disk image, such as format, checksum value, size information and many other details.

The Main Window

When DMG Tool is launched with a double click it opens to the image creation window. From this window you have access to all of the DMG Tool options and have finer control over the created image.

Create Image Box

In this box you enter information regarding the disk image. The first box is for its filename. Enter what you want the image to be called in the Finder minus the .dmg, that is added automatically.

The next box is where you specify how large you want the disk image to be. The minimum size required is 4 MB.

The last box is what you want the volume to be named when it's mounted in the Finder.

If you want your image to be an encrypted image click the "Encrypt Image" check box.

When everything is how you want it click the button labeled "Create" and the disk image will be created and mounted.

Copy Folder Box

This step can be skipped if you prefer to copy files to the image from multiple folders.

From this box you select the folder to copy to the mounted disk image. Click on "Select" to choose the folder. After you select the folder it will immediately be copied to the mounted disk image.

Finish Image Box

This is the box where you decide how you want the final compressed image to be formated. Choose the type of compression to use, ZLIB or standard compression, and if you want the final image gzipped or not.

When you have decided click the "Finish" button to finalize the image and save it to the specified folder.

Drag and Drop

Drag and drop usage of DMG Tool is very simple. If you want your Documents folder backed up, drop the folder icon onto DMG Tool's icon and a complete compressed disk image will be created in the same folder as the original source or to the selected folder if you enable the "Use for Drag and Drop" preference.

Drag and drop respects all user preference values.

Drag and drop works for any number of folders dropped onto it and it will filter out all non-folders and only do operations on the folders. If you have chosen to quit DMG Tool after drag and drop operations it will quit automatically.

Guides

Backing up your home folder:
	To easily back up your home folder launch DMG Tool and open the preferences. Select a folder to save the image to and then select the Use for drag and drop operations option. Now either select your home folder from the New Image from Folder option or drag and drop it to DMG Tool's icon. A complete back up of your home folder will be created and saved to the folder you specified.

Imaging a Disk:
	Make sure ditto is the selected copy method, it's the default option and can be enabled in the preferences, drag the disk to the icon and it will be created in the selected save location.

Issues

DMG Tool fails when making an image when the images's volume name is the same as another disk, and you use the Finder to copy files automatically.

Occasionally encrypted images seem to fail on creation, if this happens force quit DMG Tool and try it again.