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CDDesigner Manual: Data Track Formats

Data Track Formats

The Data Track Format can be chosen in the Define & Write view, selected by choosing the tab.

ISO9660

ISO9660 is the most common format of data tracks on CDs. Many other formats extend the ISO9660 format.

Volume Descriptor

Any ISO9660 based Data Track Format defines a volume descriptor.

The descriptor consists of text and file identifiers. The text identifiers (Volume, Volume Set and System) contain characters depending on the selected format. The file identifiers (Abstract, Copyright and Bibliography) are titles of files in the CD's root directory and need not to be defined. The Publisher can be either a text or a file identifier.

VolumeThe CD's title.
Volume SetAs sets of CDs are not readable by the most operating systems CDDesigner does not support them. Normally you will use the default value.
SystemThis field should identify the target system, but the most operating systems do not make use of it.
PublisherThis field should identify the user who specified the contents of the CD. Most operating systems do not make use of it.
AbstractThe title of a file in the CD's root directory containing an abstract of the CD's content. Most operating systems do not make use of it.
CopyrightThe title of a file in the CD's root directory containing a copyright statement. Most operating systems do not make use of it.
BibliographyThe title of a file in the CD's root directory containing bibliographic records interpreted according to standards that are subject of an agreement between the originator and the recipient of the CD. Most operating systems do not make use of it.
Creation Date & TimeShall specify the date and time of the day at which the content of the CD was created. CDDesigner sets a default value when a new document is created.
Expiration Date & TimeShall specify the date and time of the day at which the information on the CD may be regarded as obsolete. Most operating systems do not make use of it.
Effective Date & TimeShall specify the date and time of the day at which the CD's content may be used. Most operating systems do not make use of it.
Modification Date & Time Specifies the date and time of the day at which the content of the CD was last modified. This field is automatically set by the CDDesigner whenever the directory tree is modified or the data tracks format is changed.

Filenames

ISO9660 Level 1 allows 8.3 characters per filename, Level 2 allows up to 32 characters. Both use filenames from the following set of characters:

Any other characters are skipped and ß is transformed to ss.

As some operating systems (e.g. DOS and Windows) accept non-ISO9660-conform characters, the user may decide to use any characters in ISO9660 filenames by switching off

in the Volume Descriptor's Format Extensions inspector. Note that filenames which are added to the ISO9660 names, like the long filenames of Rockridge, are not affected by this option.

Directory depth

ISO9660 limits the depth of the directory tree to eight.

Optional Path Table

Any ISO9660 based data track may have an optional path table. The ISO9660 specification explains nothing about its need and usability. It is recommended to add the optional path table to every image. If there is any specific reason to skip it, the user may switch off

in the Volume Descriptor's Format Extensions inspector.

Empty Directories

CDDesigner can skip empty directories while writing a CD-R or exporting a raw image by switching off

in the Volume Descriptor's Format Extensions inspector.

Hide Flag

Any entry may be hidden by setting the hide flag. Though CDDesigner still shows hidden entries and their contents, the entry may not be shown or its content may not be readable by the operating system reading the written CD-R.

Rock Ridge

Rock Ridge extends ISO9660 by long filenames and Unix-conform file attributes and allows an unlimited depth of the directory tree.

Filenames

Rock Ridge allows to use filenames up to 100 characters long and makes use of a wider set of characters:

It is important to realize that the long filenames are added to the ISO9660 based ones: If using a Rock Ridge based CD with an operating system that is not able to read Rock Ridge conform CD's, the user will see the ISO9660 conform filenames.

Directory depth

The directory depth is not limited, but accessing files at a depth greater than eight may be slower than accessing others. Operating systems which do not support Rockridge will only show the first eight levels.

File-Version

Currently the file version is always set to 1. Most operating systems do not interpret this field.

Dates

The creation and modification dates are adapted from the files and folders referring to. The creation and modification dates of a virtual folder are set when creating them.

Permissions

Unix-conform user and group ids and permissions to read, write, and execute files and folders are added to each entry.

See Permissions

Symbolic Links

Rock Ridge supports symbolic links, the directory tree is allowed to contain link loops.

See Link Loops

NextStep Extension

This format is based on Rock Ridge and gives CDs the capabilities of NextStep/OpenStep filesystem.

Filenames

The length of filenames is still limited to 100 but the set of usable characters is not limited, except of ligatures and the German ß which is still translated to ss.

Permissions

Permissions are only allowed to be set in a way NextStep/OpenStep can handle.

Physical Structure

Inside of the data track CDDesigner places the directory structure to the fastest area of the CD, so navigating through the CD content will be as fast as possible.

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