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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Burning cross-platform compatible CD-ROM

tigrr - Apr 13, 2007 - 11:16 am

I would like to burn several CD-R discs containing AIFF audio files and PDF documentation files which should be compatible with as many computer systems as possible (definitely the current Windows, Mac and Linux systems, but hopefully also older Macs, Windows, Linux and maybe other systems).

I plain data CD-ROM is fine (I don't need any icons, auto-opening etc. so I assume I can do without a Hybrid format)

The majority of the AIFF files have been done on a 68K Mac running MacOS 8.1 which probably means that the filename length is at the most 31 characters (as far as I know). I don't know what this corresponds to in PC/Linux terms: Joliet?

Since it's absolutely essential that the filenames are shown in full, using it with older systems (MS-DOS etc.) is out of the question if it messes up those filenames.

Everything has been transferred over to my Powerbook G4 where I will organize it all and burn the CDs.
I don't have Toast on my Powerbook, but version 3.5.7 is installed on my 68K Mac if that helps in the process. I assume a disk image will be most practical since I will be burning many CDs, but if burning software on my Powerbook isn't sufficient and my old copy of Toast is, perhaps I could make a disk image on the 68K Mac, and transfer that over to the Powerbook.

The most versatile CD-burner application I seem to have on the Powerbook is the free "LiquidCD" (http://www.maconnect.ch/index.php?lang=en&page=liquidcd). It can burn CDs with a variety of options:
Mac (HFS+), PC (ISO9660-1), PC (ISO9660-2), PC (RockRidge), PC advanced (Joliet) and UDF.

So I'm wondering: what kind of burning settings and process should I use to make the CD cross-platform compatible, and which operating systems will it then be compatible with?
Thanks.

Cheryl - Apr 14, 2007 - 8:45 am

Hallvard,

You will not be able to use the older version of Toast on your Powerbook as it was made for the older mac, not the newer one. The good news is that you can indeed use LiquidCD to create those CDs.

You need to use PC - ISO9660-2 option as that supports the long file names. That format should be readable in most of your older machines.

Cheryl

tigrr - Apr 15, 2007 - 2:21 pm

I've just tried burning a test CD (I use CD-RW for this of course) using ISO-9660-2, but unfortunately all the filenames showed up in UPPER-CASE only.

I guess "Rock ridge" is the next step "up"?

Is it correct to assume that the "higher" I go up in CD-burning naming conventions the less older systems can use the CD?
I guess the trick is to NOT use any standard higher than needed (e.g. I don't need support for VERY long filenames), but not any lower either (as the files will become different from the originals).

I'll try a few other burn formats and see how that goes.

Cheryl - Apr 15, 2007 - 4:26 pm

Hallvard,

Yes, you do risk the chance that the older OS's will not be able to read the CD done in the newer 'higher' format. File names in all upper case are not a bad thing. You may want to shorten the names of some of your long named files.

UDF would work on most of your computers, but may have trouble on the 'older' ones.

Joliet just might work as it is supported by Windows 95.

Some would recommend that you upgrade all your older computers, but that expense can be costly.

Cheryl

tigrr - Apr 16, 2007 - 3:14 am

My whole project is based on having the correct file names so I can't change that to all upper case etc.

The reason for compatibility with older computers isn't because of my own computers (I'm just about to sell the old Macs anyway), but because this is a CD-ROM I will distribute to a lot of different people who might be using different computers. That's why I'm trying to make it as compatible as possible, but without messing up my files.

Yes, Joliet seems so far to be the best solution, and as far as I know a Joliet CD-ROM will be usable with Windows 95 and onwards. On Macs however there was no Joliet support in MacOS itself (as far as I know), but a shareware extension is available for MacoS 7/8/9 (http://www.tempel.org/joliet/).

I have no idea what the compatibility issues with Linux is, but I suppose they've had Joliet support all along (?).

What confuses me now is the settings in "LiquidCD" where (in the "File system" options) you can (if you choose "custom") choose several formats at once! Here's a screenshot:
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/33/customjj3.png

Does this mean that the CD ends up with different "layers" of systems where the computer reading it will choose whichever system it'll recognize? If so, what happens if it can read several different systems? Or have I completely misunderstood?

As for a hybrid CD... I've said that I don't need this as the CD will just consist of cross-platform files anyway, but for the sake of aesthetics it would be fun to have an icon pop up instead of the generic CD-ROM icon.
Is this possible to do?
I suppose I would have to use 3 (or 4?) different icons:
-icon for MacOSX
-icon for MacOS 7/8/9
-icon for Windows
-icon for Linux (?)

Cheryl - Apr 16, 2007 - 7:09 am

Hallvard,

Linux can read all the ISO 9660 formats (from what I have read). You are correct in that the hybrid setting, the CD will have 'layers' - sections of the CD will be burned using that format with the files. Each computer will read only what it is capable of reading.
I don't think you need to worry about anyone using MS DOS, Windows 3.1, or Mac OS 6 at this time. I do believe very few of those computers are still being used. You can include a note about where to get the extension for those running Mac OS 7/8/9 with instructions to install that first before attempting to read the CD.

As for a custom icon, I don't think you can give a different icon to each of the systems, but you can do a custom icon that should show up on any computer that reads the file. Do you need instructions on how to do that? You will need you choice of icon ready and on your computer.

Cheryl

- Apr 16, 2007 - 8:04 am

My whole project is based on having the correct file names so I can't change that to all upper case etc.

The reason for compatibility with older computers isn't because of my own computers (I'm just about to sell the old Macs anyway), but because this is a CD-ROM I will distribute to a lot of different people who might be using different computers. That's why I'm trying to make it as compatible as possible, but without messing up my files.

Yes, Joliet seems so far to be the best solution, and as far as I know a Joliet CD-ROM will be usable with Windows 95 and onwards. On Macs however there was no Joliet support in MacOS itself (as far as I know), but a shareware extension is available for MacoS 7/8/9 (http://www.tempel.org/joliet/).

I have no idea what the compatibility issues with Linux is, but I suppose they've had Joliet support all along (?).

What confuses me now is the settings in "LiquidCD" where (in the "File system" options) you can (if you choose "custom") choose several formats at once! Here's a screenshot:
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/33/customjj3.png

Does this mean that the CD ends up with different "layers" of systems where the computer reading it will choose whichever system it'll recognize? If so, what happens if it can read several different systems? Or have I completely misunderstood?

As for a hybrid CD... I've said that I don't need this as the CD will just consist of cross-platform files anyway, but for the sake of aesthetics it would be fun to have an icon pop up instead of the generic CD-ROM icon.
Is this possible to do?
I suppose I would have to use 3 (or 4?) different icons:
-icon for MacOSX
-icon for MacOS 7/8/9
-icon for Windows
-icon for Linux (?)

tigrr - Apr 16, 2007 - 8:16 am

Oops! Sorry about that.

I accidentally resent a previously posted text and I can't find any way of deleting it!


Anyway, I agree with you that I shouldn't need to worry about DOS 3.1, MacOS 6 etc.
Looks like I can add an icon in LiquidCD, by clicking on the "Properties" button at the bottom of the screen, then select an image file.
This only seems to work in MacOSX though, and I have to choose HFS+ in addition to Joliet for the file format.

I'm still quite confused about the "Custom" mode in "File system" within LiquidCD. I've found that I can uncheck all options. Strange. unfortunately there's no proper documentation with this application.

Looks like I need to do even more testing.

Yes, please do tell me how to add a custom icon.
And if it's possible, please also tell me how to remove a response of mine here, such as the one I just reposted.

Cheryl - Apr 16, 2007 - 6:26 pm

Hallvard,

To delete that post, look at the very bottom right of the second oops post. There should be a document with pencil icon. Click on that, then you can delete the post and click on save. If you don't have that little icon, do not worry about it.

LiquidCD does have a forum that you can check out. Someone there, I am sure will be able to answer your questions about it.
http://www.maconnect.ch/phpBB2/viewf...20f4db01674e04

You did do the correct way to change the icon within LiquidCD. I am not sure why it only shows up in MacOS X.

You can insert the CD, then click only once on it. Go to the file menu and select Get Info. The window that opens will show you the icon.
Go to the picture/image you want as the icon and copy it using the clipboard - that is click once on it, then copy it (apple key and the c key)
Click once on that icon in the Get Info window, then paste (apple key and the v key).
The Get Info window should show the new icon. Now just close the Get Info window and the icon should be changed on the CD. If that does not work when you insert it in a Windows machine, then the only thing I can say is that Windows does not support custom icons.

Cheryl

tigrr - Apr 17, 2007 - 2:28 am

I noticed the "edit" icon at the bottom of the posts. The problem however was that this certain post didn't have it for some reason, so I wasn't able to edit/delete it.

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll ask about the LiquidCD specifics in their forum.
Thanks again and have a nice day!