I need help in resolving the following matter:

Packet writing software as it writes the incremental data each time to the CD, as I undertsand it; it then does two things after each incremental writing:

1a. that being it writes a new/updated directory? True or False?
1b. that being it writes a new/updated track information map? True of False?

2.Or is it called TOC and this written after each incremental writing?

If the above is not true 1a and 1b, that in PW after each incremental data is written, what does get added each time behind the data?
Thanks for your help in advance

Packet writing concerns many types of discs and methods of implementation.
In the case of CD-RW with no buffer-underrun implementation, I think a whole 0'ed track is being recorded (during de-icing/formating) and subsequently updated.
There are 2 TOC's. One on the RAW disc and another (directory) on the track itself. I expect the second is being extended/updated each time.

In the general case one should have to look at the ECMA standards. If someone here knows another source, I urge him to post the URL's ...

(in reply to Optima1)

Based on what you said then, would this be correct: "The track info map is stored on the last user data blocks on the last packet of the closed track." ?

(in reply to Optima1)

Not sure. It depends what physical format you use, it depends what filesystem you use.

Usually, UDF is used, but it can be FAT or NTFS or anything. DVD-RAM, CD-/DVD+MRW and other packet-writing medium doing self defect block management are capable of working with various FS. And even if it is UDF, many revisions of UDF exists (1.02, 1.50, 2.01, 2.5 ...) with each time several levels of support or way to be used. By example you can use UDF to make sequential writing instead of random writing, using an allocation list instead of allocation bitmap. By example you can avoid to write copy of the LVID at the ned of a media you are background formatting (... DVD+RW, MRW) to avoid to force the hardware to be complete the entire format before ejection.

The question is far from been easy.

(in reply to Optima1)

"The track info map", as you say, I assume it is the track TOC.
It is written during formating once and does not change.

I will have to read the ECMA standard for answering the full argument.
Unfortunately, it is currently outside my interests.
If I find some other place with digested info I will post here...

(in reply to Optima1)

Thanks David,

Here is a more precise question then:

At the end of a packet writing session, other than the Data, what is
burned to the CD-R and exactly where is it burned (the Lead-In area or
the Lead Out area of where the last bit of data was burned). Please
differentiate for me, to the best of your ability, the answer to the
questions above with respect to:
A directory

A table of contents

A track Information Map

It is quite possible there is some overlap, but I need as much
specificity as possible. Thanks.

(in reply to Optima1)

Ah, sorry, I am not a write-once media specialist. InCD is doing only RW medias and do not include any sequential writing technology (require for CD-R).

But as your question seems to concerns CD-R, the problem is greatly simplified in my opinion: as it is impossible to rewrite sectors, the filesystem information have to be re-written at the end of the session, just after the user data. This mean the directory/file information (must be changed to reflect the new user data), plus the volume descriptor (at filesystem level), and as you add a session on the CD-R, the TOC of the CD is updated by the drive itself.

Careful that this information is given by an non-"R specialist" but a RW engineer!

(in reply to Optima1)

I have a further question on this topic:

It seems by the last couple of answers that the Lead-In and Lead-Out (in variable length packet writing) physically (as opposed to timing) written at the end of the last user data entered. If this is the case, it seems according to one of the posts below that "the directory/file information..., plus the volume descriptor (at filesystem level), and as you add a session on the CD-R, the TOC of the CD" is written at this physical location.

Could anyone tell me:

1. Could you detail exactly what's contained in the Table of Contents (TOC) and the "Volume Descriptor" (or what the volume descriptor is supposed to accomplish).

2. What's in the Lead-Out area?

3. How does the UDF VAT relate to a TOC?

4. What, in general, does an ICB do? Do ICBs play any role with either a TOC?

5. What is the difference between a path table and a directory?

Thanks - I very much appreciate your responses.

(in reply to Optima1)

Me too...

(in reply to Optima1)

Take a look at ECMA 168 or ISO/IEC 13490 (see http://www.standards.com/index.html#Standards).

We put in an Annex that allegedly explains packet writing format.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Optima1

Thanks David,

Here is a more precise question then:

At the end of a packet writing session, other than the Data, what is
burned to the CD-R and exactly where is it burned (the Lead-In area or
the Lead Out area of where the last bit of data was burned). Please
differentiate for me, to the best of your ability, the answer to the
questions above with respect to:
A directory

A table of contents

A track Information Map

It is quite possible there is some overlap, but I need as much
specificity as possible. Thanks.

---

(in reply to Optima1)