Corel CD Creator Version 2 README Information
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This document includes last minute product information about Corel CD Creator and its related modules. The information provided in this document isn't available in the printed or online documentation. This document includes the following information:

    1. About SCSI Devices
       Detecting SCSI Devices
       Powering Off External SCSI Devices

    2. Format of Layout Files

    3. Capturing Data Layouts for Jewel Case Inserts

    4. Handling of File Shortcuts

    5. Using Long File and Directory Names

    6. Conversion of WAV Files

    7. Known Problems and Limitations

    8. Special Considerations for Windows 95 Users
       Defining Registry Keys
       Auto Insert Notification and CD Recorders
       Auto Insert Notification and CD-ROM Drives
       Auto Insert Notification and Digital Audio Extraction
       Unknown Device Message

    9. Special Considerations for Windows NT Users
       Simulating Disc Creation
       Using New Shell


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1. About SCSI Devices

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Detecting SCSI Devices
If you aren't using a plug and play host adapter, Corel CD Creator may not be able to detect SCSI devices that were not powered on or that were connected after the system was started. Therefore, properly connect and power on all devices before starting Windows 95 or Windows NT.

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Powering Off SCSI Devices
Some external SCSI devices can adversely affect the termination of the SCSI bus when powered off. If you experience problems starting or using your system while external devices are powered off, leave these devices powered on while the system is in use.


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2. Format of Layout Files
The format of the layout files used for CD Creator v2 isn't backwardly compatible with the format of the layout files used for Corel CD Creator v1.xx. To avoid confusion, the ".CDL" filename extension used for Corel CD Creator v1.xx layout files has been changed to ".CL2" for Corel CD Creator v2 layout files.


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3. Capturing Data Layouts for Jewel Case Inserts
If you press Alt+S from the Jewel Case Insert editor, Corel CD Creator takes a snapshot of the layout in the Data Files editor and inserts a bitmap of the layout into the Jewel Case Insert editor.


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4. Handling of File Shortcuts
If you add a shortcut to a layout, the shortcut file is added. There is no special handling of file shortcuts.


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5. Using Long File and Directory Names
Windows 95 and Windows NT try to generate shorter file and directory names, even if they're defined using long (30 character) names. Therefore, to record layouts that include long names, you need to make sure that the first eight characters of the names are unique; otherwise, the names will appear to be duplicates when they're truncated. If you plan to use this disc only under Windows 95, you can also resolve this problem by selecting the Microsoft Joliet file system for the layout. However, Joliet is a new file system that is currently only supported on Windows 95 systems.

Example:  TESTING1 (LONG).TXT and TESTING1.TXT will be aliased to the same file if they exist on a CD-ROM under Windows 95. If the two files exist in the same directory, a naming conflict occurs and you won't be able to access both files from the CD.

Note: This problem doesn't occur under Windows NT.


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6. Conversion of WAV Files
When recording disc layouts to CD-R discs, Corel CD Creator converts low quality WAV files to CD quality. See the User's Manual for more information. When recording layouts to disc images files, however, the conversion of low quality WAV files isn't supported. The disc image creation will fail.


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7. Known Problems and Limitations
a)  If you create and save a disc layout using the Microsoft Joliet file system, the Volume Label field won't be properly restored the next time you open the layout.

b)  If you use the Microsoft Joliet file system to create a Mode 1 data disc, the Write Protect check box is enabled, by default, when you start to record the layout. This default is in accordance with the Microsoft file system specification. However, if you change the data mode option to Mode 2, the Write Protect check box remains enabled. You can safely disable this check box for Mode 2 Joliet disc because the Microsoft Joliet specification permits the creation of multisession Mode 2 discs.

c)  Corel CD Creator includes a device driver that allows you to use certain compact disc recorders as CD-ROM drives under Windows 95 and Windows NT. The device driver also makes enhanced features such as session selection available. If you're using disc recording software from another vendor in combination with a Philips,  Kodak, Yamaha, Ricoh, Plasmon, or HP recorder and the software isn't properly identifying the number of sessions on a multisession disc, you may need to temporarily remove Corel's device driver while using the non functioning software.

To temporarily remove this device driver, rename the device driver and restart Windows. Under Windows 95, the device driver is named VSD_CUNI.VXD and is located in your Windows95\System\IoSubsys directory. Under Windows NT, the device driver is named NT_CUNI.SYS and is located in your WinNT35\System32\Drivers directory.

Note: Remember to restore the original name and restart Windows before using either Corel CD Creator 2 or Corel Session Selector.

d) If many files are included in the layout which Corel CD Creator must copy from a remote or removable media drive and if available temporary hard disk space is less than 8Mb, CD Creator may not be able to create a disc. Corel CD Creator will attempt to generate more than the allowable 99 tracks. To resolve this problem, make more space available on the hard disk that contains your temporary directory.

e) After importing an existing session from a disc, the imported files appear in the File Ordering editor as normal priority files. While in this view, you can reorder these files within priorities and reassign them to other priorities. However, these changes have no effect on the physical location of the data for these files as the data already exists on the target disc.

f) If you're experiencing problems getting Disc Wizard to successfully create mixed mode discs, perform the following steps:

    1. Choose Properties from the Disc menu
    2. Select the Disc Optimizer property page.
    3. Enable "Preserve normal file ordering" and "Create Master Disc".
    4. Click the "Save as default" button.

Note: You aren't required to perform these steps when using the main Corel CD Creator user interface to create mixed mode discs.

g) The capability of writing discs with a block size other than 2048 is currently disabled. Contact Corel Corporation Technical Support for more information.

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8. Special Considerations for Windows 95 Users

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Defining Registry Keys
When the "ModifyLayoutInBackground" registry key is set to any value other than 0, file dates, times and sizes are updated when Disc Optimizer is in the background. If a source file has been deleted, Disc Optimizer will "stall" until you record the layout. This key is defined in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\COREL CORP\COREL CD CREATOR\ADVANCED. If you haven't defined the registry key or it's set to 0, Disc Optimizer will "stall" on modified files until you record the layout. At this time, Corel CD Creator prompts you, as usual, to validate the files.

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Auto Insert Notification and CD Recorders
Corel CD Creator v2 includes drivers that make your compact disc recorder available for use as a CD-ROM drive on Windows 95 and Windows NT. Under Windows 95, however, a serious degradation of overall system performance and responsiveness occurs with some recorders when either blank media or no media is inserted in the recorder. This behavior is directly related 
to Windows 95 processing, as a result of enabling the auto insert notification for the recorder's drive letter.

When auto insert notification is enabled for a CD-ROM drive or CD recorder, Windows 95 polls the device every few seconds to determine if a new disc has been inserted. This continuous polling can interfere with Corel CD Creator's system tests, as well as its ability to successfully create or simulate the creation of a disc.

Corel strongly recommends that you disable auto insert notification for the drive letter that represents your recorder. Corel CD Creator tests whether auto insert notification is enabled for any recorders attached to your system. If so, it offers to automatically disable this option and restart Windows.

To manually disable auto insert notification:
1. Ensure your recorder is powered on before starting Windows.
2. Select 'System' settings from the Control Panel.
3. Select the 'Device Manager' property sheet.
4. Double-click the 'CD-ROM' icon and select your recorder from the list of available CD-ROM drives.
5. Click the 'Properties' button and select the 'Settings' page on the popup property sheet.
6. Deselect the 'Auto insert notification' option and click OK.
7. Restart Windows.

Note:  When auto insert notification is disabled for a particular drive, autorun/autoplay is also disabled.

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Auto Insert Notification and CD-ROM Drives
When auto insert notification is disabled for a CD-ROM drive letter, Explorer doesn't correctly resynchronize its display when you insert a disc into the CD-ROM drive or when you use the Corel Session Selector to change sessions. You can force Explorer to resynchronize its display with the actual contents of the disc by selecting the Refresh command from the View menu of the Explorer.

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Auto Insert Notification and Digital Audio Extraction
The process of reading digital audio information from an audio disc in a CD-ROM drive is known as digital audio extraction. While performing digital audio extraction, CD Creator may prompt you to insert audio CDs into your CD-ROM drive.

On Windows 95 systems, if auto insert notification is enabled for the selected CD-ROM drive, the Windows 95 shell will detect the insertion of a new audio disc and attempt to start playing the disc - a Windows 95 feature known as autoplay. Since audio playback interferes with CD Creator's ability to perform digital audio extraction, CD Creator temporarily blocks the systems access to the selected CD-ROM drive while extracting audio information. During this time, Explorer and other applications will act as if there is no disc mounted in the CD-ROM drive. When CD Creator has completed extracting the required audio information, normal access to the CD-ROM drive is restored.

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Unknown Device Message
The first time that Windows 95 starts after you attach a recorder to your system, you may see a message that indicates the system has detected an unknown device. You can ignore this message as the drivers necessary to access supported recorders are installed with Corel CD Creator.


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9. Special Considerations for Windows NT Users

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Simulating Disc Creation
You should simulate disc creation before actually recording a layout, even if the system tests completed successfully. If buffer under run errors occur during the simulation, you may need to manually adjust the recorder's buffer sizes.

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Using New Shell
Corel doesn't recommend using this version of Corel CD Creator with New Shell under Windows NT. New Shell was in a pre-release state at the time that this version of Corel CD Creator was released.
