Nero Express 7 User Manual

Nero Express Manual

Nero AG

The Nero Express manual and all its contents are protected by copyright and are the property of Nero AG. All rights reserved. This manual contains material that is protected by internationally valid copyright. No part of this manual may be reproduced, transmitted or transcribed without the express written permission of Nero AG.

All trade names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Nero AG rejects any claims that transcend the clauses of the guarantee rights. Nero AG does not accept any liability for the correctness of the content of the Nero Express manual. The contents of the software supplied, as well as of the Nero Express manual, may be changed without prior warning.

The trademarks mentioned here are named for information purposes only.

Contents

1 General information 5

1.1 About the manual 5

1.2 About Nero Express 5

1.3 Versions of Nero Express 5

2 Technical information 6

2.1 System requirements 6

3 Launching the program 7

3.1 Launching Nero Express via Nero StartSmart 7

3.2 Launching Nero Express directly 7

4 Start screen 8

4.1 Extended area (start screen) 9

4.1.1 Options 11

4.1.2 Copying Audio CD tracks 12

4.1.3 Erasing a disc 14

4.1.4 SecurDisc™ Settings 15

4.1.5 Selecting recorders and activating Nero Image Recorder 16

5 Compilation screen 18 6 Compiling data CD/DVDs 20

6.1 Finding and adding files 22

6.2 Hiding files 24

6.3 Activate SecurDisc™ Settings 24

7 Music 28

7.1 Compiling an Audio CD 28

7.1.1 Customizing properties 29

7.2 Compiling jukebox Audio CD/DVDs 32

7.3 Compiling an Audiobook CD 34

8 Videos and slide shows 35

8.1 Compiling Video CDs/Super Video CDs 35

8.1.1 Customizing properties 37

8.1.2 Customizing the menu 38

8.2 Compiling DVD-Videos 39

Page 3

Contents

9 Creating a copy 41

9.1 Copying a CD/DVD 42

10 Loading a disc image or saved project 45 11 LightScribe® 46

11.1 Printing LightScribe® labels (without compilation) 46

11.1.1 Customizing print properties 48

11.2 Printing LightScribe® labels (within the project) 49

12 LabelFlash™ 51

12.1 Burn Label screen 52

12.2 Printing Labelflash™ labels and DiskT@2 53

13 Final Burn Settings screen 55

13.1 Extended area (Burn Settings) 56

13.2 Burning with Nero Image Recorder – creating an image file 57

13.3 Burning discs with the drive 58

14 Final screen 60 15 Glossary 61 16 Index 70 17 Contact 72

17.1 Contact details 72

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General information

1 General information

1.1 About the manual

In order to make best use of this manual, please note the following conventions:

Symbol Meaning

Indicates warnings or instructions that have to be followed strictly.

Indicates additional information or advice.

1. Start …

Æ Î

Chapter

A number at the beginning of a line indicates a request for action. Carry out these actions in the order specified.

Indicates an intermediate result. Indicates a result. Indicates text passages, menu items or buttons that appear in the

program interface of Nero Express. They are shown in bold face. Indicates references to other chapters. They are executed as links

and are shown in red and underlined.

1.2 About Nero Express

Nero Express provides all the performance and efficiency of Nero Burning ROM with a simplified user interface. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, Nero Express guides you quickly and easily through your desired burning tasks. The default settings are selected to automatically achieve best results. Using the program is remarkably easy: simply select the object to be burned, add the files, and start burning.

1.3 Versions of Nero Express

Nero Express is available in three different versions: Nero Express, Nero Express Essentials, and Nero Express Essentials SE.

Nero Express and Nero Express Essentials offer the full range of functions, only Nero Express Essentials SE does not offer the following functions:

Unrestricted encoding in Nero Digital Audio format



Creating and burning Super Video CDs (see Compiling Video CDs/Super Video CDs)



Linking to Nero CoverDesigner (see Extended area (start screen))



Saving audio files (see Copying Audio CD tracks)



Erasing rewritable CDs/DVDs (see Erasing a disc)



Retrieving disc information (see Extended area (start screen))



Creating labels with LightScribe® (not included in standard functionality, see



LightScribe®)

Creating labels with LabelFlash™ (not included in standard functionality, see



LabelFlash™)

Burn SecurDisc™ data CD's/DVD's with SecurDisc™ (not included in the standard



features by default, see

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SecurDisc™ Settings)

Technical information

2 Technical information

2.1 System requirements

In addition to the general system requirements for the Nero program package, the following individual system requirements apply to Nero Express:

Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0b or higher



Optional:

LightScribe® compatible recorder and medium



Using LightScribe® Direct Disc Labeling

If you have a CD or DVD recorder with LightScribe LightScribe

If you have downloaded and installed the latest version of Nero 7 from the Nero website, you must install the LightScribe found at

LabelFlash™ recorder and disc



Blu-ray recorder and disc



HD DVD recorder and HD DVD



SecurDisc™ recorder



Installation of the latest WHQL certified device drivers is recommended. WHQL stands for Windows Hardware Quality Labs and means that the device driver certified by Microsoft compatible with Microsoft

System Software.

System Software separately. The latest version can be

www.nero.com/link.php?topic_id=93.

Windows® and the respective hardware.

support, your system needs the latest

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Launching the program

3 Launching the program

3.1 Launching Nero Express via Nero StartSmart

To launch Nero Express via Nero StartSmart, proceed as follows:

1. Double-click on the Nero StartSmart menu icon.

Æ The Nero StartSmart window is opened.

2. Click on the button in the left margin of the window.

Æ The extended area is opened.

3. Click on the Nero Express entry in the Applications drop-down list.

Æ The Nero Express window is opened.

Î You have launched Nero Express via Nero StartSmart.

3.2 Launching Nero Express directly

To launch Nero Express directly, proceed as follows:

1. Select Start > (All) Programs > Nero 7 (Premium) > Audio / Data > Nero Express.

Æ The Nero Express window is opened.

Î You have launched Nero Express.

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Fig. 1. Nero StartSmart

Start screen

4 Start screen

In the Nero Express start screen, click on the relevant menu icons to go to the desired screen where you can compile and work on your project. The selection is categorized into two areas: several formats or options are available for the Data, Music, Videos/Pictures, Image, Project, Copy and Print LightScribe Label compilation methods.

The following compilation methods are available:

Allows you to compile and burn all types of files and folders:

Data CD (see Compiling data CD/DVDs)



Data DVD (see Compiling data CD/DVDs)



Data HD DVD (see Compiling data CD/DVDs)



Available with a HD DVD recorder only (see

recorders and activating Nero Image Recorder

Data Blu-ray Disc (see Compiling data CD/DVDs)

Data



Available with a Blu-ray recorder only (see

recorders and activating Nero Image Recorder

Data SecurDisc™ CD (see Compiling data CD/DVDs



Available with SecurDisc™ recorder only (see

recorders and activating Nero Image Recorder

Data SecurDisc™ DVD (see Compiling data CD/DVDs



Available with SecurDisc™ recorder only (see

recorders and activating Nero Image Recorder

Fig. 2. Start screen with extended area

Selecting

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Start screen

Music

Allows you to compile and burn audio and audiobook files in the formats you want:

Audio CD (see Compiling an Audio CD)



Audiobook CD (see Compiling an Audiobook CD)



Jukebox Audio CD (see Compiling jukebox Audio



CD/DVDs

Jukebox Audio DVD (see Compiling jukebox Audio



CD/DVDs

JukeBox HD DVD (see Compiling jukebox Audio



CD/DVDs

Available with a HD DVD recorder only (see

recorders and activating Nero Image Recorder

Jukebox Blu-ray Disc (see Compiling jukebox Audio



CD/DVDs

Available with a Blu-ray recorder only (see

recorders and activating Nero Image Recorder

Allows you to compile and burn video and/or picture files as VCD/SVCD or DVD-Video:

)

Selecting

)

Selecting

Videos/Pictures

Image, Project, Copy

Print LightScribe Label

Video CD (see Compiling Video CDs/Super Video CDs)



Super Video CD (see Compiling Video CDs/Super Video

 

Allows you to copy a source disc and to load an image file or a saved project:

  



Displays the Disc Label screen. This is where you can create or load a label in order to print on the

label side of special CDs/DVDs in the recorder (see Available with a LightScribe® recorder only (see

requirements). The recorder must be selected to enable the option

Selecting recorders and activating Nero Image Recorder).

(see

)

CDs

DVD-Video Files (see Compiling DVD-Videos)

Copy Entire CD (see Creating a copy) Copy Entire DVD (see Creating a copy) Disc Image or Saved Project (see Loading a disc image

or saved project

Copy Entire HD DVD (see Creating a copy) Available with a HD DVD recorder only (see

recorders and activating Nero Image Recorder

Copy Entire Blu-ray Disc (see Creating a copy) Available with a Blu-ray recorder only (see

recorders and activating Nero Image Recorder

)

Selecting

LightScribe®).

System

4.1 Extended area (start screen)

You can access the extra options and functions in the extended area of the start screen by clicking on the

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button in the left margin of the window.

Start screen

An extended area with extra options and functions is available in all Nero Express screens (see also

Extended area (Burn Settings)).

The following menu icons are available:

Closes Nero Express and opens the start screen of Nero Burning ROM.

Switch to Nero Burning ROM

This option is only available in the extended area of the start screen. If you decide to create a project with Nero Express, the option Saves the active project is displayed in all of the other windows at this point.

Saves the active project

Opens the Save As dialog box. You can save your compilation here. Opens the Options dialog box.

Options

Copy Audio CD Tracks

You can customize Nero Express to suit your needs here

Options).

(see Opens the Save Tracks window.

You can copy audio files from CD to hard drive here (see

Copying Audio CD tracks).

Opens the Erase Rewritable Disc dialog box.

Erase Disc

This is where you can erase the data from a rewritable CD/DVD (see

Erasing a disc).

Opens the Disc Info dialog box.

Disc Info

This is where you can display information on the CD/DVD inserted. The total capacity and available capacity will be shown in addition to the tracks and sessions.

Opens Nero Cover Designer. Using Nero Cover Designer you can create and print labels

Create Covers and Labels

and booklets for CDs/DVDs that have been burned. Please see the separate Nero CoverDesigner user manual

for full instructions on how to make professional looking covers and labels.

SecurDisc™ Settings

Defines the settings for burning a SecurDisc™ disc. Opens the Burn Label window. This is where you can create or load a label in order to print

on the label and/or data side of special DVDs in the recorder

LabelFlash™).

Burn Label

(see Available with a LabelFlash™ recorder only (see

System

requirements). The recorder must be selected to enable the option (see

Recorder

Selecting recorders and activating Nero Image

Defines the recorder that you want to use for burning and/or

Recorder

the Nero Image Recorder (see

activating Nero Image Recorder

Selecting recorders and

Please note that the options Copy Audio CD Tracks, Erase Disc, Disk Info, and Create Covers and Labels are not available in Nero Express Essentials SE.

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Start screen

4.1.1 Options

You can customize Nero Express to suit your needs on the various tabs.

The following tabs are available:

Compilation

Fig. 3. Options dialog box

Enables/disables certain basic settings:

Remember last used volume label: makes



available the title for the next disc.

Clear archive bits of written files during ISO



refresh: deletes the archive bits of saved files. Archive bits are used to identify files that have



been edited. A file is only resaved during the next backup process if it was edited (and an archive bit is thus reset).

Allow semicolons in Joliet names: allows the



use of semicolons in addition to standard uppercase and lowercase letters and Unicode characters (and German umlauts) in file names in the Joliet file system.

Show original path with ISO compilation: lists



the full path of the added files in the compilation screen in the Source column.

We recommend enabling all the check boxes as this makes Nero Express easier to work with.

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Start screen

Cache

Language

Sounds Audio Expert Features

Database

Ultrabuffer

Misc

Defines the settings for the memory where the data is buffered before and during burning.

If multiple hard drives have been installed, you can select the fastest one as the cache.

Displays all installed languages and fonts and defines the language or font you want to display on the Nero Express user interface.

Defines whether, or for which events, sound files are played in Nero Express.

Displays the directory in which the audio plug-ins are installed. Enables additional options and defines settings for the entire burn

process. Enables/disables the link between Audio CDs and a local user,

program or Internet Audio CD database. Defines the memory capacity that Nero Express uses as a RAM

buffer. The ultrabuffer is a second memory that enhances the physical

buffer in the recorder. You can define the memory capacity manually.

Enables and/or disables a variety of options for the user interface, compilations, burning, the database, and for other settings in Nero Express.

4.1.2 Copying Audio CD tracks

Please note that the Copy Audio CD Tracks function is not available in Nero Express Essentials SE.

Using Nero Express you can convert the audio files or an entire Audio CD into the format you want and save it to your hard drive. To do this, proceed as follows:

1. Insert the required Audio CD into your computer's drive.

2. Click on the Copy Audio CD Tracks button in the extended area of the screen.

3. If multiple drives are displayed, select the drive containing the Audio CD you require.

Æ A dialog box is opened.

4. If you would like to retrieve artist/title information from the Nero/Internet CD database:

1. Click on the Yes button.

Æ The CD parameters are sent.

The relevant window is opened and the results are displayed in the List of

corresponding CD entries area.

2. Select the relevant entry.

3. Click on the Selected CD button.

Æ The selected data is incorporated into the track list.

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Start screen

5. If you do not want to retrieve artist/title information from the Nero/Internet CD database:

1. Click on the No button.

Æ The Save Tracks window is opened.

Fig. 4. Save Tracks window

6. In the track list select the audio files that you want to save to your hard drive.

If you want to convert all audio files, simply click on the Select All button.

7. Select the file format you want from the Output file format drop-down list.

8. In the Path drop-down list select the place where you want to store the converted audio files.

9. Select a File name creation method.

Manual is specified as the default method for the default name. If you select Custom, enter the name you want for the audio file.

10. If you want to set options in the extended area, click on the Options window (see Extended

area (options)

Æ The extended dialog box is opened.

11. Click on the Start button.

Æ Conversion is started and you can follow the progress in the relevant dialog box.

12. Click on the Close button.

Î You have successfully copied individual audio files or an entire Audio CD to your hard

drive.

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Start screen

4.1.2.1 Extended area (options)

You can also perform additional settings in the extended area of the Save Tracks window. Click on the Options button to open the extended area.

The following check boxes are available:

Jitter Correction Remove silence

Automatically generate an M3U playlist of stored audio tracks

Read Speed

4.1.3 Erasing a disc

Please note that the Erase Disc function is not available in Nero Express Essentials SE.

Using Nero Express you can erase data from a rewritable CD/DVD.

Synchronizes data information by overlapping the sectors. This prevents gaps from occurring.

Removes the silence from the end of an audio file. Generates a playlist of audio files that are stored on the

hard drive. The M3U file format compiles a list of media files.

Defines the speed at which the drive reads the files.

Fig. 5. Erase Rewritable Disc dialog box

The following options are available:

Select recorder Use multiple recorders

Defines the recorder you want if multiple recorders are installed.

Simultaneously erases CDs/DVDs in multiple recorders. Defines the erase method.

Select the erase method to be used

The Quick-erase rewritable disc method does not physically erase the data. The disc will appear to be empty.

The Fully erase rewritable disc method erases all data from the CD/DVD.

Erase speed

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Defines the erase speed.

Start screen

4.1.4 SecurDisc™ Settings

This function is only available with a recorder that supports SecurDisc™ (see

requirements

With Nero Express and a SecurDisc™ recorder, you can burn your data a s data SecurDisc™ CDs or DVDs.

SecurDisc™ is an innovative security technology characterized by extremely stabile hardware and software encoding. It uses mandatory storage level security features such as checksums to verify data integrity and readability, and redundancy storage and defect data management systems to ensure maximum data reliability, i.e., SecurDisc™ compilations are more resistant to physical damage (such as scratches). Password protection as well as the data encryption used by SecurDisc™ protect your data against unauthorized access. In addition, you can add a digital signature to the disk to authenticate the origin as well as the integrity of the data.

This function is available as separate Data > Data SecurDisc™ CD/DVD option in the start screen.

System

Fig. 6. Extended Area SecurDisc™ Settings

The following settings are available in the SecurDisc™ Settings area:

When this option is checked, you can activate and/or

Password protection

deactivate the protection against unauthorized access for all or individual files.

When this option is checked, the SecurDisc™ – Digital

Digital signature

Signature dialog box is opened.

You can configure the key for a digital signature on your data SecurDisc™ CD/DVD here.

When this option is checked, PDF documents are copy

Prohibit data duplication

protected. In order to view a copy protected PDF, you require a

special application called SecurDisc™ Viewer;

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Start screen

Allow Duplication by Password

Data Integrity Check

Data reliability

SecurDisc™ Viewer can be downloaded free of charge at

www.securdisc.net.

Available for data SecurDisc™ DVDs only. When this option is checked, the SecurDisc™ – Data

Protection dialog box is opened. You can enter the access password for copy protected

PDF documents here. Available only if the Prohibit data duplication check box

was already selected. Checks whether the data on the SecurDisc™ has been

changed maliciously or due to technical damage. This function is enabled by default and cannot be

disabled. This offers greater data security, i.e. greater protection in

the event of technical damage on the strength of redundantly saved data.

This function is enabled by default and cannot be disabled.

4.1.5 Selecting recorders and activating Nero Image Recorder

If multiple recorders are installed, you can select the recorder that you want to use for burning from the Recorder drop-down menu. Immediately before burning a project, you can change the recorder you selected again in the Final Burn Settings window (see

discs with the drive

If a LabelFlash™ recorder is installed on your computer, you can select it to create and print LabelFlash™ DVD labels in Nero Express. The function is available as a separate Burn Label menu icon in the extended area of the start window (see

If a LightScribe print LightScribe window as a separate Print LightScribe Label option or can be integrated as an intermediate step into the creation and burn process of a project (see

If a Blu-ray recorder is installed on your computer, you can select it to create and burn Blu-ray Discs in Nero Express. Corresponding options, e.g. Data Blu-ray Disc, are available in the start window.

If a HD DVD recorder is installed on your computer, you can select it to create and burn HD DVDs in Nero Express. Corresponding options, e.g. Data HD DVD, are available in the start window.

If a SecurDisc™ recorder is installed on your computer, you can select it to create and burn data SecurDisc™ CDs and/or DVDs in Nero Express. Corresponding options, e.g. Data SecurDisc™ DVD, are available in the start window.

recorder is installed on your computer, you can select it to create and

CD/DVD labels in Nero Express. The function is available in the start

Burning

LabelFlash™).

LightScribe®).

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Start screen

Apart from installed recorders, Nero Image Recorder is also available in Nero Express. With Nero Image Recorder you can create and save an image file in order to burn it later (see

Burning with Nero Image Recorder – creating an image file). In order to be able to use Nero

Image Recorder, you can check the Use Nero Image Recorder box in the extended area of the start screen.

Please note that Nero Image Recorder can only be activated in the extended area of the start screen.

If Nero Image Recorder is activated, you can also select compilations in Nero Express that would not be feasible with the recorders installed on your computer. For example, if you have installed a CD recorder, you can also compile a DVD with Nero Image Recorder and save the compilation as an image file.

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Compilation screen

5 Compilation screen

You can access the Nero Express compilation screens by selecting the compilation method you want in the start screen. You can add data to your projects in the compilation screens and customize the directory structure on the CD/DVD to suit your requirements. The ca pacity bar in the bottom part of the window indicates how much space is being used by the data on the CD/DVD. Essentially, all compilation screens have the same structure.

The following buttons are available:

Add Remove Play Total size on disc Back Next

Opens the Add files and folders window. This deletes the selected file. Plays a selected audio or video file. Displays the drive space used. Returns to the start screen. Switches to the Final Burn Settings screen. Opens the Audio Track Properties dialog box for Audio CDs

Properties

(see Video CDs/Super Video CDs (see

Available for Audio, Video, and Super Video CDs only. Enables a filter that brings the volume of the audio files to be

Normalize all audio files

burned into line with one another. This is recommended particularly if the files originate from different sources.

Available for Audio CDs only. Establishes that the audio files merge into one another without

No pause between tracks

a pause. If the box is unchecked, a pause of two seconds is inserted between the files.

Available for Audio CDs only.

Fig. 7. My Video CD compilation screen

Track properties) and the MPEG Info dialog box for

Track properties).

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Compilation screen

Enable (S)VCD Menu

DVD9(8152MB) / DVD5(4483MB)

BD DL (47742MB) / BD (23866MB)

Enables a menu for the CD. You can customize the look of the menu to suit your requirements (see

Menu).

Available for Video and Super Video CDs only. If the DVD burner is capable of burning DVDs with 2 layers

(DVD DL), and if you want to burn files larger than 4483 MB, you can select the DVD9 (8152 MB) option from the dropdown menu.

Available for DVD-Videos only. If the burner is capable of burning Blu-ray Discs with 2 layers

(BD DL), and if you want to burn files larger than 23866 MB, you can select the BD DL(47742MB) option from the dropdown menu.

Available for Blu-ray Discs only.

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Compiling data CD/DVDs

6 Compiling data CD/DVDs

Using Nero Express you can compile and burn all types of files and folders. If a DVD recorder is installed on your computer, you can burn both data CDs and data DVDs. If you have a CD recorder, you can only burn data CDs and the option for burning a DVD is already grayed out in the start screen. There is no difference between the procedures for each compilation method.

If a HD DVD recorder is installed on your computer, you can select it to display the Data HD DVD option in the Data area. The procedures for both compiling and burning a data HD DVD are the same as the compilation method for a data CD/DVD.

In comparison to a DVD, a HD DVD has considerably more space and can store up to 15 GB on a single-layer disc. The capacity bar in the Disc Content compilation window displays comparatively more available space.

If a Blu-ray recorder is installed on your computer, you can select it to display the Data Blu-ray Disc option in the Data area of the start screen. The procedures for both compiling and burning a Blu-ray data disc are the same as the compilation method for a data CD/DVD.

In comparison to a DVD, a Blu-ray Disc has considerably more space and can store up to 25 GB on a single-layer disc (up to 50 GB on a dual-layer disc). The capacity bar in the Disc Content compilation window displays comparatively more available spa ce.

If a SecurDisc™ recorder is installed on your computer, you can select it to display the Data SecurDisc™ CD and Data SecurDisc™DVD options in the Data area of the start screen. The procedures for both compiling and burning a data SecurDisc™ CD/ DVD a re the same as the compilation method for a standard data CD/DVD.

In the extended area of the Disk Contents compilation window, additional options are displayed under SecurDisc™ Settings (see

SecurDisc™ Settings).

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Compiling data CD/DVDs

To create a data CD/DVD, proceed as follows:

Fig. 8. Data start screen

1. Click on the Data menu icon in the Nero Express start screen.

Æ The Data CD and Data DVD options are displayed.

2. Click on the option you want.

Æ The Disc Content compilation screen for data CDs/DVDs is displayed. Æ If you selected one of the Data SecurDisc™ CD or Data SecurDisc™ DVD options in

the start screen, an additional dialog is displayed. In the extended area of the compilation window, additional options are displayed under SecurDisc™ Settings (see

SecurDisc™ Settings).

Fig. 9. Disc Content compilation screen

3. Click on the Add button.

Æ The Add files and folders window is opened.

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Compiling data CD/DVDs

Fig. 10. Add files and folders window

4. Select the files that you want to add to the compilation and click on the Add button.

5. Repeat the previous step for all files that you want to add.

If you are searching for specific files and want to add them to your compilation, see

and adding files

6. Click on the Close button.

Æ The files are added to the compilation and displayed in the compilation screen.

7. Sort the data on the CD/DVD according to your requirements.

8. Hide specific files (see Hiding files).

9. If you want to create a data SecurDisc™ CD/DVD, select the desired check boxes in the

SecurDisc™ Settings area (see

Activate SecurDisc™ Settings).

10. Click on the Next button.

Æ If you have selected any check boxes in the SecurDisc™ Settings area, the

corresponding dialog boxes are displayed and you can configu re additional settings (see

Activate SecurDisc™ Settings).

Î You have successfully compiled a data CD/DVD and can now burn this compilation.

Finding

6.1 Finding and adding files

To find specific files and to add them to your compilation, proceed as follows:

1. Click on the Add button in the Disc Content compilation screen for data CDs/DVDs.

Æ The Add files and folders window is opened.

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