BS ISO/IEC 12246:1993

Section 1 - General
1 Scope
2 Conformance
3 Normative references
4 Definitions
4.1 a.c. erase
4.2 algorithm
4.3 Average Signal Amplitude
4.4 azimuth
4.5 back surface
4.6 bit cell
4.7 byte
4.8 cartridge
4.9 compressed data
4.10 Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) Character
4.11 Error Correcting Code (ECC)
4.12 flux transition position
4.13 flux transition spacing
4.14 logical record
4.15 magnetic tape
4.16 Master Standard Reference Tape
4.17 Physical Beginning of Tape (PBOT)
4.18 Physical End of Tape (PEOT)
4.19 physical recording density
4.20 Secondary Reference Amplitude
4.21 Secondary Reference Field
4.22 Secondary Standard Reference Tape
4.23 Standard Reference Current
4.24 Tape Reference Edge
4.25 Test Recording Current
4.26 track
4.27 Typical Field
4.28 uncompressed data
5 Environment and safety
5.1 Testing environment
5.2 Operating environment
5.3 Storage environment
5.4 Transportation
5.5 Safety
5.6 Flammability
Section 2 - Cartridge
6 Dimensional and mechanical characteristics of
        the cartridge
6.1 General
6.2 Overall dimensions
6.3 Holding areas
6.4 Cartridge insertion
6.5 Window
6.6 Loading grips
6.7 Label areas
6.8 Datum areas and datum holes
6.9 Support areas
6.10 Recognition holes
6.11 Write-inhibit holes
6.12 Pre-positioning surfaces
6.13 Cartridge lid
6.14 Cartridge reel lock
6.15 Reel access holes
6.16 Interface between the reels and the drive
        spindles
6.17 Light path
6.18 Position of the tape in the case
6.19 Tape path zone
6.20 Tape access cavity
6.21 Tape access cavity clearance requirements
Section 3 - Requirements for the unrecorded tape
7 Mechanical, physical and dimensional
        characteristics of the tape
7.1 Materials
7.2 Tape length
7.2.1 Magnetic tape
7.2.2 Leader and trailer tapes
7.2.3 Splicing tape
7.3 Width
7.4 Discontinuities
7.5 Thickness
7.5.1 Thickness of magnetic tape
7.5.2 Thickness of leader and trailer tape
7.6 Longitudinal curvature
7.7 Cupping
7.8 Coating adhesion
7.9 Layer-to-layer adhesion
7.10 Tensile strength
7.10.1 Breaking strength
7.10.2 Yield strength
7.11 Residual elongation
7.12 Electrical resistance of the surface
7.13 Tape winding
7.14 Light transmittance of tape
8 Magnetic recording performance
8.1 Test conditions
8.2 Typical Field
8.3 Signal amplitude
8.4 Resolution
8.5 Narrow-band signal-to-noise ratio
8.5.1 Requirement
8.5.2 Procedure
8.6 Ease of erasure
8.7 Tape quality
8.7.1 Missing pulses
8.7.2 Missing pulse zone
8.8 Inhibitor tape
Section 4 - Requirements for an interchanged tape
9 Format
9.1 General
9.2 Information Matrix
9.2.1 Loading of the Information Matrix
10 Method of recording
10.1 Physical recording density
10.1.1 Long-term average bit cell length
10.1.2 Short-term average bit cell length
10.1.3 Rate of change
10.2 Bit shift
10.3 Read signal amplitudes
10.3.1 Amplitude of data signals
10.3.2 Amplitude of servo signals
10.4 Erasure
11 Track geometry
11.1 Track positions
11.2 Track pitch
11.2.1 Adjacent track pitch
11.2.2 Average track pitch
11.3 Track width
11.4 Track angle
11.5 Straightness of track edge
11.6 Azimuth
12 Format of a track
12.1 Channel Bit
12.2 Information Segment
12.2.1 Bit Synchronization Field
12.2.2 Information Segment Number
12.2.3 Information Segment field
12.3 Information Block
12.4 Physical track types
12.4.1 T1 and T2 track layouts
12.5 Search Field Zones
12.5.1 Search Field Data Zones
12.5.2 Search Field Zone Sequence
12.6 Servo Zone
12.6.1 Servo Zone 1
12.6.2 Servo Zone 2
12.6.3 Servo Zone 3
12.7 Information Tracks
12.7.1 Format Track
12.7.2 Data Track
12.7.3 Long Tape Mark Track
12.7.4 Gap Track
12.7.5 End of Data Track
13 Tape Mark
13.1 Long Tape Mark
13.2 Short Tape Mark
14 End of Data
15 ID Information
15.1 Physical Block ID
15.2 Logical Block ID
15.3 Logical Record ID
15.4 Block type
15.4.1 Data Block
15.4.2 Gap Block
15.4.3 Format Block
15.4.4 Long/Short Tape Mark Block
15.4.5 End of Data Block
16 Rewritten Information Blocks
17 Physical Tape Format
17.1 Initial Erased Area
17.2 Logical Beginning of Tape Area (LBOT Area)
17.3 Usable area of the tape
Annexes
A Measurement of light transmittance of tape and
        leaders
B Measurement of bit shift
C Representation of 8-bit bytes by 10-bit patterns
D Recommendations for transportation
E Inhibitor tape

Specifies the physical and magnetic characteristics of an 8mm wide magnetic tape cartridge to enable interchangeability of such cartridges. Coverage includes definitions, bit cell, compressed data, physical recording density, logical record, uncompressed data, storage environment, transportation, safety, flammability, loading grips, window, cartridge insertion, label areas, light path, tape path zone, splicing tape, tensile strength, ease of erasure, and average track pitch. Also gives detailed annexes.

This International Standard specifies the physical and magnetic characteristics of an 8 mm wide magnetic tape cartridge to enable interchangeability of such cartridges. It also specifies the quality of the recorded signals, the format and the recording method, thus allowing, together with ISO 1001 for Magnetic Tape Labelling, full data interchange by means of such magnetic tape cartridges. It is based on ISO/IEC 11319, but uses Dual Azimuth Recording to allow the raw capacity to be doubled. The format supports variable length Logical Records, high speed search, and the use of a registered data compression algorithm.