ECMA 231 : 1ED 95

Section 1 - General
1 Scope
2 Conformance
   2.1 Magnetic tape cartridges
   2.2 Generating systems
   2.3 Receiving systems
3 References
4 Definitions
   4.1 Average Signal Amplitude
   4.2 azimuth
   4.3 back surface
   4.4 Beginning-Of-Tape marker (BOT)
   4.5 byte
   4.6 cartridge
   4.7 Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) character
   4.8 Early Warning (EW)
   4.9 Error-Detecting Code (EDC)
   4.10 End-Of-Tape marker (EOT)
   4.11 Entity
   4.12 Error-Correcting Code (ECC)
   4.13 flux transition position
   4.14 flux transition spacing
   4.15 Logical Block
   4.16 logical track
   4.17 magnetic tape
   4.18 Master Standard Reference Tape
   4.19 object
   4.20 page
   4.21 physical block
   4.22 physical recording density
   4.23 physical track
   4.24 Record
   4.25 Reference Edge
   4.26 Reference Field
   4.27 Secondary Standard Reference Tape
   4.28 Standard Reference Amplitude (SRA)
   4.29 Standard Reference Current
   4.30 Test Recording Current
   4.31 Typical Field
5 Conventions and notations
   5.1 Representation of numbers
   5.2 Dimensions
   5.3 Names
   5.4 Acronyms
6 Environment and safety
   6.1 Cartridge and tape testing environment.
   6.2 Cartridge operating environment
   6.3 Cartridge storage environment
   6.4 Safety
   6.5 Transportation
Section 2 - Requirements for the unrecorded tape
7 Mechanical and electrical requirements
   7.1 Material
   7.2 Tape length
   7.3 Width
   7.4 Total thickness
   7.5 Discontinuity
   7.6 Longitudinal curvature
   7.7 Out-of-Plane distortions
   7.8 Cupping
   7.9 Roughness of the coating surfaces
   7.10 Coating adhesion
   7.11 Layer-to-layer adhesion
   7.12 Modulus of elasticity
   7.13 Flexural rigidity
   7.14 Tensile yield force
   7.15 Electrical resistance
   7.16 Inhibitor tape
   7.17 Abrasivity
   7.18 Light transmittance of the tape and the leader
   7.19 Coefficient of dynamic friction
8 Magnetic recording characteristics
   8.1 Typical Field
   8.2 Signal amplitude
   8.3 Resolution
   8.4 Overwrite
   8.5 Peak shift
9 Tape quality
   9.1 Missing pulses
   9.2 Missing pulse zone
   9.3 Tape durability
Section 3 - Mechanical specifications of the tape cartridge
10 General
   10.1 Bottom side and right side
   10.2 Back side and left side
   10.3 Tape reel
   10.4 Tape leader
   10.5 Front side
   10.6 Operation of the cartridge
   10.7 Tape winding
   10.8 Moment of inertia
   10.9 Material
Section 4 - Requirements for an interchanged tape
11 Method of recording
   11.1 Physical recording density
   11.2 Channel bit cell length
   11.3 Flux transition spacing
   11.4 Read signal amplitude
   11.5 Azimuth
   11.6 Channel skew
12 Tape format
   12.1 Reference Edge
   12.2 Direction of recording
   12.3 Tape layout
   12.4 Calibration and Directory Area
   12.5 Data Area
13 Data format
   13.1 Data Bytes
   13.2 Logical Blocks
   13.3 Data Blocks
   13.4 Types of Logical Blocks
   13.5 Entities
   13.6 Logical Block format
14 Use of Logical Blocks
   14.1 Data Blocks
   14.2 Filler Blocks
   14.3 End of Track Blocks (EOTR)
   14.4 End of Data Blocks (EOD)
   14.5 ECC Blocks
15 Format of Entities
16 Error handling
Annexes
A - Measurement of light transmittance
B - Generation of the Data Blocks CRCs
C - ECC generation
D - Generation of page CRCs
E - Format of MAP entries
F - Format of Control Field 1
G - Format of Control Field 2
H - Recommendations for transportation
J - Inhibitor tape
K - Recommendations on tape durability
L - Handling guidelines

Specifies the physical and magnetic characteristics of a 12,7 mm wide, 128-track magnetic tape cartridge, to enable interchangeability of such cartridges. Also specifies the quality of the recorded signals, a format - called Digital Linear Tape 4 (DLT 4) - and a recording method.