ECMA 247 : 2ED 98

Section 1 - General
1 Scope
2 Conformance
   2.1 Magnetic tape cartridge
   2.2 Generating drive
   2.3 Receiving drive
3 References
4 Definitions
   4.1 Absolute Frame Address
   4.2 a.c. erase
   4.3 algorithm
   4.4 Area ID
   4.5 Average Signal Amplitude
   4.6 azimuth
   4.7 back surface
   4.8 bit cell
   4.9 byte
   4.10 cartridge
   4.11 Channel bit
   4.12 compressed data
   4.13 Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) character
   4.14 Data Format ID
   4.15 End of Data (EOD)
   4.16 Error Correcting Code
   4.17 flux transition position
   4.18 flux transition spacing
   4.19 Frame
   4.20 Logical Beginning of Tape (LBOT)
   4.21 Logical Record
   4.22 magnetic tape
   4.23 Master Standard Reference Tape
   4.24 Partition Boundary
   4.25 Physical Beginning of Tape (PBOT)
   4.26 Physical End of Tape (PEOT)
   4.27 physical recording density
   4.28 Reference Field
   4.29 Secondary Standard Reference Tape (SSRT)
   4.30 Standard Reference Amplitude (SRA)
   4.31 Standard Reference Current
   4.32 Tape Reference Edge
   4.33 Test Recording Current
   4.34 track
   4.35 Typical Field
   4.36 uncompressed data
5 Conventions and notations
   5.1 Representation of numbers
   5.2 Names
6 Acronyms
7 Environment and safety
   7.1 Testing environment
   7.2 Operating environment
   7.3 Storage environment
   7.4 Transportation
   7.5 Safety
   7.6 Flammability
Section 2 - Requirements for the case
8 Dimensional and mechanical characteristics of the
   case
   8.1 General
   8.2 Overall dimension
   8.3 Holding areas
   8.4 Cartridge insertion
   8.5 Window (figure 1)
   8.6 Loading grips
   8.7 Label areas
   8.8 Datum areas and datum holes
   8.9 Support areas
   8.10 Recognition holes
   8.11 Write-inhibit hole
   8.12 Pre-positioning surfaces
   8.13 Cartridge lid
   8.14 Cartridge reel lock
   8.15 Reel access holes
   8.16 Interface between the reels and the drive
        spindles
   8.17 Light path
   8.18 Position of the tape in the case
   8.19 Tape path zone
   8.20 Tape access cavity
   8.21 Tape access cavity clearance requirements
Section 3 - Requirements for the Unrecorded Tape
9 Mechanical, physical and dimensional characteristics
   of the tape
   9.1 Materials
   9.2 Tape length
        9.2.1 Magnetic tape
        9.2.2 Leader and trailer tapes
        9.2.3 Splicing tape
   9.3 Tape width
        9.3.1 Width of magnetic tape
        9.3.2 Width of leader and trailer tapes
        9.3.3 Width and position of splicing tape
   9.4 Discontinuities
   9.5 Thickness
        9.5.1 Thickness of the magnetic tape
        9.5.2 Thickness of leader and trailer tape
        9.5.3 Thickness of the splicing tape
   9.6 Longitudinal curvature
   9.7 Cupping
   9.8 Coating adhesion
   9.9 Layer-to-layer adhesion
   9.10 Tensile strength
        9.10.1 Breaking strength
        9.10.2 Yield strength
   9.11 Residual elongation
   9.12 Electrical resistance of coated surfaces
   9.13 Tape winding
   9.14 Light transmittance of tape
   9.15 Media Recognition System (MRS)
10 Magnetic recording characteristics
   10.1 Typical Field
   10.2 Signal amplitude
   10.3 Resolution
   10.4 Overwrite
   10.5 Ease of erasure
   10.6 Tape quality
        10.6.1 Missing pulses
        10.6.2 Missing pulse zone
   10.7 Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)
Section 4 - Requirements for an interchanged tape
11 Format
   11.1 General
   11.2 Information Matrix
        11.2.1 Loading the Information Matrix
   11.3 Sync Block
        11.3.1 Sync Block Data
        11.3.2 Sync Block Header
        11.3.3 Sync Block Header in Preamble Zone
   11.4 Data Zone
        11.4.1 Identification and arrangement of
               Information Blocks in the Data Zone of
               a Frame
        11.4.2 Identification and arrangement of Sync
               Blocks in Data Zone of a Track
12 Method of recording
   12.1 Physical recording density
   12.2 Long-term average bit cell length
   12.3 Short-term average bit cell length
   12.4 Rate of change
   12.5 Bit shift
   12.6 Read signal amplitude
   12.7 Recording current
13 Track geometry
   13.1 Track configuration
   13.2 Average track pitch
   13.3 Variations of the track pitch
   13.4 Track width
   13.5 Track angle
   13.6 Track edge linearity
   13.7 Track length
   13.8 Data Zone reference
   13.9 Azimuth angles
14 Recording pattern
   14.1 Recorded Sync Block
   14.2 Preamble Zone
   14.3 Postamble Zone
15 Format of a track
   15.1 Track capacity
   15.2 Positioning accuracy
   15.3 Tracking scheme
16 Layout of a Single Data Space tape
   16.1 Frame type
        16.1.1 Data Frame
        16.1.2 Gap Frame
        16.1.3 Long File Mark Frame
        16.1.4 Short File Mark Frame
        16.1.5 Set Mark Frame
        16.1.6 End of Data Frame
        16.1.7 Format Frame
        16.1.8 Data Frame in System Area
   16.2 Device Area
   16.3 Reference Area
   16.4 System Area
        16.4.1 Guard Band No.1
        16.4.2 System Log Preamble
        16.4.3 System Log
        16.4.4 System Log Postamble
        16.4.5 Guard Band No.2
        16.4.6 Data Area Preamble
   16.5 Data Area
        16.5.1 Long File Mark
        16.5.2 Short File Mark
        16.5.3 Set Mark
        16.5.4 Write operation
        16.5.5 Append and overwrite operations
        16.5.6 Rewritten Frames
   16.6 EOD Area
   16.7 Post-EOD Area
17 Layout of a partitioned tape
   17.1 Overall magnetic tape layout
        17.1.1 Device Area
        17.1.2 Partition 1
        17.1.3 Partition 0
   17.2 Partition Identification
Annex A - Measurement of light transmittance of tape
          and leaders
Annex B - Measurement of Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Annex C - Representation of 8-bit bytes by 10-bit
          patterns
Annex D - Measurement of bit shift
Annex E - Measurement of track edge linearity tolerance
Annex F - Recommendations for transportation
Annex G - Example of the content of a Data Block in the
          System Area

Gives magnetic and physical characteristic of 8 mm wide magnetic tape cartridge providing physical interchange of cartridges between drives. It also covers the quality of the recorded signals the recording method and the recorded format (HH-1 format) which allows for full data interchange between drives by means of such magnetic tape cartridges.