INCITS/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 hole
   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 of recording
   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 1O-bit patterns
D - Recommendations for transportation
E - Inhibitor tape

Defines the physical and magnetic characteristics of an 8 mm wide magnetic tape cartridge to enable interchangeability of such cartridges.