Overview
ISO/IEC 13346-5:1995 is Part 5 of the ISO/IEC 13346 family and defines the record structure for interchange of information on write-once and rewritable media that use non‑sequential recording. This Part specifies the format, record attributes and system requirements needed so that file data encoded as records can be interpreted consistently when media are exchanged between different information processing systems. The standard assumes sectors may be recorded in any order and supports a mix of media types (write‑once, read‑only, rewritable).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Record types: Defines multiple record encodings including padded fixed-length, fixed-length, variable-length and several stream record styles (e.g., stream-print, stream-LF, stream-CR, stream-CRLF, stream-LFCR).
- Record attributes and display: Specifies record display attributes such as LF‑CR handling, first‑byte position display and implied display behaviour to ensure predictable interpretation and presentation.
- Data space interface: Requires coordination with other Parts/standards to define how characters (including LINE FEED, CARRIAGE RETURN, FORM FEED, VERTICAL TAB) are encoded within a file’s data space.
- System roles and processes:
- Originating system requirements for creating conformant media (file/record lengths, metadata).
- Receiving system requirements for correctly interpreting and displaying records from a medium.
- Conformance rules:
- Conformance of a medium: media must conform to relevant recording standards and ISO/IEC 13346 Parts.
- Conformance of an information processing system: systems may claim conformance as an originator, receiver, or both; conformance statements identify Parts and interchange levels.
- Part interfaces and references: Describes how Part 5 interfaces with Parts 1–4, and lists normative references (for example ISO/IEC 1539:1991 - FORTRAN is referenced).
Applications and who uses it
ISO/IEC 13346-5 is practical for:
- File system designers and OS developers implementing cross-platform file interchange on removable media.
- Media manufacturers and optical/archival storage vendors ensuring media layout supports record structures for interchange.
- Software architects building backup, archiving, or exchange tools that must preserve record semantics across heterogeneous systems.
- Archivists and data managers who require reliable interpretation of textual/recorded datasets (line endings, record boundaries) when migrating or exchanging media.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 13346-5, record structure, non-sequential recording, write-once media, rewritable media, information interchange, file structure, record types, conformance.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 13346 Parts 1–4 (General; Volume & Boot Block Recognition; Volume Structure; File Structure)
- Peer volume/file standards (e.g., ISO 9660, ISO 9293) - ISO/IEC 13346 provides a more modular framework and extended functionality.