How to create an ISO CD image file from a Windows command prompt?

Question

In an attempt to satisfy the “Joel Test” question No. 2 “Can you complete the assembly in one step?”, I am trying to complete the assembly of the candidate release script by creating a CD iso from the collection of files compiled and created by the installer creator.

There seem to be many good tools (many free) that will create the ISO, but I need to find one that can be run on the Windows command line so that I can integrate it into the NAnt build script that was launched using cruise control.

Build Environment:

• Windows Server 2003
• .NET 1.1 - 3.5 (the application we create is built on 2.0)
• NullSoft Installer (NSIS)
• CruiseControl.net
• Nnt

I'm going to take a walk, but so far no luck.

Anyone have a recommendation?

Answer 1

Try mkisofs. This is part of the cdrecord project.

Answer 2

An explicit plugin, but I just released an alpha version of the OpenSource C # library, which can create ISO files. It does not integrate directly with Nant, but you can wrap the library to achieve this. Here is an example application (ISOCreate) that creates an ISO from a directory structure, but this example can also help you get started:

CDBuilder builder = new CDBuilder(); builder.UseJoliet = true; builder.VolumeIdentifier = "A_SAMPLE_DISK"; builder.AddFile(@"Folder\Hello.txt", Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes("Hello World!")); builder.Build(@"C:\temp\sample.iso"); 

.NET DiscUtils (on GitHub)

Answer 3

Get mkisofs here - this is part of cdrtools. Available for most platforms.

Examples of using:

 mkisofs -v -dvd-video -V "VOLUME_NAME" -o "c:\my movies\iso\movie.iso" "c:\my movies\dvd" mkisofs -r -R -J -l -L -o image-file.iso c:\project\install 

Answer 4

Create a simple ISO CD

I found a significantly simpler approach and it does not require Cygwin: CDBurnerXP

It is not advertised on the site, but includes a command line version like cdbxpcmd.exe . There is also some documentation about command line options .

Of particular interest are the options -iso and -format ; used something like:

 cdbxpcmd --burn-data -folder:input -iso:output.iso -format:iso -changefiledates 

to create an ISO called output.iso from files in the input folder

---

Create bootable ISO

The command line tool does not allow you to directly create a bootable CD. However, if you know that your list of files will not change (i.e. only the contents of these files), you can try the following (unchecked):

• Download the CDBurnerXP GUI Version
• Add files interactively
• Choose Disc-> Burn Options ...
• Set up a boot image
• Choose File-> Save to create a DXP file (this is the CDBurnerXP compilation format).

Then you can use the following command

 cdbxpcmd --burn-data -layout:mycompilation.dxp -iso:output.iso -format:iso 

Answer 5

If you want to be addicted to Microsoft (do not install additional software). You can use IMAPI, a built-in Windows for recording images. Additional information on IMAPI scripts can be found on MSDN.

Answer 6

I used magiciso but did not test it extensively. (I can try some of the others mentioned here after some testing). First I create an installer (single file) and then just do it iso.

http://www.magiciso.com/

Here is the result of my struggle to get this to work in python:

 add_option = '-a' add_option_value = installer_fullpath response_option = '-py' # answer yes to all options # Get the tempfile name -- to resolve long name issue # --> My file names were initially too long for MagicIso and it would choke f_handle = tempfile.TemporaryFile(suffix='.iso', prefix='mi_', dir='.') temp_filename = f_handle.name f_handle.close() # File automatically deleted on close args = (magiciso_exe_fullpath,temp_filename,response_option,add_option,add_option_value) # log output to file magiciso_con_f = open(MAGICISO_CON_LOG,'w') magiciso_process = subprocess.Popen(args,stdout=magiciso_con_f,stderr=magiciso_con_f) magiciso_process.wait() 

Answer 7

I use mkisofs.exe from the nLite or BartPE installation kit, from where I also examined the required options for creating a bootable CD.

Answer 8

Powershell can create ISO. The following is an example GUI. Credit http://blog.apps.id.au/?p=5321

 # Author: Hrisan Dzhankardashliyski # Date: 20/05/2015 # Inspiration from # # http://blogs.msdn.com/b/opticalstorage/archive/2010/08/13/writing-optical-discs-using-imapi-2-in-powershell.aspx</a> # # and # # http://tools.start-automating.com/Install-ExportISOCommand/</a> # # with help from # # http://stackoverflow.com/a/9802807/223837</a> $InputFolder = "" function WriteIStreamToFile([__ComObject] $istream, [string] $fileName) { # NOTE: We cannot use [System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes.IStream], # since PowerShell apparently cannot convert an IStream COM object to this # Powershell type. (See <a href="http://stackoverflow.com/a/9037299/223837">http://stackoverflow.com/a/9037299/223837</a> for # details.) # # It turns out that .NET/CLR _can_ do this conversion. # # That is the reason why method FileUtil.WriteIStreamToFile(), below, # takes an object, and casts it to an IStream, instead of directly # taking an IStream inputStream argument. $cp = New-Object CodeDom.Compiler.CompilerParameters $cp.CompilerOptions = "/unsafe" $cp.WarningLevel = 4 $cp.TreatWarningsAsErrors = $true Add-Type -CompilerParameters $cp -TypeDefinition @" using System; using System.IO; using System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes; namespace My { public static class FileUtil { public static void WriteIStreamToFile(object i, string fileName) { IStream inputStream = i as IStream; FileStream outputFileStream = File.OpenWrite(fileName); int bytesRead = 0; int offset = 0; byte[] data; do { data = Read(inputStream, 2048, out bytesRead); outputFileStream.Write(data, 0, bytesRead); offset += bytesRead; } while (bytesRead == 2048); outputFileStream.Flush(); outputFileStream.Close(); } unsafe static private byte[] Read(IStream stream, int toRead, out int read) { byte[] buffer = new byte[toRead]; int bytesRead = 0; int* ptr = &bytesRead; stream.Read(buffer, toRead, (IntPtr)ptr); read = bytesRead; return buffer; } } } "@ [My.FileUtil]::WriteIStreamToFile($istream, $fileName) } # The Function defines the ISO parameturs and writes it to file function createISO([string]$VolName,[string]$Folder,[bool]$IncludeRoot,[string]$ISOFile){ # Constants from <a href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa364840.aspx">http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa364840.aspx</a> $FsiFileSystemISO9660 = 1 $FsiFileSystemJoliet = 2 $FsiFileSystemUDF = 4 $fsi = New-Object -ComObject IMAPI2FS.MsftFileSystemImage #$fsi.FileSystemsToCreate = $FsiFileSystemISO9660 + $FsiFileSystemJoliet $fsi.FileSystemsToCreate = $FsiFileSystemUDF #When FreeMediaBlocks is set to 0 it allows the ISO file to be with unlimited size $fsi.FreeMediaBlocks = 0 $fsi.VolumeName = $VolName $fsi.Root.AddTree($Folder, $IncludeRoot) WriteIStreamToFile $fsi.CreateResultImage().ImageStream $ISOFile } Function Get-Folder($initialDirectory) { [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("System.windows.forms") $foldername = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.FolderBrowserDialog $foldername.rootfolder = "MyComputer" if($foldername.ShowDialog() -eq "OK") { $folder += [string]$foldername.SelectedPath } return $folder } # Show an Open Folder Dialog and return the directory selected by the user. function Read-FolderBrowserDialog([string]$Message, [string]$InitialDirectory, [switch]$NoNewFolderButton) { $browseForFolderOptions = 0 if ($NoNewFolderButton) { $browseForFolderOptions += 512 } $app = New-Object -ComObject Shell.Application $folder = $app.BrowseForFolder(0, $Message, $browseForFolderOptions, $InitialDirectory) if ($folder) { $selectedDirectory = $folder.Self.Path } else { $selectedDirectory = '' } [System.Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($app) > $null return $selectedDirectory } #Prompts the user to save the ISO file, if the files does not exists it will create it otherwise overwrite without prompt Function Get-SaveFile($initialDirectory) { [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("System.windows.forms") | Out-Null $SaveFileDialog = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.SaveFileDialog $SaveFileDialog.CreatePrompt = $false $SaveFileDialog.OverwritePrompt = $false $SaveFileDialog.initialDirectory = $initialDirectory $SaveFileDialog.filter = "ISO files (*.iso)| *.iso" $SaveFileDialog.ShowHelp = $true $SaveFileDialog.ShowDialog() | Out-Null $SaveFileDialog.filename } # Show message box popup and return the button clicked by the user. function Read-MessageBoxDialog([string]$Message, [string]$WindowTitle, [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxButtons]$Buttons = [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxButtons]::OK, [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxIcon]$Icon = [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxIcon]::None) { Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms return [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox]::Show($Message, $WindowTitle, $Buttons, $Icon) } # GUI interface for the PowerShell script [void] [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("System.Drawing") [void] [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("System.Windows.Forms") #loading the necessary .net libraries (using void to suppress output) $Form = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form #creating the form (this will be the "primary" window) $Form.Text = "ISO Creator Tool:" $Form.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(600,300) #the size in px of the window length, height $Form.FormBorderStyle = 'FixedDialog' $Form.MaximizeBox = $false $Form.MinimizeBox = $false $objLabel = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label $objLabel.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(20,20) $objLabel.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(120,20) $objLabel.Text = "Please select a Folder:" $Form.Controls.Add($objLabel) $InputBox = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.TextBox $InputBox.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(150,20) $InputBox.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(300,20) $InputBox.Enabled = $false $Form.Controls.Add($InputBox) $objLabel2 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label $objLabel2.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(20,80) $objLabel2.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(120,20) $objLabel2.Text = "ISO File Name:" $Form.Controls.Add($objLabel2) $InputBox2 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.TextBox $InputBox2.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(150,80) $InputBox2.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(300,20) $InputBox2.Enabled = $false $Form.Controls.Add($InputBox2) $objLabel3 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label $objLabel3.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(20,50) $objLabel3.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(120,20) $objLabel3.Text = "ISO Volume Name:" $Form.Controls.Add($objLabel3) $InputBox3 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.TextBox $InputBox3.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(150,50) $InputBox3.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(150,20) $Form.Controls.Add($InputBox3) $objLabel4 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label $objLabel4.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(20,120) $objLabel4.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(120,20) $objLabel4.Text = "Status Msg:" $Form.Controls.Add($objLabel4) $InputBox4 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.TextBox $InputBox4.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(150,120) $InputBox4.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(200,20) $InputBox4.Enabled = $false $InputBox4.Text = "Set ISO Parameters..." $InputBox4.BackColor = "LimeGreen" $Form.Controls.Add($InputBox4) $Button = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button $Button.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(470,20) $Button.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(80,20) $Button.Text = "Browse" $Button.Add_Click({ $InputBox.Text=Read-FolderBrowserDialog $InputBox4.Text = "Set ISO Parameters..." }) $Form.Controls.Add($Button) $Button2 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button $Button2.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(470,120) $Button2.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(80,80) $Button2.Text = "CreateISO" $Button2.Add_Click({ if(($InputBox.Text -eq "") -or ($InputBox3.Text -eq "")){ Read-MessageBoxDialog "You have to select folder and specify ISO Volume Name" "Error: No Parameters entered!" } else{ $SaveDialog = Get-SaveFile #If you click cancel when save file dialog is called if ($SaveDialog -eq ""){ return } $InputBox2.Text= $SaveDialog $InputBox2.Refresh() if($checkBox1.Checked){ $includeRoot=$true } else{ $includeRoot=$false } $InputBox4.BackColor = "Red" $InputBox4.Text = "Generating ISO File!" $InputBox4.Refresh() createISO $InputBox3.Text $InputBox.Text $includeRoot $InputBox2.Text $InputBox4.BackColor = "LimeGreen" $InputBox4.Text = "ISO Creation Finished!" $InputBox4.Refresh() } }) $Form.Controls.Add($Button2) $objLabel5 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label $objLabel5.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(20,160) $objLabel5.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(280,20) $objLabel5.Text = "Check the box if you want to include the top folder:" $Form.Controls.Add($objLabel5) $checkBox1 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.CheckBox $checkBox1.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(300,156) $Form.Controls.Add($checkBox1) $Form.Add_Shown({$Form.Activate()}) [void] $Form.ShowDialog()