Image Mastering API

The Image Mastering Applications Programming Interface, or IMAPI, is a component of Microsoft Windows operating system used for CD and DVD recording. It was introduced with Windows XP, and was completely redesigned (IMAPI v2) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. [cite web
url=http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366192.aspx
title=IMAPIv1 Support
publisher=Microsoft
work=Image Mastering API
accessdate=2007-12-12]

Overview

IMAPI provides the ability to create and burn single-session and multi-session discs, including bootable discs. It also provides low-level access to the burn engine for developing support for new devices, as well as access to extended recorder properties. IMAPI supports every major writable CD and DVD format: [cite web
url=http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa364806.aspx
title=About IMAPI
publisher=Microsoft
work=Image Mastering API
accessdate=2007-12-12]
* Recordable CD (CD-R). Formerly known as CD Write Once.
* Rewritable CD (CD-RW)
* Recordable DVD (DVD-R and DVD+R) (IMAPI v2 only).
* Rewritable DVD (DVD-RW and DVD+RW) (IMAPI v2 only).
* Random-access DVD (DVD-RAM) (IMAPI v2 only).
* Recordable dual layer DVD (DVD-R DL and DVD+R DL formats) (IMAPI v2 only).
* Writes to other disc-like media, such as Iomega REV.

IMAPI supports writing disks in ISO 9660 (including Red Book Audio), Joliet, and Universal Disk Format (IMAPI v2 only).

IMAPI was redesigned for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. This version, generally known as "IMAPIv2", was later released as an update for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 after Microsoft received requests from hardware and software vendors. [cite web
url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/KB932716
title=Description of the Image Mastering API v2.0 (IMAPIv2.0) update package that is dated June 26, 2007 (MSKB932716)
publisher=Microsoft
work=Knowledge Base
date=October 11 2007
accessdate=2007-12-12] Windows Vista applications such as Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, Windows Movie Maker, Windows DVD Maker and Windows Explorer use IMAPI.

IMAPIv2 supports the following additional features:
* User-mode API instead of a kernel-mode API. [http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/b/9/5b97017b-e28a-4bae-ba48-174cf47d23cd/STO068_WH06.ppt Optical Platform: Windows Vista and beyond] ]
* Multiple optical drives, even simultaneously recording to multiple drives. [http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366457.aspx What's new in IMAPI] ]
* Implemented as a DLL rather than as a service as was the case in Windows XP. [ [http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1105007&SiteID=1 IMAPI 2.0 is a DLL, not a Windows service] ]
* Scriptable using VBScript.
* Locking the recorder while burning

See also

* Features new to Windows XP
* MultiMedia Commands

References