[Genealib] CD Caddies

[Robert Sullivan]

> I was hoping you wouldn't ask me that.  I haven't done this myself,
> which is why I suggested talking to a computer specialist, but I have
> read about it being done, so I know it's possible.  I know there are
> some family history centers that have put their CDs (which use a variety
> of software) on a network-attached storage device.  I'm sure the method
> for getting the software to locate the data varies depending on the
> software.

That pretty well sums it up.  If you're lucky, it's not protected
against copying and you just have to adjust the shortcut or a
configuration file to a directory or a mapped drive letter (or drive
partition) on the same PC or one of the NAS drives mentioned above.

If you're less lucky, you have to mess with the Windows registry or do
something kinky with batch files - I'm thinking of the FTM databases
here, which are not protected but have no concept of storing multiple
CDs on one computer.

If you're *really* unlucky, the software is set up to only run from a
CD drive, so either you need to use a drive which is specially
designed for this purpose (and sometimes even those don't work), or
one of the free or commercial programs which are supposed to do this.

Daemon Tools is free: <http://www.daemon-tools.cc/> but I haven't had
a chance to try it yet.  Search for "cd-rom emulator" to see some
others.

Some NAS drives may be viewed at buy.com:

<http://www.buy.com/cat/network_attached_storage/10995.html>

These are not specifically designed for copying CD-ROMs, but since
they are intended to handle multiple users over the network, they're a
step up from the garden variety USB drives you plug into your PC.  (I
have no connection with buy.com except as a satisfied customer.)

-- 
Bob Sullivan
Schenectady Digital History Archive
<http://www.schenectadyhistory.org/>
Schenectady County (NY) Public Library