Mp3Wrap: FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

INDEX

- 1. How can I split a file created with Mp3Wrap?
- 2. How can I recognize a file created with Mp3Wrap?
- 3. How can I view what files are wrapped into an Mp3Wrap file?
- 4. How can I add other files to an existing Mp3Wrap archive?
- 5. Can I use * and '?' operators to indicate more files?
- 6. How many files can be wrapped into an Mp3Wrap archive?
- 7. Can I wrap other non mp3 files inside an archive?
- 8. Can I use my own extension filename?
- 9. What happens if someone changes something of a wrapped file or it gets damaged?

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Q: How can I split a file created with Mp3Wrap?

    A: You have to use Mp3Splt. The only thing to do is to check http://mp3splt.sourceforge.net
       for the latest version of mp3splt, download it, and then launch the command:

    	mp3splt  -w  album_MP3WRAP.mp3

Q: How can I recognize a file created with Mp3Wrap?

    A: It's very easy to recognize a file created with Mp3Wrap. You have to follow this steps:

    1) 	The first thing to do is to check if filename contains the string MP3WRAP.
    	A Mp3Wrap file should contain this string but I can't assure that if MP3WRAP
    	is not in filename, then file isn't a valid Mp3Wrap file; infact someone
    	can change the filename because a file named like album_MP3WRAP.mp3
    	isn't quite elegant (that is reasonable :).

    2) 	Secondly, a Mp3Wrap mp3 usually has an ID3v2 containing:

    	TRACK: Number of mp3 wrapped in the file
    	COMMENT: "This file is wrapped with Mp3Wrap. Get mp3splt, the free tool to split
    	original files at http://mp3splt.sourceforge. Please do not remove this comment."
    	ENCODED BY: version of Mp3Wrap used to create file

    3)	But someone (really malicious :) could have changed or removed this ID3v2!
    	Don't worry, an Mp3Wrap file will work even if someone add / change / remove
    	any ID3 tags, thus the best thing to do is to throw this file into mp3splt or
    	mp3Wrap and see what happens ;)

Q: How can I view what files are wrapped into an Mp3Wrap file?

    A: You have only to launch mp3wrap or mp3splt with -l option:

    	mp3wrap  -l  album_MP3WRAP.mp3
    	mp3splt  -l  album_MP3WRAP.mp3

    and you will see the list of wrapped file without modifying it.

Q: How can I add other files to an existing Mp3Wrap archive?

    A: You have to use the  -a  option, specifying the existing file after  -a and then all files to add:

    	mp3wrap  -a  album_MP3WRAP.mp3  file*

Q: Can I use * and '?' operators to indicate more files?

    A: Sure! If you have many files with a similar name, you can use the * operator to tell mp3wrap
       to take them all. For example if you have many files in the form:
       File - 01 - Song1.mp3
       FIle - 02 - Song2.mp3
       File - 03 - Song3.mp3
       ... and so on. You can use

    	mp3wrap  album.mp3  File*

       Or if you want to wrap all files in one directory, just use:

    	mp3wrap album.mp3 *
    	mp3wrap album.mp3 *.* (Windows style)

Q: How many files can be wrapped into an Mp3Wrap archive?

    A: The Max number of file you can put into one single archive is 255, which is enough.
       If you need to wrap more file, just use more archives (that you can wrap if you want ;)

Q: Can I wrap other NON-mp3 files inside an archive?

    A: Sure! You can include other NON-mp3 files such as: PlayLists, info files, cover images
       You only have to follow this rules:
       - If file is a text file (such as Playlist, info file..etc.) it's better to put it at beginning of
         file (because player will discard it quickly).
       - If file is binary (such as images) you should put it at the end of file, so that player will
         find it only when it has finished playing and doesn't mistake them for mp3.
    So you can follow this example:

    	mp3wrap album_MP3WRAP.mp3 playlist.m3u textfile.nfo file*.mp3 image.jpg

Q: Can Can I use my own extension filename?

    A: Yes. From version 0.5 you can use your custom extension.
       You have to specify it in config file as:

       EXT= MP3WRAP - wrapped by me.mp3

      NOTE that your own extension MUST contain MP3WRAP string, otherwise program
      will add it by itself.

Q: What happens if someone changes something of a wrapped file or it gets damaged?

    A: It depends. If changes regard ID3s, both v1 and v2, it does not matter. Removing, adding
    and updating ID3 does not compromise mp3 data and wrap index (even if people should not
    modify the ID3, especially ID3v2 wich contains precious informations on how to split).
    Instead if someone changes mp3data or index, for example cutting some data or passing the
    wrapped file through programs like "mp3clean" (NEVER DO THAT!!), or  file gets damaged,
    mp3splt will recognize that file has been changed and it will notice that.

See HTML Man Page or Mp3Splt Homepage for more details.

This document was written by M. Trotta - 8/2002