How to build a CD ISO image file from the windows command line?

Question

In an effort to satisfy "The Joel Test" question #2 "Can you make a build in one step?", I'm trying to complete a release candidate build script with the creation of a CD iso from the collection of files gathered and generated by the installer creator.

There seem to be many good tools (many free) out there that will create ISOs, but I need to find one that can be run at the windows command line so I can integrate it into the NAnt build script that's fired off by Cruise Control.

Build environment is:

• Windows Server 2003
• .NET 1.1 - 3.5 (application we're creating is built on 2.0)
• NullSoft installer (NSIS)
• CruiseControl.net
• NAnt

I've been googling around, but no luck yet.

Anyone have a recommendation?

Answer 1

Try mkisofs. It's part of the cdrecord project.

Answer 2

Creating a simple CD ISO

I've found a significantly easier approach, and it doesn't require Cygwin: CDBurnerXP

It's not really advertised on the site, but it includes a command-line edition, as cdbxpcmd.exe. There is also some documentation about the command-line options.

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

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

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

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Creating a Bootable ISO

The command line tool doesn't appear to let you make a bootable CD directly. However, if you know your list of files isn't going to change (ie only the content of those files), you could try the following (untested):

• Load up the CDBurnerXP GUI version
• Add the files interactively
• Select Disc->Burn Options...
• Set up your boot image
• Select File->Save to create a DXP file (which is CDBurnerXP's compilation format)

Then, you can use the following command

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