1.2   DropDMG

DropDMG is the easiest way to create Mac OS X disk images. Just drag and drop a folder or file, and DropDMG will create an image in .dmg, .img, or .smi format—or a Tar, Zip, or StuffIt archive. Or, you can drag an existing image or archive file onto DropDMG to easily convert it to any of the other supported formats. One you’ve created the image or archive, you can easily burn it to CD/DVD. DropDMG supports encryption, segmented images, and custom icons, and it can create images with rich-text license agreements in multiple languages. There are many time-saving features such as temporary preferences when you hold down Option, remembering recent folders, configurations to keep track of popular combinations of settings, and the ability to create more than one image or archive at a time. All the options are available from Automator, AppleScript, and from the dropdmg command-line tool.

What can you do with DropDMG? Here are a few possibilities:

• Make backups. (You know you should.) Before backing up files to another hard disk or to removable media, you can use DropDMG to bundle them into a disk image. The disk image compresses the files to save space, lets you check their integrity with a checksum, and can (optionally) encrypt the files to protect your off-site backup from prying eyes.
• Burn files, folders, and images to disc with a simple drag and drop. If your folder is too large to fit on one CD or DVD, DropDMG can segment it into an image that spans multiple discs. If you have multiple optical drives, you can burn the segments simultaneously.
• Prepare Mac OS X software for distribution. Apple recommends that developers use disk images to distribute their software. DropDMG makes it easy to create disk images that auto-open, have license agreements, custom icons, and that are Internet-enabled (so the image unpacks automatically when downloaded with Safari).
• Compress files before sharing them. With support for a variety of image and archive formats (and encodings for sending files over networks), DropDMG makes it easy to archive and compress files before sending them via e-mail, uploading them to a server, or saving them to removable media. In many cases, the images DropDMG creates are smaller than those created by Apple’s Disk Utility, while still being fully compatible. It’s also easy to convert between any of the formats DropDMG supports.
• Share files so that others can read them. Disk images provide maximum compatibility: earlier versions of Mac OS X don’t support Mac-savvy Zip and Tar archives, and Mac OS X 10.4 doesn’t have built-in support StuffIt archives. Only disk images preserve Mac metadata and long filenames and are compatible with all versions of Mac OS X. Of course, if your audience prefers archives, DropDMG makes it easy to create them, as well.
• Encrypt files that you want to keep private. Apple’s FileVault encrypts your whole home folder, which is overkill for many users, needlessly slowing access to their files. DropDMG lets you create encrypted disk images that protect a select group of files or folders, while still letting you access and modify them (after entering your passphrase, of course).
• Create a device image that records the exact contents of a data CD or DVD. You can then burn backup copies of the disc, or double-click the image it to access its contents as though the disc were still in your drive.
• Do it your way. There’s no need to hunt for the right menu command; just drag a file, folder, or disk onto DropDMG, and it will do the right thing. Or you can invoke DropDMG using a keyboard shortcut, Automator, AppleScript, or the command-line dropdmg tool—whichever is most convenient at the moment.
• Create more than one image or archive at a time to take advantage of dual processors, or simply to queue multiple operations.
• Specify as many—or as few—options as you want. DropDMG’s Preferences window gives you lots of controls, but you don’t always have to use them. Save named configurations; by switching between different configurations, you can instantly recall different combinations of options. Or hold down the Option key to specify temporary options for the current operation, without changing the stored preferences.