Patent ID: 8711501

Claim:
A computer implemented method of establishing a range of maximum expansion and maximum contraction for acceptable write conditions on tape of a tape cartridge, the method comprising: determining if said tape has expanded or contracted in a lateral direction; if said tape has expanded in said lateral direction, then: determining an amount of expansion; determining if a sum of said amount of expansion and a maximum acceptable amount of contraction is less than a predetermined threshold value; storing said amount of expansion as said maximum acceptable amount of expansion if said sum of said amount of expansion and said maximum acceptable amount of contraction is less than said predetermined threshold value; and if said tape has contracted in said lateral direction, then: determining an amount of contraction; determining if a sum of said amount of contraction and a maximum acceptable amount of expansion is less than said predetermined threshold value; and storing said amount of contraction as said maximum acceptable amount of contraction if said sum of said amount of contraction and a maximum acceptable amount of expansion is less than said predetermined threshold value.