This description of the development of the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) compact disc by two companies, SilverPlatter and ORI, Inc., provides background information on ERIC and the ERIC database, discusses reasons for choosing to put the ERIC database on compact discs, and describes the formulation of an ERIC CD-ROM team as part of the development process. A review of steps along the way in the development of a CD-ROM version of the ERIC database includes discussions of agreements and contracts; division of labor; marketing information/surveys; product design; conversion/inversion specifications; retrieval system capabilities; alpha test sites; news releases, flyers, letters, status reports, and order forms; publicity (articles, conference exhibits, advertising); and documentation and user manuals. The following information is appended: (1) ORI/SilverPlatter Division of Responsibility; (2) ERIC Database Conversion/Inversion Specifications; (3) Search Features--Comparison of ERIC on SilverPlatter with DIALOG 2; (4) Projected Retrieval System Improvements; (5) SilverPlatter order form and subscription agreement; (6) SilverPlatter pricing information; (7) Resources in Education (RIE) Sample Record; (8) listing of ERIC Clearinghouses; and (9) ERIC Fact Sheet. (KM)