A question about the standard

[Barry M. Schlesinger]

In article <lh200t7yu0.fsf at sapc47.estec.esa.nl>, gvacanti at astro.estec.esa.nl (Giuseppe Vacanti) writes...
> 
>Greetings.
> 
>I have a question about the FITS standard that I haven't been able to
>address by reading NOST 100-1.1.
> 
>4.3.1 says that in the header of a primary HDU card imnages without
>information shall be filled with ASCII blanks.
> 
>5.1.1 (syntax of card images) says that header (any header I suppose)
>card images shall consist of key word (mandatory I suppose), optional
>value, and optional comment.
> 
>Now my question is: is it legal to have (before the END key word) a
>card image filled with blanks? 

Yes.  5.2.2.4 (Commentary Keywords - Keyword Field is blank) addresses 
this question
     "Columns 9-80 may contain any ASCII text.  Any number of card
      images with blank keyword fields may appear in the header."
As is the case for the HISTORY and COMMENT keywords, a blank keyword 
field implies that the contents of columns 9-80 are to be treated as 
a comment.  The comment may be blank, and if the keyword field is also 
blank, the entire card is blank. 

> 
>... in the header of a binary table extension. 
>...  FTOOLS's fverify says the file is
>ok, FTOOLS's fv cannot display the extension containing such cards
>(but it doesn't complain), CFITSIO reports an error (202=key word does
>not exist), FTOOLS's fdump will gladly show the header. 
> 
>So I'm getting mixed replies from the software. Would anybody care to
>comment on this problem?
> 

This question should be answered by the FTOOLS team.


					Barry Schlesinger
					FITS Support Office
					GSFC/ADF