[fitsbits] 64-bit integers

[Arnold Rots]

Sooo, what are you proposing: signed or unsigned ;-?

William Pence wrote:
> 
> Thierry Forveille wrote:
> > 
> > William Pence writes:
> >  > The question I would like to raise is, should a proposal to support 64-bit
> >  > integers in FITS now be drafted and submitted to the 3 regional FITS
> >  > committees for their consideration?  Are there any compelling reasons not to
> >  > do this now?
> >  >
> > Could you come up with a few practical examples that actually demand the
> > dynamics of 64-bit integers?
> 
> Yes.  With the help of some of my colleagues here I've tried to assemble the
> arguments in favor of adding 64-bit integers to FITS into a document that is
> available in html or postscript format at:
> 
> http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heasarc/fits/64bit/64bit.html 
> http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heasarc/fits/64bit/64bit.ps
> 
> This is still a draft document, so any comments or suggestion are welcome.
> 
> In brief, the document lists the cases we could think of that might require
> using 64-bit integers.  Please let me know if you think of other cases.
> 
> The document also discusses the potential cost of retrofitting existing
> software systems to support the new data type, and lists some reasons why
> this effort may not be as large as some would fear.
> 
> -Bill Pence
> -- 
> ____________________________________________________________________
> Dr. William Pence                          pence at tetra.gsfc.nasa.gov
> NASA/GSFC Code 662         HEASARC         +1-301-286-4599 (voice)     
> Greenbelt MD 20771                         +1-301-286-1684 (fax)
> 

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Arnold H. Rots                                Chandra X-ray Science Center
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory                tel:  +1 617 496 7701
60 Garden Street, MS 81                              fax:  +1 617 495 7356
Cambridge, MA 02138                             arots at head-cfa.harvard.edu
USA                                     http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~arots/
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