[fitsbits] ASCII tables, TFORM and recommended practice

[Phil Hodge]

Tom McGlynn wrote:

> 1. It implies that columns should be written with a constant absolute
> precision. ...
>
> 2. It requires that the data be analyzed to get the appropriate precision
> before writing any data. ...
>
> 3.  FITS ASCII tables are particularly susceptible to being edited by
> simple software tools including text editors. ...
>
> The nice thing about the Fxx.0 formats is that they say treat the number
> exactly as it's written, so there are no surprises. ...

Those are all good reasons for using binary tables.  If you really
need to use ASCII tables, you're stuck with their limitations.  One
other argument for not using Fxx.0 format is that a table editor
(i.e. not something like emacs) that reads the data and rewrites it
would be obligated to rewrite the floating point columns with the
decimal part rounded off, because that's what the format is.

Phil