[fitsbits] ASCII tables, TFORM and recommended practice

[Tom McGlynn]

Tom McGlynn wrote:
> 
...  Aarrgh.  I added in the first reason last as I was writing
this message and managed to screw up virtually every number.

> is that the TFORM keyword is being used for 5 different purposes.
                                               ^4^

> 
> The standard indicates that
> 1. The letter gives the internal type
> 2. The number before the decimal (for float types)  is used to define 
> the length of the field
> 3. The value after the decimal is used to define the position of the 
> interpolated
> decimal if no decimal is seen in the string.
> 
> Some software also uses
> 4. The full format is used as a default format for display
> 
> but that's not really in the standard.
> 
> What I'd like to do is reserve TFORM for function 1 and 2.
> Strongly deprecate #2 (by using nn.0)
                      ^#3^

> and use something else for #3.
                              ^#4^

My apologies for the confusion.  Maybe I should have added
    5.  Provide grist for discussion of picayune details of FITS syntax.

	Tom