[fitsbits] TDIMn and heap variables

[nolan at naic.edu]

Arecibo Observatory radio telescope data are using the variable length
array convention for the primary data. The raw data are written this
way for speed and simplicity. We considered repacking it later, but our
processing software is largely based on either the Goddard idl routines or
cfitsio, both of which support the heap transparently, so we haven't
done so. The potential space savings (in the case of variable data
lengths) are large.

-Mike

---------------------------
Mike Nolan <nolan at naic.edu>
+1 787 878 2612x334  Fax: +1 787 878 1861
Arecibo Observatory / Cornell University
HC03 Box 53995, Arecibo, PR 00612  USA