FITS long integer support (was Re: [fitsbits] ADASS FITS BoF on Sunday)

[Maren Purves]

Preben Grosbol wrote:
> On Wednesday 20 October 2004 16:29, Eric Greisen wrote:
> 
>>Since many operating systems and compilers do not support
>>64-bit integers (other than in sneaky hidden ways to read large
>>files), we should move extremely slowly to explicitly allow them in
>>FITS.
> 
> I can fully support this view. The only good argument for 64-bit
> integers is pointers as uncertainties in physical quantities hardly
> can justify such accuracy. So the issue if pointers to the HEAP
> or reference columns to rows in tables with more than 2G rows
> are important currently.  I would prefer to wait until 64-bit machines
> are the default in our community.

a case for #ifdefs by architecture?

Aloha,

Maren Purves, UKIRT