[fitsbits] TDISPn (was 64-bit integer comments

[William Pence]

Mike Nolan wrote:
> The standard does do this other places (It's not legal to specify an
> Fw.d TDISP for double precision data, so I have to see my JD in
> exponential notation), but it's not a good idea.

Are you referring to the description of the format codes given in table 8.6 
of the FITS Standard?  I had not noticed that before, but the implication 
that the Fw.d and Ew.d formats can only be used for single precision reals, 
and not double precision, is surely incorrect.  The more extensive 
description of the display formats in section 8.3.4 does not mention this 
restriction.  Also, the FITS usage is based on Fortran, which has no such 
restriction on the use of F and E formats.  Similarly, the D display format 
can be used for single precision as well as double precision reals.  The 
last NOST technical panel made extensive changes to this section and 
apparently did not notice this inconsistency.

Bill Pence
-- 
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Dr. William Pence                          William.D.Pence at nasa.gov
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