This DATA INPUT module reads a FITS (Flexible Image Transport System)
file into a field, and optionally to a text window.
For primary data or image extensions, the number of dimensions is derived from
the NAXIS keyword.
For Ascii and binary tables, the number of dimensions may be 1 or 2, depending on
a parameter.
Random Groups do not seem to be supported (I did'nt see any example of them).

This module is based of the FITSIO package from W.D. Pence, available via
anonymous ftp from tetra.gsfc.nasa.gov (128.183.8.77) and some other sites.
I got version 3.21 from fits.cx.nrao.edu, and included a compressed tar
archive of all sources in this directory, but you should get the latest one,
along with makefiles and test programs from one of the above sites.

CAVEATS :
  This module, written in C, interfaces the Fortran FITSIO package,
  so take care (especially for string arguments) when porting it to a platform.
  I ported it to Convex,Kubota (Stardent 3000), and IBM RS 6000.
  Convex uses an additional integer argument for the string length.
  Stardent creates a descriptor for every string.
  All C to Fortran conversion routines are in CtoF.c, which calls CtoF.convex.c
  for the Convex version or CtoF.st3000.c for the Stardent 3000 version, and
  CtoF.Ibm.c for IBM Rs 6000.

BUGS:

 -When the undefined value parameter of FTGCV? is 0, undefined values should 
  be left as is, but this does not work (core dumps,probably because of overflow
  or underflow,despite the signal(SIGFPE,SIGIGN)). So I added a test in
  BinTable.c to put 0.00000001 instead of 0 (not very elegant).

 -AVS does not support complex and double complex data types. For tables,
  complex values are generated as float and double fields twice the size of
  the original field, to allow for real part and imaginary part.
  The printed values are always generated as (real,imaginary) pairs.

Mail me (dlc@lanor.matups.fr) if you need the complete source and binary
version, including FITSIO for any of these machines.


Inputs : None

Ouput :
	field 3-space scalar uniform.

Parameters :
	
   FITS read: string.
	The name of the input FITS file.

   File header: string.
	This window shows all the header keywords, and optionally table columns
        for the current HDU , except the one which goes to the field.

   Max print: integer.
	Maximum number of column elements to print in the File header window.
	Default is 0.

   Null value: float.
	This value shall replace any undefined values in the current data unit.

   Cvt to float: boolean.
	If on, convert the input image to floating point.
        Default is on.

   Display warnings: boolean.
	Activates or de-activates warning messages from the FITSIO package.
	Default is on.

   2D display: boolean.
	If on, Ascii and binary table columns are output as a 2D field, dim1 
        beeing the repeat count inside a row and dim2 beeing the number of rows.
	If off, table colums are output as a 1D field.
	Default is on.

   hdu: choice.
	Allows you to select the current HDU (Header and Data Unit). The extension
        name is displayed, if present, along with the extension level, and a
	sequence number.

   Column: integer.
	For tables, this parameter specifies the column to send to the output port.
        You can retrieve the column information from the File header window.
	If you select 0, the Component menu is displayed (see below).

   Component: choice.
	Allows you to select the column number in a more user-friendly way,
	but it is limited to the 30 first non-scalar table columns.

	

D. LE CORRE
Tethys S.A
Immeuble le Cedre
91960 Les Ulis
France
E-mail : dlc@lanor.matups.fr