Crystallographic Information Framework

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Index

Image dictionary (imgCIF) version 1.3.2

_array_structure.byte_order

Name:
'_array_structure.byte_order'

Definition:

   The order of bytes for integer values which require more
    than 1 byte.

    (IBM PCs and compatibles, and Dec VAXs use low-byte-first
    ordered integers, whereas Hewlett Packard 700
    series, Sun-4 and Silicon Graphics use high-byte-first
    ordered integers.  Dec Alphas can produce/use either
    depending on a compiler switch.)

Type: code

Mandatory item: yes


The data value must be one of the following:


big_endian 		The first byte in the byte stream of the bytes which make up an integer value is the most significant byte of an integer.

little_endian 		The last byte in the byte stream of the bytes which make up an integer value is the most significant byte of an integer.

Category: array_structure


International Tables for Crystallography

Volume G: Definition and exchange of crystallographic data

First online edition (2006)

Edited by S. R. Hall and B. McMahon

An essential guide and reference to CIF for programmers, data managers handling crystal-structure information and practising crystallographers.