FEP - Format Use by a Researcher - Sibeck - ASCII

1. Format (Format System) Identification

I work exclusively in ASCII. The data sets I use are held in a wide variety of formats, but there are translators available.

2. Original Motivation

I use commercially produced software (IGOR PRO) which works on either ASCII or binary formats.

3. Data Types

Processing Level

Higher level physical parameter data

Object Types (I use all of them)

Images Spectra Time Series Multi-variate distributions

4. Support

I have frequently had difficulty decompressing image files obtained over the Internet. Stu Nylund helps me with this.

5. Software

I use IGOR PRO. It can import ASCII, binary, giff, tiff, and other image formats to produce line plots, spectra, and images.

6. Environment

I work on a MAC and a VAX.

7. Usage

IGOR PRO uses binary internally.

I use tools made available on the WWW, e.g. CDAWEB which presents data stored in CDF format, and a UCLA server which presents data in flatfile format.

8. Experience

Relative to its ability to carry and manage research-needed metadata - Easy to see what you are plotting in ASCII. Difficult to transmit large quantities of data.
Relative to its related software - Commercial software is ready for ASCII.
Relative to its user support infrastructure - no support needed, except translators
Relative to the overall functionalities of the whole package (format and software) - software is so useful that I need little support.

9. Desired Functionality

None

10. Selection Criteria

I would still prefer to receive data in ASCII, because my software accepts it and because I can look at time series easily.

11. Impact on Research

When data sets are not available in ASCII- I generally request the data in ASCII or give up.

12. Other Comments

Wider Views