FEP -
Format Utilization by a Tool Developer - Form

Identification Information

Submitter's Name

Submitter's Affiliation

Submitter's Project (if appropriate)

Submitter's E-mail Address

Submitter's Phone Number

Acronym or Name of Tool

1. Tool Identification

Identify the tool and its developer. (e.g., Noesys by Fortner Software, IDL by Research Systems, Inc., LinkWinds by JPL, etc.)

2. Utilized Formats

List the data format and versions utilized and the level of support for the format.
(E.g., FITS - read images, save images, process as arrays.
CDF 2.6 - read all structures, visualize, process, read, write attributes, save arrays, translate
HDF 4.1 - read, write, visualize, all structures, edit
PDF - extract images
PDS - extract images)

3. Format Selection Rationale

For the formats utilized what was the rationale for the selection and use of that format?
(E.g., CDF - extensive user requests, cross platform library support
FITS - entry into astronomic data market
HDF - evaluation of available options, desire to support open standard)

4. Lessons Learned

For the formats utilized, what were your experiences with integrating access to that format into your tools? What was the level of effort that was needed and did it vary by format? What features of the format supported integration? What limitations in the format prevented easy integration?

5. Plans for Additional Formats

What additional formats are you considering utilizing and what is the rationale for the selection of that format?
(E.g., NetCDF - extensive user requests, library available on desired OS
HDF 5 - evaluation of available options, desire to support open standard)

6. Plans to Support Format Evolution

For the formats utilized what are your plans for supporting changes, upgrades, extensions, or other evolution of the standard?
(E.g., CDF - upgrading to Version 4.5, maintain backward compatibility with earlier versions
FITS - adding table support
HDF - add support for Version 9.1)

7. Supported Object Types

Describe the types of data objects/structures that are supported, for each format, by the tool. at the user (i.e. application or user) interface(. (E.g., images, multi-dimensional arrays, record and field oriented tables, text, geolocated grids, time series, palettes, etc.)

8. Tool Environment

Describe the tool's working environment. (E.g., GUI-base application, command line programming environment, graphical programming environment, etc.)

9. Functions and Services

Describe the general types of functions and services that can be applied to the data objects available for each format at the user (i.e. application or user) interface. (E.g., numeric editing, image manipulation functions, translation, algorithmic processing, plotting, visualization, animation, etc.)

10. Other Comments

Any other comments.