Creating and Editing DataFile Formats

The format of a DataFile is the definition of fields laid out in the DataFile records. Records can be defined as any number of fields, where each field is assigned:

• Field Name
• Field Data Type
  • char string
  • wide string
  • 32 bit float
  • 64 bit float
  • 32 bit int
  • 64 bit int
• Field Data Size

To create a new DataFile simply add fields to the record definition in Header Mode. Header Mode is reflected by an H on the mode toggle button. If already viewing a DataFile, click the New DataFile button which provides a blank record definition in Header Mode.

To add fields repeatedly click the Add Field for each field desired.

• Each field may be given a name.
• For each field select a data type.
• The size field indicates how many bytes each field will add to the size of each record. The field size for 32 bit data types will default to 4. The field size for 64 bit data types will default to 8. For strings the size of the field is left up to you. For Char String type fields, the record will hold up to the number of characters you designate for field size. For Wide String type fields, the record will only hold up to HALF of the number of characters you designate for field size. If you don't have a special requirement for Wide String record fields, stick with Char String type fields for text data.

Once you've chosen all the fields in a DataFile, enter a filename and click Save Header. The DataFile has been defined and is ready to create records. However, the header in a DataFile can be freely re-edited or changed in any way desired up until records have been added.

Curious about the limits each data type will hold? The example depicted below demonstrates a DataFile with a field of each data type.

For text fields, the DataFile record editor will limit what you can enter for string types. No such limitation is imposed for int and float types so the limitation can only be observed by attempting to save huge numbers, or in the case of floats a number with a large number of significant digits. Clicking Save Record and numbers too large to fit in a numeric field will be limited. Likewise, during script execution data will be similarly limited to fit.