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The TYPE Field

This field specifies the type of the parameter. This field is used by the system to determine the type of storage to be used for the parameter and its default values, etc. If a primitive value of a different type is supplied, it will be converted to the specified type for storage if possible. If conversion is not possible, an error is reported.

It is important to distinguish between the type of the parameter and the type of the value to be obtained from it by the program.

The field is of the form:

TYPE datatype
where datatype is a character string giving the required type of the parameter. datatype may be: If the TYPE field is omitted, type UNIV is assumed.

Notes:

1.
Internally only the `standard' primitive types (_LOGICAL, _INTEGER, _REAL, _CHAR, _DOUBLE) are differentiated - all other types are treated the same.
2.
Only values of the standard types, or names, can be given in the Interface File or as parameter values at run time.
3.
The dimensionality of parameters is not declared in the Interface File, but is defined by the value given at run time. The given dimensionality must be acceptable to the program (e.g. when it does a call to PAR_GETnx).
4.
The PAR_GETnx/_PUTnx routines only GET/PUT values of the standard HDS types - other types have to be handled by calls to the appropriate facility_ASSOC routine (DAT_ASSOC for example). Where primitive values are being handled, conversion between the value type and the storage type will be performed if necessary and possible.





next up previous 63
Next: Example
Up: The Parameter Specification
Previous: Prompt Control Fields

ADAM Interface Module Reference Manual
Starlink User Note 115
A J Chipperfield, B D Kelly, S L Wright
3 September 2002
E-mail:ussc@star.rl.ac.uk

Copyright © 2002 Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils