cansas multid

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standard for reduced small-angle scattering data with multi-dimensional data

XML? HDF? Something else?

Key Points so far

• with the 1D format agreed, we should look at 2D data
• we should also consider how different we are from NeXus and then why
• We must address data beyond simple 2D detector patterns (multi-dimensional data)
  • kinetic/time-resolved stuff (frames, periods, whatever you call them),
  • other experiments where data is being collected as a function of some variable (temperature, pH, or whatever)
• quite happy to abandon human-readability ... even prepared to consider binary storage!
• We have benefited a little from [the NeXus] instrument dictionary.
• The time is now ripe to show the use of HDF for storing multi-dimensional data, only using pure HDF5.
• Regarding the cansas1d/1.0 XML format:
  • table structure used in the 1D format is quite 'tag-heavy' and just will not extend easily.
  • takes a little bit more work to extract the I(Q) data into vectors for use in processing or analysis software.
• For multi-dimensional data in XML, rather than create anew, I chose to model the data structures from a popular commercial application.