For easy data exchange between SCOUT objects and other programs SCOUT objects can read and write data in ASCII files using a simple, column based data format. This is explained at best in an example. A file containing data columns (y-values) defined on equidistant  x-values would look like this:

Standard data file        Comment

_______________________________________________________

0        First row: minimum of the x-range

100        Second row: maximum of the x-range

7    3        Third row: Number of rows of data

 points  and separated with a blank

 the number of data colums.

 Here: 7 rows in 3 columns.

Data created by M.D.        Fourth row: one line to comment the data

1.00   232.4   4343.97        

1.30   242.3   4545.23        

0.34   234.4   4546.45        

4.56   232.6   4543.40                         Data rows and columns

1.45   232.4   4545.56        

1.43   232.8   4545.63        

1.40   232.9   4545.99        

Hello user! In this section        Anything else in the file is not read usually.

anything can be added

but it is useless since it

is not read by SCOUT objects.        

The format for non-equidistant x-values (i.e. for each y-value there is an x-value) is the following:

Standard data file        Comment

_________________________________________________________

0        First row: 0

0        Second row: 0  

 To indicate the format for

 nonequidistant data  the first

 and second row must contain

 the same number, usually a 0

7    3        Third row: Number of rows of

 data points  and separated

 with a blank the number of

 colums of y-data.

 Here: 7 rows in 3 columns.

Data created by M.D.        Fourth row: one line to comment the data

0.01  1.00   232.4   4343.97        

0.02  1.30   242.3   4545.23                            Data rows and columns

0.05  0.34   234.4   4546.45        

0.04  4.56   232.6   4543.40                   one row of x-data  

0.03  1.45   232.4   4545.56                   three rows of y-data

0.09  1.43   232.8   4545.63        

0.12  1.40   232.9   4545.99        

Hello user! In this section        Anything else in the file is not read usually.

anything can be added

but it is useless since it

is not read by SCOUT objects.