Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!pmafire!mica.inel.gov!gem-hy!cdm From: cdm@gem-hy.Berkeley.EDU (Dale Cook) Newsgroups: comp.lang.c Subject: Re: Binary data file compatibility across machines Message-ID: <1990Nov26.205819.10251@inel.gov> Date: 26 Nov 90 20:58:19 GMT References: Sender: news@inel.gov Reply-To: cdm@gem-hy.Berkeley.EDU (Dale Cook) Organization: Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho Lines: 30 In article , prk@planet.bt.co.uk (KnightRider) writes: |> stiber@cs.ucla.edu (Michael D Stiber) writes: |> |> The short, easy, answer is yes - Use the facilities provided by the |> presentation layer services provided by your communications system, |> if you have one. For OSI systems this will ASN.1 -Abstract Syntax |> Notation 1. If you use Sun systems, you may be able to use XDR |> -External Data Representation. |> |> However, these are difficult services to encode, usually, so you may |> want to go to an external vendor to support these. |> XDR libraries exist on a host of UNIX environments (VAX, Cray, and MASSCOMP to name a few), and they're not that hard to use. I believe Sun developed the standard. ---Dale Cook cdm@inel.gov ========== long legal disclaimer follows, press n to skip =========== ^L Neither the United States Government or the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory or any of their employees, makes any warranty, whatsoever, implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility regarding any information, disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. No specific reference constitutes or implies endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Government or the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.