Why cant we simply use files with columns running
twotheta (TOF) counts sigma
This could be in free format. The sigma could be an indicator of counting
time and / or number of counters.
Many Rietveld programs are a throwback to the days of Fortran IV and
the need for data to be compact. Also, operations on integers were quicker.
In the days of C, better Fortran and the Pentium, these constraints are and
anachronism. We no longer need work with integer intensities for example.
Perhaps the people who are writing Rietveld codes or making updated versions
(the guys who do the hard work) could take this suggestion seriously.
An immediate advantage of shifting to an explicit format is ease of
visualisation and editing.
Cheers
Ram Seshadri
seshadri@indigotrem1.chemie.uni-mainz.de