2004.09.17 16:43 "RE: [Tiff] BigTIFF Tag Value Count issue", by Bob Friesenhahn

Just to clarify, I'm not proposing that negative 64-bit values should have any meaning. They should be outlawed by the spec. I'm proposing that the spec outlaw values with the most-significant bit set, and this only to accommodate languages like Java that have a 64-bit signed type but no 64-bit unsigned type.

There is also the option to use 64-bit unsigned types, but some implementations may be severely limited by only supporting 63-bits (gasp!). Hopefully I will still be alive when that last bit becomes a serious issue. :-)

I suggest that we stick with the 64-bit unsigned types with the recognition that many systems/implementations have limited capabilities. Signed vs unsigned is a minor issue as compared to system limitations.

Bob

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Bob Friesenhahn
bfriesen@simple.dallas.tx.us
http://www.simplesystems.org/users/bfriesen