Specify Numeric Precision

In Altair Binary Format files, data is stored at the component level. The default data format is eight-byte floating point values.

The ABF library also supports one-, two-, four- and eight-byte integers and four-byte floating point values. The following ABF statements allow you to change data representation:
abfDefaultPrecision()
Changes the default precision (in bytes) of all data.
abfSetPrecision()
Overrides the precision for the currently open component.
abfUseFloatingPoint()
Determines whether the data is treated as floating point or not.
  1. Use abfOpenDatatype() to open the datatype of the component.
  2. Use abfOpenRequest() to open the request.
  3. Use abfOpenComponent() to open the instance of the component.
  4. Use abfAddReals() or abfAddIntegers() to transfer a copy of the data to the ABF library.
    abfAddReals() and abfAddIntegers copy a block of specified values and can be called multiple times to append data to the existing values.
    abfAddReal() and abfAddInteger() append a single value to a component data set.
    It is important to use the function that corresponds to the data type (integer or floating point) being specified. Using abfAddReal() to specify integer data or abfAddInteger() to specify floating-point data produces incorrect results.
    Note: Close each component, request, or datatype as it is no longer needed. Only one of each can be open at a time.