File Info - Data Format

Controls: File Menu >> File Info >> Format
Macros: FileInfo?B, FileInfo?F, FileInfo?T

This shows the data format of the current open data file or the most-recently loaded Arb or Play file. This is not the "file format" (like .WAV or .DQA), but the way the data is encoded within the file. This consists of the number of bits per sample, the encoding (signed or unsigned binary), and for 12-bit data whether it is justified high or low in a 16-bit data word.

All .DQA files are Signed 16-bit format. Standard .WAV files always use either Signed 16-bit or Unsigned 8-bit. However, .DAT files (any file type that Daqarta doesn't automatically understand) can be any combination of Signed or Unsigned plus 8-bit, 12-bit Low, 12-bit High, or 16-bit. Since Daqarta can't detect these formats automatically for .DAT files, you will be prompted for this information when you open one, using the .DAT File Format Dialog.

Macro Notes:

To set user variable X to the bit-width of an open sampled-data file (one opened with the DD/Open toolbar button or the Open macro, for example, not an Arb or Play file loaded into the Daqarta Generator), use X=FileInfo?B.

FileInfo?F returns the data format of the file. This is an 8-bit binary value encoded with bits representing:

    10000000b   1 = 2's complement (normal), else offset binary
    01000000b   1 = 12-bit data in 16-bit words
    00100000b   1 = 12-bit data justified high, else low
    00010000b   1 = Unipolar, else normal signed bipolar
    00001000b   1 = Inverted data polarity
    00000100b   1 = Stereo, else Mono
    00000010b   1 = Full-duplex (in and out channels present)
    00000001b   1 = 16 bit data, else 8 bit data

FileInfo?T returns the file type:

    1 = .DAT
    2 = .WAV
    3 = .DQA
    4 = .TXT or .CSV

See also File Menu, Open Existing Data File, File Info Dialog