[iaufwg] Registering the FOREIGN extension name

[William Pence]

Dear IAU-FITS Working Group members,

I was recently notified by Rob Seaman that the IRAF Group at KPNO has for a 
number of years been using a FITS extension type that is not on the list of 
extension names that are registered with the IAU-FWG.  This extension type 
begins with the keyword XTENSION = 'FOREIGN '.  This is the same convention 
that has been submitted to the Registry of FITS conventions and is now in 
the 'Public Comment' period on the FITSBITS email list.

Section 4.4.1.1 of the FITS Standard states: "To preclude conflict, 
extension type names must be registered with the IAUFWG. The FITS Support 
Office shall maintain and provide a list of the registered extensions."  You 
can view the current list of registered extension names at 
http://fits.gsfc.nasa.gov/xtension.html.  This list is also given in the 
(unofficial) appendix I of the FITS Standard.

This registration process was apparently never done for the FOREIGN 
extension (so slap on the wrist to the KPNO IRAF Group :-).  To rectify this 
situation, I plan to add the following entry to the list of registered FITS 
extension names:

'FOREIGN '   C  NOAO  First used at NOAO in 1999 to encapsulate non-FITS
                       metadata files (e.g., observing logs, weather
                       pictures, etc).

I also plan to make 2 changes to the description of the 'Status' parameter 
at the bottom of that web page:

1. delete the 'D' status (Draft proposal to be discussed in local FITS 
commitees) because this status value has never been used and is unlikely to 
be used in the future.

2.  Create a 'C' status, which means "A conforming FITS extension that has 
been in actual use and has not been elevated by the IAU FITS Working Group 
to the status of a Standard extension".  The FOREIGN extension will be given 
this status.

Do any IAU-FWG members have any objections or suggestions before I make this 
change?  If not, I will modify the list on the FITS Support Office web site 
by the end of October.  (Note that since this does not involve a change to 
the official FITS Standard document, I don't think that this requires a 
formal vote by the IAU-FWG unless someone makes a motion to hold a vote).

Bill
--
____________________________________________________________________
Dr. William Pence                       pence at milkyway.gsfc.nasa.gov
NASA/GSFC Code 662       HEASARC        +1-301-286-4599 (voice)
Greenbelt MD 20771                      +1-301-286-1684 (fax)