[NeXus-tech] Proposed revision of handling of arrays of strings

[Herbert J. Bernstein]

In at least 2 places in the NeXus format, various arrays of strings
as used.  In the @axes attribute of data arrays in NXdata base
class, the axes are listed as a "colon-delimited array".  In the
group_names field of the NXdetector_group base class, the
names are part of a "comma separated list of name [sic]".  I
don't know if there are other simulated arrays of strings in the
format, but I propose that we start a move from simulated
arrays of strings to actual arrays of strings.

HDF5 supports arrays of strings both for data fields and for attributes.
We are already using that capability in the NXmx examples.  While
there are limitations, overall it make for cleaner, simpler code
than working with colon-separated or comma-separated simulated
arrays.

I suggest that the NeXus dcumentation be amended to

1.  Permit immediate optional use of actual arrays of strings in all cases
where colon-delimited or comma-delimited simulations of arrays have been
specified; and
2.  That a discussion be started on the possibility of deprecating the
use of colon-delimited or comma-delimited simulations of arrays in favor
of actual arrays of strings.

Regards,
  Herbert