Checksum Keyword Convention
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Description:
The CHECKSUM and DATASUM keywords that are embedded in the FITS header
are used to verify the integrity of the HDU. Verifying that the accumulated
32-bit 1's complement checksum of the HDU is equal to -0 provides
a fast and fairly reliable way to determine that the HDU has not been modified or
corrupted.
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Submitted:
June 2007 by Rob Seaman (NOAO), William Pence (NASA/GSFC), and Arnold Rots (CXC/SAO)
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Registered:
July 2007
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Date and Place of First Usage:
1994, in the `Save the Bits' data archive at NOAO
{See the
1994 ADASS conference paper).
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Extent of Usage:
The checksum keyword convention is used in data files from many different
observatories, including KPNO and the Chandra X-ray Center.
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Full Documentation:
PDF format,
Postscript format
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Public Comments about this convention:
The North American FITS committee reviewed this convention for possible
adoption as a FITS Standard. The comments may be seen in the archives of
the WGAS email list in
April,
May,
and
November 2002.
Sample FITS File:
Sample Header Listing:
Last revised: Thursday, 03-Mar-2011 17:19:18 EST
Contact us: fits @ fits.gsfc.nasa.gov
Hosted by: The
HEASARC
(High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center)
Responsible NASA representative: Dr. William D. Pence
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