[IGSMAIL-5609]: Release of updated compression software for RINEX ver. 2 & 3

[Yuki Hatanaka]

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IGS Electronic Mail      06 Jun 01:25:56 PDT 2007      Message Number 5609
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Author: Yuki Hatanaka

Dear colleagues,

I would announce a release of an updated version
of the RINEX compression programs which can compress
observation files in RINEX format version 3.00
(IGS mail #5478) as well as those in RINEX version
2.xx format. A new version of the Compact RINEX format
is also created for this update.


The new software is available from GSI's server
by anonymous ftp:

   ftp://terras.gsi.go.jp/software/RNXCMP_4.0.1/

By accessing the above directory, you will find 
package files for several OS type:
    RNXCMP_4.0.1_[OS type].tar.gz
    RNXCMP_4.0.1_Windows.tar
(*.tgz is tar-archived and compressec by gzip)
Binaries compiled for the corresponding OS types, 
documents and tools are contained in each of the 
above packages. For users who need to build binaries
for their own platform, a package of source code 
of the programs is also available:
    RNXCMP_4.0.1_src.tar.gz
Read the instruction in the software document 
RNXCMP.txt for the installation and compilation.


Followings are brief comments on some features of the 
new format and software.
- The compression format:
  The new Compact RINEX format, version 3.0, is an modified 
  version of the Compact RINEX format version 1.0, and 
  designed to compress only RINEX format version 3.00 files. 
  It means that the new format is not for RINEX version 
  2.xx. Compact RINEX format version 1.0 is kept to be 
  used for the RINEX version 2.xx files as in the past:
     RINEX version 2.xx <--> Compact RINEX version 1.0
     RINEX version 3.xx <--> Compact RINEX version 3.0
  The new format is perhaps applicable to the future 
  RINEX version 3.xx as far as the basic structure of 
  the format will not be changed.

- The compression software:
  The updated version, 4.0.1, of RNX2CRX and CRX2RNX was 
  developed. These programs are designed to process both
  the new and old formats in the same manner. The usage
  is mostly the same as the former version but slightly
  different for options for error handling. See the
  document of the software (RNXCMP.txt) or the  help message
  for detail. When applied to RINEX version 2.xx files, 
  the running speed is even faster than the former
   version, 2.4.3.

Finally, I would express my thank to people who agreed to
try a test version of the software to see if any trouble
was found during the test period. 


Best Regards,

Yuki
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Yuki Hatanaka, Ph.D, Geographical Survey Institute
                     e-mail : hata at gsi.go.jp
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