XIMAGE accepts seven different types of files containing image, spectral and timing data. These files can all be read in by command read_image
These are simply integer*2 binary files with record length equal to the number of image pixels in the X dimension. The image header takes 64 bytes and is stored in the first record of the file if the record length is greater or equal to 64,bytes or in as many initial records as necessary if the record length is less than 64 bytes. As many data records as the number of pixels in the Y direction follow.
EXOSAT compressed image files are compressed to minimize the file size. For a description of the compression algorithm see J. Sternberg (The EXOSAT Express no. 18 page 25)
FITS files where the image is stored as the primary array. For details see ``A User's Guide for the Flexible Image Transport System" by B. Geldzahler (send a note to request@legacy.gsfc.nasa.gov for a copy)
Binary FITS tables containing photon event data. These are the rev0 data files released by the US ROSAT data center. For details about the FITS standard see ``A User's Guide for the Flexible Image Transport System" by B. Geldzahler (send a note to request@legacy.gsfc.nasa.gov for a copy)