vil_na.h

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// This is core/vil/vil_na.h
#ifndef vil_na_h_
#define vil_na_h_

//:
// \file
// \brief NA (Not Available) is a particular double NaN to represent missing data.
// For example, where a vnl_vector<double> represents a series of samples from an image,
// NA could be used to represent places where the measurement was taken outside the image.
//
// NA is distinct for the two other standard meanings of NaN - Indeterminate and Error.
// It is entirely up to each algorithm to treat NA values meaningfully. Unless
// a function's interpretation of NA is explicitly documented, you should assume that
// it will be treated similarly to every other NaN.
// The IEEE754 bit value used to represent NA in double-precision is 0x7ff00000000007a2, the
// same as used by Octave and R. Initial values of NA are stored as signalling NaNs, but
// many uses will convert this to the non-signalling variant 0x7ff80000000007a2. vil_na_isna()
// will accept either variant.
//
// The single precision NA is stored as 0x7f8007a2. I cannot find any external support for
// this or any other value for single precision NA. There is no automatic conversion between
// the NA values during casting, promotion, etc. If you want to convert a float to double,
// whilst preserving the NA-ness of the value, you will have to test for and set the new NA
// value explicitly.
//
// This file is a cut-and-paste of the essential sections of vnl_na, since vil is not
// allowed to depend upon vnl




//: qNaN to indicate value Not Available.
// Don't assume that any VXL functions will do something sensible in the face of NA, unless
// explicitly documented.
double   vil_na(double dummy);

//: qNaN to indicate value Not Available.
// Don't assume that any VXL functions will do something sensible in the face of NA, unless
// explicitly documented.
float   vil_na(float dummy);

//: True if parameter is specific NA qNaN.
// Tests for bit pattern 0x7ff00000000007a2, as used by Octave and R
bool vil_na_isna(double);

//: True if parameter is specific NA qNaN.
// Tests for bit pattern 0x7f8007a2
bool vil_na_isna(float);


#endif // vil_na_h_