[fitsbits] MIME for compressed FITS?

Rob Seaman wrote:
From a discussion on the VO Data Access Layer group:

On May 22, 2007, at 6:53 AM, Andreas Wicenec wrote:


On 22.05.2007, at 15:29, Thomas McGlynn wrote:


Isn't it valid to refer to a compressed FITS file with the header:

Content-type: Image/FITS
Content-encoding: GZIP

Yes, I agree, that's the correct way of doing it and that was also
what we have envisioned when the FITS mime-type proposal was
created, else we would need a different mime-type for every allowed
encoding.


Comments on whether a tile compressed FITS image should require a
MIME Content-encoding?

I would read this to mean that the entire file was gzipped, including the
header, not just a part of the file.


--
William Thompson
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 671
Greenbelt, MD 20771
USA

301-286-2040

Isn't it valid to refer to a compressed FITS file with the header:

Content-type: Image/FITS
Content-encoding: GZIP

I would read this to mean that the entire file was gzipped, including the
header, not just a part of the file.

I'd agree. It will describe a .fits.gz file.

I'm not familiar with the difference between content encoding and
transfer encoding (my apache and browser configurations are not
transparent on this), but just imagine to replace image/fits with
application/postscript ... that will describe a .ps.gz file ...

.... the entire file will be gzipped, while Content-encoding won't matter
if such postscript file contains internal compression filters for data
to image operators or alike. That's a matter for the viewer, not for
the network !


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