The "AHA Format" was defined in 1980 for storage of database records
on 9-track digital tape. Signal files in AHA format are in format 16,
with two signals multiplexed into one file (see section Multiplexed Signal Files),
and may be read and written using getvec and putvec.
AHA-format annotation files are binary, and contain fixed-length
(16-byte) annotation records. An annotation file in AHA format may be
read or written using getann or putann, if the stat
field of the DB_Anninfo object is set to AHA_READ or
AHA_WRITE before opening the file. annopen recognizes the
format of input annotation files automatically and prints a warning if
the format does not match what was expected on the basis of stat.
AHA format annotation files may be converted to standard format without
loss of information, and doing so reduces the storage requirement by a
factor of eight.
Yet another format has been used more recently for distribution of AHA DB files on floppy diskettes. This format is compatible with neither the original AHA format nor with any of the formats supported directly by the DB library. Programs `a2m' and `ad2m', supplied with the DB Software Package, can convert files in this format (as well as those in the original AHA format) to the standard formats.
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