DAQ 480 Binary Event File Format Definition 

                                                            Rev 1.B 15-Jul-2008

Event Header Section 

    Fixed length of 5 x 32-bit words:

    32-bit word : Fixed Value 0x0000D480 ("0x" notation introduces hex values)

                  note: Windows/Intel is a "little endian" OS, which means
                        that the least significant byte is stored first,
                        e.g. here the first byte of the file will be 0x80,
                        followed by 0xD4.
                  
                  intention: use this fixed information for sanity check
                             and verification of proper "endian" alignment
                             while reading 32-bit words on a different OS.

    16-bit word : Event File Format Version.  
                  Currently 0x0001 for files with format matching this document

    16-bit word : DAQ480 Software Version 
                  Upper byte is the major version, lower byte is minor version
                  Currently 0x0600, i.e. V6.0

                  intention: use the 2 preceding words for sanity check
                             and verification of proper "endian" alignment
                             while reading 16-bit words with predicitble values.
                  
    16-bit word : Run Number 
    
    16-bit word : Event Number 
                  The first event in a run is always #1
                  Event Numbers increment by one from one event to the next,
                  with no gap.
    
    32-bit word : Time Stamp 
                  This time stamp identifies the time when the event
                  was captured, within +/- 1 second, and the accuracy
                  of the computer's system clock.
                  This is the value returned by the "time" function, 
                    i.e. "the number of seconds elapsed since midnight,
                          January 1, 1970, coordinated universal time,
                          according to the system clock. "
                                  
    16-bit word : Spare Word 
                  Currently 0x0000

    16-bit word : Total Number of Channels being readout in this run 
                  Typically = 480
    

First Channel Section  

    Typical Length: 1,025 x 32-bit words

    16-bit word : Channel/Wire Number 
                  The first Wire in the full system is numbered #1.
                  There is however no guarantee during commissioning
                  that all channels are readout, or that they are being 
                  readout in any contiguous order, or start at #1.
                  This Wire Channel numbering and ordering is controlled 
                  by the configuration files for the DAQ 480 engine.
                  
    16-bit word : Total Number of Samples for This Channel
                  Typically = 2048   
                  The Number of samples per Channel is controlled by 
                  the configuration files for the DAQ 480 engine.

    16-bit word : First (oldest) Raw ADC sample for this channel
    
                  The pedestal is set at 400 counts during the channel
                  initialization step

    16-bit word : Second Raw ADC sample  
        
           ....        
           
    16-bit word : Last (most recent) Raw ADC sample for this channel



Second Channel Section

    cf. above for Channel section format
    
....


Last Channel Section

    cf. above for Channel section format



Event Trailer Section 

    32-bit word : Spare
                  Currently 0x00000000
                  
    32-bit word : Reserved for possible checksum in the future
                  Currently 0x00000000