vle binary read (Big Endian)

binary file read functions (Big Endian)

These functions allow to read data from binary files, returning the direct Lisp data equivalents.
Lisp applications can use these functions to load data from application-specific (binary) data files.

This function set using "-be" suffix is intended to read the data, when stored in "Big Endian" byte sequence on the file.

This implies that the logical and physical structure of a "binary file" is known from their documentations.

signed integer 8 bit	signed integer 16 bit	signed integer 32 bit	signed integer 64 bit
unsigned integer 8 bit	unsigned integer 16 bit	unsigned integer 32 bit	unsigned integer 64 bit
float (4 bytes)	double (8 bytes)

Remarks

the file must have been opened by (open <filename> "rb") : the "rb" mode means "read binary" and is undocumented but supported by AutoLISP as well
these functions are already provided by emulation (vle-extension.lsp), but not fully functional under non-BricsCAD systems due to limitations of AutoLISP (work-in-progress), please use with care !
using these functions only with BricsCAD is suggested
"Little Endian" is the default byte-sequence for x86 + x64 processors, "lowest byte on lowest address";
"Big Endian" byte-sequence originates from Motorola, Sparc, PowerPc and other processors (Mac), "highest byte on lowest address