A canon for the representation of multivariate arrays in the APL2 computing language

ABSTRACT

A uniform structure for multivariate data constructs that employs the nested array features of APL2 has been successfully developed and implemented. This Array Canonical Form (ACF) succinctly describes its own contents, an important feature for the APL2 functions and operators that accept ACF arrays as arguments. An extensive library of APL2 procedures has been created over the course of many years and projects to perform routine as well as specialized analytical, archival, descriptive, and graphical operations on any ACF. A self-describing uniform array structure is useful for satisfying requirements of reusable, common code and for requiring self-documentation of multivariate data. The ACF structure described in this paper satisfies these requirements in a concise, logically intuitive elemental structure that depends upon and fully utilizes the APL2 language features for nested array construction and manipulation.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications

          Nouns: APL

Additional Classification:
  E. Data
  E.1 DATA STRUCTURES
      Subjects: Arrays

General Terms:
Design, Languages