(maxima.info)Functions and Variables for binary input and output

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74.3 Functions and Variables for binary input and output
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 -- Function: assume_external_byte_order (<byte_order_flag>)
     Tells 'numericalio' the byte order for reading and writing binary
     data.  Two values of <byte_order_flag> are recognized: 'lsb' which
     indicates least-significant byte first, also called little-endian
     byte order; and 'msb' which indicates most-significant byte first,
     also called big-endian byte order.

     If not specified, 'numericalio' assumes the external byte order is
     most-significant byte first.

 -- Function: openr_binary (<file_name>)
     Returns an input stream of 8-bit unsigned bytes to read the file
     named by <file_name>.

 -- Function: openw_binary (<file_name>)
     Returns an output stream of 8-bit unsigned bytes to write the file
     named by <file_name>.

 -- Function: opena_binary (<file_name>)
     Returns an output stream of 8-bit unsigned bytes to append the file
     named by <file_name>.

 -- Function: read_binary_matrix (<S>, <M>)
     Reads binary 8-byte floating point numbers from the source <S> into
     the matrix <M> until <M> is full, or the source is exhausted.
     Elements of <M> are read in row-major order.

     The source <S> may be a file name or a stream.

     The byte order in elements of the source is specified by
     'assume_external_byte_order'.

 -- Function: read_binary_array (<S>, <A>)
     Reads binary 8-byte floating point numbers from the source <S> into
     the array <A> until <A> is full, or the source is exhausted.  <A>
     must be an array created by 'array' or 'make_array'.  Elements of
     <A> are read in row-major order.

     The source <S> may be a file name or a stream.

     The byte order in elements of the source is specified by
     'assume_external_byte_order'.

 -- Function: read_binary_list
          read_binary_list (<S>)
          read_binary_list (<S>, <L>)

     'read_binary_list(<S>)' reads the entire content of the source <S>
     as a sequence of binary 8-byte floating point numbers, and returns
     it as a list.  The source <S> may be a file name or a stream.

     'read_binary_list(<S>, <L>)' reads 8-byte binary floating point
     numbers from the source <S> until the list <L> is full, or the
     source is exhausted.

     The byte order in elements of the source is specified by
     'assume_external_byte_order'.

 -- Function: write_binary_data (<X>, <D>)

     Writes the object <X>, comprising binary 8-byte IEEE 754
     floating-point numbers, to the destination <D>.  Other kinds of
     numbers are coerced to 8-byte floats.  'write_binary_data' cannot
     write non-numeric data.

     The object <X> may be a list, a nested list, a matrix, or an array
     created by 'array' or 'make_array'; <X> cannot be a hashed array or
     any other type of object.  'write_binary_data' writes nested lists,
     matrices, and arrays in row-major order.

     The destination <D> may be a file name or a stream.  When the
     destination is a file name, the global variable
     'file_output_append' governs whether the output file is appended or
     truncated.  When the destination is a stream, no special action is
     taken by 'write_binary_data' after all the data are written; in
     particular, the stream remains open.

     The byte order in elements of the destination is specified by
     'assume_external_byte_order'.