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Advanced CIFF

On the CIFF Format page we described the main features to the CIFF format which should cover most users' needs. Since we wanted the CIFF format to be able very flexible when designing clocks we added some features that may not be supported by all CIFF clock viewers, but are certainly supported by BYO Clock.

To distinguish between the supported features on different clock viewers we have a CIFF classification code with the following names:
  • CIFF-L1: Support for essential features.
  • CIFF-L2: Support for advanced features.

When dealing with CIFF files you will generally use one of two pieces of software, the clock editors or the clock viewers. Some application may even have both functionalities. These CIFF classification code applies mostly to the viewers since they should support in full at least one of the standards, but may be used by the editors to describe their features as well.

Advanced time types
One of the main features of the advanced time types is the option to handle each digit of the time as separate entity for really detailed designs.
  • H1: Hour tens 0-2
  • H2: Hour ones 0-9
  • G1: Hour tens 0-1 (for 12 hour clocks, like analog or AM/PM)
  • G2: Hour ones 0-9 (for 12 hour clocks, like analog or AM/PM)
  • M1: Minute tens 0-5
  • M2: Minute ones 0-9
  • S1: Second tens 0-5
  • S2: Second ones 0-9
  • ZZ: 1/100th of a Second 00-99
  • Z1: 1/100th of a Second tens 0-9
  • Z2: 1/100th of a Second ones 0-9

Some features, like the Zx codes, require powerful systems so designs that use them may not work as smooth as expected depending on complexity.

Advanced digital image layer
On a digital layer line we can enter 0 (zero) as the CharacterWidth to state that each digit image is available as a separate image file. For the number digits the image filenames will be formed by the base filename provided on the line plus the digit character it represents, added before the file extension.

To avoid trouble on different file systems with the separator characters, the suffix added to a digit's filename for the separator symbols are as follows:
  • - = S1
  • . = S2
  • / = S3
  • : = S4