read_allocate(3)						  Staden Package						  read_allocate(3)

NAME

       read_allocate, read_deallocate - Allocate and deallocate the Read structure.

SYNOPSIS

       #include <Read.h>

       Read *read_allocate(
	    int num_points,
	    int num_bases);

       void read_deallocate(
	    Read *read);

DESCRIPTION

       These  functions  create  and  destroy Read structures. The Read structure is a generalised in-memory data structure used for holding trace
       data information.

       read_allocate() creates a Read structure large enough to hold num_points trace sample points and num_bases called bases. The allocated data
       is then initialised to appropriate defaults, which are mainly zeros and null pointers.

       read_deallocate() destroys a previously created Read structure. It is not sufficient to simply use the free() call instead.

RETURN VALUES

       On  successful  completion,  the  read_allocate()  function  returns  a pointer to a Read structure. Otherwise this function returns a null
       pointer.

       The read_deallocate() function returns no value.

SEE ALSO

       read_reading(3), fread_reading(3), write_reading(3), fwrite_reading(3)

																  read_allocate(3)