.TH read_allocate 3 "" "" "Staden Package"

.SH NAME

.LP
.BR read_allocate ,
.BR read_deallocate
\- Allocate and deallocate the \fBRead\fR structure.

.SH SYNOPSIS
.LP
.nf
.ft B
#include <Read.h>

.nf
.ft B
Read *read_allocate(
	int num_points,
	int num_bases);
.ft
.fi
.LP
.nf
.ft B
void read_deallocate(
	Read *read);
.ft
.fi
.IX "read_allocate()" "" "read_allocate()"
.IX "read_deallocate()" "" "read_deallocate()"

.SH DESCRIPTION
.LP
These functions create and destroy \fBRead\fR structures. The \fBRead\fR
structure is a generalised in-memory data structure used for holding trace
data information.
.LP
.B read_allocate()
creates a \fBRead\fR structure large enough to hold \fBnum_points\fR trace
sample points and \fBnum_bases\fR called bases. The allocated data is then
initialised to appropriate defaults, which are mainly zeros and null pointers.
.LP
.B read_deallocate()
destroys a previously created \fBRead\fR structure. It is not sufficient to
simply use the \fBfree()\fR call instead.

.SH RETURN VALUES
.LP
On successful completion, the \fBread_allocate()\fR function returns a pointer
to a \fBRead\fR structure. Otherwise this function returns a null pointer.
.LP
The \fBread_deallocate()\fR function returns no value.

.SH SEE ALSO
.LP
.BR read_reading (3),
.BR fread_reading (3),
.BR write_reading (3),
.BR fwrite_reading (3)