I have written a program which reads a file containing multidimensional data (most commonly 3D, but 2D could occur as well). To heighten simplicity I would like to store the data in an array of the same rank (or something pretending to be one), i.e. using a three-dimensional array for 3D data, etc.; the trouble is that the program only learns about the dimensionality on reading the data file.
Currently I store all data in an array of rank one and calculate each element's index in that array from the element's coordinates (this was also suggested here). However, I have also read about pointer rank remapping, which seems very elegant and just what I have been looking for, as it would allow me to scrap my procedures for array index determination (which are probably far less efficient than what goes on behind the scenes). Now, however, it looks like I'm facing the same problem as with directly declaring a multidimensional array - how to do the declaration? Again, it requires information about the rank.
How could I use pointer rank remapping or some other, more suitable technique for setting an array's rank at runtime - in case this can be done at all. Or am I best off sticking to the rank one-array that I am currently using?