How to indicate a field of bits in a byte

[Jan Axelson <jan -at- Lvr -dot- com>]

I sometimes need to describe the usage of bits of data within a byte, where 
multiple bits in the byte make up a single field.

Example:

Bit 0: End bit
Bits 1 through 7: CRC bits

Conventions I've seen to indicate "Bits 1 through 7" or similar include

[1:7]

1..7

1...7

1-7, where "-" is an n-dash

or the same but with the most significant bit first, especially when 
followed by data, such as:

[7:1]  1110001

(because the leftmost bit is bit 7).

I'd be interested in any comments/thoughts on which format is clearest, or 
if there's a better format. The audience is engineers/programmers.

(I recently rejoined this list after an absence and am finding it as 
informative as ever.)

Jan Axelson
www.Lvr.com  


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