2 Union TypeSpec

<Union TypeSpec> ::= 
    MP_CommonOperatorPkt(MP_Union)n<MP TypeSpec>n 

MP_Union is a union of n prototypes (MP Typespecs). The index n to a packet specification indicates that this packet has n arguments, each of which is a prototype (MP TypeSpec) and the indices 1 to n are used for union discrimination. The index 1 refers to the first prototype, index 2 to the second prototype, and so on. At communication time, when the sender is preparing to put a value described by a MP_Union operator, the sender must first put an IMP_Uint32 in the range 1 to n in the data packet. This discriminator is followed by the data. In parsing the prototype, the receiver must remain aware of MP_Union operators and store the argument prototypes in the proper order. In reading the incoming data for a node described by a MP_Union, the parser must first read in an IMP_Uint32 identifying the particular prototype to use, then read in the data according to that prototype. Obviously, if the receiver reads an index greater than n, an error must be returned. An example is given at the end of the section.