template<typename T, size_t d, size_t* dims>

class bisArray:  public bisObject {
  
  typedef boost::variant <
    T*,
    boost::multi_array_ref<T, 1>,
    boost::multi_array_ref<T, 2>,
    boost::multi_array_ref<T, 3>,
    boost::multi_array_ref<T, 4>,
    boost::multi_array_ref<T, 5>,
    boost::multi_array_ref<T, 6>,
    boost::multi_array_ref<T, 7>,
    boost::multi_array_ref<T, 8>
    > bisArray_t;
  
public:
  
  // default constructor
  bisArray();
  
  // initialising constructor
  bisArray(T, d, dims);
  
  // destructor
  ~bisArray();
  
protected:
  
private:
  
  // multidimensional access
  bisArray_t _bisArray;
  
  // data storage
  T* _bisData;
  
  // dimensionality
  size_t _bisDims;
  
}; // class bisArray