METHOD AND SYSTEM IN A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR LOADING AND STORING VECTORS IN A PLURALITY OF MODES

A vector having a plurality of elements is stored in an input storage area, wherein the vector elements are stored in a first pattern. Thereafter, the elements are transferred, in a first order, from the input storage area into a vector register interface unit. From the vector register interface unit, the elements are transferred to an output storage area and stored in addressable locations in one of a plurality of preselected patterns. The input storage area may be implemented with cache memory or a register array. The output storage area may be implemented with a cache memory or a register array. The first pattern in the input storage area may include alternating real and imaginary elements. The plurality of preselected patterns may include a reversed order pattern, or a separation of real and imaginary elements into two vector registers.