/// <summary>
        /// read distance data
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="lines"></param>
        /// <param name="start_line"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public static bool distance_data(string[] lines, int start_line, ref List <long> distances)
        {
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();

            for (int i = start_line; i < lines.Length; ++i)
            {
                sb.Append(lines[i].Substring(0, lines[i].Length - 1));
            }
            return(SCIP_Reader.decode_array(sb.ToString(), 3, ref distances));
        }