def makearrcoldesc(columnname, value, ndim=0,
                   shape=[], datamanagertype='',
                   datamanagergroup='',
                   options=0, maxlen=0, comment='',
                   valuetype='', keywords={}):
    vtype = valuetype
    if vtype == '':
        vtype = _value_type_name(value)
    if len(shape) > 0:
        if ndim <= 0:
            ndim = len(shape)
    rec2 = {'valueType': vtype,
            'dataManagerType': datamanagertype,
            'dataManagerGroup': datamanagergroup,
            'ndim': ndim,
            'shape': shape,
            '_c_order': True,
            'option': options,
            'maxlen': maxlen,
            'comment': comment,
            'keywords': keywords}
    return {'name': columnname,
            'desc': rec2}