This archive contains answers to questions sent to Unidata support through mid-2025. Note that the archive is no longer being updated. We provide the archive for reference; many of the answers presented here remain technically correct, even if somewhat outdated. For the most up-to-date information on the use of NSF Unidata software and data services, please consult the Software Documentation first.
> >Keywords: 199505021747.AA01020 Hi Dr. Li, > I am writing to seek help about importing netCDF files for data > visulization using SGI explorer. I wonder whether you know of any existing > explorer module that can read netCDF data. Many thanks. Yes, there are at least two such modules. I've appended descriptions of them, extracted from the the WWW document "Software for Manipulating or Displaying NetCDF Data" available at <URL:http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/packages/netcdf/utilities.html> If you have a WWW browser such as Netscape or Mosaic, it would be useful to read these descriptions from the document referred to above, as it contains links to more information about the packages than is contained in the appended text descriptions. --Russ ______________________________________________________________________________ Russ Rew UCAR Unidata Program address@hidden http://www.unidata.ucar.edu SGI Iris Explorer Module The Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Group at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) and the Mesoscale Dynamics and Precipitation Branch at NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center have developed the NCSA PATHFINDER module set for SGI Iris Explorer One of the modules, ReadDF, is capable of reading from NCSA HDF files, MFHDF/3.3 files, and Unidata netCDF files. The format translation is handled transparently. Up to five unique lattices may be generated from the file (as these files can contain multiple data fields) using a single module. A variety of dimensionalities and data types are supported also. Multiple variables may be combined in a single lattice to generate vector data. All three Explorer coordinate systems are supported. A user-friendly interface provides control and information about the contents of arbitrary HDF and netCDF files. For more information on the NCSA PATHFINDER project and other available modules, visit the WWW/Mosaic PATHFINDER Home Page at http://redrock.ncsa.uiuc.edu/PATHFINDER/pathrel2/top/top.html The ReadDF module may be downloaded either via the WWW server or anonymous ftp at redrock.ncsa.uiuc.edu in the /pub/PATHFINDER directory. For more information please send email to: address@hidden See also the information on DDI for another way to use netCDF data with IRIS Explorer. DDI The Data and Dimensions Interface ( DDI) addresses a significant problem in the visualization of large data sets: Extracting only the relevant data and providing it to a chosen graphics engine in the required form without undue effort. DDI transfers data between files, formats and visualization systems. It works within the specifications of each supported format to promote compatibility. DDI provides the following capabilities: Browsing through the contents of DRS, NetCDF, and HDF files Randomly selecting data variables Rearranging variables into the desired form Modifying or creating new variable attributes Saving variables into new files Feeding variables directly to a visualization system DDI operates in two modes: As a module in a data flow environment such as AVS or IRIS Explorer As a stand-alone application capable of sending data over the network to AVS, IRIS Explorer, IDL, NCSA Collage, and PV-WAVE DDI is available for a number of computer systems via anonymous FTP from sas.nersc.gov in the directory /pub/DDI. The Introduction to DDI and DDI Reference Manual are Www-accessible: http://www.nersc.gov/doc/Services/Applications/Graphics/DDI/DDI.html DDI was developed as a collaboration between the Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison (PCMDI), and the National Energy Research Supercomputer Center (NERSC), both of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). DDI was developed by Chris L. Anderson, Robert S. Drach, and Dean N. Williams.