Ok, the message is technically correct. The alias should read "Alias mod04 StructMetadata.SwathStructure.SWATH_1". Is it that you would like a change so that if unambiguous, then "Alias mod04 SWATH_1" should be accepted, correct? =Dennis Heimbigner Unidata Ticket Details =================== Ticket ID: UWT-369970 Department: Support netCDF Java Priority: High Status: Open