[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

[netCDF #JXD-401979]: order of data declarations in NCML / CDL

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 Note that the archive is no longer being updated. We provide the archive for reference; many of the answers presented here remain technically correct, even if somewhat outdated.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.

  • Subject: [netCDF #JXD-401979]: order of data declarations in NCML / CDL
  • Date: Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:54:58 -0700
Hi Randy,

Sorry to have taken so long to respond to your question:
> I could have sworn I read it somewhere, but I couldn't find it now.
> 
> Is there a recommended order to declare the variables/attributes for our CF 
> compliant product files:

I don't know of any recommended order of declarations.  It certainly doesn't 
matter
in terms of the netCDF APIs, which use handles from names rather than order to 
access metadata and data.  However, if users use CDL to see what's in a netCDF 
dataset, it would be good to put what's most important to users first, so they 
don't
have to scroll through reams of CDL to determine whether a dataset contains the
information they're looking for.

> Here is what we have in a typical GOES-R product file ...
> 
> (1)
> Dimensions for space and time of data
> 
> (2)
> Other dimensions
> 
> (3)
> Coordinate variables
> 
> (4)
> Data variables
> 
> (5)
> Quality flag variables
> 
> (6)
> Attributes that are there to conform with Attribute Convention for Dataset 
> Discovery
> 
> (7)
> ISO required definitions for geographic product extent (sort of like global 
> attributes)
> 
> (8)
> Product level global variables that define statistics associated with the 
> data variables
> 
> (9)
> ISO required attributers that define the source, general characteristics, and 
> provenance of the data in the product file
> 
> 
> What is the ideal ordering ?

That looks great to me.

--Russ

Russ Rew                                         UCAR Unidata Program
address@hidden                      http://www.unidata.ucar.edu



Ticket Details
===================
Ticket ID: JXD-401979
Department: Support netCDF
Priority: Urgent
Status: Closed