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H5A: Attribute Interface

Attribute API Functions

These functions create and manipulate attributes and information about attributes.

The C Interfaces:
             

Alphabetical Listing
             

The FORTRAN90 Interfaces:
In general, each FORTRAN90 subroutine performs exactly the same task as the corresponding C function.
             

The Attribute interface, H5A, is primarily designed to easily allow small datasets to be attached to primary datasets as metadata information. Additional goals for the H5A interface include keeping storage requirement for each attribute to a minimum and easily sharing attributes among datasets.

Because attributes are intended to be small objects, large datasets intended as additional information for a primary dataset should be stored as supplemental datasets in a group with the primary dataset. Attributes can then be attached to the group containing everything to indicate a particular type of dataset with supplemental datasets is located in the group. How small is "small" is not defined by the library and is up to the user's interpretation.

See Attributes in the HDF5 User's Guide for further information.


Name: H5Aclose
Signature:
herr_t H5Aclose(hid_t attr_id)
Purpose:
Closes the specified attribute.
Description:
H5Aclose terminates access to the attribute specified by attr_id by releasing the identifier.

Further use of a released attribute identifier is illegal; a function using such an identifier will fail.

Parameters:
Returns:
Returns a non-negative value if successful; otherwise returns a negative value.
Fortran90 Interface: h5aclose_f
SUBROUTINE h5aclose_f(attr_id, hdferr) 
  IMPLICIT NONE
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(OUT) :: attr_id  ! Attribute identifier 
  INTEGER, INTENT(OUT) :: hdferr          ! Error code:
                                          ! 0 on success and -1 on failure
END SUBROUTINE h5aclose_f	
	

Name: H5Acreate
Signature:
hid_t H5Acreate(hid_t loc_id, const char *name, hid_t type_id, hid_t space_id, hid_t create_plist )
Purpose:
Creates a dataset as an attribute of another group, dataset, or named datatype.
Description:
H5Acreate creates an attribute named name and attached to the object specified with loc_id. loc_id is a group, dataset, or named datatype identifier.

The attribute name specified in name must be unique. Attempting to create an attribute with the same name as an already existing attribute will fail, leaving the pre-existing attribute in place. To overwrite an existing attribute with a new attribute of the same name, first call H5Adelete then recreate the attribute with H5Acreate.

The datatype and dataspace identifiers of the attribute, type_id and space_id, respectively, are created with the H5T and H5S interfaces, respectively.

Currently only simple dataspaces are allowed for attribute dataspaces.

The attribute creation property list, create_plist, is currently unused; it may be used in the future for optional attribute properties. At this time, H5P_DEFAULT is the only accepted value.

The attribute identifier returned from this function must be released with H5Aclose or resource leaks will develop.
Parameters:
Returns:
Returns an attribute identifier if successful; otherwise returns a negative value.
Fortran90 Interface: h5acreate_f
SUBROUTINE h5acreate_f(obj_id, name, type_id, space_id, attr_id, & 
                       hdferr, creation_prp) 
  IMPLICIT NONE
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: obj_id    ! Object identifier 
  CHARACTER(LEN=*), INTENT(IN) :: name    ! Attribute name
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: type_id   ! Attribute datatype identifier 
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: space_id  ! Attribute dataspace identifier
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(OUT) :: attr_id  ! Attribute identifier 
  INTEGER, INTENT(OUT) :: hdferr          ! Error code:
                                          ! 0 on success and -1 on failure
										  
  INTEGER(HID_T), OPTIONAL, INTENT(IN) :: creation_prp
                                          ! Attribute creation property 
                                          ! list identifier 
END SUBROUTINE h5acreate_f
	

Name: H5Adelete
Signature:
herr_t H5Adelete(hid_t loc_id, const char *name )
Purpose:
Deletes an attribute from a location.
Description:
H5Adelete removes the attribute specified by its name, name, from a dataset, group, or named datatype. This function should not be used when attribute identifiers are open on loc_id as it may cause the internal indexes of the attributes to change and future writes to the open attributes to produce incorrect results.
Parameters:
Returns:
Returns a non-negative value if successful; otherwise returns a negative value.
Fortran90 Interface: h5adelete_f
SUBROUTINE h5adelete_f(obj_id, name, hdferr) 
  IMPLICIT NONE
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: obj_id    ! Object identifier 
  CHARACTER(LEN=*), INTENT(IN) :: name    ! Attribute name
  INTEGER, INTENT(OUT) :: hdferr          ! Error code:
                                          ! 0 on success and -1 on failure
END SUBROUTINE h5adelete_f
	

Name: H5Aget_name
Signature:
ssize_t H5Aget_name(hid_t attr_id, size_t buf_size, char *buf )
Purpose:
Gets an attribute name.
Description:
H5Aget_name retrieves the name of an attribute specified by the identifier, attr_id. Up to buf_size characters are stored in buf followed by a \0 string terminator. If the name of the attribute is longer than (buf_size -1), the string terminator is stored in the last position of the buffer to properly terminate the string.
Parameters:
Returns:
Returns the length of the attribute's name, which may be longer than buf_size, if successful. Otherwise returns a negative value.
Fortran90 Interface: h5aget_name_f
SUBROUTINE h5aget_name_f(attr_id, size, buf, hdferr) 
  IMPLICIT NONE
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: attr_id  ! Attribute identifier 
  INTEGER, INTENT(IN) :: size            ! Buffer size 
  CHARACTER(LEN=*), INTENT(OUT) :: buf   ! Buffer to hold attribute name
  INTEGER, INTENT(OUT) :: hdferr         ! Error code: name length  
                                         ! on success and -1 on failure
END SUBROUTINE h5aget_name_f
	

Name: H5Aget_num_attrs
Signature:
int H5Aget_num_attrs(hid_t loc_id)
Purpose:
Determines the number of attributes attached to an object.
Description:
H5Aget_num_attrs returns the number of attributes attached to the object specified by its identifier, loc_id. The object can be a group, dataset, or named datatype.
Parameters:
Returns:
Returns the number of attributes if successful; otherwise returns a negative value.
Fortran90 Interface: h5aget_num_attrs_f
SUBROUTINE h5aget_num_attrs_f(obj_id, attr_num, hdferr) 
  IMPLICIT NONE
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: obj_id  ! Object identifier 
  INTEGER, INTENT(OUT) :: attr_num      ! Number of attributes of the object
  INTEGER, INTENT(OUT) :: hdferr        ! Error code:
                                        ! 0 on success and -1 on failure
END SUBROUTINE h5aget_num_attrs_f
	

Name: H5Aget_space
Signature:
hid_t H5Aget_space(hid_t attr_id)
Purpose:
Gets a copy of the dataspace for an attribute.
Description:
H5Aget_space retrieves a copy of the dataspace for an attribute. The dataspace identifier returned from this function must be released with H5Sclose or resource leaks will develop.
Parameters:
Returns:
Returns attribute dataspace identifier if successful; otherwise returns a negative value.
Fortran90 Interface: h5aget_space_f
SUBROUTINE h5aget_space_f(attr_id, space_id, hdferr) 
  IMPLICIT NONE
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: attr_id   ! Attribute identifier 
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(OUT) :: space_id ! Attribute dataspace identifier
  INTEGER, INTENT(OUT) :: hdferr          ! Error code:
                                          ! 0 on success and -1 on failure
END SUBROUTINE h5aget_space_f
	

Name: H5Aget_type
Signature:
hid_t H5Aget_type(hid_t attr_id)
Purpose:
Gets an attribute datatype.
Description:
H5Aget_type retrieves a copy of the datatype for an attribute.

The datatype is reopened if it is a named type before returning it to the application. The datatypes returned by this function are always read-only. If an error occurs when atomizing the return datatype, then the datatype is closed.

The datatype identifier returned from this function must be released with H5Tclose or resource leaks will develop.

Parameters:
Returns:
Returns a datatype identifier if successful; otherwise returns a negative value.
Fortran90 Interface: h5aget_type_f
SUBROUTINE h5aget_type_f(attr_id, type_id, hdferr) 
  IMPLICIT NONE
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: attr_id  ! Attribute identifier 
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(OUT) :: type_id ! Attribute datatype identifier
  INTEGER, INTENT(OUT) :: hdferr         ! Error code:
                                         ! 0 on success and -1 on failure
END SUBROUTINE h5aget_type_f
	

Name: H5Aiterate
Signature:
herr_t H5Aiterate(hid_t loc_id, unsigned * idx, H5A_operator_t op, void *op_data )
Purpose:
Calls a user's function for each attribute on an object.
Description:
H5Aiterate iterates over the attributes of the object specified by its identifier, loc_id. The object can be a group, dataset, or named datatype. For each attribute of the object, the op_data and some additional information specified below are passed to the operator function op. The iteration begins with the attribute specified by its index, idx; the index for the next attribute to be processed by the operator, op, is returned in idx. If idx is the null pointer, then all attributes are processed.

The prototype for H5A_operator_t is:
typedef herr_t (*H5A_operator_t)(hid_t loc_id, const char *attr_name, void *operator_data);

The operation receives the identifier for the group, dataset or named datatype being iterated over, loc_id, the name of the current attribute about the object, attr_name, and the pointer to the operator data passed in to H5Aiterate, op_data. The return values from an operator are:

Parameters:
Returns:
If successful, returns the return value of the last operator if it was non-zero, or zero if all attributes were processed. Otherwise returns a negative value.
Fortran90 Interface:
None.

Name: H5Aopen_idx
Signature:
hid_t H5Aopen_idx(hid_t loc_id, unsigned int idx )
Purpose:
Opens the attribute specified by its index.
Description:
H5Aopen_idx opens an attribute which is attached to the object specified with loc_id. The location object may be either a group, dataset, or named datatype, all of which may have any sort of attribute. The attribute specified by the index, idx, indicates the attribute to access. The value of idx is a 0-based, non-negative integer. The attribute identifier returned from this function must be released with H5Aclose or resource leaks will develop.
Parameters:
Returns:
Returns attribute identifier if successful; otherwise returns a negative value.
Fortran90 Interface: h5aopen_idx_f
SUBROUTINE h5aopen_idx_f(obj_id, index, attr_id, hdferr) 
  IMPLICIT NONE
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: obj_id    ! Object identifier 
  INTEGER, INTENT(IN) :: index            ! Attribute index 
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(OUT) :: attr_id  ! Attribute identifier 
  INTEGER, INTENT(OUT) :: hdferr          ! Error code:
                                          ! 0 on success and -1 on failure
END SUBROUTINE h5aopen_idx_f
	

Name: H5Aopen_name
Signature:
hid_t H5Aopen_name(hid_t loc_id, const char *name )
Purpose:
Opens an attribute specified by name.
Description:
H5Aopen_name opens an attribute specified by its name, name, which is attached to the object specified with loc_id. The location object may be either a group, dataset, or named datatype, which may have any sort of attribute. The attribute identifier returned from this function must be released with H5Aclose or resource leaks will develop.
Parameters:
Returns:
Returns attribute identifier if successful; otherwise returns a negative value.
Fortran90 Interface: h5aopen_name_f
SUBROUTINE h5aopen_name_f(obj_id, name, attr_id, hdferr) 
  IMPLICIT NONE
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: obj_id    ! Object identifier 
  CHARACTER(LEN=*), INTENT(IN) :: name    ! Attribute name
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(OUT) :: attr_id  ! Attribute identifier 
  INTEGER, INTENT(OUT) :: hdferr          ! Error code:
                                          ! 0 on success and -1 on failure
END SUBROUTINE h5aopen_name_f
	

Name: H5Aread
Signature:
herr_t H5Aread(hid_t attr_id, hid_t mem_type_id, void *buf )
Purpose:
Reads an attribute.
Description:
H5Aread reads an attribute, specified with attr_id. The attribute's memory datatype is specified with mem_type_id. The entire attribute is read into buf from the file.

Datatype conversion takes place at the time of a read or write and is automatic. See the Data Conversion section of The Data Type Interface (H5T) in the HDF5 User's Guide for a discussion of data conversion, including the range of conversions currently supported by the HDF5 libraries.

Parameters:
Returns:
Returns a non-negative value if successful; otherwise returns a negative value.
Fortran90 Interface: h5aread_f
SUBROUTINE h5aread_f(attr_id, memtype_id,  buf, dims, hdferr) 
  IMPLICIT NONE
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: attr_id    ! Attribute identifier 
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: memtype_id ! Attribute datatype 
                                           ! identifier  (in memory)
  TYPE, INTENT(INOUT)  :: buf              ! Data buffer; may be a scalar or 
                                           ! an array
  DIMENSION(*), INTEGER(HSIZE_T), INTENT(IN)  :: dims 
                                           ! Array to hold corresponding 
                                           ! dimension sizes of data buffer buf;
                                           ! dim(k) has value of the 
                                           ! k-th dimension of buffer buf;
                                           ! values are ignored if buf is a 
                                           ! scalar
  INTEGER, INTENT(OUT) :: hdferr           ! Error code:
                                           ! 0 on success and -1 on failure
END SUBROUTINE h5aread_f
	
History:

Name: H5Awrite
Signature:
herr_t H5Awrite(hid_t attr_id, hid_t mem_type_id, const void *buf )
Purpose:
Writes data to an attribute.
Description:
H5Awrite writes an attribute, specified with attr_id. The attribute's memory datatype is specified with mem_type_id. The entire attribute is written from buf to the file.

Datatype conversion takes place at the time of a read or write and is automatic. See the Data Conversion section of The Data Type Interface (H5T) in the HDF5 User's Guide for a discussion of data conversion, including the range of conversions currently supported by the HDF5 libraries.

Parameters:
Returns:
Returns a non-negative value if successful; otherwise returns a negative value.
Fortran90 Interface: h5awrite_f
SUBROUTINE h5awrite_f(attr_id, memtype_id,  buf, dims, hdferr) 
  IMPLICIT NONE
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: attr_id    ! Attribute identifier 
  INTEGER(HID_T), INTENT(IN) :: memtype_id ! Attribute datatype 
                                           ! identifier  (in memory)
  TYPE, INTENT(IN) :: buf                  ! Data buffer; may be a scalar or 
                                           ! an array
  DIMENSION(*), INTEGER(HSIZE_T), INTENT(IN)  :: dims 
                                           ! Array to hold corresponding 
                                           ! dimension sizes of data buffer buf;
                                           ! dim(k) has value of the k-th 
                                           ! dimension of buffer buf;
                                           ! values are ignored if buf is 
                                           ! a scalar
  INTEGER, INTENT(OUT) :: hdferr           ! Error code:
                                           ! 0 on success and -1 on failure
END SUBROUTINE h5awrite_f
	
History:

HDF5 documents and links 
Introduction to HDF5 
HDF5 User Guide 
And in this document, the HDF5 Reference Manual  
H5   H5A   H5D   H5E   H5F   H5G   H5I   H5P  
H5R   H5S   H5T   H5Z   Tools   Datatypes  
(PDF of complete manual formatted as print volume)   

HDF Help Desk
Describes HDF5 Release 1.6.5, November 2005