Merge pull request #1373 in HDFFV/hdf5 from ~BYRN/hdf5_adb:hdf5_1_10 to hdf5_1_10

* commit '88e514a6e51d0e3fedd855f7b2fbff74f1b5c802':
  HDFVIEW-4 add H5A read/write functions to match H5D

6 files changed, 1450 insertions, 281 deletions

diff --git a/java/src/hdf/hdf5lib/H5.java b/java/src/hdf/hdf5lib/H5.java
index 51f1b4a..751528e 100644
--- a/java/src/hdf/hdf5lib/H5.java
+++ b/java/src/hdf/hdf5lib/H5.java
@@ -852,7 +852,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      * @exception HDF5LibraryException
      *                - Error from the HDF-5 Library.
      **/
-    public static long H5Aget_space(long attr_id) throws HDF5LibraryException {
+    public static long H5Aget_space(long attr_id) throws HDF5LibraryException
+    {
         long id = _H5Aget_space(attr_id);
         if (id > 0) {
             log.trace("OPEN_IDS: H5Aget_space add {}", id);
@@ -888,7 +889,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      * @exception HDF5LibraryException
      *                - Error from the HDF-5 Library.
      **/
-    public static long H5Aget_type(long attr_id) throws HDF5LibraryException {
+    public static long H5Aget_type(long attr_id) throws HDF5LibraryException
+    {
         long id = _H5Aget_type(attr_id);
         if (id > 0) {
             log.trace("OPEN_IDS: H5Aget_type add {}", id);
@@ -918,8 +920,9 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      * @exception NullPointerException
      *                - Name is null.
      **/
-    public static long H5Aopen(long obj_id, String attr_name, long aapl_id) throws HDF5LibraryException,
-            NullPointerException {
+    public static long H5Aopen(long obj_id, String attr_name, long aapl_id)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         long id = _H5Aopen(obj_id, attr_name, aapl_id);
         if (id > 0) {
             log.trace("OPEN_IDS: H5Aopen add {}", id);
@@ -959,7 +962,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      *                - Name is null.
      **/
     public static long H5Aopen_by_idx(long loc_id, String obj_name, int idx_type, int order, long n, long aapl_id,
-            long lapl_id) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long lapl_id) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         long id = _H5Aopen_by_idx(loc_id, obj_name, idx_type, order, n, aapl_id, lapl_id);
         if (id > 0) {
             log.trace("OPEN_IDS: H5Aopen_by_idx add {}", id);
@@ -994,7 +998,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      *                - obj_name is null.
      **/
     public static long H5Aopen_by_name(long loc_id, String obj_name, String attr_name, long aapl_id, long lapl_id)
-            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         long id = _H5Aopen_by_name(loc_id, obj_name, attr_name, aapl_id, lapl_id);
         if (id > 0) {
             log.trace("OPEN_IDS: H5Aopen_by_name add {}", id);
@@ -1015,8 +1020,10 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      *            IN: Identifier of an attribute to read.
      * @param mem_type_id
      *            IN: Identifier of the attribute datatype (in memory).
-     * @param buf
-     *            IN: Buffer for data to be read.
+     * @param obj
+     *            Buffer to store data read from the file.
+     * @param isCriticalPinning
+     *            request lock on data reference.
      *
      * @return a non-negative value if successful
      *
@@ -1025,9 +1032,19 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      * @exception NullPointerException
      *                - data buffer is null.
      **/
-    public synchronized static native int H5Aread(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, byte[] buf)
+    public synchronized static native int H5Aread(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, byte[] obj, boolean isCriticalPinning)
             throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
 
+    public synchronized static int H5Aread(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, byte[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Aread(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf, true);
+    }
+
+    public synchronized static int H5Aread(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, Object obj) throws HDF5Exception, HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Aread(attr_id, mem_type_id, obj, true);
+    }
+
     /**
      * 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 data object from the file.
@@ -1038,31 +1055,143 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      *            IN: Identifier of the attribute datatype (in memory).
      * @param obj
      *            IN: Object for data to be read.
+     * @param isCriticalPinning
+     *            request lock on data reference.
      *
      * @return a non-negative value if successful
      *
+     * @exception HDF5Exception
+     *                - Failure in the data conversion.
      * @exception HDF5LibraryException
      *                - Error from the HDF-5 Library.
      * @exception NullPointerException
      *                - data buffer is null. See public synchronized static native int H5Aread( )
      **/
-    public synchronized static int H5Aread(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, Object obj) throws HDF5Exception,
-            NullPointerException {
-        HDFArray theArray = new HDFArray(obj);
-        byte[] buf = theArray.emptyBytes();
+    public synchronized static int H5Aread(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, Object obj, boolean isCriticalPinning)
+            throws HDF5Exception, HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        int status = -1;
+        boolean is1D = false;
 
-        // This will raise an exception if there is an error
-        int status = H5Aread(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf);
+        Class dataClass = obj.getClass();
+        if (!dataClass.isArray()) {
+            throw (new HDF5JavaException("H5Aread: data is not an array"));
+        }
 
-        // No exception: status really ought to be OK
-        if (status >= 0) {
-            obj = theArray.arrayify(buf);
+        String cname = dataClass.getName();
+        is1D = (cname.lastIndexOf('[') == cname.indexOf('['));
+        char dname = cname.charAt(cname.lastIndexOf("[") + 1);
+        log.trace("H5Aread: cname={} is1D={} dname={}", cname, is1D, dname);
+
+        if (is1D && (dname == 'B')) {
+            log.trace("H5Aread_dname_B");
+            status = H5Aread(attr_id, mem_type_id, (byte[]) obj, isCriticalPinning);
+        }
+        else if (is1D && (dname == 'S')) {
+            log.trace("H5Aread_dname_S");
+            status = H5Aread_short(attr_id, mem_type_id, (short[]) obj, isCriticalPinning);
+        }
+        else if (is1D && (dname == 'I')) {
+            log.trace("H5Aread_dname_I");
+            status = H5Aread_int(attr_id, mem_type_id, (int[]) obj, isCriticalPinning);
+        }
+        else if (is1D && (dname == 'J')) {
+            log.trace("H5Aread_dname_J");
+            status = H5Aread_long(attr_id, mem_type_id, (long[]) obj, isCriticalPinning);
+        }
+        else if (is1D && (dname == 'F')) {
+            log.trace("H5Aread_dname_F");
+            status = H5Aread_float(attr_id, mem_type_id, (float[]) obj, isCriticalPinning);
+        }
+        else if (is1D && (dname == 'D')) {
+            log.trace("H5Aread_dname_D");
+            status = H5Aread_double(attr_id, mem_type_id, (double[]) obj, isCriticalPinning);
+        }
+        else if ((H5.H5Tdetect_class(mem_type_id, HDF5Constants.H5T_REFERENCE) && (is1D && (dataClass.getComponentType() == String.class))) || H5.H5Tequal(mem_type_id, HDF5Constants.H5T_STD_REF_DSETREG)) {
+            log.trace("H5Aread_reg_ref");
+            status = H5Aread_reg_ref(attr_id, mem_type_id, (String[]) obj);
+        }
+        else if (is1D && (dataClass.getComponentType() == String.class)) {
+            log.trace("H5Aread_string type");
+            status = H5Aread_string(attr_id, mem_type_id, (String[]) obj);
+        }
+        else {
+            // Create a data buffer to hold the data into a Java Array
+            HDFArray theArray = new HDFArray(obj);
+            byte[] buf = theArray.emptyBytes();
+            log.trace("H5Aread_else");
+
+            // This will raise an exception if there is an error
+            status = H5Aread(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf, isCriticalPinning);
+
+            // No exception: status really ought to be OK
+            if (status >= 0) {
+                obj = theArray.arrayify(buf);
+            }
+
+            // clean up these: assign 'null' as hint to gc()
+            buf = null;
+            theArray = null;
         }
 
         return status;
     }
 
-    public synchronized static native int H5AreadVL(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, String[] buf)
+    public synchronized static native int H5Aread_double(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, double[] buf, boolean isCriticalPinning)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static int H5Aread_double(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, double[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Aread_double(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf, true);
+    }
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5Aread_float(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, float[] buf, boolean isCriticalPinning)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static int H5Aread_float(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, float[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Aread_float(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf, true);
+    }
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5Aread_int(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, int[] buf, boolean isCriticalPinning)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static int H5Aread_int(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, int[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Aread_int(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf, true);
+    }
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5Aread_long(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, long[] buf, boolean isCriticalPinning)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static int H5Aread_long(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, long[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Aread_long(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf, true);
+    }
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5Aread_reg_ref(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, String[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5Aread_short(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, short[] buf, boolean isCriticalPinning)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static int H5Aread_short(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, short[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Aread_short(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf, true);
+    }
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5AreadVL(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, Object[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5Aread_string(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, String[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5Aread_VLStrings(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, Object[] buf)
             throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
 
     public synchronized static native int H5AreadComplex(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, String[] buf)
@@ -1123,7 +1252,9 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      * @param mem_type_id
      *            IN: Identifier of the attribute datatype (in memory).
      * @param buf
-     *            IN: Data to be written.
+     *            IN: Buffer with data to be written to the file.
+     * @param isCriticalPinning
+     *            IN: request lock on data reference.
      *
      * @return a non-negative value if successful
      *
@@ -1132,9 +1263,21 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      * @exception NullPointerException
      *                - data is null.
      **/
-    public synchronized static native int H5Awrite(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, byte[] buf)
+    public synchronized static native int H5Awrite(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, byte[] buf, boolean isCriticalPinning)
             throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
 
+    public synchronized static int H5Awrite(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, byte[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Awrite(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf, true);
+    }
+
+    public synchronized static int H5Awrite(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, Object obj)
+            throws HDF5Exception, HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Awrite(attr_id, mem_type_id, obj, true);
+    }
+
     /**
      * 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 data object to the file.
@@ -1145,28 +1288,140 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      *            IN: Identifier of the attribute datatype (in memory).
      * @param obj
      *            IN: Data object to be written.
+     * @param isCriticalPinning
+     *            request lock on data reference.
      *
      * @return a non-negative value if successful
      *
+     * @exception HDF5Exception
+     *                - Failure in the data conversion.
      * @exception HDF5LibraryException
      *                - Error from the HDF-5 Library.
      * @exception NullPointerException
-     *                - data object is null. See public synchronized static native int H5Awrite(int attr_id, int
-     *                mem_type_id, byte[] buf);
+     *                - data object is null
      **/
-    public synchronized static int H5Awrite(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, Object obj)
-            throws HDF5Exception, NullPointerException
+    public synchronized static int H5Awrite(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, Object obj, boolean isCriticalPinning)
+            throws HDF5Exception, HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
     {
-        HDFArray theArray = new HDFArray(obj);
-        byte[] buf = theArray.byteify();
+        int status = -1;
+        boolean is1D = false;
 
-        int retVal = H5Awrite(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf);
-        buf = null;
-        theArray = null;
-        return retVal;
+        Class dataClass = obj.getClass();
+        if (!dataClass.isArray()) {
+            throw (new HDF5JavaException("H5Dwrite: data is not an array"));
+        }
+
+        String cname = dataClass.getName();
+        is1D = (cname.lastIndexOf('[') == cname.indexOf('['));
+        char dname = cname.charAt(cname.lastIndexOf("[") + 1);
+
+        if (is1D && (dname == 'B')) {
+            status = H5Awrite(attr_id, mem_type_id, (byte[]) obj, isCriticalPinning);
+        }
+        else if (is1D && (dname == 'S')) {
+            status = H5Awrite_short(attr_id, mem_type_id, (short[]) obj, isCriticalPinning);
+        }
+        else if (is1D && (dname == 'I')) {
+            status = H5Awrite_int(attr_id, mem_type_id, (int[]) obj, isCriticalPinning);
+        }
+        else if (is1D && (dname == 'J')) {
+            status = H5Awrite_long(attr_id, mem_type_id, (long[]) obj, isCriticalPinning);
+        }
+        else if (is1D && (dname == 'F')) {
+            status = H5Awrite_float(attr_id, mem_type_id, (float[]) obj, isCriticalPinning);
+        }
+        else if (is1D && (dname == 'D')) {
+            status = H5Awrite_double(attr_id, mem_type_id, (double[]) obj, isCriticalPinning);
+        }
+        else if (is1D && (dataClass.getComponentType() == String.class)) {
+            log.trace("H5Dwrite_string type");
+            status = H5Awrite_string(attr_id, mem_type_id, (String[]) obj);
+        }
+        else {
+            HDFArray theArray = new HDFArray(obj);
+            byte[] buf = theArray.byteify();
+
+            status = H5Awrite(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf);
+            buf = null;
+            theArray = null;
+        }
+
+        return status;
+    }
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5Awrite_double(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, double[] buf, boolean isCriticalPinning)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static int H5Awrite_double(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, double[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Awrite_double(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf, true);
+    }
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5Awrite_float(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, float[] buf, boolean isCriticalPinning)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static int H5Awrite_float(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, float[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Awrite_float(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf, true);
+    }
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5Awrite_int(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, int[] buf, boolean isCriticalPinning)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static int H5Awrite_int(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, int[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Awrite_int(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf, true);
+    }
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5Awrite_long(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, long[] buf, boolean isCriticalPinning)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static int H5Awrite_long(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, long[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Awrite_long(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf, true);
+    }
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5Awrite_short(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, short[] buf, boolean isCriticalPinning)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static int H5Awrite_short(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, short[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
+        return H5Awrite_short(attr_id, mem_type_id, buf, true);
     }
 
-    public synchronized static native int H5AwriteVL(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, String[] buf)
+    public synchronized static native int H5Awrite_string(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, String[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5AwriteVL(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, Object[] buf)
+            throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
+
+    /**
+     * H5Awrite_VLStrings writes a variable length String dataset, specified by its identifier attr_id, from
+     * the application memory buffer buf into the file.
+     *
+     * ---- contributed by Rosetta Biosoftware
+     *
+     * @param attr_id
+     *            Identifier of the attribute read from.
+     * @param mem_type_id
+     *            Identifier of the memory datatype.
+     * @param buf
+     *            Buffer with data to be written to the file.
+     *
+     * @return a non-negative value if successful
+     *
+     * @exception HDF5LibraryException
+     *                - Error from the HDF-5 Library.
+     * @exception NullPointerException
+     *                - name is null.
+     **/
+
+    public synchronized static native int H5Awrite_VLStrings(long attr_id, long mem_type_id, Object[] buf)
             throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
 
     /**
@@ -1614,8 +1869,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      * @exception NullPointerException
      *                - name is null.
      **/
-    public static long H5Dopen(long loc_id, String name, long dapl_id) throws HDF5LibraryException,
-    NullPointerException {
+    public static long H5Dopen(long loc_id, String name, long dapl_id) throws HDF5LibraryException,  NullPointerException
+    {
         long id = _H5Dopen2(loc_id, name, dapl_id);
         if (id > 0) {
             log.trace("OPEN_IDS: H5Dopen add {}", id);
@@ -1664,12 +1919,14 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
             NullPointerException;
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dread(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id, long file_space_id,
-            long xfer_plist_id, byte[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long xfer_plist_id, byte[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dread(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, buf, true);
     }
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dread(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id, long file_space_id,
-            long xfer_plist_id, Object obj) throws HDF5Exception, HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long xfer_plist_id, Object obj) throws HDF5Exception, HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dread(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, obj, true);
     }
 
@@ -1703,7 +1960,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      **/
     public synchronized static int H5Dread(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id, long file_space_id,
             long xfer_plist_id, Object obj, boolean isCriticalPinning) throws HDF5Exception, HDF5LibraryException,
-            NullPointerException {
+            NullPointerException
+    {
         int status = -1;
         boolean is1D = false;
 
@@ -1734,7 +1992,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
         }
         else if (is1D && (dname == 'J')) {
             log.trace("H5Dread_dname_J");
-            status = H5Dread_long(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, (long[]) obj);
+            status = H5Dread_long(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, (long[]) obj,
+                    isCriticalPinning);
         }
         else if (is1D && (dname == 'F')) {
             log.trace("H5Dread_dname_F");
@@ -1783,7 +2042,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
                     throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dread_double(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id,
-            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, double[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, double[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dread_double(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, buf, true);
     }
 
@@ -1792,7 +2052,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
                     throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dread_float(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id,
-            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, float[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, float[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dread_float(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, buf, true);
     }
 
@@ -1801,7 +2062,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
             NullPointerException;
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dread_int(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id,
-            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, int[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, int[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dread_int(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, buf, true);
     }
 
@@ -1810,22 +2072,21 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
             NullPointerException;
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dread_long(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id,
-            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, long[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, long[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dread_long(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, buf, true);
     }
 
     public synchronized static native int H5Dread_reg_ref(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id,
             long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, String[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
 
-    public synchronized static native int H5Dread_reg_ref_data(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id,
-            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, String[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
-
     public synchronized static native int H5Dread_short(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id,
             long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, short[] buf, boolean isCriticalPinning)
                     throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dread_short(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id,
-            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, short[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, short[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dread_short(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, buf, true);
     }
 
@@ -1929,12 +2190,14 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
             NullPointerException;
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dwrite(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id, long file_space_id,
-            long xfer_plist_id, byte[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long xfer_plist_id, byte[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dwrite(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, buf, true);
     }
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dwrite(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id, long file_space_id,
-            long xfer_plist_id, Object obj) throws HDF5Exception, HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long xfer_plist_id, Object obj) throws HDF5Exception, HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dwrite(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, obj, true);
     }
 
@@ -1968,7 +2231,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
      **/
     public synchronized static int H5Dwrite(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id, long file_space_id,
             long xfer_plist_id, Object obj, boolean isCriticalPinning) throws HDF5Exception, HDF5LibraryException,
-            NullPointerException {
+            NullPointerException
+    {
         int status = -1;
         boolean is1D = false;
 
@@ -2031,7 +2295,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
                     throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dwrite_double(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id,
-            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, double[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, double[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dwrite_double(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, buf, true);
     }
 
@@ -2040,7 +2305,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
                     throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dwrite_float(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id,
-            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, float[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, float[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dwrite_float(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, buf, true);
     }
 
@@ -2049,7 +2315,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
             NullPointerException;
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dwrite_int(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id,
-            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, int[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, int[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dwrite_int(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, buf, true);
     }
 
@@ -2058,7 +2325,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
             NullPointerException;
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dwrite_long(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id,
-            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, long[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, long[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dwrite_long(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, buf, true);
     }
 
@@ -2067,7 +2335,8 @@ public class H5 implements java.io.Serializable {
                     throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException;
 
     public synchronized static int H5Dwrite_short(long dataset_id, long mem_type_id, long mem_space_id,
-            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, short[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException {
+            long file_space_id, long xfer_plist_id, short[] buf) throws HDF5LibraryException, NullPointerException
+    {
         return H5Dwrite_short(dataset_id, mem_type_id, mem_space_id, file_space_id, xfer_plist_id, buf, true);
     }
 
diff --git a/java/src/jni/h5aImp.c b/java/src/jni/h5aImp.c
index aba2240..e0ec4ca 100644
--- a/java/src/jni/h5aImp.c
+++ b/java/src/jni/h5aImp.c
@@ -60,6 +60,94 @@ static herr_t H5AreadVL_str (JNIEnv *env, hid_t attr_id, hid_t mem_id, jobjectAr
 
 static herr_t H5A_iterate_cb(hid_t g_id, const char *name, const H5A_info_t *info, void *cb_data);
 
+/********************/
+/* Local Macros     */
+/********************/
+
+#define PIN_BYTE_ARRAY() { \
+    if (isCriticalPinning) \
+        buffP = (jbyte*)ENVPTR->GetPrimitiveArrayCritical(ENVPAR buf, &isCopy); \
+    else \
+        buffP = ENVPTR->GetByteArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, &isCopy); \
+}
+
+#define UNPIN_BYTE_ARRAY(mode) { \
+    if (isCriticalPinning) \
+        ENVPTR->ReleasePrimitiveArrayCritical(ENVPAR buf, buffP, mode); \
+    else \
+        ENVPTR->ReleaseByteArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, buffP, mode); \
+}
+
+#define PIN_SHORT_ARRAY() { \
+    if (isCriticalPinning) \
+        buffP = (jshort*)ENVPTR->GetPrimitiveArrayCritical(ENVPAR buf, &isCopy); \
+    else \
+        buffP = ENVPTR->GetShortArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, &isCopy); \
+}
+
+#define UNPIN_SHORT_ARRAY(mode) { \
+    if (isCriticalPinning) \
+        ENVPTR->ReleasePrimitiveArrayCritical(ENVPAR buf, buffP, mode); \
+    else \
+        ENVPTR->ReleaseShortArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, buffP, mode); \
+}
+
+#define PIN_INT_ARRAY() { \
+    if (isCriticalPinning) \
+        buffP = (jint*)ENVPTR->GetPrimitiveArrayCritical(ENVPAR buf, &isCopy); \
+    else \
+        buffP = ENVPTR->GetIntArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, &isCopy); \
+}
+
+#define UNPIN_INT_ARRAY(mode) { \
+    if (isCriticalPinning) \
+        ENVPTR->ReleasePrimitiveArrayCritical(ENVPAR buf, buffP, mode); \
+    else \
+        ENVPTR->ReleaseIntArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, buffP, mode); \
+}
+
+#define PIN_LONG_ARRAY() { \
+    if (isCriticalPinning) \
+        buffP = (jlong*)ENVPTR->GetPrimitiveArrayCritical(ENVPAR buf, &isCopy); \
+    else \
+        buffP = ENVPTR->GetLongArrayElements(ENVPAR buf,&isCopy); \
+}
+
+#define UNPIN_LONG_ARRAY(mode) { \
+    if (isCriticalPinning) \
+        ENVPTR->ReleasePrimitiveArrayCritical(ENVPAR buf, buffP, mode); \
+    else \
+        ENVPTR->ReleaseLongArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, buffP, mode); \
+}
+
+#define PIN_FLOAT_ARRAY() { \
+    if (isCriticalPinning) \
+        buffP = (jfloat*)ENVPTR->GetPrimitiveArrayCritical(ENVPAR buf, &isCopy); \
+    else \
+        buffP = ENVPTR->GetFloatArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, &isCopy); \
+}
+
+#define UNPIN_FLOAT_ARRAY(mode) { \
+    if (isCriticalPinning) \
+        ENVPTR->ReleasePrimitiveArrayCritical(ENVPAR buf, buffP, mode); \
+    else \
+        ENVPTR->ReleaseFloatArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, buffP, mode); \
+}
+
+#define PIN_DOUBLE_ARRAY() { \
+    if (isCriticalPinning) \
+        buffP = (jdouble*)ENVPTR->GetPrimitiveArrayCritical(ENVPAR buf, &isCopy); \
+    else \
+        buffP = ENVPTR->GetDoubleArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, &isCopy); \
+}
+
+#define UNPIN_DOUBLE_ARRAY(mode) { \
+    if (isCriticalPinning) \
+        ENVPTR->ReleasePrimitiveArrayCritical(ENVPAR buf, buffP, mode); \
+    else \
+        ENVPTR->ReleaseDoubleArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, buffP, mode); \
+}
+
 
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
@@ -129,36 +217,129 @@ Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5__1H5Aopen_1idx
     return (jlong)attr_id;
 } /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5__1H5Aopen_1idx */
 
+static htri_t
+H5Tdetect_variable_str
+    (hid_t tid) {
+    htri_t ret_val = 0;
+
+    if (H5Tget_class(tid) == H5T_COMPOUND) {
+        unsigned i;
+        unsigned nm = (unsigned)H5Tget_nmembers(tid);
+        for(i = 0; i < nm; i++) {
+            htri_t status = 0;
+            hid_t mtid = 0;
+            if((mtid = H5Tget_member_type(tid, i)) < 0)
+                return -1; /* exit immediately on error */
+            if((status = H5Tdetect_variable_str(mtid)) < 0)
+                return status; /* exit immediately on error */
+            ret_val |= status;
+            H5Tclose (mtid);
+        } /* end for */
+    } /* end if */
+    else
+        ret_val = H5Tis_variable_str(tid);
+
+    return ret_val;
+} /* end H5Tdetect_variable_str */
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread
+ * Signature: (JJ[BZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jbyteArray buf, jboolean isCriticalPinning)
+{
+    herr_t   status = -1;
+    jbyte   *buffP;
+    jboolean isCopy;
+    htri_t data_class;
+
+    if (buf == NULL) {
+        h5nullArgument( env,"H5Aread:  buf is NULL");
+    } /* end if */
+    else if((data_class = H5Tdetect_class(mem_type_id, H5T_VLEN)) < 0) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread: H5Tdetect_class() failed");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else  if(data_class == 1) {
+        h5badArgument(env, "H5Aread:  buf does not support variable length type");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else {
+        /* recursive detect any vlen string in type (compound, array ...) */
+        if((data_class = H5Tdetect_variable_str(mem_type_id)) < 0) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread: H5Tdetect_variable_str() failed");
+        } /* end if */
+        else  if(data_class == 1) {
+            h5badArgument(env, "H5Aread:  buf does not support variable length type");
+        } /* end else if */
+        else {
+            PIN_BYTE_ARRAY();
+
+            if (buffP == NULL) {
+                h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread:  buf not pinned");
+            } /* end if */
+            else {
+                status = H5Aread((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buffP);
+                if (status < 0) {
+                    UNPIN_BYTE_ARRAY(JNI_ABORT);
+                    h5libraryError(env);
+                } /* end if */
+                else {
+                    UNPIN_BYTE_ARRAY(0); /* update java buffer for return */
+                } /* end else */
+            } /* end else */
+        } /* end else */
+    } /* end else */
+
+    return (jint)status;
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread */
+
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
  * Method:    H5Awrite
- * Signature: (JJ[B)I
+ * Signature: (JJ[BZ)I
  */
 JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
 Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite
-    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jbyteArray buf)
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jbyteArray buf, jboolean isCriticalPinning)
 {
     herr_t   status = -1;
-    jbyte   *byteP;
+    jbyte   *buffP;
     jboolean isCopy;
+    htri_t data_class;
 
     if (buf == NULL) {
         h5nullArgument( env,"H5Awrite:  buf is NULL");
     } /* end if */
+    else if((data_class = H5Tdetect_class(mem_type_id, H5T_VLEN)) < 0) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite: H5Tdetect_class() failed");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else  if(data_class == 1) {
+        h5badArgument(env, "H5Awrite:  buf does not support variable length type");
+    } /* end else if */
     else {
-        byteP = ENVPTR->GetByteArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, &isCopy);
-        if (byteP == NULL) {
-            h5JNIFatalError(env,"H5Awrite: buf is not pinned");
+        /* recursive detect any vlen string in type (compound, array ...) */
+        if((data_class = H5Tdetect_variable_str(mem_type_id)) < 0) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite: H5Tdetect_variable_str() failed");
         } /* end if */
+        else  if(data_class == 1) {
+            h5badArgument(env, "H5Awrite:  buf does not support variable length type");
+        } /* end else if */
         else {
-            status = H5Awrite((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, byteP);
+            PIN_BYTE_ARRAY();
+            if (buffP == NULL) {
+                h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite:  buf not pinned");
+            } /* end if */
+            else {
+                status = H5Awrite((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buffP);
 
-            /* free the buffer without copying back */
-            ENVPTR->ReleaseByteArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, byteP, JNI_ABORT);
+                UNPIN_BYTE_ARRAY(JNI_ABORT); /* no need to update buffer */
 
-            if (status < 0)
-                h5libraryError(env);
-        }
+                if (status < 0)
+                    h5libraryError(env);
+            } /* end else */
+        } /* end else */
     } /* end else */
 
     return (jint)status;
@@ -166,190 +347,653 @@ Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite
 
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
- * Method:    H5Aread
- * Signature: (JJ[B)I
+ * Method:    H5Aread_short
+ * Signature: (JJ[SZ)I
  */
 JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
-Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread
-    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jbyteArray buf)
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1short
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jshortArray buf, jboolean isCriticalPinning)
 {
     herr_t   status = -1;
-    jbyte   *byteP;
+    jshort  *buffP;
     jboolean isCopy;
+    htri_t data_class;
 
     if (buf == NULL) {
-        h5nullArgument( env,"H5Aread:  buf is NULL");
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Aread_short:  buf is NULL");
     } /* end if */
+    else if((data_class = H5Tdetect_class(mem_type_id, H5T_VLEN)) < 0) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread: H5Tdetect_class() failed");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else  if(data_class == 1) {
+        h5badArgument(env, "H5Aread_short:  buf does not support variable length type");
+    } /* end else if */
     else {
-        byteP = ENVPTR->GetByteArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, &isCopy);
-        if (byteP == NULL) {
-            h5JNIFatalError( env,"H5Aread: buf is not pinned");
+        /* recursive detect any vlen string in type (compound, array ...) */
+        if((data_class = H5Tdetect_variable_str(mem_type_id)) < 0) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_short: H5Tdetect_variable_str() failed");
         } /* end if */
+        else  if(data_class == 1) {
+            h5badArgument(env, "H5Aread_short:  buf does not support variable length type");
+        } /* end else if */
         else {
-            status = H5Aread((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, byteP);
-            if (status < 0) {
-                ENVPTR->ReleaseByteArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, byteP, JNI_ABORT);
-                h5libraryError(env);
+            PIN_SHORT_ARRAY();
+            if (buffP == NULL) {
+                h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_short:  buf not pinned");
             } /* end if */
-            else  {
-                ENVPTR->ReleaseByteArrayElements(ENVPAR buf, byteP, 0);
+            else {
+                status = H5Aread((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buffP);
+
+                if (status < 0) {
+                    UNPIN_SHORT_ARRAY(JNI_ABORT);
+                    h5libraryError(env);
+                } /* end if */
+                else {
+                    UNPIN_SHORT_ARRAY(0);
+                } /* end else */
             } /* end else */
         } /* end else */
     } /* end else */
 
     return (jint)status;
-} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread */
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1short */
 
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
- * Method:    H5AwriteVL
- * Signature: (JJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
+ * Method:    H5Awrite_short
+ * Signature: (JJ[SZ)I
  */
 JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
-Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5AwriteVL
-    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jobjectArray buf)
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1short
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jshortArray buf, jboolean isCriticalPinning)
 {
-    herr_t  status = -1;
-    htri_t  isStr = 0;
-    htri_t  isVlenStr = 0;
-    htri_t  isComplex = 0;
+    herr_t   status = -1;
+    jshort  *buffP;
+    jboolean isCopy;
+    htri_t data_class;
+
+    if (buf == NULL ) {
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Awrite_short:  buf is NULL");
+    } /* end if */
+    else if((data_class = H5Tdetect_class(mem_type_id, H5T_VLEN)) < 0) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_short: H5Tdetect_class() failed");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else  if(data_class == 1) {
+        h5badArgument(env, "H5Awrite_short:  buf does not support variable length type");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else {
+        /* recursive detect any vlen string in type (compound, array ...) */
+        if((data_class = H5Tdetect_variable_str(mem_type_id)) < 0) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_short: H5Tdetect_variable_str() failed");
+        } /* end if */
+        else  if(data_class == 1) {
+            h5badArgument(env, "H5Awrite_short:  buf does not support variable length type");
+        } /* end else if */
+        else {
+            PIN_SHORT_ARRAY();
+            if (buffP == NULL) {
+                h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_short:  buf not pinned");
+            } /* end if */
+            else {
+                status = H5Awrite((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buffP);
+
+                UNPIN_SHORT_ARRAY(JNI_ABORT);
+
+                if (status < 0)
+                    h5libraryError(env);
+            } /* end else */
+        } /* end else */
+    } /* end else */
+
+    return (jint)status;
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1short */
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread_int
+ * Signature: (JJ[IZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1int
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jintArray buf, jboolean isCriticalPinning)
+{
+    herr_t   status = -1;
+    jint    *buffP;
+    jboolean isCopy;
+    htri_t data_class;
 
     if (buf == NULL) {
-        h5nullArgument(env, "H5AwriteVL:  buf is NULL");
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Aread_int:  buf is NULL");
     } /* end if */
+    else if((data_class = H5Tdetect_class(mem_type_id, H5T_VLEN)) < 0) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_int: H5Tdetect_class() failed");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else  if(data_class == 1) {
+        h5badArgument(env, "H5Aread_int:  buf does not support variable length type");
+    } /* end else if */
     else {
-        isStr = H5Tdetect_class((hid_t)mem_type_id, H5T_STRING);
-        if (H5Tget_class((hid_t)mem_type_id) == H5T_COMPOUND) {
-            unsigned i;
-            int nm = H5Tget_nmembers(mem_type_id);
-            for(i = 0; i <nm; i++) {
-                hid_t nested_tid = H5Tget_member_type((hid_t)mem_type_id, i);
-                isComplex = H5Tdetect_class((hid_t)nested_tid, H5T_COMPOUND) ||
-                            H5Tdetect_class((hid_t)nested_tid, H5T_VLEN);
-                H5Tclose(nested_tid);
-            }
-        }
-        else if (H5Tget_class((hid_t)mem_type_id) == H5T_VLEN) {
-            isVlenStr = 1; /* strings created by H5Tvlen_create(H5T_C_S1) */
-        }
-        if (isStr == 0 || isComplex>0 || isVlenStr) {
-            status = H5AwriteVL_asstr(env, (hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buf);
-        }
-        else if (isStr > 0) {
-            status = H5AwriteVL_str(env, (hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buf);
-        }
+        /* recursive detect any vlen string in type (compound, array ...) */
+        if((data_class = H5Tdetect_variable_str(mem_type_id)) < 0) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_int: H5Tdetect_variable_str() failed");
+        } /* end if */
+        else  if(data_class == 1) {
+            h5badArgument(env, "H5Aread_int:  buf does not support variable length type");
+        } /* end else if */
+        else {
+            PIN_INT_ARRAY();
+            if (buffP == NULL) {
+                h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_int:  buf not pinned");
+            } /* end if */
+            else {
+                status = H5Aread((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buffP);
+
+                if (status < 0) {
+                    UNPIN_INT_ARRAY(JNI_ABORT);
+                    h5libraryError(env);
+                } /* end if */
+                else {
+                    UNPIN_INT_ARRAY(0);
+                } /* end else */
+            } /* end else */
+        } /* end else */
     } /* end else */
 
     return (jint)status;
-} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1VL */
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1int */
 
-herr_t
-H5AwriteVL_str
-    (JNIEnv *env, hid_t aid, hid_t tid, jobjectArray buf)
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Awrite_int
+ * Signature: (JJ[IZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1int
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jintArray buf, jboolean isCriticalPinning)
 {
-    herr_t  status = -1;
-    char  **wdata;
-    jsize   size;
-    jint    i;
+    herr_t   status = -1;
+    jint    *buffP;
+    jboolean isCopy;
+    htri_t data_class;
 
-    size = ENVPTR->GetArrayLength(ENVPAR (jarray) buf);
+    if (buf == NULL) {
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Awrite_int:  buf is NULL");
+    } /* end if */
+    else if((data_class = H5Tdetect_class(mem_type_id, H5T_VLEN)) < 0) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_int: H5Tdetect_class() failed");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else  if(data_class == 1) {
+        h5badArgument(env, "H5Awrite_int:  buf does not support variable length type");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else {
+        /* recursive detect any vlen string in type (compound, array ...) */
+        if((data_class = H5Tdetect_variable_str(mem_type_id)) < 0) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_int: H5Tdetect_variable_str() failed");
+        } /* end if */
+        else  if(data_class == 1) {
+            h5badArgument(env, "H5Awrite_int:  buf does not support variable length type");
+        } /* end else if */
+        else {
+            PIN_INT_ARRAY();
+            if (buffP == NULL) {
+                h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_int:  buf not pinned");
+            } /* end if */
+            else {
+                status = H5Awrite((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buffP);
 
-    wdata = (char**)HDcalloc((size_t)size + 1, sizeof(char*));
-    if (!wdata) {
-        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5AwriteVL_str:  cannot allocate buffer");
+                UNPIN_INT_ARRAY(JNI_ABORT);
+
+                if (status < 0)
+                    h5libraryError(env);
+            } /* end else */
+        } /* end else */
+    } /* end else */
+
+    return (jint)status;
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1int */
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread_long
+ * Signature: (JJ[JZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1long
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jlongArray buf, jboolean isCriticalPinning)
+{
+    herr_t   status = -1;
+    jlong   *buffP;
+    jboolean isCopy;
+    htri_t data_class;
+
+    if (buf == NULL) {
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Aread_long:  buf is NULL");
     } /* end if */
+    else if((data_class = H5Tdetect_class(mem_type_id, H5T_VLEN)) < 0) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_long: H5Tdetect_class() failed");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else  if(data_class == 1) {
+        h5badArgument(env, "H5Aread_long:  buf does not support variable length type");
+    } /* end else if */
     else {
-        HDmemset(wdata, 0, (size_t)size * sizeof(char*));
-        for (i = 0; i < size; ++i) {
-            jstring obj = (jstring) ENVPTR->GetObjectArrayElement(ENVPAR (jobjectArray) buf, i);
-            if (obj != 0) {
-                jsize length = ENVPTR->GetStringUTFLength(ENVPAR obj);
-                const char *utf8 = ENVPTR->GetStringUTFChars(ENVPAR obj, 0);
+        /* recursive detect any vlen string in type (compound, array ...) */
+        if((data_class = H5Tdetect_variable_str(mem_type_id)) < 0) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_long: H5Tdetect_variable_str() failed");
+        } /* end if */
+        else  if(data_class == 1) {
+            h5badArgument(env, "H5Aread_long:  buf does not support variable length type");
+        } /* end else if */
+        else {
+            PIN_LONG_ARRAY();
+            if (buffP == NULL) {
+                h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_long:  buf not pinned");
+            } /* end if */
+            else {
+                status = H5Aread((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buffP);
 
-                if (utf8) {
-                    wdata[i] = (char*)HDmalloc((size_t)length + 1);
-                    if (wdata[i]) {
-                        HDmemset(wdata[i], 0, ((size_t)length + 1));
-                        HDstrncpy(wdata[i], utf8, (size_t)length);
-                    } /* end if */
+                if (status < 0) {
+                    UNPIN_LONG_ARRAY(JNI_ABORT);
+                    h5libraryError(env);
                 } /* end if */
+                else {
+                    UNPIN_LONG_ARRAY(0);
+                } /* end else */
+            } /* end else */
+        } /* end else */
+    } /* end else */
 
-                ENVPTR->ReleaseStringUTFChars(ENVPAR obj, utf8);
-                ENVPTR->DeleteLocalRef(ENVPAR obj);
+    return (jint)status;
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1long */
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Awrite_long
+ * Signature: (JJ[JZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1long
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jlongArray buf, jboolean isCriticalPinning)
+{
+    herr_t   status = -1;
+    jlong   *buffP;
+    jboolean isCopy;
+    htri_t data_class;
+
+    if (buf == NULL) {
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Awrite_long:  buf is NULL");
+    } /* end if */
+    else if((data_class = H5Tdetect_class(mem_type_id, H5T_VLEN)) < 0) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Dwrite_long: H5Tdetect_class() failed");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else  if(data_class == 1) {
+        h5badArgument(env, "H5Awrite_long:  buf does not support variable length type");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else {
+        /* recursive detect any vlen string in type (compound, array ...) */
+        if((data_class = H5Tdetect_variable_str(mem_type_id)) < 0) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_long: H5Tdetect_variable_str() failed");
+        } /* end if */
+        else  if(data_class == 1) {
+            h5badArgument(env, "H5Awrite_long:  buf does not support variable length type");
+        } /* end else if */
+        else {
+            PIN_LONG_ARRAY();
+            if (buffP == NULL) {
+                h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_long:  buf not pinned");
             } /* end if */
-        } /* end for (i = 0; i < size; ++i) */
+            else {
+                status = H5Awrite((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buffP);
 
-        status = H5Awrite((hid_t)aid, (hid_t)tid, wdata);
+                UNPIN_LONG_ARRAY(JNI_ABORT);
+                if (status < 0)
+                    h5libraryError(env);
+            } /* end else */
+        } /* end else */
+    } /* end else */
 
-        for (i = 0; i < size; i++) {
-            if(wdata[i]) {
-                HDfree(wdata[i]);
+    return (jint)status;
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1long */
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread_float
+ * Signature: (JJ[FZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1float
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jfloatArray buf, jboolean isCriticalPinning)
+{
+    herr_t   status = -1;
+    jfloat  *buffP;
+    jboolean isCopy;
+    htri_t data_class;
+
+    if (buf == NULL) {
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Aread_float:  buf is NULL");
+    } /* end if */
+    else if((data_class = H5Tdetect_class(mem_type_id, H5T_VLEN)) < 0) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Dread_float: H5Tdetect_class() failed");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else  if(data_class == 1) {
+        h5badArgument(env, "H5Aread_float:  buf does not support variable length type");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else {
+        /* recursive detect any vlen string in type (compound, array ...) */
+        if((data_class = H5Tdetect_variable_str(mem_type_id)) < 0) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_float: H5Tdetect_variable_str() failed");
+        } /* end if */
+        else  if(data_class == 1) {
+            h5badArgument(env, "H5Aread_float:  buf does not support variable length type");
+        } /* end else if */
+        else {
+            PIN_FLOAT_ARRAY();
+            if (buffP == NULL) {
+                h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_float:  buf not pinned");
             } /* end if */
-        } /* end for */
-        HDfree(wdata);
+            else {
+                status = H5Aread((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buffP);
 
-        if (status < 0)
-            h5libraryError(env);
+                if (status < 0) {
+                    UNPIN_FLOAT_ARRAY(JNI_ABORT);
+                    h5libraryError(env);
+                } /* end if */
+                else {
+                    UNPIN_FLOAT_ARRAY(0);
+                } /* end else */
+            } /* end else */
+        } /* end else */
     } /* end else */
 
     return (jint)status;
-}
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1float */
 
-herr_t
-H5AwriteVL_asstr
-    (JNIEnv *env, hid_t aid, hid_t tid, jobjectArray buf)
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Awrite_float
+ * Signature: (JJ[FZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1float
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jfloatArray buf, jboolean isCriticalPinning)
 {
-    char  **strs;
-    jstring jstr;
-    jint    i;
-    jint    n;
-    hid_t   sid;
-    hsize_t dims[H5S_MAX_RANK];
-    herr_t  status = -1;
+    herr_t   status = -1;
+    jfloat  *buffP;
+    jboolean isCopy;
+    htri_t data_class;
 
-    n = ENVPTR->GetArrayLength(ENVPAR buf);
-    strs =(hvl_t*)HDcalloc((size_t)n, sizeof(hvl_t));
+    if (buf == NULL) {
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Awrite_float:  buf is NULL");
+    } /* end if */
+    else if((data_class = H5Tdetect_class(mem_type_id, H5T_VLEN)) < 0) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_float: H5Tdetect_class() failed");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else  if(data_class == 1) {
+        h5badArgument(env, "H5Awrite_float:  buf does not support variable length type");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else {
+        /* recursive detect any vlen string in type (compound, array ...) */
+        if((data_class = H5Tdetect_variable_str(mem_type_id)) < 0) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_float: H5Tdetect_variable_str() failed");
+        } /* end if */
+        else  if(data_class == 1) {
+            h5badArgument(env, "H5Awrite_float:  buf does not support variable length type");
+        } /* end else if */
+        else {
+            PIN_FLOAT_ARRAY();
+            if (buffP == NULL) {
+                h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_float:  buf not pinned");
+            } /* end if */
+            else {
+                status = H5Awrite((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buffP);
 
-    if (strs == NULL) {
-        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5AwriteVL_asstr:  failed to allocate buff for read variable length strings");
+                UNPIN_FLOAT_ARRAY(JNI_ABORT);
+                if (status < 0)
+                    h5libraryError(env);
+            } /* end else */
+        } /* end else */
+    } /* end else */
+
+    return (jint)status;
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1float */
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread_double
+ * Signature: (JJ[DZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1double
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jdoubleArray buf, jboolean isCriticalPinning)
+{
+    herr_t   status = -1;
+    jdouble *buffP;
+    jboolean isCopy;
+    htri_t data_class;
+
+    if (buf == NULL) {
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Aread_double:  buf is NULL");
     } /* end if */
+    else if((data_class = H5Tdetect_class(mem_type_id, H5T_VLEN)) < 0) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_double: H5Tdetect_class() failed");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else  if(data_class == 1) {
+        h5badArgument(env, "H5Aread_double:  buf does not support variable length type");
+    } /* end else if */
     else {
-        status = H5Awrite(aid, tid, strs);
+        /* recursive detect any vlen string in type (compound, array ...) */
+        if((data_class = H5Tdetect_variable_str(mem_type_id)) < 0) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_double: H5Tdetect_variable_str() failed");
+        } /* end if */
+        else  if(data_class == 1) {
+            h5badArgument(env, "H5Aread_double:  buf does not support variable length type");
+        } /* end else if */
+        else {
+            PIN_DOUBLE_ARRAY();
+            if (buffP == NULL) {
+                h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_double:  buf not pinned");
+            } /* end if */
+            else {
+                status = H5Aread((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buffP);
 
-        if (status < 0) {
-            dims[0] = (hsize_t)n;
-            sid = H5Screate_simple(1, dims, NULL);
-            H5Dvlen_reclaim(tid, sid, H5P_DEFAULT, strs);
-            H5Sclose(sid);
-            HDfree(strs);
-            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5AwriteVL_str: failed to read variable length strings");
+                if (status < 0) {
+                    UNPIN_DOUBLE_ARRAY(JNI_ABORT);
+                    h5libraryError(env);
+                } /* end if */
+                else {
+                    UNPIN_DOUBLE_ARRAY(0);
+                } /* end else */
+            } /* end else */
+        } /* end else */
+    } /* end else */
+
+    return (jint)status;
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1double */
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Awrite_double
+ * Signature: (JJ[DZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1double
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jdoubleArray buf, jboolean isCriticalPinning)
+{
+    herr_t   status = -1;
+    jdouble *buffP;
+    jboolean isCopy;
+    htri_t data_class;
+
+    if (buf == NULL) {
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Awrite_double:  buf is NULL");
+    } /* end if */
+    else if((data_class = H5Tdetect_class(mem_type_id, H5T_VLEN)) < 0) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_double: H5Tdetect_class() failed");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else  if(data_class == 1) {
+        h5badArgument(env, "H5Awrite_double:  buf does not support variable length type");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else {
+        /* recursive detect any vlen string in type (compound, array ...) */
+        if((data_class = H5Tdetect_variable_str(mem_type_id)) < 0) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_double: H5Tdetect_variable_str() failed");
         } /* end if */
+        else  if(data_class == 1) {
+            h5badArgument(env, "H5Awrite_double:  buf does not support variable length type");
+        } /* end else if */
         else {
-            for (i=0; i < n; i++) {
-                jstr = ENVPTR->NewStringUTF(ENVPAR strs[i]);
-                ENVPTR->SetObjectArrayElement(ENVPAR buf, i, jstr);
-                H5free_memory (strs[i]);
+            PIN_DOUBLE_ARRAY();
+            if (buffP == NULL) {
+                h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_double:  buf not pinned");
+            } /* end if */
+            else {
+                status = H5Awrite((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buffP);
+
+                UNPIN_DOUBLE_ARRAY(JNI_ABORT);
+                if (status < 0)
+                    h5libraryError(env);
+            } /* end else */
+        } /* end else */
+    } /* end else */
+
+    return (jint)status;
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1double */
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread_string
+ * Signature: (JJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1string
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jobjectArray j_buf)
+{
+    herr_t  status = -1;
+    char   *c_buf;
+    char   *cstr;
+    size_t  str_len;
+    jsize   i;
+    jsize   n;
+    size_t  pos;
+    jstring jstr;
+
+    c_buf = cstr = NULL;
+    if (j_buf == NULL) {
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Aread_string:  buf is NULL");
+    } /* end if */
+    else if ((n = ENVPTR->GetArrayLength(ENVPAR j_buf)) <= 0) {
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Aread_string:  buf length <= 0");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else if ((str_len = H5Tget_size((hid_t)mem_type_id)) <=0) {
+        h5libraryError(env);
+    } /* end else if */
+    else {
+        if ((cstr = (char*)HDmalloc(str_len + 1)) == NULL) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_string: memory allocation failed.");
+        } /* end if */
+        else {
+            if ((c_buf = (char*)HDmalloc((size_t)n * str_len)) == NULL) {
+                if (cstr)
+                    HDfree(cstr);
+                cstr = NULL;
+                h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_string: memory allocation failed.");
+            } /* end if */
+            else {
+                status = H5Aread((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, c_buf);
+
+                if (status < 0) {
+                    if (cstr)
+                        HDfree(cstr);
+                    cstr = NULL;
+                    if (c_buf)
+                        HDfree(c_buf);
+                    c_buf = NULL;
+                    h5libraryError(env);
+                } /* end if */
+                else {
+                    pos = 0;
+                    for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+                        HDmemcpy(cstr, c_buf+pos, str_len);
+                        cstr[str_len] = '\0';
+                        jstr = ENVPTR->NewStringUTF(ENVPAR cstr);
+                        ENVPTR->SetObjectArrayElement(ENVPAR j_buf, i, jstr);
+                        pos += str_len;
+                    } /* end for */
+                } /* end else */
+
+                if (c_buf)
+                    HDfree(c_buf);
+            } /* end else cbuf allocation*/
+
+            if (cstr)
+                HDfree(cstr);
+        } /* end else cstr allocation*/
+    } /* end else */
+
+    return (jint)status;
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1string */
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Awrite_string
+ * Signature: (JJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1string
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jobjectArray j_buf)
+{
+    herr_t  status = -1;
+    char   *c_buf;
+    jsize   str_len;
+    jsize   i;
+    jsize   n;
+
+    if (j_buf == NULL) {
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Awrite_string:  buf is NULL");
+    } /* end if */
+    else if ((n = ENVPTR->GetArrayLength(ENVPAR j_buf)) <= 0) {
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5Awrite_string:  buf length <= 0");
+    } /* end else if */
+    else if ((str_len = (jsize)H5Tget_size((hid_t)mem_type_id)) <=0) {
+        h5libraryError(env);
+    } /* end else if */
+    else {
+        if ((c_buf = (char*)HDmalloc((size_t)n * (size_t)str_len)) == NULL) {
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Awrite_string: memory allocation failed.");
+        } /* end if */
+        else {
+            for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+                jstring obj = (jstring)ENVPTR->GetObjectArrayElement(ENVPAR (jobjectArray)j_buf, i);
+                if (obj != 0) {
+                    jsize length = ENVPTR->GetStringUTFLength(ENVPAR obj);
+                    const char *utf8 = ENVPTR->GetStringUTFChars(ENVPAR obj, 0);
+
+                    if (utf8) {
+                        HDstrncpy(&c_buf[i * str_len], utf8, str_len);
+                    } /* end if */
+
+                    ENVPTR->ReleaseStringUTFChars(ENVPAR obj, utf8);
+                    ENVPTR->DeleteLocalRef(ENVPAR obj);
+                } /* end if */
             } /* end for */
 
-            /*
-            for repeatedly reading a dataset with a large number of strs (e.g., 1,000,000 strings,
-            H5Dvlen_reclaim() may crash on Windows because the Java GC will not be able to collect
-            free space in time. Instead, use "H5free_memory(strs[i])" above to free individual strings
-            after it is done.
-            H5Dvlen_reclaim(tid, mem_sid, xfer_plist_id, strs);
-            */
+            status = H5Awrite((hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, c_buf);
 
-            HDfree(strs);
+            if (c_buf)
+                HDfree(c_buf);
+            c_buf = NULL;
+
+            if (status < 0) {
+                h5libraryError(env);
+            } /* end if */
         } /* end else */
     } /* end else */
 
-    return status;
-} /* end H5AwriteVL_str */
+    return (jint)status;
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1string */
 
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
  * Method:    H5AreadVL
- * Signature: (JJJJJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
+ * Signature: (JJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
  */
 JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
 Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5AreadVL
@@ -519,6 +1163,206 @@ H5AreadVL_str
 
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5AwriteVL
+ * Signature: (JJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5AwriteVL
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jobjectArray buf)
+{
+    herr_t  status = -1;
+    htri_t  isStr = 0;
+    htri_t  isVlenStr = 0;
+    htri_t  isComplex = 0;
+
+    if (buf == NULL) {
+        h5nullArgument(env, "H5AwriteVL:  buf is NULL");
+    } /* end if */
+    else {
+        isStr = H5Tdetect_class((hid_t)mem_type_id, H5T_STRING);
+        if (H5Tget_class((hid_t)mem_type_id) == H5T_COMPOUND) {
+            unsigned i;
+            int nm = H5Tget_nmembers(mem_type_id);
+            for(i = 0; i <nm; i++) {
+                hid_t nested_tid = H5Tget_member_type((hid_t)mem_type_id, i);
+                isComplex = H5Tdetect_class((hid_t)nested_tid, H5T_COMPOUND) ||
+                            H5Tdetect_class((hid_t)nested_tid, H5T_VLEN);
+                H5Tclose(nested_tid);
+            }
+        }
+        else if (H5Tget_class((hid_t)mem_type_id) == H5T_VLEN) {
+            isVlenStr = 1; /* strings created by H5Tvlen_create(H5T_C_S1) */
+        }
+        if (isStr == 0 || isComplex>0 || isVlenStr) {
+            status = H5AwriteVL_asstr(env, (hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buf);
+        }
+        else if (isStr > 0) {
+            status = H5AwriteVL_str(env, (hid_t)attr_id, (hid_t)mem_type_id, buf);
+        }
+    } /* end else */
+
+    return (jint)status;
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1VL */
+
+herr_t
+H5AwriteVL_str
+    (JNIEnv *env, hid_t aid, hid_t tid, jobjectArray buf)
+{
+    herr_t  status = -1;
+    char  **wdata;
+    jsize   size;
+    jint    i;
+
+    size = ENVPTR->GetArrayLength(ENVPAR (jarray) buf);
+
+    wdata = (char**)HDcalloc((size_t)size + 1, sizeof(char*));
+    if (!wdata) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5AwriteVL_str:  cannot allocate buffer");
+    } /* end if */
+    else {
+        HDmemset(wdata, 0, (size_t)size * sizeof(char*));
+        for (i = 0; i < size; ++i) {
+            jstring obj = (jstring) ENVPTR->GetObjectArrayElement(ENVPAR (jobjectArray) buf, i);
+            if (obj != 0) {
+                jsize length = ENVPTR->GetStringUTFLength(ENVPAR obj);
+                const char *utf8 = ENVPTR->GetStringUTFChars(ENVPAR obj, 0);
+
+                if (utf8) {
+                    wdata[i] = (char*)HDmalloc((size_t)length + 1);
+                    if (wdata[i]) {
+                        HDmemset(wdata[i], 0, ((size_t)length + 1));
+                        HDstrncpy(wdata[i], utf8, (size_t)length);
+                    } /* end if */
+                } /* end if */
+
+                ENVPTR->ReleaseStringUTFChars(ENVPAR obj, utf8);
+                ENVPTR->DeleteLocalRef(ENVPAR obj);
+            } /* end if */
+        } /* end for (i = 0; i < size; ++i) */
+
+        status = H5Awrite((hid_t)aid, (hid_t)tid, wdata);
+
+        for (i = 0; i < size; i++) {
+            if(wdata[i]) {
+                HDfree(wdata[i]);
+            } /* end if */
+        } /* end for */
+        HDfree(wdata);
+
+        if (status < 0)
+            h5libraryError(env);
+    } /* end else */
+
+    return (jint)status;
+}
+
+herr_t
+H5AwriteVL_asstr
+    (JNIEnv *env, hid_t aid, hid_t tid, jobjectArray buf)
+{
+    char  **strs;
+    jstring jstr;
+    jint    i;
+    jint    n;
+    hid_t   sid;
+    hsize_t dims[H5S_MAX_RANK];
+    herr_t  status = -1;
+
+    n = ENVPTR->GetArrayLength(ENVPAR buf);
+    strs =(hvl_t*)HDcalloc((size_t)n, sizeof(hvl_t));
+
+    if (strs == NULL) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5AwriteVL_asstr:  failed to allocate buff for read variable length strings");
+    } /* end if */
+    else {
+        status = H5Awrite(aid, tid, strs);
+
+        if (status < 0) {
+            dims[0] = (hsize_t)n;
+            sid = H5Screate_simple(1, dims, NULL);
+            H5Dvlen_reclaim(tid, sid, H5P_DEFAULT, strs);
+            H5Sclose(sid);
+            HDfree(strs);
+            h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5AwriteVL_str: failed to read variable length strings");
+        } /* end if */
+        else {
+            for (i=0; i < n; i++) {
+                jstr = ENVPTR->NewStringUTF(ENVPAR strs[i]);
+                ENVPTR->SetObjectArrayElement(ENVPAR buf, i, jstr);
+                H5free_memory (strs[i]);
+            } /* end for */
+
+            /*
+            for repeatedly reading a dataset with a large number of strs (e.g., 1,000,000 strings,
+            H5Dvlen_reclaim() may crash on Windows because the Java GC will not be able to collect
+            free space in time. Instead, use "H5free_memory(strs[i])" above to free individual strings
+            after it is done.
+            H5Dvlen_reclaim(tid, mem_sid, xfer_plist_id, strs);
+            */
+
+            HDfree(strs);
+        } /* end else */
+    } /* end else */
+
+    return status;
+} /* end H5AwriteVL_str */
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread_reg_ref
+ * Signature: (JJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1reg_1ref
+    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss, jlong attr_id, jlong mem_type_id, jobjectArray buf)
+{
+    herr_t    status = -1;
+    h5str_t   h5str;
+    size_t    size;
+    hdset_reg_ref_t *ref_data;
+    jint      i;
+    jint      n;
+    jstring   jstr;
+
+    hid_t region = -1;
+    hid_t aid = (hid_t) attr_id;
+    hid_t tid = (hid_t) mem_type_id;
+
+    n = ENVPTR->GetArrayLength(ENVPAR buf);
+    size = sizeof(hdset_reg_ref_t); /*H5Tget_size(tid);*/
+    ref_data = (hdset_reg_ref_t*)HDmalloc(size * (size_t)n);
+
+    if (ref_data == NULL) {
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_reg_ref:  failed to allocate buff for read");
+        return -1;
+    } /* end if */
+
+    status = H5Aread(aid, tid, ref_data);
+
+    if (status < 0) {
+        HDfree(ref_data);
+        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Aread_reg_ref: failed to read data");
+        return -1;
+    } /* end if */
+
+    HDmemset(&h5str, 0, sizeof(h5str_t));
+    h5str_new(&h5str, 1024);
+    for (i=0; i<n; i++) {
+        h5str.s[0] = '\0';
+        h5str_sprintf(&h5str, aid, tid, ref_data[i], 0, 0);
+        jstr = ENVPTR->NewStringUTF(ENVPAR h5str.s);
+
+        ENVPTR->SetObjectArrayElement(ENVPAR buf, i, jstr);
+    } /* end for */
+
+    h5str_free(&h5str);
+    HDfree(ref_data);
+
+    return (jint)status;
+} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1reg_1ref */
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
  * Method:    H5Aget_space
  * Signature: (J)J
  */
diff --git a/java/src/jni/h5aImp.h b/java/src/jni/h5aImp.h
index f3758eb..15cc83e 100644
--- a/java/src/jni/h5aImp.h
+++ b/java/src/jni/h5aImp.h
@@ -51,21 +51,120 @@ Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5__1H5Aopen_1idx
 
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread
+ * Signature: (JJ[B)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread
+  (JNIEnv *, jclass, jlong, jlong, jbyteArray, jboolean);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
  * Method:    H5Awrite
  * Signature: (JJ[B)I
  */
 JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
 Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite
-  (JNIEnv *, jclass, jlong, jlong, jbyteArray);
+  (JNIEnv *, jclass, jlong, jlong, jbyteArray, jboolean);
 
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
- * Method:    H5Aread
- * Signature: (JJ[B)I
+ * Method:    H5Aread_short
+ * Signature: (JJ[SZ)I
  */
 JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
-Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread
-  (JNIEnv *, jclass, jlong, jlong, jbyteArray);
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1short
+  (JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jshortArray, jboolean);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Awrite_short
+ * Signature: (JJ[SZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1short
+  (JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jshortArray, jboolean);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread_int
+ * Signature: (JJ[IZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1int
+  (JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jintArray, jboolean);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Awrite_int
+ * Signature: (JJ[IZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1int
+  (JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jintArray, jboolean);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread_long
+ * Signature: (JJ[JZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1long
+  (JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jlongArray, jboolean);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Awrite_long
+ * Signature: (JJ[JZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1long
+  (JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jlongArray, jboolean);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread_float
+ * Signature: (JJ[FZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1float
+  (JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jfloatArray, jboolean);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Awrite_float
+ * Signature: (JJ[FZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1float
+  (JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jfloatArray, jboolean);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread_double
+ * Signature: (JJ[DZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1double
+  (JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jdoubleArray, jboolean);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Awrite_double
+ * Signature: (JJ[DZ)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1double
+  (JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jdoubleArray, jboolean);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5AreadVL
+ * Signature: (JJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5AreadVL
+  (JNIEnv *, jclass, jlong, jlong, jobjectArray);
 
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
@@ -78,12 +177,48 @@ Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5AwriteVL
 
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
- * Method:    H5AreadVL
+ * Method:    H5Aread_string
  * Signature: (JJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
  */
 JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
-Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5AreadVL
-  (JNIEnv *, jclass, jlong, jlong, jobjectArray);
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1string
+  (JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jobjectArray);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Awrite_string
+ * Signature: (JJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1string
+(JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jobjectArray);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread_VLStrings
+ * Signature: (JJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1VLStrings
+(JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jobjectArray);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Awrite_VLStrings
+ * Signature: (JJ[B)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Awrite_1VLStrings
+  (JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jobjectArray);
+
+/*
+ * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
+ * Method:    H5Aread_reg_ref
+ * Signature: (JJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
+Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Aread_1reg_1ref
+(JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jobjectArray);
 
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
diff --git a/java/src/jni/h5dImp.c b/java/src/jni/h5dImp.c
index 652c873..79a5d0a 100644
--- a/java/src/jni/h5dImp.c
+++ b/java/src/jni/h5dImp.c
@@ -1574,84 +1574,6 @@ Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Dread_1reg_1ref
 
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
- * Method:    H5Dread_reg_ref_data
- * Signature: (JJJJJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
- */
-JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
-Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Dread_1reg_1ref_1data
-    (JNIEnv *env, jclass clss,
-        jlong dataset_id, jlong mem_type_id, jlong mem_space_id,
-        jlong file_space_id, jlong xfer_plist_id, jobjectArray buf)
-{
-    herr_t    status = -1;
-    h5str_t   h5str;
-    size_t    size;
-    hdset_reg_ref_t *ref_data;
-    jint      i;
-    jint      n;
-    jstring   jstr;
-
-    hid_t        region_obj;
-    H5S_sel_type region_type;
-
-    hid_t region = -1;
-    hid_t did = (hid_t) dataset_id;
-    hid_t tid = (hid_t) mem_type_id;
-    hid_t mem_sid = (hid_t) mem_space_id;
-    hid_t file_sid = (hid_t) file_space_id;
-
-    n = ENVPTR->GetArrayLength(ENVPAR buf);
-    size = sizeof(hdset_reg_ref_t); /*H5Tget_size(tid);*/
-    ref_data = (hdset_reg_ref_t*)HDmalloc(size * (size_t)n);
-
-    if (ref_data == NULL) {
-        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Dread_reg_ref_data:  failed to allocate buff for read");
-        return -1;
-    } /* end if */
-
-    status = H5Dread(did, tid, mem_sid, file_sid, xfer_plist_id, ref_data);
-
-    if (status < 0) {
-        HDfree(ref_data);
-        h5JNIFatalError(env, "H5Dread_reg_ref_data: failed to read data");
-        return -1;
-    } /* end if */
-
-    HDmemset(&h5str, 0, sizeof(h5str_t));
-    h5str_new(&h5str, 1024);
-    for (i=0; i<n; i++) {
-        h5str.s[0] = '\0';
-
-        /* get name of the dataset the region reference points to using H5Rget_name */
-        region_obj = H5Rdereference2(did, H5P_DEFAULT, H5R_DATASET_REGION, ref_data[i]);
-        if (region_obj >= 0) {
-            region = H5Rget_region(did, H5R_DATASET_REGION, ref_data[i]);
-            if (region >= 0) {
-                region_type = H5Sget_select_type(region);
-                if(region_type==H5S_SEL_POINTS) {
-                    h5str_dump_region_points_data(&h5str, region, region_obj);
-                } /* end if */
-                else {
-                    h5str_dump_region_blocks_data(&h5str, region, region_obj);
-                } /* end else */
-
-                H5Sclose(region);
-            } /* end if */
-            H5Dclose(region_obj);
-        } /* end if */
-        jstr = ENVPTR->NewStringUTF(ENVPAR h5str.s);
-
-        ENVPTR->SetObjectArrayElement(ENVPAR buf, i, jstr);
-    } /* end for */
-
-    h5str_free(&h5str);
-    HDfree(ref_data);
-
-    return (jint)status;
-} /* end Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Dread_1reg_1ref_1data */
-
-/*
- * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
  * Method:    _H5Dcreate2
  * Signature: (JLjava/lang/String;JJJJJ)J
  */
diff --git a/java/src/jni/h5dImp.h b/java/src/jni/h5dImp.h
index 1fe71a8..f824452 100644
--- a/java/src/jni/h5dImp.h
+++ b/java/src/jni/h5dImp.h
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Dread_1VLStrings
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
  * Method:    H5Dwrite_VLStrings
- * Signature: (JJJJJ[BZ)I
+ * Signature: (JJJJJ[B)I
  */
 JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
 Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Dwrite_1VLStrings
@@ -267,15 +267,6 @@ Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Dread_1reg_1ref
 
 /*
  * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
- * Method:    H5Dread_reg_ref_data
- * Signature: (JJJJJ[Ljava/lang/String;)I
- */
-JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL
-Java_hdf_hdf5lib_H5_H5Dread_1reg_1ref_1data
-  (JNIEnv*, jclass, jlong, jlong, jlong, jlong, jlong, jobjectArray);
-
-/*
- * Class:     hdf_hdf5lib_H5
  * Method:    _H5Dcreate2
  * Signature: (JLjava/lang/String;JJJJJ)J
  */
diff --git a/release_docs/RELEASE.txt b/release_docs/RELEASE.txt
index 2196672..59f1944 100644
--- a/release_docs/RELEASE.txt
+++ b/release_docs/RELEASE.txt
@@ -150,7 +150,15 @@ New Features
 
     Java Library:
     ----------------
-    - 
+    - Duplicate the data read/write functions of Datasets for Attributes.
+
+      Region references could not be displayed for attributes as they could
+      for datasets. Datasets had overloaded read and write functions for different
+      datatypes that were not available for attributes. After adding similar
+      functions, attribute region references work normally.
+
+      (ADB - 2018/12/12, HDFVIEW-4)
+
 
     Tools:
     ------